then if in their representative Assemblies one cannot act unless he be elected no more may any other But in Christian associations no one Father hath a greater priviledge to act in their Common-Councels then another Therefore if in their representative Conventions one cannot act unless he be elected no more may any other XLIX If in their representative Councels none hath more power to act then another unless he be elected then the pretended power of Kings and Lords spirituall and temporal to act by vertue of their own rights is not justifyable But in the representative Councels of associated beleeving Fathers none hath more power to act then another unless he be elected Therefore the pretended power of Kings and Lords spirituall and temporall to act in such Councels by vertue of their own rights is not justifiable L. If custome cannot destroy a right grounded upon an universall Law of God the the authority of the Fatherhood cannot be voided by any customary claimes But custome cannot destroy a right grounded upon an universall Law of God Mat. 15. 3. 4. 9. Therefore no customary claimes can make void the sole and independent authority of a Christian Fatherhood LI. If the government of a Christian Common-wealth be solely and independently in the Fatherhood then whosoever assumes a power in competition with the Common-councell of a beleeving Fatherhood usurps upon their authority and sins against Gods ordinance But the government of a Christian Commonwealth is solely and independently in the Fatherhood Therefore whosoever assumes a power in competition with them or with their representatives doth thereby sin against Gods ordinance LII If the Fatherhood of Christian associations have a sole and independent power and if it be a sin to usurp upon that authority then may the representative Trustees of the Fatherhood lawfully resist any such usurpation But the authority of the Fatherhood of associated Christians is sole and independent and it is a sin to usurp upon that authority Therefore any such usurpation may lawfully be resisted by the representative Trustees of the Fatherhood LIII If it be lawfully in the power of the representative Trustees of the Fatherhood to resist any such usurpation then they are bound in honour and religion not to suffer any to be competitors with them in government if they have a potency wherewith to oppose But it is lawfully in the power of the representative Trustees of the Fatherhood to resist any usurped power Therefore if they be in a condition to prevent it it stands not with their honour nor honesty to suffer any to be their competitors LIIII If the Trustees of the Fatherhood cannot in honor or honesty suffer any to be sharers with them in government they having a potency to oppose then had it been dishonest and dishonorable in the present Trustees of the Fatherhood to yield an inherent right in the Militia and Negative voice to a King in their power who had taken up Arms to maintain the incroachment But the Trustees of the Fatherhood cannot in honour or honesty suffer any to be sharers with them in government they being in an opposing condition Therefore had they yeelded an inherent right in the Militia and Negative voice to a King who had put the Nation to a vast expence in a war raised to maintain the incroachment they had neither done honestly nor honourably LV. If the supreme power be solely and independently in the Fatherhood and if their present Trustees did by their publique Remonstrances engage the people in a chargable war against the contrary pretences then if after the sword had determined the controversie they had yeelded up their sole and independent interests they might deservedly have been noted with the brand of infidelity to all succeeding generations But the supreme authority is solely and independently in the Fatherhood and their present Trustees had engaged the people in a chargeable war by their publique Remonstrances against the contrary pretensions Therefore they might deservedly have been noted with the ignominious brand of infidelity to all succeeding generations had they after the sword had determined the controversie yielded up any part of that sole and independent authority with which they were intrusted LVI If the Lawes now in being do not agree in all points with the Lawes of former ages then if the present Lawes be of any force it must necessarily be acknowledged that humane Lawes are alterable and repealable But the Lawes now in being do not agree in all points with the Lawes of former ages Therefore if the present Lawes be of any force it must be acknowledged that humane Lawes are alterable and repealeable LVII If humane National Lawes may lawfully be altered or repealed then they may be repealed or altered by that authority or the like to that by which they were or ought to have been made But it is lawful to alter or repeal any humane National Lawes Therefore they may be altered or repealed by that authority or the like to that by which they were or ought to have been made LVIII If humane Lawes may be altered or repealed by that authority or the like to that by which they were made then the Fatherhood of Christian associations may alter or repeale any municipal Lawes therein constituted But humane