Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n
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A74761
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The iniquity of the late Solemne League, or Covenant discovered: by way of a letter to a gentleman desiring information upon the poynt. Whereunto is subjoyned the Covenant it selfe.
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1644
(1644)
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Thomason E36_10; ESTC R229345
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7,324
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16
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THE INIQVITY OF The Late Solemne League OR COVENANT DJSCOVERED By way of a Letter to a Gentleman desiring information upon the Poynt Whereunto is Subjoyned the Covenant it selfe Printed March 9. 1643. The Iniquity of the late Solemne League or Covenant discovered by way of Letter to a Gentleman desiring information upon the poynt Sir IN answer to your desire of being informed concerning the late Covenant I have endeavoured as briefly and plainly as I can to let you understand what I conceive of it and do advise upon it I cannot but conceive that this Covenant or Conspiracy rather is a Combination wickedly contrived and upon the Consciences of others as wickedly imposed by those who under pretence of reforming Religion and Government would by force of Armes bring all into their Power It is a wonder to consider that men who have alwaies cryed out for Liberty of Conscience not suffering themselves to be limited in a Ceremony or thing indifferent but in defence of that Liberty endeavouring to bring all into confusion should thus Imperiously Tyrannize over other mens Consciences forcing upon them Oath after Oath Covenant after Covenant till they have hardened them into a senselesnesse of what is just and right Now for your selfe who would continue Resolute against it and for those Gentlemen you speak of who have taken it or are so resolved in hope of procuring their Liberty thereby if my resolution and advice may in time be heard it stands thus upon these two points I. That no man can with a safe Conscience enter this Covenant by reason of the grosse and palpable iniquity of the Contents thereof II. That he who through his owne ignorance and the cunning of others has been seduced or by their threats and Menaces forced or by any other means brought on to enter this Covenant with them is not bound to the performance of the Contents but having by the taking of it contracted their guilt of a grievous sinne is bound to a speedy Repentance for the same First That the sinne and unlawfullnesse of taking it may appeare you must consider that he which enters Covenant after this manner doth before Almighty God professe that in Conscience he allowes and approves the designes and intentions of them he enters Covenant with and doth also bind himselfe to doe and pursue that for which the Covenant is made And accordingly you may observe that in the close of the Covenant it is said And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of all hearts with a true intention to performe the same Now it is a known and received Rule that an Oath or Covenant whether lawfully or unlawfully imposed it matters not so a man yeelds himself to take it is taken not according to the reserved meaning of him that takes it but according to the known and notorious meaning and intention of them that impose or require it What such an one doth professe and bind himselfe unto will appeare in these particulars I. He that enters this Covenant doth by the first and second Articles thereof before almighty God professe that he doth in Conscience allow and approve the change i. e. not the Reformation onely but abolishing of this Church-government and of the extirpation of Episcopacy and doth bind himselfe by the same Articles really and constantly to endeavour the same Now see the iniquity of this First here is sedition Subjects entred into a Covenant for a change of established Government without and against their Soveraigns command and Authority The example they pretend for this out of Ezra 10. 3. makes against them for there was no change of Law or Government attempted and Ezra had good Authority for what he did being sent from the King with full commission to carry backe the People to Ierusalem and there to restore the Temple and Worship according to the Law of his God Ezra 7. 13 14. Secondly here is injustice to fellow Subjects Subjects entring a Covenant and binding themselves to doe notorious injury and wrong to others that is to extirpate a company of Men whose Function I speak of Bishops is of Apostolicall institution and has continued in this Land from the first receiving of the Christian Faith whose immunities also and priviledges are undeniably most ancient and Legall in this Kingdome Thirdly here is a Sacriledge in spoyling Them or a Church rather of those Possessions and Interests which beside the right of Dedication doe by as good Law and Title belong to them as any Libertie or Possession doth to other Subjects Lastly here is Rebellion with the greatest impiety Subjects endeavouring this by force of Armes as it will appeare by the sixth Article they that Covenant bind themselves to doe that is to compell your Soveraign to such an Extirpation and spoyling against which he is bound by the Law of God and by expresse Oath and cannot be released of that Oath without their consent to whom he makes it viz. those that must here be extirpated and spoiled II. He that enters this Covenant doth by the fourth Article professe that he allowes All those which adhere to His Majesty in this Cause should be esteemed and proceeded against as Malignants Incendiaries and as in the first Article they set them out Common Enemies for it is notorious and well knowne whom the Imposers of this Covenant doe meane by those names Also by the same fourth Article he binds himself to discover all such that they may be brought to punishment The Iniquity of this appears by what was said upon the former Articles but more especially by the duties unto which the Oathes of Supremacy and Allegiance bind all Subjects viz. the assisting of His Majesty against all attempts and the discovering unto him all conspiracies duties contrarie to what is undertaken here III. Least this Covenant should seeme contrary to those Oathes there is in the third Article a clause for preserving and defending the Kings Maiesties Person and Authority without any thought or intention of diminishing His iust Power and Greatnesse which though he that enters this Covenant may thinke to be just and faire yet is it indeed a fearfull Collusion and mocking of God there being nothing more against His Majesties Authority and Power then the intent and pursuit of this Covenant IIII. He that enters this Covenant doth bind himselfe by the fifth Article to endeavour the continuance of Peace between the two Kingdomes which according to the intent of this Covenant he must doe by joyning with those who have now actually broken the Pacification and in pursuit of this Covenant invaded this Kingdome which is also a fearfull Collusion and mocking of God V. He that enters this Covenant doth professe by the sixt Article that he allowes and approves the assisting and defending of all those that take this Covenant in the maintaining and pursuing thereof against all opposition and lets or impediments whatsoever and by the same Article binds himselfe really and constantly
Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospell and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland by the Providence of God living under one King and being of one reformed Religion having before our eyes the glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the honour and happinesse of the Kings Majesty and His Posterity and the true publike Liberty Safety and Peace of the Kingdoms wherein every ones private condition is included and calling to mind the treacherous and bloudy plots Conspiracies Attempts and practices of the Enemies of God against the true Religion and Professors therof in all places especially in these three Kingdoms ever since the reformation of Religion how much their rage power and presumption are of late and at this time increased and exercised wherof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdome of Ireland the distressed estate of the Church Kingdom of England and the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland are present and publike Testimonies We have now at last after other means of Supplication Remonstrance Protestations and Sufferings for the preservation of our selves and our Religion from utter ruine and Destruction according to the commendable practice of these Kingdoms in former times and the example of Gods people in other Nations after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutuall and solemne League and Covenant wherin we all subscribe and each one of us for himself with our hands lifted up to the most high God do swear I. THat we shall sincerely really and constantly through the Grace of God endeavour in our severall places and callings the preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common Enemies the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdomes of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the Example of the best Reformed Churches And shall indeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdomes to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith Form of Church-Government Directory for Worship and Catechizing That we and our posterity after us may as Brethren live in Faith and Love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us II. That wee shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church-Government by Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellors and Commissaries Deanes Deanes and Chapters Arch-Deacons and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending on that Hierarchy Superstition Heresie Schisme Prophanenesse and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to found Doctrine and the power of Godlinesse lest we partake in other mens sins and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues and that the Lord may be one and his Name one in the three Kingdoms III. We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our severall Vocations endeavour with our Estates and Lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments and the Liberties of the Kingdomes and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms that the world may beare witnesse with our consciences of our Loyalty and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish His Majesties just power and greatnesse IIII. Wee shall also with all faithfullnesse endeavour the discovery of all such as have beene or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evill Instruments by hindering the Reformation of Religion dividing the King from his people or one of the Kingdomes from another or making any Faction or Parties amongst the People contrary to this League and Covenant that they may be brought to publiquetriall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the supreame Iudicatories of both Kingdomes respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient V. And whereas the happinesse of a blessed Peace between these Kingdomes denyed in former times to our Progenitors is by the good providence of God granted unto us and hath been lately concluded and setled by both Parliaments we shall each one of us according to our place and interest indeavour that they may remaine conjoyned in a firme Peace and Union to all Posterity And that Iustice may be done upon the willfull opposers thereof in manner expressed in the precedent Articles VI. We shall also according to our places and callings in this common Cause of Religion Liberty and Peace of the Kingdome assist and defend all those that enter into this League Covenant in the maintaining pursuing thereof and shall not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination perswasion or terrour to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed union conjunction whether to make defection to the contrary part or to give our selves to a detestable indifferency or Neutralitie in this Cause which so much concerneth the glory of God the good of the Kingdomes and the honour of the King but shall all the daies of ourlives realously and constantly continue therein against all opposition and promote the same according to our power against all Lets and impediments whatsoever and what we are not able our selves to suppresse or overcome we shall reveale and make knowne that it may be timely prevented or removed All which we shall do as in the sight of God And because these Kingdomes are guilty of many sins and provocations against God and his Son Iesus Christ as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers the fruits thereof We professe and declare before God and the World our unfained desire to be humbled for our own sins and for the sins of these Kingdoms especially that we have not as we ought valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel that we have not laboured for the purity and power thereof and that we have not endeavoured to receive Christ in our hearts nor to walke worthy of him in our lives which are the causes of other sins and transgressions so much abounding amongst us And our true and unfained purpose desire and endeavour for our selves and all others under our power and charge both in publike and in private in all duties we owe to God and Man to amend our lives and each one to goe before another in the example of a real Reformation that the Lord may turn away his wrath and heavy indignation and establish these Churches and Kingdoms in truth and peace And this Covenant we made in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of all hearts with a true intention to perform the same as we shall answer at the greaâ— day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed Most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his holy spirit for this end and to blesse our desires and proceedings with such successe as may be deliverance and safety to his people and encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or in danger of the yoke of Antichristian Tyranny to joine in the same or like Association and Covenant to the glory of God the enlargement of the Kingdome of Iesus Christ and the peace and tranquility of Christian Kingdomes and Common-Wealths FINIS