Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	king_n	law_n	resist_v	2,184	5	9.6676	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86729	Digitus testium, or A dreadful alarm to the vvhole kingdom, especially the Lord Major, the aldermen, and the Common-Councel of the City of London. Or a short discourse of the excellency of Englands lawes and religion. Together, with the antiquity of both, and the famous Kings that England hath had to defend both the religion and the laws against the heathen Romish emperours, and against the Romish power, under Popes. With the several plots the Popes of Rome have used against the Kings of England, to throwe them down, and how of late he hath prevailed against the magistracy and ministery of England, his new designes, and manner of progress: together, with a serious view of the new oath or ingagement, with 22. queries upon the same. And also objections made against the non-subscribers thereof answered. Let the ingenuous reader take so much pains, as to read that incomparable peece of vindication of a treatise of monarchy by way of discovery of three main points thereof.	Hall, Henry, d. 1680, attributed name.; Hall, Edmund, 1619 or 20-1687, attributed name.	1651 (1651)	Wing H339A; Thomason E621_13; ESTC R206419	34,005	37

Nauntons fegmenta Regalia p. 2. Sec. 1. So that the Stuarts have an unquestionable Title to the Crown of England from the old Christian brittish Kings whose antiquity is beyond all the Kings in the World The Tudors expiring in Queen Elizabeth the mighty Family of the Stuarts succeeded by an unquestionable Title as lineally descended from Margaret the eldest Daughter of Henry the 7. of whom descended James the 1. of England and sixth of Scotland he reigning 22. years died and left the possession of England Scotland and Ireland to Charles the 1. who after he had raigned 24. years was cut off by a violent death Jan. 30. 1648. at his own door So that by this it may appear by what right the Kings of England have for above these 100. years made the first and chief estate in Parliament t is by a right of succession and inheritance always acknowledged and granted by the King The House of Lords make the second Estate because the Nobility of a Kingdom are the main pillers of those political Thea●ors where they live and as they are Clarior et illustri●r pars populi they do claim that priviledge jure geutium in this Kingdom they claim it as their Birth-right never in any age denied them their house being far more ancient then the House of Commons for Henry the 1. was the first that established the House of Commons and the House of Commons make the third estate who are called by the Kings Writ and chosen by the people to be their Trustees in Parl these being chosen and come up to Westminster or the place where the King appoints they are called over in the Kings presence and there they answer for what Shire or Town they are which done by the Kings Commandment they choose them a Speaker who maketh requests to the King that he would be content that they may injoy their liberties to speak their minds freely that they may punish any of their House offending that they may in doubts have the liberty to consult with His Majesty and the House of Lords promising in the Commons names not to abuse but to improve their priviledges as faithful true and loving subjects ought to do for their Princes Honour and advantage The House of Commons have power to impeach any person of Treason except the King for the King is one of their Estates and the Head now neither of these 3. Estates can impeach an other the King Lords cannot impeach the House of Commons because it is the third estate and the King and Commons cannot impeach the House of Lords because it makes the second Estate hereby the community must necessarily dissolve it self if either of the Estates could impeach each other therefore the Lords and Commons be they never so intire and full have no power de jure to impeach the King because he makes the first estate in Parl indeed they have power to curb the exorbitances of each other and for this end their two Estates of Lords and Commons were devised to curb the excess of Monarchs but in no wise to dethrone them The House of Commons never was a Court of Judicature it had a regative voice in the making of new Lawes and the chiefest hand in granting subsidies levying Taxes and imposing Customs on this Kingdom without whom the King and Lords could not proceed The original of the Subjects liberty came first out of Germany where saith Tacitus nec Regibus libera aut infinita potestas erat Kings had not unlimitted power but the weighty matters of the Realm were dispatched by general meetings of all Estates but it can never be found that the House of Commons was a Court of Judicature they are but the Peoples Trustees and this power they have that they have a negative voice in the making of a Law or imposing of any Taxes and herein is the great and vast liberty of the English Subject included that there can be no Law imposed on them but what their Representatives or Trustees in Parl shall agree unto and if after they have agreed unto a Law which proves inconvenient or not so effectual as was intended for the good of the People The next Session saith Fortescue Cancito reformari potest And thus the Laws of England in their framing are the best Laws in the World 3. And as the best in their frame and constitution so they are the best Laws in distribution for as all Estates have a hand in framing a Law so no Estate is exempted from observing of those Laws so that English Laws may truly be called Justice in the abstract for they do suum cuique tribu●re They give the King his due the Nobles their due and the Commons their due to each man from him that welds the Scepter to him that holds the Plough it gives him his right The Law sets the King above imprisonment or attainture by his Subjects by this Rule in Law nemo imprisonetur aut disvisietur nisi per judicium Legale parium Now all other men in