Lawes may be altered or repealed by that authority or the like to that by which they were or ought to have been made Therefore the municipal Lawes of Christian associations may be altered or repealed by the Fatherhood or their representatives LIX If humane Lawes may be altered or repealed by the Fatherhood and if Magistrates Parochial Provincial and Monarchical be of humane institution then any such Magistrates may be outed of their authority by an act of the Fatherhood either personally or representatively assembled But municipal Lawes may be altered or repealed by the Fatherhood and all such Magistrates be of humane institution Therefore any such Magistrates may be outed of their authority by an act of the Fatherhood whether personally or representatively assembled LX. If in the English Nation there hath been at one and the same time many Kings independent one of another from whom the last Kings could not derive any interest then to make out a justifiable title to the late Kings it must bee confessed that Kings may be deposed But in the English Nation there hath beene at one and the same time many Kings independent one of another from whom the last Kings could not derive any interest Therefore the title of the late Kings was invalid unless Kings may lawfully be deposed LXI If before association the Fathers of a Christian Commonwealth were equally independent then after association they are equally obliged to submit to the Lawes therein constituted But before association the Fathers of a Christian Commonwealth were equally independent Therefore being associated they are equally bound to submit to the Lawes therein constituted LXII If the members of a Commonwealth be equally bound to submit to the Lawes
last Kings was invalid But the last line of English Kings did derive their title to the Crown from Conquest and there were Kings in England before them Therefore if the Crownes of Kings ought by Gods ordinance to descend in a right line to their next legitimate heirs the title of the last Kings was usurped and whatsoever any of them acted as Kings was unlawfull and is voydable XXII If the limits and precincts of no such Magistrates are laid out by any divine boundaries then can they not infallibly know of what people they respectively may lawfully take cognisance by any theologicall dispensatory But the limits and precincts of no such Magistrates are laid out by divine boundaries Therefore of what people they respective may lawfully take cognisance is not determinable by Theology XXIII If no such Magistrates be distinguishable in their persons power or precincts by any divine directory then neither Magistrates nor Subordinates can bee convinced of their reciprocall allegeance but by some humane demonstration But no such Magistrates are distinguishable in their persons power or precincts by any divine directory Therefore neither Parochiall Provinciall or Monarchicall Magistrates nor their Subordinates can be convinced of their reciprocall allegeance but by some humane demonstration XXIV If it be a humane Law only by which the persons power and precincts of all such Magistrates are known and distinguished so as to create a mutuall allegeance between them and their Subordinates then no such allegeance can be created unless some knowne persons have a lawfull power to make Lawes But it is a humane Law onely by which such persons are so distinguished as to create a mutuall allegeance Therefore unless some known persons have a lawfull power to make Lawes no such allegeance can be created XXV If no man be bound to submit to such Lawes as are constituted by an obtruded power then the Law-makers ought to have a known lawfull power over that whole community to which they pretend a power of giving Lawes But n o man is bound to submit to Lawes constituted by an obtruded power Therefore the Law-makers ought to have a known lawful power over the whole Community XXVI If the Authority of the Law makers ought to extend lawfully to the whole Community then it must be such as relating to all doth not thereby infringe any known Law of God But their Authority by whom Lawes are made ought to extend lawfully to the whole Community Therefore it must be such as relating to all no divine Law is thereby infringed XXVII If the Law makers Authority ought to be such as doth not infringe any known Law of God and if originally the paternal jurisdiction be by divine right sole and independent then in believing associations none have a justifiable and satisfactory calling to make Laws and constitute publique Magistrates either Civil or Ecclesiastical but the fathers of families or some deputed by them But the Authority of Law-makers must be such as doth not trespasse upon any known Law of God and the paternal Prerogative is sole and independent Therefore none have a warrantable power to give Lawes or impose Magistrates either Civil or Ecclesiastical upon believing associates but the fatherhood or their deputies XXVIII If the Magistratical power neither of Kings Priests or Judges of Israel did consist in making but in declaring Law then as they were Kings Priests and Judges they had no Legislative Authority But the Magistratical power neither of Kings Priests or Judges of Israel did consist in making