place to Renounce the Covenant Prop. 1. We are agreed That an unlawful Oath cannot tye us to the performances of it because nothing can tye us to sin but rather to a repentance for it as a double sin 1. the one the intention of an evil 2 the other swearing of it so intended Prop. 2. We are agreed That the solemn League and Covenant was unlawful 1 because it was imposed contrary to the Liberty the Subject had sworn in the Protestation to defend to which Liberty the Imposition of a new Oath other then is established by Act of Parliament King Lords and Commons is said in the Petition of Right and in the Declaration of the Lords and Commons to be contrary 2. It was against the consent of the supream Magistrate without whom no publick Resolution can be taken contrary to his Government no more then we must allow a childe or servant to resolve any thing contrary to the welfare of the family where they are without the father or masters consent 3. Because it was in the manner of it violent wherein men had uot power over their own will 4. Because it was in the matter of it sinful as 1. obliging us to things disorderly beyond our measure to meddle with things too high for us 2. As obliging us to cast out Episcopacy as tyrannical and the Liturgy as superstitious 1 to the scandal of the Papist to whom the Cause is hereby yielded which our Learned Writers have maintained against them 2. To the justifying them in the scorn and reproach of our Religion 3. To a confession that the Laws and Punishments made and inflicted against Papists here are unjust 4. To the violation of our own Consciences 1. who approved both as agreeable to the word of God in our subscriptions at our Ordination and otherwise 2 who swore to both in our Protestation to defend the true Protestant Religion expressed in the doctrine of the Church of England and in the Oath of Supremacy 3. who know both to be of Apostolical institution and of ancient practise and so owned by us in our subscription to the 39 Articles 4. as obliging men to extirpate that which the Parliament declared they would not abolish Rem 15. Dec. 1641. Decl. 9. Apr. 1642. 5. Unlawful because obliging us to what is unpossible 6 Because limiting our care of his Majesty to the defence of true Religion whereas we must be loyal to him let him profess what Religion he please 7. It was unlawful in the end of it which was war turmult and sedition and the ruine of the kingdom because of that oath the land mourned and we did many sad things with Herod because of the oath Prop. We are agreed That as if a woman vowed a vow to the Lord which her father dissalloweth in the day that he heareth of it not any of her bonds or vowes shall stand Num. 30. so now we have vowed a vow and the father of our countrey disalloweth it the vow wherewith we have bound our selfs should not stand Prop. 4. We agree all herein viz. That the Dangerous position abovesaid and the Covenant are of such desperate tendences that if we abjure them not as we may be deprived by the statute of Conformity so we may be proceeded against as dangerous persons by the statutes of treason the Kingdom will think that he that hath a Covenant in his heart hath a war there too and so must not onely loose his employment but his protection too as a person not onely to be silenced but confined too Thus at a Conference it was agreed how far we ought to submit to a Christian Magistrates Authority in matters of Religion upon such Principles as are owned by Mr. Baxter Mr. Calamy Mr. Jenkins Mr. Manton Mr. Crofton Mr. Edwards Mr. Case Mr. Caryl and many others in print before the world Blessed is he that condemneth not himself in that which he alloweth Rom. 14. 22. FINIS §. 1. §. 2. ☞ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thucyd. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Muson Anglorum in genia voria mobilia Bodinapud Ep. Worces Hierasp Scaliger apud Greg. Not. ☞ s §. 3. Mr. Brinsley ☞ Rutherford's Church-governmen Eaxter of Church Government Hudson of the Church Reyn. Peace of the Church Baxter Church-Government Calvin Instit de Ecclesia Mr. Jenkins Sermon before the Parliament on Psal 2. Ward on Rom. 1â— 12. Bishop Reynolds Peace of Church Mr. Edwards of Toleration Mr. Rutherford of Toleration Mr. Jackson of Toleration Mr. Vines Sermon of Heresies Mr. Marshal of Toleration Mr. Caryls Sermon before the Parliament Mr. Crofton of Liberty Mr. Baxters Saints Rest Part. 2. Mr. Case's Sermon of Covâ—nant breaking Mr. Nalton Mr. Cheynell Mr. Leyford Boltons Extent of Christian Liberty Mr. Manton on James Cradocks Liberty Mr. Gurnals Compleat Army Part 1. Mr. Marshal's Seâ—mon before th H. Peers 1 46. Downham Christ Liberty Beza de Magistrat Zwing lib. Obed. Calvin Oposs Gelespysrod Bishop â—eyn Vnity cum verba Mr. Cranford Mr. Gataker Jus Divin Regim Ecclesiast 2 Chron. 29. 2 Chron. 34. Rev. 2. 14. Mr. Love Mr. Jenkin Mr. Case Jus Divinum Minist Evang. Dr. Sandersons Preface Ames Fresh Suit against Ceremoniâ—s Mr. Jeaneys Scholast Divinity Part 2. Mr. Baxters sheet against the Quakers Stillingfleet Irenicum Mr. Dyke of Conscience Dr. Harris Look To thy conscience Theodor. Eccl. Hist l. 1. cap. 2. Mr. Ball against Cann Mr. Baxter Basil Ep. 60. Hierom. Ezek. 44. advers Pel. 1. 9. Chrys ad pop Antioch To. 5 Irsom Gr. Naz. Mr. Sanders Church-Government See Mr. Jenkins on Jvde ver 6. Mr. Manton Jude Mr. Baxter's Church-Government Mr. Brinsley of Subjection Amesius Case of Conscience Mr. Downham of Oathes Dr. Saunderson de Juramento Bishop Gaudens Analysis Bishop Tailor Conscience Baldwin de Conscientia Se at for defence of his Majesty person