the Kingdom may be tryed because there are to be found his Fellow-Subjects equal in all the priviledges of a Subject with him but a King take him either in his personal capacity or publick capacity he is no Subject of the Law indeed he is sworn to maintain and defend the Law The King is bound to maintain the Law by his Oath the form of which Oath runs thus You shall keep the Church of God the Clergy and People intirely in peace and concord in God according to your power The King answers I will keep them you shall cause equal and right justice in all your judgements and discretion in mercy and truth according to your power The King answers I will do it you shall grant just Laws and Customs to be kept and you shall promise that those shall be protected by you and to the lover of God to be strengthened which the common People shall choose according to their power To which the King answers I give and promise it This Oath the King takes at his Coronation viz. Parl. Rol. 1. Hen. 4. but in case he doth not so fully execute the Laws as is meete there can be no Judge legal of the King because he is a Monark and there cannot be Judges of the accesse of Monarchy for none can be found his equals and to judge him otherwise were to deny the Monarch what is granted to the meaner Subject which is to be judged by his equalls But though the Monark cannot be judged yet the instruments of that Monark may for a Commission from the King cannot bear out a Subject beyond Law the exorbitant Commands of such a Monak as our English Monark being politically powerless and if Authority fail in the supreme Power the instrument can have none from thence derived to him but must necessarily fall under the censure of the Law so that though the King is head of the

three Estates cannot be molested yet the instruments that he implies against Law may be tryed This Law is most agreeable to the Law of God and the Law of nature to the Law of God for Kings are the Representatives of God on earth and none can touch them we see this clear in two famous instances in Saul who could crimes have brought him under the censure of men had enough to dethrone him for he was a Tyrant a murtherer and a publick enemy to the Church and State yet David when he could have done justice upon him said God forbid for he is the Lords anointed the declared King of Israel And David that was guilty of murther and adultery both of them deserving death by the Law yet was not questioned by his Subjects because God only hath the power of punishing Kings and not man This is most agreeable to the Law of nature for if Kings should be subject to their Subjects then the order must needs be confounded and the Law of nature utterly rooted up which orders approves no further then the supreme Authority which if judged by any is not the supreme and so produceth confusion and infinition Therefore we conclude that the Laws of England are the best Laws in the World in every respect both for matter form and distribution And as for Laws so for pure Religion it is beyond all other Nations it received the Apostolick faith almost if not all out as soon as Rome that brags of its antiquity Gindas telleth us that England received the Gospel in the Apostles dayes Joseph at Armathea bringing it into the Kingdom and Origen and Turtullian tell us that it received the Gospel as soon as any Natian in Europe This we are sure that it hath retained it in its purity the longest of any Nation it had a great share in the Presevitians under the Heathen Emperours of Rome after that under the Arrian and Entichion Heresies and after that under Popus the bloudiest and cruellest enemy to the Church so that from the Apostles time till this day Christian Religion though sometimes obscured never was obliterate nor extinct in the Kingdom And as this Kingdom hath been famous for Laws and Religion above others so it hath been the famousest in the World for Religious and valiant Kings to protect it and eminent Ministers to divulge it Lucious the Son of Coilus who was King of England was the first Christian King Jesus Christ smiling upon this Nation above all others in blessing it with a righteous King which was a miracle in the World at that time Constantine the 8. King of England after Lucius who was the Son of beautiful Helea King Coil his Daughter of England whom she brought forth at York he becam Emperour of Rome conquering the Heathen Emperours with a Brittish Army and so converted Rome Heathen into Rome Christian the famousest Reformation that ever was wrought in the World so that England is famous for being the first Christian Kingdom and setting up Christian Empire English Kings having been the only great friends to true Religion in the time of Paganisme And as they were the greatest friends to Christs Church against Rome Pagan so they have been the greatest friends to the true Chucrch against Rome Antixfian for about the year 1070. when the Pope was in his full height of soverainty the Normons line succeeding the Saxons in England were the first Kings that contemned the Popes Authority William the Conqueror spit at him and Wilt Rufus who succeeded him openly spake against the Popes usurped power of binding and loosing withstanding and rejecting his intrapped fopperies declaring against the Pope the folly of invocating Saints he plucked proud Arch Bishop Anselmes nose under his Girdle in despight of the Pope and so did the royal Family of the Plantagenets The Tudors and the Stuarts got their several parts in greater degrees against the Pope as they succeeded each other So that the Normans may be said to resist the Pope the Plantagenets to grapple with the Pope the Tudors to unhorse the Pope and the Stuarts to stob the Pope King James being the first King that writ against him proved him to be Antichrist Against the Kings of England the Popes have born an old grudge and indeavoured to destroy those Kings or Queens which resisted their Authority at least 12. Treasons against Q. Elizabeth were discovered and prevented