but in declaring Law Therefore they had not any Legislative Authority belonging to them as they were either Kings Priests or Judges XXIX If neither the Kings Priests or Judges of Israel had a Legislative power appending to their offices and if there be no Law of God that giveth such power to such officers then neither Kings Priests or Judges have by divine right a Legislative power in respect of their offices But neither the Kings Priests or Judges of that Nation had a Legislative power appending to their offices nor is there any Law of God that giveth such power to such Magistrates Therefore by divine right neither Kings Priests or Judge have a Legislative power by vertue of any of their offices XXX If in Christian associations none have a warrantable and satisfactory calling to make Lawes or constitute publique Magistrates of any sort whatsoever but the fathers themselves or some deputed by them then the Authority of the fatherhood of associated Christians either persoually or representatively assembled is sole independent and supreme in all causes as well Civil as Ecclesiastical But in Christian associations none have a warrantable and satisfactory calling to make Lawes or constitute publick Magistrates of any sort whatsoever but the fathers themselves or some deputed by them Therefore the Authority of the fatherhood of associated Christians either personally or representatively assembled is sole independent and supreme in all causes as well Ecclesiastical as Civil XXXI If it be not discernable who amongst the individual members of a Christian Common-wealth is more particularly inspired with the gifts of the Spirit then another then in such associations the gifts of the Spirit are not convincing evidence of the lawful calling of any Magistrates But it is not discernable who amongst the individual members of a Christian Common-wealth is more particularly inspired with the gifts of the spirit then another Therefore the gifts of the Spirit are not competent to distinguish who in such associations ought to be Magistrates and who subordinates XXXII If in the associations of believers the gifts of the Spirit be not competent whereby to determine who ought therein to be Magistrates then is there no other way to distinguish between Magistrates and subordinates but by the rule of Nature or consent But in the associations of believers the gifts of the Spirit are not competent whereby to determine who ought therein to be Magistrates Therefore there is no other way to distinguish between Magistrates and subordinates in such associations but by the rule of Nature or Consent XXXIII If the Magistrates of a Christian Comonwealth are no other way distinguishable from subordinates but by the rule of Nature or Consent then the Government of Christian associations falls wholly under a natural and prudential speculation But the Magistrates of a Christian association are no other way distinguishable from subordinates but by the rule of Nature or Consent Therefore the Government of a Christian Commonwealth falls altogether under a natural and prudential speculation XXXIV If the Government of a Christian Commonwealth falls wholly under a natural and prudential speculation then they who are of the Ministerial function have not therein any singular priviledge to a gubernative power by divine dispensation But the Government of a Christian Commonwealth hath its form and being meerly from prudence and Nature Therefore they who are of the Ministerial function have therein no singular right to a gubernative power by divine
therein constituted then although the collective body of the Fatherhood be independent yet independency ceaseth as to any individuall Member But the Members of a Commonwealth are equally bound to submit to the Lawes therein constituted Therefore as to any individuall Members of a Commonwealth independency ceaseth after association LXIII If every individuall Member of a Common-wealth be equally lyable to the penalties of the Lawes therein constituted then for the same cause that any one may be put to death for the same may any other But every individual member of a Common-wealth is equally lyable to the Lawes therein constituted Therefore for the same cause that any one may be put to death for the same may any other LXIV If the Lawmaker may decree him to death who acts any thing by which the established government of a Commonwealth may be indangered and if the legislative power be solely in the Fatherhood then much more may they order him to death who acts any thing destructive to that authority by which only such government can be established But Lawmakers may decree him to death who acts any thing by which the established government of a Commonwealth may be indangered and the legislative power is solely in the Fatherhood Therefore much more may they order him to death by whom anything is acted destructive to that authority by which onely such government can be established LXV If the setting up of the Kings of Israel is not so clearely approved by God as the punishing of their offending Kings by death then it is more reasonable to conclude from what was demonstrated by God to that Nation that offending Kings ought to be punished then that the setting up of Kings is necessarily injoyned But the setting up of Kings hath not so cleare an approbation from God in that Nation as the punishing of their offending Kings 2 Kings 9. ch 2 Kings 10. 