Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	apostle_n	church_n	let_v	2,627	5	4.5197	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89872	Anti-Machiavell. Or, honesty against poljcy An answer to that vaine discourse, the case of the kingdome stated, according to the proper interests of the severall parties ingaged. By a lover of truth, peace, and honesty.	Lover of Truth, Peace, and Honesty.; Nedham, Marchamont, 1620-1678, attributed name.	1647 (1647)	Wing N375; Thomason E396_16; ESTC R201652	19,689	26

OR Honesty against Policie THe chiefest interest of a Christian is to keep God his friend which he that neglects all his counsels though as deep as Achitophels will end in folly It was subtlety eyeing interest that made Jeroboam set up and Jehu hold up the Calves at Dan and Bethel but this their following interest against rule was the ruine of both their houses This therefore is a standing rule for all that professe God Prov. 10.9 He that walks uprightly walkes securely but hee that perverteth his wayes shall be known Now to walk uprightly includes two things first to walke rightly a man cannot be compleatly upright but he must be right rightnesse regularitie is the basis the materiall of uprightnesse to which secondly is to be added the formall to doe that which is right on right grounds and for right ends Now he that by the byasse of interest leaves this path of integrity forsakes his owne safety and runs upon snares and precipices that will in the end destroy and deceive whatever they promise and therefore for a Christian and one that assumes the highest degree to himself to be more immediately listed under Christ to hold forth interest unlesse he make it out that the way is right too is most unsutable For it s to hold forth a bait or lure to draw out of the right way of serving God to serve ourselves For a man to observe what under God conduceth to the advancing of his affaires and that to follow usque ad aras is prudence to be practised but for a man to look at interest without consideration of right is directly contrary to that self-deniall which is the cognizance of Christs Disciples and the proper Character of Machivilian which this Author seems to doe not only in many particular passages but in the generall rare contexture of the whole The Duke of Rohan whom he cites tels us that the French Kings interest is to maintain the Protestant Religion though he were a Papist The Duke of Rohan was a Protestant and judged the French King did ill in professing Popery but well in upholding Protestancy but no man that approved his Religion as good but if he were conscientious must condemn his maintaining a contrary Religion for State interest as unlawfull and so to be abandoned But now let us see how he mannages his discourse of interest in which no doubt but there will be aliquid grande for they say in this Theam of interests either for theory or practice his party need not yeeld the palme to any society in Christendome and truly the Independent interest is notably acted in this Booke which is but a dramaticall representation of Independency which is here set forth painted with wit and words crying out Who is on my side who nay represented so glorious that all sides must wooe her as though none can stand or flourish without her friendship Touching the Kings Interest THe King he saith as the case lately stood with him was a very prisoner And what is he now may he goe whether he pleases if so then I hope we shall shortly see him at Whitehall but if not he hath onely changed his place not his condidition His first worke now is to remit the height of his designe and sith the spleen of his adversaries hath done that for him which Machiavell makes a sure principle toward purchase of Empire Divide impera Divide and rule his part is to sit still and blow the fire c. This is polliicy indeed but is this honesty to blow the fire of contention between his owne should a Father doe so to his Children though undutifull to him Is not a King Pater patriae should he not rather study to quench this flame prevent sin hereupon onely taking occasion to perswade them to yeeld him his right sith there is a blast upon them in their conjunction against him and so wait upon God to give in their hearts not doing evill that good may come thereon After the fire of contention hath burnt so hot that they must rest in a third The King is to looke to that party that gives most hope of indulgence to his Prerogative and greatest probability of favour to his friends so still selfe and friends must be the rule of actions let them be never so blasphemous to God yet indulgent to Monarchy they must be embrac't had the King ever worse Counsellors or greater parasites of Prerogative But neither of these can be from the Presbyterian not indulgence to Prerogative Why because he sayes but without shew of truth That Presbyteriall government derogates not only from * * The contrary is apparant out of the harmony of confessions touching the civill Magistrate most of which are from Presbyterians civill government in generall but carryes with it a more speciall enmity to Monarchy they are incompatible a grevious accusation that needs be backt with good reason but here is none at all This is but an Arrow out of Machiavels quiver Calumniare audacter aliquid haerebit Slaunder audaciously somthing will sticke Turne O Lord I pray thee this counsell of Achitophels into foolishnesse Next he tells us Politique Observations in this kinde should be strengthened out of History and thence takes occasion of venting all scorn and spight in the highest degree on the way he opposeth as though he loved all devouring words There is nothing saith he in History touching Presbytery of moment to be observed Why First it s an upstart What newer than Independency nay this is newer light sure for neither name or thing of Independency is to be found till of late dayes for all particular Congregations in the Apostles time were dependent on that is under the jurisdiction of the Apostles that planted them as appears by St. Pauls Epistles to Corinth and before the Apostles died the Congregations were multiplied in great Cities yet but one Church as is made apparant out of Scripture and so under one common government which whether of a Presbytery or Bishop or both it casts Independency and so that can looke no higher then the Anabaptists in Germany Next it hath but little entertainment in the world why then it seems it s not of the world as he elsewhere calumniates but hath it had lesse entertainment then Independency What considerable part of the Reformed Churches except England and Ireland but hath entertained Presbytery and what doth he make of the Princes of Germany have they little or none of Kingly power Is Kingly power in the Title or in Soveraignty under whatever Title How bold and saucie is this bold Pamphleter untruly to debase the Principalities of Noble Princes to debase a way he himselfe hates But in the Scots Kingdome this Pest is Epidemicall c. Here is bitterness in the highest both in expression and matter wherin he affirmes That in Scotland Presbytery hath turnd the Kings Scepter into a Manacle and like an Hectique feaver consumed the substance of Kingly power