which so frustrated Pope Pius Quintus projects that it broke his heart for malice that he could not with his Bulls which with his own hands he sealed depose and dethrone the Protestant Queen for she took occasion from the Popes wickedness and the Papists treachery to extirpate Priests and Jesuites out of the Kingdom whereupon Pope Gregory 13. erected a Colledge on purpose for English Priests and Jesuites that fled from England to Rome and another at Doway which was much nearer England that they might there both frame their granadoes of Treason against the English Court and receive such persons as were succesless in their Treason and made escapes out of England Against King James besides that Treason of Warson and Clarke the prodigious Gunpowder-plot was contrived by the Papists to destroy the King the Prince the House of Lords and the House of Commons in the twinkling of an eye upon this ground because Pope Clement 8. by a Bull Commanded that the King should not be crowned without a toleration of Popery but God prevented that prodigious blowe Hereupon the King and the Parl framed the Oath of allegiance to be taken by every subject in the Kingdom 't is thus I. A. B do truly and sincerely acknowle●ge profess testifie and declare in my Conscience before God and the World that our Soveraign Lord K. James is lawful and rightful King of this Realm and of all other His Maj. Dominions and Countries and that the Pope neither of himself nor by any Authority of the Church or See of Rome or by any other means with any other hath any power of Authority to depose the King or dispose any of his Majesties Kingdoms or Dominions or to authorize any forraign Prince to invade or anoy him or his Countries or to discharge any of his subjects of the allegiance and obedience to His Majesty or to give license to any of them to bear Arms or offer any violence or hurt to His Maj. person State or Government or to any of His Maj. Subjects I do swear from my hear● that no withstanding any Declaration or excom. against the King his Heirs and Successours or any absolution of the said Subjects from their obedience I will bear faith and true Religion to His Maj. His Heirs and Successors and him and them will defend to the utmost of my power against all conspiracies and attempts whatsoever and I do detest and abhorre as impious and heretical the damnable Doctrine of the Pope that Princes may be excommunicated and deprived of their Kingdoms deposed and murthered by their

in so doing whether we do not approve of their cutting off the King throwing down the House of Lords and casting out all the Covenant-keeping Commons with the rest of the Covenant keeping Officers in the Kingdom hereby contracting the guilt of Blood Treason and other foul Enormities to our selves by being partaker in other mens sins which David Psal. 1. bids us neither to sit with nor stand with nor walk with not to have the least communion with Object But is objected by the ablest of them from Rom. 13. 1 2. That that the Powers that be are to be obeyed let them be what they will be if they are in being they are to be obeyed because they are the Ordinance of God Ans. The Apostle layeth this Command upon Subjects not to rebel against the visible Supream Authority this the Engagers hold to be the sence of the Apostle if so then hence we draw this Argument Whatsoever subiects shal Rebel against a visible supream Authority they resist the Ordinance of God But an Army and other subiects in contradicting the Votes of the two Houses cutting off the King and pulling down the house of Lords Rebel against the Supream Authoritie Ergo Here is an Argument ad hominem so that the Apostle seems to tell us that usurping powers are not the Ordinance of God but the resisters of the Ordinance of God and therefore by their own Arguments the present power is rather to be dealt with as resisters of the visible Supream Authority then obeyed or acknowledged for Supream As for that of Christs acknowledging Caesar 't is well known the Case is far different from ours for the Roman Emperors had conquered Iudea many years before and the whole Nation became Tributary to the Romans the Supream Authority of the Iews acknowledged Caesar to be their King We have no King but Caesar and they had for a certain Tribute compounded with Caesar which Tribute money Christ forbids them not but commands them to pay if the Iews will Covenant with Caesar Christ bids them not break Covenant with Caesar and this is all and how far is this from our Case Iesus Christ is a great enemy to usurpation and so much abhors that Christians should subject unto it especially under the Gospel that he cals it Devil worship Revel 13. 4. Subjecting to a Tyrannicall Government is called the worshiping of the Devil Verse 1 2. the beast arising out of the Sea i. e. the Ecclesiastical State meaning the Pope the great Independant or the world verse 2. to whom the Devil the Dragon gave his seat and power and great authority The Dragons seat before Constantine was the Emperial Throne seated at Rome this the Devil gave the Pope and why is it said the Devil gave him his power and seat but because he got it in the Devils way by lying Covenant-breaking Rebellion against their Leige Masters the Emperors and his murthering and dethroning of them and usurping their authority This usurped power of the Pope verse 3 the world wondered after that is yeelded subjection unto acknowledged his soveraignty and Verse 4. and they worshiped the Dragon how so the next words tell you he gave power to the Beast The Romans did not and the Roman Catholiques did never absolutely professe themselves worshipers of the Devil but in as much as they worshiped an usurped Power a Power gotten by Treachery Rebellion murther and deceit they worshiped the Devil This Text holds out two clear Truths 1. That there are Powers which are not of Gods setting up out of the Devils setting up 2. To subject to such usurped power is subjection to the Devil and as odious in the sight of Christ as worshiping of the Devil Object Kings were ordained in wrath and God was angry with Israel for desiring a King Ergo Kings are not the government approved by God Sol. To this we answer in a word to the Engagers who upon this ground reject the government of Kings 1. God did not give the office of a King but the person of a King in wrath for when God took away the person he continued the office 2. He promised to Abraham that Kings should come of him 3. He that denyes the office of a king denyes Christ who is a King and denyes the established Government in the form of it by God in the Church since Adam 2. God was not angry with them simply for seeking a king but 1. for their manner of seeking a king they would seek one in the pride of their heart onely to be like other Nations 1 Sam. 8. 