30. Therefore from what was demonstrated by God to the children of Israel it is more reasonable to conclude that peccant Kings ought to be punished then that all Nations ought to be governed by Kings LXVI If by the gifts of grace and nature the Fatherhood of a Christian association have from God a sole independent and supreme authority and if a Christian Fatherhood Eldership and Presbytery do signifie all one and the same thing then in such associations Presbyterian Government instituted by God is not to be found but iu the personal or representative Assembly of the Fatherhood But by the gifts of Grace and Nature the Fatherhood of a Christian association hath from God a sole independent and supreme authority and a Christian Fatherhood Eldership and Presbytery do signifie all one the same thing Therefore unlesse it be in the personal or representative Assembly of the Fatherhood Presbyterian Government instituted by God is not to be found in a Christian Commonwealth and they who pretending for Presbyterian Government do quarrel with the representative Assembly of the Fatherhood do contend with that for which they seem to contend LXVII If in the established Government of a populous Commonwealth it be prudentially necessary that there be Governours of different qualifications to whom those who are subordinate ought to be in subjection and if where such Governours are there necessarily must be priority and inferiority and degrees of both then in such a Commonwealth the native parity and equality of the individual subordinate members must be superceded But in the established government of a populous Commonwealth it is prudentially necessary that there be Governours of different qualifications to whom those who are subordinate ought to be in subjection and wheresoever such Governours are there necessarily must be priority and inferiority and degrees of both Therefore the parity and equality of the individual subordinate members must necessarily be superceded in the established Government of of a populous Commonwealth LXVIII If the Fatherhood of a Christian Association hath from God by the gifts of Grace and Nature a sole and independent power in all causes as well spiritual as temporal then all Oathes and Covenants destructive to their interests are sinful and void But the Fatherhood of a Christian Common-wealth hath from God by the gifts of Grace and Nature a sole and independent power in all causes as well Ecclesiastical as Civil Therefore all such oaths and covenants are sinful and void as are destructive to their interests LXIX If it be inconsistent with the paternal Prerogative to have sharers with them in government then if any member of a christian association do voluntarily vow allegeance to any other power be it forraign or domestique his vow is sinful and the covenant void But it is inconsistent with the paternal Prerogative to have sharers with them in government Therefore if any member of a Christian association do vow allegeance to any other power be it forraine or domestique his vow is sinfull and the covenant void LXX If nationall Covenants be grounded upon a humane Law and if the supreame legislative power ought to be obeyed as well in their abrogating as in their making of Lawes then if the Law upon which a Covenant is grounded be taken away the Covenant loseth its force But nationall Covenants are grounded upon a humane Law and the supreme legislative power ought to be obeyed as well in their abrogating as in their constituting of Lawes Therefore all such covenants lose their force if the Law upon which they are grounded bee taken away Truth is best discerned when in her playnest dress I have therefore clothed these my conceptions in this home-span attyre that the sense and intendment of the conclusions may be obvious to the meanest capacity wherein did I conceive the least inconsistency with even and upright reason they should sooner have felt the flames then seen the light But lest I may therein seeme to some to savor too much of an affected singularity I will close up the propositions with our Saviours example then which none is more proper for a Christian Mans imitation and direction and from thence it seems to me that the most materiall of the precedent inferences may rationally bee deducted Amongst the Evangelists who being particularly inspired wrote the story of his life and passion it is recorded that hee bestowed a chiding upon Peter for opposing the Officers and Souldiers of the Common-councell of his own Nation in the defence of him his Master when they came to lay violent hands upon him And that hee himselfe as Man thought it no sinne to submit his own body even to death the same Councell judging him guilty of a Crime meriting so severe a punishment It was the authority of this Councell to which our Saviour laid down the dearest of his earthly interests not to the power of Pilate for he washed the blood from off his guiltless hands and had the power been solely in him made his desire to save him manifest by pleading for his life and justifying his spotless innocence saying