destructive to the faith those all ought to oppose in their owne spheare 3. Oppression makes wise men mad but just and deserved censure is no oppression though it may be esteemed so with men yet * Rom. 5.34 not with God Secondly I hope with Saints tribulation will bring forth patience c. else they will make but sorry Martyrs neither will they I hope be led by interests but by rule else they are unfit followers for Christ Mat. 16.24 4. If a rigid course be prosecuted and a breach made betwixt those who for the Major part be one by solemne Covenant the whole scandall will retort on the Presbyter Ans 1. They have the Art to cry whore first 2. For rigidnes its never comely among brethren but if according to the former rules course be taken against revilers of establisht order and desertors of the faith not the inflicters but the sufferers will be the evill doers for his answer to the objection of covenanting uniforme Reformation That the Covenant in its extent is limited by the word of God I answer this man counts that uniformity of Reformation is a thing without any footing in the Word of God so it makes him covenant a non-sense which asperses this man and his party as well as others for taking it 2. His interpretation with the application makes the covenant a nose of waxe to bend to every mans fancy and so rather a combination of all sorts against an enemy then an ingagement to any to promote uniform Reformation Lastly he layes down the benefits of a moderate condescension in the Presbyter as that which crosses new designs in the Independent and insinuations of the Royall party for a moderate condescension as I have limited it I hope all Presbyters will subscribe to though no benefits accrue out of charity to brethren and for a boundlesse toleration let some irregularly force it or others timorously yeeld it yet every conscientious Presbyter I hope will witness against it The conclusion is That its the sole interest of the Presbyter to counter-work the King and to count all rigid Presbyterians of what robe soever very Malignants that fulminate against our fast friends as Hereticks and Schismaticks But who be these fast friends Independents the following Interest will give us but little incouragement to thinke so if any call those Schismaticks and Hereticks which are not so as Independents may be and many are free from both they deserve sharp checks but that there are such things as Schismaticks and Hereticks is apparant in Scripture that some of those that shrowd themselves under the name of Independents are such is as apparant likewise and why we should count him a Malignant that calls a spade a spade I yet see no reason The truth is the Presbyterian interest with his duty was in peace which he should have studied upon all lawfull condescension to have obtained with the King but he acted the Independents Interest in crying up the War still and keeping the King at too great a distance both in place and tearmes contrary to his pretences and prayers which hath given great and just offence to the Royallists and advantage to the Independent though the Independent were as deep in this transgression as the Presbyterian but the Independent can vary his principles with his condition and interest as hee faith here in reason third and so hath gone beyond the Presbyterian The Presbyterian therefore now is to be humbled for neglect not so much of following interest as dutie and study reconciliation with the King and settlement of the nation and serve God humbly in the best condition he can attaine and God will not be wanting to his owne way Touching the interest of the Independent party THis Machivilian Agent hath now bespok two suiters for his Paramour that so she may see who offers fairest and make her choise to best advantage this is policie indeed but such as an honest Virgine would not count honesty to hold two in hand when she could but answer the expectation of one but with some men what 's politicke and serves interest is honest enough First he compares his Rivals and asperses them at pleasure and then advances his owne Idol above the cloudes That the Independent would have the Church a spirituall building framed of such stones as are chosen out of the World but founded only on the wisdome of God c. Which is indeed the nature and constitution of the invisible Church of the Elect but let him shew me such a visible Church-constitution in Scripture or let him make good that divers of the Churches of Asia did not apparently consist of other members and let him carry the cause but if he cannot his Independent Church so constituted here on earth is but a Chimaera of his owne braine Next he tells us againe That the Independents leave to all the Magistrate save the Kingdome of Christ. And so doe the Presbyterians though he dictate the contrary And the Kingdome of Christ being not of this World can be no trouble to it unlesse his be first troubled Here 's an exception for them to hold up the Sword against the Magistrate King or Parliament if they doe trouble them But it s a most plain and pernicious addition to the Words of Christ The scope whereof was that his servants would not fight though they were troubled See Ioh. 6.36 because his Kingdome was not of this world Well Now sayes he Independencie which ownes no policie he should say but whatserves her turne becomes the ballancing power between them that is by the Armes the Parliament have intrusted them with and they now hold perforce against it now her interest is to close where shee may have most indulgence and little or no scandall A little scandall then she may undergoe for interest but that may prove a Mill-stone Mat. 18.6 if she take not heed and that indulgence hee conceives may be expected rather from the Episcopall Party and wherein interest is he must goe loe what a fast friend the Independent is to the Presbyter His Reasons 1. Though principles of Faith should sway Presbyters to brotherly amity yet by their eagernesse of Discipline and uniformitie of Letter neglecting that of the Spirit c. they give little hope What fury doe the Presbyterian show in driving on upon termes of discipline It s not in acting that I know and for procuring settlement Why may not the Presbyterian be as zealous for his way as the Independent for his Wherin doth the Presbyterian sleight the glorious uniformity of Spirit Si satis est accusasse quis erit innocens Wherein his eagernesse in uniformity of Letter hath he not studyed accommodation by all means though he be against a wild tolleration And I know not where the Furnace is heating for any brethren in the Faith but in your owne fancies Secondly Setting aside that grosse mixture of Ceremonies the Episcopall Discipline were more tollerable because Tyranny cannot