5. their hearts were hankering after not only to be like other Nations government but their Religion ● For that they sought a king inordinately they could not be content with a government that was over them but had an itching discontented humor against the present visible government They made a remonstrance that their Judges were unjust therfore they would be no longer subject to them v. 5. this God is angry at For Subjects to reject or indeavour to change the government of a kingdom or to overthrow the visible lawfull Authority upon dislike of the Government is a God-provoking sin let the Ingagers look to it The supreme Powers are onely disposed of by God Doubtlesse they might have prayed to God in his due time to fulfill his promise Gen. 16. of giving them a king for Israel never came to the high noon of Reformation and glory till kings were set over and that was in Solomon at which time the Church and State of the Jews flourished beyond all things before or since so that in praying for a king in order to the glory of God the accomplishment of his promises and the good of his Church it had been no sin but for the people of their own heads mutinously and in opposition to a visible Authority to desire a king this was a great sin Ob. If Gods providence order such things we must submit to providence and revealed decrees of God lest we be found fighters against God Sol. To this we answer there are the decrees of God and the commands of God we speak of them now as contra-distinct things quo ad nos The precepts or revealed commands of God in his word are the unquestionable rules of Christians at all times whereby to regulate all their actions against which no providence nor necessity can prevail so as to dispense with those Laws or precepts we mean morall precepts such as are naturally moral not morall barely by institution for such a morall differs nothing from ceremoniall except in duration such morall precepts in extremâ necessitate may be dispensed withall as to help an ox out of a pit on the Sabbath day which is a labour and toil and simply a breach of the Sabbath yet in regard of the necessity it gives a dispensation or rather the Law dispenseth with it But as for morall commands which are such by nature they are indispensible rules except in the case

intended to be brought up against the Parl to force them to condescend to the lusts of a Popish party Hereupon the first Protestation was framed and sent throughout the Kingdom no body refusing to subscribe it except Jesuitish Separatists J. A. B. do in the presence of Almighty God promise vow and protest to maintain and defend as far as lawfully I may c. Soon after this the breach between the King and the Parl. fell out the King giving too much ear to evil Councel and that Popish faction which was the ground of all the former persecution and the civil War the King raised an Army to defend himself and the Protestant Religion the Parl did the like upon the same grounds which at that time was doubtless real their end propounded was to defend Religion Law the Kings Maj. Person the Parl. priviledges and the Peoples Liberties The Parl cause seemed the best in most Protestants eyes at that time in regard the Courts designs were long before discovered to the Parl The Queens departure with the Crown-Jewels into Holland and the numerous flocks of Papists going to the King with all the corrupt part and guilty persons of the Kingdom which made haste to the King after his departure made the Protestants afraid what would become of Religion Parliament and the Kings person should that party about him have prevailed however they professed the Protestant Religion though many of them convicted Papists Hereupon the Lords and Commons made a second Vow and Covenant with this preamble Whereas the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parl have declared that there hath been and now is a Popish and Traiterus plot for the subversion of the true Protestant Reformed Religion and the liberty of the subject c. And after all this still perceiving the Popish party to increase grow great victorious bloudy and blasphemous the Lords and Commons professing to the World that they had nothing before their eyes but the glory of God the advancement of Christs Kingdom and the happiness of the King and his Posterity with the true publique liberty safety and peace of the Kingdom against the plots of the enemies they entred into the solemn League and Covenant containing 6. Articles which every Parl. man publickly and solemnly at the Chappel of St Margaret Westminster with his hand lifted up to Heaven in the sight of the Scots Commissioners and the whole Congregation did subscribe 1. That we will sincerely really and constantly through the grace of God indeavour in our several places and callings the preservation of the reformed Religion of the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common enemies the reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland in Doctrine c. 2. That we will in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacy Superstition Heresie Schisme Prophaneness c. 3. With the same reality sincerity and constancy in our several places and Callings indeavour with our Estates and Lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of Parl and the liberties of the Kingdoms and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdom that the World may bear witness with our Consciences of our loyalty and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majesties just power and greatness 4. We shall also with all faithfulness endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be incendiaries or Malignants c. 5. And whereas the happiness of a blessed peace between the Kingdoms formerly denyedt our progenitors c. 6. We shall also according to our places c. This solemn League and Covenant being entred into by both Nations of England and Scotland made the deepest and strongest Politicians of the Roman faction to tremble yea as Mr. Hinderson the Reverend and Learned Minister of Scotland then Commissioner well foretold the news of this Covenant which was soon carried to Rome with the names of all the Subscribers made the Pope and his Conclave of Cardinals amazed and tremble insomuch that they doubled their diligence to work the destruction of the Covenanteers at this time The Duke of Lorane was solicited by Sir Kelem Digbies meanes who was then the Queens Agent for the English Affairs at Rome to help the King of England with an Army against the Covenanters in England Sir Kelenem Digby was the Popes right hand to promote and further all designs against the Covenanters party in England At the same time a Nuncio was forthwith sent from the Popes Court into Ireland there to make a Cessation with the Protestants and to further by all means possible the King of England against the Covenanters which was concluded with the Popes good liking as hath been confessed The old and sage Statesmen in Parl perceiving the designes of the Pope to drive furiously on towards the destruction of the Parl and Covenanters called in the Scots to their aid against the Popes designes The English A●my and Scots Army admitting no Officers or Souldiers in their Armies but such as took the Covenant the Covenanters through Gods providence beyond all expectation prospered in the field against their enemies and the Parl and Assembly of Divines prospered at Westminster and went on successively both of them being unanimous in the pulling down of Popery and Tyranny and establishing and maintaining the liberties of the Kingdom and Laws of the Realm and true Religion in Doctrine Discipline and Government for this purpose the Assembly of Divines first went over the Articles of faith drew them up after most deliberate serious and learned debates upon each of them and humbly presented them to the Parl under 33. heads 1. of the Scripture 2. of Gods Covenant and the holy Trinity 3. of Gods decrees 4. of Creation 5. of Providence 6. of mans fall and sin 7. of Gods Covenant with man 8. of Christ the Mediator 9. of free will 10. of effectual Calling 11. of Justification 12. Adoption 13. Sanctific●tion 14. saving faith 15. Repentance 16. good works 17. of perseverance 18. of assurance of grace 19. of the Law of God 20. Christian liberty liberty of Conscience 21. of religious worship and the Lords day 22. of lawful Oaths 23. of the civil Magistrate 24. of marriage and divorce 25. of the Church 26. of Communion of Saints 27. of the Sacraments 28. of Baptisme 29. of the Lords Supper 30. of Church-censures 31. of Synods and Councels 32. of the Resurrection 33. of the last judgement Then they regularly proceeded to settle Church-Government first proving Presbytery to be the Government which is most like to the primitive Government and coming nearest of all other Governments to Gods word next they drew up a Directory for Church-Government with an Orthodox learned and pious Catechisme and thus the Covenanters Magistracy and Ministry went on and prospered until they threw down their

for them to proceed upon to settle the peace of the Kingdom then even then this party against the Votes of the Supream Authority of this Nation and against their allegiance violently rushed in upon the houses pulled out and restrained one hundred and fifty imprisoned the chief Protestants and ablest States-men who were most violent against the Papists and left only a party remaining in the lower House such as themselves best liked of this party seized on the King caused him to be publiquely arraigned and at his own door at Noon in the view of all the people cut off his Head who was then the only Protestant King in the world and only because he resolved to root out Popery and establish true Religion according to the Covenant Since which time the same party having rid their hands of the Protestant Magistracy have oft printed Books against the Calling of the English Ministry which Books have been printed by Authority licensed and frequently taught and scattered amongst the people And they have again and again petitioned that Power which they set up if not to pull down Ministry States Preachers as they call them to take away their Estates their Tythes and Livings by which they and their families subsist and how far they have proceeded in England and Wales to ruine the Covenanters Ministry all the world may see But the chief Politicians amongst them conceiving that Design to be too short to reach all the Protestant Ministry as the Heads of Colledges and such men and being well assured by taking away Tythes they shall prejudice their own party equal with others have pitched upon a more Politick Design for the extirpation of the Covenanters which is by framing a contrary Oath to the Covenant and imposing it upon the Ministry hereby their own party escape the snare and only the Godly Faithful Loyal and Orthodox Ministers are taken they have taken their Tythes from them silenced some thrust out of their Livings many banished others imprisoned o●hers outlawed all the Covenanters and lastly have resolved to turn them this Winter out of all Cities Towns and Corporations Thus far have they proceeded by this Popish Engine to destroy the Protestants This New Oath so far as we