stratagems and conflicts of malice which by falsities seeks to oppresse the truth and by jealousies to supply the defect of reall causes which might seem to justifie a New Engagement against him O those foul and false Aspersions those secret Engines employed against the Peoples love That undermining there opinion and just value of his Majesties Enemies and theirs too might blow up their Affection and their Loyalty O the sin and danger of poor Peoples soules whose eyes once blinded with mists of suspitions and fears they are soon misled into the most desperat precipices of action Alas for that loose licentious and languishing posture whereunto notwithstanding all means of settlement some mens distempers and indifferences allready have and farther seek to reduce this Nation as to any setled doctrine uniforme professions Catholique order and nationall Communion O what dividings shatterings schisms separatings sidings strifes envies animosities and contempts whence grow Confusion every evil work O that loose and indifferent way of Christian Administration and Profession that is insisted upon by some for themselves and posterity according to every mans private fancy choice and humour without such solemn establishment and publick union as hath in all Ages and Nations best edified and fortified counselled and corrected excited and increased both gifts and graces in a most comely and most Christian order with such harmony unity majesty and authority as best becomes the Servants Religion and Church of Christ O what beauty what order what harmony what unity what gravity what solidity what candor what charity what sobriety what correspondence is offered is endeavoured by the judicious affections tender compassions prudent councils conscientious care attended with discreet zeal fervent prayers and unfeigned tears of good men whose aim is to promote sound knowledge fruitfull faith hearty love discreet zeal severe repenting fervent prayer just fears unspeakable comforts well grounded hope spiritual joy heavenly meditation holy conversation tender compassions meekness of obedience and conscientious submission In a word a frame of Christian carriage to God and to others in order to mens own souls and their neighbours good O the excellent wayes proposed that Learning might flourish Knowledge multiply Graces abound excellent Preaching thrive Sacraments be duly administred and devoutly received the fruits of Gods spirit mightily diffused in common honesty hospitable kindness christian charity plain-hearted sincerity O the crafts and policies the frauds and factions the jealousies and distances the malice and animosities the rudeness and disorders the insolencies and hypocrisie the rashness and uncharitableness the envies and emnities the rapes and out-rages still pleaded for and upheld by Prophets that prophesie falsly that the Priests might bear rule by their means and the people will have it so What will they do in the end therof SECT III. NOw it pleased God by the publick Counsells of King Lords and Commons to give all just satisfaction to modest and sober desires to prevent all misunderstandings and miscarriages by the Act of Uniformity composed with that gravity and discretion of Pious Moderate and Wise men As might allay and fix the People to a due temperament guiding their well meaning zeal by such rules of moderetion as might best preserve and restore the happiness of Church and State a neglect of due obedience to this Act in such way as shall hereafter be expressed a contempt of its Authority a discontent under it restraints evil thoughts and discourses of the Authors and Imposers and a generall opposition to its blessed design of peace and settlement I appeal to the tender Consciences of sober men who live within sight of the great day of the Revelation of the righteous Judgement of God whether they be not 1. Exceeding sinfull 2. Desperately mischievous 3. Very dangerous 1. They seem to be very sinfull because they seem against the Consciences of good men which are guided 1. by the word of God which sayes expresly O consider it ye tender-conscienced men Submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake 1 Pet. 2. 13. Ye must needs be subject not only for wrath but for conscience sake Rom. 13. 5. though not for conscience of the thing commanded yet for conscience of the power commanding the thing it self may be indifferent yet your obedience necessary obey them that are over you in the Lord submit your selves It was a holy mans advice that we should take heed how we before-hand take up resolutions whether of opposing or not obeying Certainly however quiet conscientious not obeying both may and ought to have a very favourable and indulgent interpretation yet presumptuous disobedience justly subjects a man to the highest censure Expresse for this purpose is that Judicial Law which hath a great deal of morality couched in it Deut. 17. 12. The man that will doe presumptuously and will not hearken to the Priest or to the Judge even that man shall die and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel Take we heed then how we entertain any thoughts that way but rather prepare our ears and hearts to hear what the Lord will say unto us or see what message he will send by the hands of these his servants who have been so long time enquiring after his pleasure which being made known unto us resolve in what we may to submit and obey so did the Churches to whom Paul and Silas delivered their decrees they delivered them to be kept by them and so they were and so were the Churches established Now I praise you brethren saith St. Paul that you remember all things and keep the Ordinances delivered unto you 1 Cor. 11. 2. be obedient as to Christ that is by the same necessity for the same reason to avoid the same punishment to have the same reward by the same religion that you may not prevaricate the Lawes of God or do violence to your own consciences Nothing can adde light to these so clear words they are bright as the Sunne clear as an Article of Faith easy and Intelligible according to the nature of universal divine Commandements 2. This opposition to the Act of Uniformity is against the Oath of Supremacy which is this That we declare the Kings Highnesse Supreme Governor of this Realm and swear to assist and obey him and all authorities united or annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm A Religious attestation which most that oppose this Act have made before God the searcher of hearts with an imprecation of his heavy wrath upon them if they break it or abuse his name in it That they owned his Majesties authority in Ecclesiastical affairs Which Oath I hope they took in truth righteousness and judgement Do not they fear an Oath Do not they know that for Oathes the Land mourned I hope I speak to men fearing God that walk uprightly work righteousness and speak the truth in their heart and though they swear to their hurt yet change not Now alas you deny the
the Church what contempt of the Clergy what overthrows of Magistrates and all Government have been managed by the Principles now contended for all sober men have beheld with sorrow of heart and can bear witness to with their sighs teares and ruine O tell it not in Gath publish it not in Askelon I pray God give us all moderation and impartiality the best tempers in religion unpassionately to consider from whence we are fallen by humane policies and to what we are transported by popular zeal that all distempers may be laid aside by free converse and a Christian correspondence whereby those sad principles of everlasting schism might be removed by which on our side men think because in many things they are right therefore they can erre in nothing and on the other side because in some things men have mistaken and erred therefore they can be in nothing right without regard so that Truth and Charity which is the life and quintessence of Christian Religion 9. It s of very dangerous consequence that you who should promote the joy and thankfulness of His Majesties loving subjects for His happy Restauration should now occasion these fears jealousies and publick sorrow that when all rejoyce to see things grow up to a publick order and symmetry you should be discontent as when all the people cryed Hosanna the Pharisees murmured is a sin against that Deut 28. where it is said Because thou servest not the Lord thy God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things therefore which is the danger shalt thou serve thine enemy in hunger in thirst in nakedness and in want of all things and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thee till he have destroyed thee These are the dangerous Conseqences of Non-conformity viz. 1. Hiding your talents in a napkin and putting your light under a bushel and becoming unserviceable in your Generations 2. The grief of many good people who value high your persons and gifts who thought you would have died for them under persecutors and therefore you would much more obey for their sakes under a lawful Prince 3. The disadvantage of the Church which by your unexpected revolt will miss your gifts and services which were devoted to it 4. The disparagement of your brethren who are censured as unworthy for practising those things which rather then you will do you will resist unto blood whereby their labor is rendered unserviceable for those souls from whom your labor is withdrawn 5. The undoing of your families for whom ye are to provide unless ye will be worse then infidels O your wives and children what have they done That while you are disputing whether you should wear a Gown or whether you should stand or kneel whether you had best use these sorts of words or those to God Almighty In a word whether you shall obey or Rebel these should perish If you should go out which God forbid it 's you that will be thought to turn out your selves for men judge that the Law intends onely obedience and peace