can perceive is a meer Design to destroy the Parliament to destroy the Army to destroy the Ministery and the Kingdome 1. Mr. Lilburn seemeth rationally to prove that this new oath or ingagement cannot be intended to uphold the present power that inforceth the taking of it but to maintain the Liberties of the Common-wealth whose just Liberties and Ancient customes they confound and therefore by that ingagement men say that party justly are bound not to establish but to pull down any usurped power over the people 2 If Mr Lilburn who is a man very popular in the Kingdome having alwayes been a publick sufferer should as he conceives himself bound by that Engagement gather of Gentlemen Souldiers and other Commoners and free-born People of England a considerable Party to remove those out of the way whom he and his party conceive are Tyrannical and Opposers of the People and in their stead erect another Party who are the true chosen Representatives of the People whether he may not justly tax all the Engagers that resist him as Covenant-breakers and proceed against them accordingly and so consequently whether this doth not open a gap and a wide one to set up whom the People shall choose above the present House sitting and Engagement to be Assistants in such Parliament confounding Acts as 't is declared 2. As it is destructive to the Parliament so likewise to the Army For saith one part of the Army The present Government is by Representatives of the peoples choosing Saith another part The present Government is by that Party in the House of Commons who invited us to the City to pull down the King Lords and the greatest part of the Commons and by our Power enabled to make Acts and enforce the Kingdom to obey them Saith another part of the Army The present Government is the Councel of State and the Councel of War for that party in the House were not of our setting up only we suffured them to sit there and the Councel of war commanded them to act what they did therefore the Councel of War with the Councel of State erected by us are the present Government Whether all these several Parties especially if there should be clashing betwixt them may not by this Engagement conceive themselves in Conscience bound to maintain their several Parties as the present Government without King or Lords And thus 't is likely to prove destructive to the Army 3. 'T is absolutely destructive to the Protestant Ministry and the sound Protestants of the Kingdom For it makes them in the sight of all the people in the world guilty of the horrible and Jesuitical Designs and Practises of the cutting off of the King the throwing down of the House of Lords and excluding of the Covenant keeping Protestants for by subscribing that Engagement they testifie to God and the world that they approve of all that they have done as they say 2. They make themselves guilty of horrible Perjury for they did swear Allegiance to the King his Heirs and Successors to defend them against all Attemps and Conspiracies whatsoever Now this is directly to conspire the extirpation of the Kings Posterity 2. The Protestation is against it 3. Their Covenant directly opposeth the Engagement For therein they engaged to maintain the King Lords and Commons and in this Engagement they engage to they know not what without King and Lords So that if they engage they in their Consciences pull the guilt of Murther Treason and other foul Facts upon their head● and forswear themselves Or if they do not engage they are it seems to be stripe of their Estates protection of the Law and lies at the mercy of every Villain So that 't is absolutely destructive to the Ministry and the like may be said of the Protestants of the Kingdom Oaths say the Caseists and all other Divines ought to be plain and clear without equivocal terms or doubtful expression For every Oath or Engagement is given and taken to oblige the party that takes it to the performance of what he swore unto Now every wise man in taking an Oath proposeth first these two things 1. Who imposeth it 2. What it is that is imposed For that 's certain an unlawful or usurped Power cannot impose an Oath it is lawful Authority must impose it otherwise the Oath though good may justly be refused As the Gun-powder Traytors had their Design taken effect they had got into the Throne and imposed an Oath though lawful in it self upon the Barons Knights Citizens Gentry and Commons of England yet it would doubtless and ought to be rejected by them because the Authority was imposed which usurped it This must needs be so for otherwise a Master if over-powered by his servants is

bound to take and submit to such an Oath as his servant shall impose which would soon set Beggers on horse-back and make all men of Honor and Wealth perpetual slaves but greater confusion then this there can not be in Hell for 't is Confusion bottomless and unfadomable 2. What it is that is imposed that must be inquired into for no man of conscience or honour or the least degree of wit but will inquire what it is that he takes before he take it he will not take it first and enquire afterwards what it means that 's forbidden by Solomon Now that men may understand what they ingage or swear unto the words ought to be simple cleer and plain that men may understand them For juramentum obligat lecundum intentionem jurantis sine d●●● alias secundum secundarium intellectum ejus cui juratur saith Aquinas Now if there be Amphibolas equivocal terms and obscurities in an Oath how can it possibly be but there must be errors either in him that gives it or he that takes it or both As for this Engagement indeed it is politiquely gilded like a poysoned Pill with as much subtilty and craft to induce people to take it as may be for they call it An Engagement not an Oath for then they supposed people would scruple it but it is only subscribing to two or three words and there 's an end this is no great matter with Atheists Apostates Schismaticks Lovers of the World and Haters of God and Goodness but they that