and that the offenders cause the punishment the Parliament would have you live orderly and obediently in your places you will not who is to be blamed But you cannot believe the orders of the Church to be lawful and obliging and the whole Kingdom in Parliament cannot believe that Non-conformity is lawful You cannot submit and the whole Kingdom in Parliament cannot think you fit to be encouraged with Ecclesiastical Livings unless you submit whether it is more fitting the whole Kingdom should submit to you or you to the whole Kingdom judge ye In a word if you do reject the moderate impositions the Church layes upon you I humbly crave leave to offer it to your consideration what judgement the Protestant Churches are likely to make of your proceedings And how your cause and the Churches will stand represented to them and to all future Ages The present danger is this As in disaffected bodies the humors fall to the weakest part so in a distempered Kingdom the ill disposed persons fall in with the discontented part 1. Upon this falling off of your party there are persons exasperated by just punishment on themselves and relations 2. There are thousands purchasers of Delinquents Deans Chapters Bishops King and Queen and Princes Lands unsatisfied 3. There are thousands of Cavaliers notwithstanding all care to provide for them dejected 4. There are abundance of Atheists and Neuters expecting some trouble and alteration and persons of desperate fortunes wishes they may once more fish in troubled waters 5. There are several persons turned out of Livings by the proper owners thereof and notwithstanding they are willing to submit are not likely to be admitted to so good again 6. There are many of the old Army that want employment 7. There are thousands of disobliged Sectaries 8. There are too many that for want of Trading are not able in this dead time to provide for themselves and families who would be all willing to hazzard themselves in the engagement of 41. they are in their method already Popery preached against Ceremonies and Lyturgies are cried down the Reverend Clergy afftonted Non-conformists are pittied the silencing of them is resented trading is dead taxes are complained of meetings are appointed plots discovered and all things by your dissent tend to a confusion These thoughts I leave to your cooler and more moderate intervals to meditate upon between your selves and the great searcher of hearts The Expedient But my business is not so much to exasperate as to accomodate dissenters and therefore I shall intreat those reverend persons concerned seriously to consider the following Propositions which if assented to will bring them up to the design of the Act of Uniformity agreed upon by all sober Protestants Prop. 1. That since the first plantation of true Religion which is a judicious and sincere devoting of the whole soul to God as the Supream good offered us in Jesus Christ and the right performance of that duty we ow to that God upon such grounds to such ends and after such manner as he requires it of us there have been an holy Company called by his word to the knowledge of God in Christ who in all holy ways and orderly institutions publickly profess their inward sence of duty and devotion which they ow to God by believing and obeying his word and also that Charity which they ow to all men especially to that houshold of the faith that holds communion with Christs body the Catholick Church Prop. 2. It s agreed That this outward profession of Religion as it is held forth in the word in its truth zeals duties and Ministry makes one Church Catholick of all Christians joyned in a mysterious inward and religious Communion with God and one another in Christ by the word and spirit in the inward part of Religion and in obedience charity and comely order as to the outward part of that Religion and
our Clergy at the dreadful Day Shall make their audit when the Judge shall say Give your accompts what have my lambs been fed Say do they all stand found Is there none dead By your defaults Come Shepherds bring them forth That I may crown your labors in their worth O what an answer will be given by some We have been silenc'd Canons strucuks dumb The Great ones would not let us feed thy flock Unless we play'd the fools and wore a Frock We were forbid unless wee 'd yeeld to sign And cross their brows they say a mark of thine To say the truth great Judge they were not sed Lord here they be but Lord they be all dead Ah cruel Shepherds Could your conscience serve Not to be fools and yet to let them starve What if your Fiery spirits had been bound To Antick habits or your heads been crown'd With Peacocks Plumes had yet been forc'd to feed Your Saviors dear-bought Flock in a fools weed He that was scorn'd revil'd endur'll the Curse Of a base death in your behalfs nay worse Swallow'd the cup of wrath charg'd up to th' brim Durst ye not stoop to play the fools for him Prop. 16. Where it is said That it is wonderful to see so many men rational and sober to hazard all they have and refuse the way to rise which they know as well as others We are agreed that this is not the first time that men have sacrificed their present happiness to the honor of their way living by faith in hope of better times It was as hazardous to oppose publick Authority 1640. as it is now yet men ventured it with too good success Alas they that have so much wisdom a to controul their Superiors may have so much wisdom too as to cast off some present advantage for a future hope Prop. 17. Whereas men say that a general conformity of the Ministers would be general scandal to the people We are agreed That we are to please the people onely for their good while things are in agitation its lawful for private men to offer their thoughts with the reasons thereof modesty and meekly but after things are once established as the people must submit so the Ministers should take more care not to disobey a Publick Governor then not to offend a private people least while we fear to offend one or two private men we really offend a hundred affront the Magistrate and despise Authority we must rather offend others then sin our selves we must pay depts of Justice before debts of Charity debts of Justice in obeying the Magistrate before debts of Charity in pleasing our brethren Prop. 18. Whereas some say that they could submit to the things that are established but that they fear the impositions of more We are agreed That we should obey us for as we may for peace and quiet and leave it to God what may be further imposed and let us not suffer our obedience to be superseded by our fears Prop. 19. Whereas it s commonly discoursed that if the thiugs now imposed were necessary why were not they constantly practised if not why were they now so rigorously imposed We are agreed That when for decency order and Uniformities-sake any Laws are made there is the same necessity of obeying them as their is of obeying any other Laws made for the good of the Common-wealth that such necessity either in the one or the other ariseth not immediately from the authority of the Lawgiver but from the Ordinance of God who hath commanded us to obey the ordinances of man for his sake as long as there is an ordinance of man concerning them is in being Prop. 20. Whereas it offends some men that they think that Laws in matters of Religion derogate from the sufficiency of Scripture and the wisdom of God who have they think without such Constitutions sufficiently provided for the Church of God we are agreed that in actions of common life as eating drinking c. and in the circumstances of religious actions we are left to private or publick reason and discretion guided by the general rule of the Scripture that all things should be done decently and in order as good men before the Word was written did by nature the things contained in the Law It was the wisdom of God that appointed us to submit to the wisdom of our Superiours in the use of indifferent things and they derogate from the authority of the Scripture who will not obey them that are to set in order the things that are wanting according to the customs of the Churches of God Prop. 21. Whereas the great offence is that whatsoever is not of faith is sin and that men doubt of the lawfulness of some things therefore they cannot use them we are agreed That ordinarily there is no need of any more warrant for what we do then this onely that there is not to our knowledge any Law either of nature or Scripture against them we are to believe all things indifferent lawful for us to do which are not by good evidence of Scripture and reason declared unlawful and men whose Livelyhood depends upon it would do well to satisfie their scruples about things imposed with the solemn Consideration of this Question Where is this and this in forbidden provided that we have not neglected to inform our judgements the best we could for the time past and that we are ever ready withal to yield our selves to better information for the time to come and we are strongly to suspect the Principles and Grounds that Conscience goeth upon when it putteth us upon the necessity either of disobeying Authority or of sinning against our judgement He that resteth his conscience upon this perswasion that so long as he is unfeignedly desirous to do for the best and hath not been negligent to use all requisite diligence to inform himself aâ—ight God will accept of his good intention therein and pardon his error if he shall be mistaken in his choice Let him do what he will he sinnoth not 1 Cor. 7. 36. This we are perswaded of that our own doubts must give place to our Superiors commands which must be obeyed in all things not manifestly contrary to the revealed Will of God A good conscience feareth not onely to use this or that Ceremony but feareth also to disobey Sect. Particular Expedients in reference to what is enjoyned in the Act of Uniformity Prop 1 Whereas we are required to assent and subscribe we are agreed that we must consent 1. with the heart believing Rom. 10. 10. 2. with the mouth professing 3. with the hand subscribing Es 44. â— Josh 24 2. 2 Kings 23. 3. to the wholesom words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness Of which kinde are the three things to be subscribed to in the aforesaid Act whereof the first is I A. B. do here unfeignedly declare my unfeigned consent to all