are wise sober-minded and conscientious As they two well know what Authority imposeth it so they cannot possibly see what is inintended in it nor what to make of it He that seriously views it will positively conclude there was never such a little big-belly'd viporous Monster seen in the world before to have so many Engines within so small a compass to teer in pieces all parties that engage in it We 'l spread it to the eye of the world I. A. B. do promise and declare that I will be true and faithful to the Commonwealth of England as it is now established without a King and House of Lords Within this little Circumference of words there are no less then two and twenty Doubts to be resolved and necessary Queries to be answered before this Engagement can be taken by any man of Honour or Conscience Viz. 1 Quere What is the meaning of the word Common-wealth Whether is it meant in the primary proper sence for the Body of the Nation or for the common good of that Body Or whether in the secundary borrowed sence for the Body of the Representative 2. Whether if it be meant in the latter sence by Common-wealth be meant a Parliament or a House of Commons chosen as formerly or by any other way and how Or whether the thing be changed with the name 3. Whether it be only an exclusive Engagement as being against King and Lords without including any Government in their stead to which we engage 4. Is the meaning that we shall be true and faithful to the Common-wealth whiles King and Lords are excluded Or that we shall endeavor also to continue their exclusion And so whether he that endeavoreth their restoring or he that hinders it not do break the Engagement though he be faithful to the Commonwealth while they are absent 5. If the present Government should be overthrown and King and Lords set vp whether doth he break this Engagement who shall be faithful to them or that shall swear or engage for them against the present Government 6. If by Commonwealth be meant the present Government as the words Now Established would make us think it is then what is it that is established whether an intire House of Commons or not intire whether only the present House or all future or any future Whether this House to be perpetuated or if not whether to continue till they voluntarily dissolve which we know not whether it will be perpetuated or not and consequently whether we engage to any succeeding Parliament or not Or if they dissolve whether the next must be annual or triennial or of duration of their own pleasure as this or whether chosen as formerly or how 7. Whether the meaning of the word As be to engage us to endeavor that all future Parliaments shall be established in the same course and by the same means as this hath been 8. Whether the word Now have reference to the first Calling of this House of Commons or to any alteration since made And if so by whom and when and by what Authority was that change made 9. What 's meant by true and faithful whether only to do them no wrong or not to be perfidious or else to obey them or further to engage and hazard our estates and lives on their behalf or how far 10. And so if King and Lords should raise an Army to recover their Authority whether he that refuseth to fight against them do break his Engagement 11. Seeing the people are judged the Supream Power as it is acknowledged by the present House do they hereby engage to their Representers or to the present Authority as their Supreriors or Rulers and so give away their Supremacy or is it so natural to them that they cannot give it away which else would have been done heretofore Or do they engage to them only as their Trustees or Servants viz. That they will defend them in the work that they set them about 12. Whether if an Army or any powerful Company should seize on the present House of Comons or the greater part should imprison exclude or hang them up at Tybarn are the people bound by this Engagement to rise for their Defence and make War against these Invaders 13. If this Parliament or any hereafter should endeavor to perpetuate themselves and so prevent our having any more free Elections whether do we hereby engage to be true to them or if we endeavor to dissolve them do we break this Engagement 14. Doth this Engagement take away the Power of the next Parliament And if they when they meet and sit restore King and Lords which now are thrown down do they break this Engagement 15. If this next Parliament shall so re-establish King and Lords and will not rule without them must we resist all and be without any Government or must we endeavor to choose a new Parliament and if they do the like what must we do 16. If the present House shall again change their Judgments and set up King and Lords or require us to swear to them must we obey or resist them 17. If this Army by observing that there is no Government but Monarchy or one Insupremacy in all the Bible mentioned or by reading that For the sins of people many are thy Rulers or by the experience of new divisions and parties in Parliament breeding distempers in Government or by being won over by the prevalency or flattery of some one

open enemies in the field and were in great hopes of setling the Protestant Religion in purity and extirpating Popery out of the 3. Kingdoms at this time the Popes Politicians were got into the Parl Army under the name of Independents from which the King fled to the Scots The King being fallen into the Covenanters hands viz. the Scottish Army the Parl made speedy and seasonable applications to him at Newcastle offering to him Articles of agreement which news was forthwith carried to Rome whereupon the Pope and the Conclave of Rome were inforced to look about and change their designes projecting new wayes by contrary proceedings to effect one and the same end for whereas they had given order to the Catholiques in Ireland before to yield all assistance to the King against the Parl Seeing now the King was under the Parl power least he and his Parl should agree and so England and Ireland be lost the Pope played aforehand game sending his Army into Ireland commanding at this time all the Cathol quests renounce their allegiance to the King of England and from that day forward the Pope and all the Romish Politicians projected how to destroy both King and Parl and destroy the Reformation by the Covenanters so far carried on both in England and Scotland The task was hard at first view to destroy a Religious Parliament a victorious Army and an able pious and zealous Clergy was no small piece of work The Romish politicions therefore were inforced to fly to their last refuge of Hypocrisie and lies and like Euphrates Frog to change both shape and colour using the violent motion of Frogs from one extream to another from the extream of Tyranny to the extream of Anarchy from the extream of holy Orders to the extream of no ordination In plain tearms the Pope and his Counsel perceiving there was no probable way to get a Toleration for Catholicks in the Kingdom of England if the King Lords and Commons agreed consulted how to throw down King Lord and Commons and Assembly of Divines together with the Protestant Ministery That the chief Engines to effect this might be placed here in England and have sure footing free from the power of the Magistrates corrective and coercive power Independency was set up which five valiant Champions of the Popes had defended in the Assembly as long as they could and being there able to stand against truth no longer like Serpents hissed for all the viperous brood of Sectarious blasphemers or any Sect to creep into their bellies Hereby Independencie that bottomlesse pit and Independent congregations the very plot designed to destroy Religion in the Nethetlands by the Pope first enacted there by Hugh Peters the Popes hyerling became as so many nurceries of Jesuite and Popish Priests and so many dens of Theeves where they framed all their picklocks opinions and devilish destructive instruments to ruin the Magistracy and the Ministery For the propagating and facilitating of this design the chief of the Romish Politicians in Europe were sent to England where they all went under the name of dissenting brethren Independents tender consciens-men and great Enemies to Antichrist crying down with Antichrist calling the Pope Anti-Christ not that they thought so but that they might hereby carry an their design of throwing down the protestant Ministery undiscovered for this to this day is their great and chief argument The Pope is Anti-christ that 's true Antichrist making Bishops Bishops are Antichristian that in some sortis true also Antichristian Bishops making and ordaining Ministers Ministers of England are Antichristians Ergo down with the Ministery of England down with these black-coats down with Baals Priests down with them there is the design and there is the end of all They onely use the Argument to put in practice the conclusion they that presse the Argument and first framed it were far from thinking the Pope to be Antichrist or Prelatical Bishop eithe onely it was framed to destroy the Covenanteeres Ministery who abhor the Pope and long since renounced him and his adherents If it be well observed Indepency was but the wooden horse with a thousand Heresies in his belly brought into the Kingdom of England by the Romish Politicians and let forth as so many furies to sly in the face of the reformed Religion For he that views the Heresies of late sprung up amongst us cannot but see that against every one of the Assemblies 33. Articles they raised contrary Heresies and could the silly English Sectarians of their own heads without the help of Jesuits and Romish Casuists do all this 't is folly to think it The late Heretical Arguments are taken out of Cas●sts how subtilly did they devise liberty of conscience meerly to get free from the Magistrate and how vehemently did they preach peace for love and meeknesse and admonishing on e another in love and being tender of giving offence to tender cousciences whereas we plainly see they had war and murther and malice in their hearts onely thereby they Iull'd asleep secure and bleer-eyed Protestants who suffered these cheates to pick their pockets while they heard them cry Gentlemen look to your purses they cried out beware of Antichrist who brough him in be good to tender consciences while they carried under their sheeps cloathing the wolves teeth to wound tender consciences withall To tell how these subtilly crept into the Army who nourished and upheld them there would be too tedious Our end i● to shew that the setting up of Indepency was the Popes design to throw down the Covenanting party in England and those that opposed the Popish Religion Out of this bottomlesse pit came all that party which first taught Rebellion against the higher powers from the dens of Independensie arose that party that lest off the Covenant professed open hatred to it and them that took it with an intent to keep it That party that raised those Heresies against the true Religion having now got power put them in practice against true Religion They that held the opinion of being free from Magistracie under the Gospel now made themselves free They that held Magistrates Tyran's ●ow having got power used them as Tyrants these guifted brethren wete now high in the Army The chief men that were aimed at were those that stood most stoutly to their Covena●t The chief Protestants both in the House of Lords the House of Common and in the C●●● of London were the men shot at impeached imprisoned persecuted banished and some 't is to be feared poisoned This party laid hold of the King imprisoned him and when the two Houses of Lords and Commons sate freely and voted a Treaty with the King and when the King had agreed to extirpate Popery and establish the Protestant Religion in his three Kingdoms and to fettle Church-Government according to the primitive constitution and when upon a free and serious debate the Lords and Commons voted the concessions of the King to be a ground