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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	authority_n	pope_n	power_n	1,442	5	4.9516	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A69685	The Case of the Earl of Argyle, or, An Exact and full account of his trial, escape, and sentence wherein are insert the act of Parliament injoining the test, the confession of faith, the old act of the king's oath to be given at his coronation : with several other old acts, made for establishing the Protestant religion : as also several explications made of the test by the conformed clergy : with the secret councils explanation thereof : together with several papers of objections against the test, all framed and emitted by conformists : with the Bishop of Edinburgh's Vindication of the test, in answer thereunto : as likewise a relation of several matters of fact for better clearing of the said case : whereunto is added an appendix in answer to a late pamphlet called A vindication of His Majestie's government and judicatories in Scotland, especially with relation to the Earl of Argyle's process, in so far as concerns the Earl's trial.	Stewart, James, Sir, 1635-1713.; Mackenzie, George, Sir, 1636-1691. Vindication of His Majesties government, and judicatories in Scotland.	1683 (1683)	Wing C1066; ESTC R15874	208,604	158

Arms all Collectors Sub Collectors and Fermers of His Majesties Customes and Excise all Magistrats Deans of Gild Councellors and Clerks of Boroughs Royal Regality all Deacons of trades and De●con-conveeners in the said Burghs all Masters and Doctors in Universities Colledges or Schools all Chaplans in families Pedagogues to children and all Officers and Soldiers in Armies Forts or Militia And all other persons in any publick Trust or office within this Kingdom who shall publickly swear and subscribe the said Oath as follows viz. Archbishops Chief Commanders of the Forces and Officers of the Crown and State and Councellors before the Secret Council all the Lords of Session and all members of the Colledg of Justice and others depending upon them before the Lords of Session the Lords of lustitiary and all these depending upon that Court in the Iustice-Court the Lords and other Members of the Exchequer before the exchequer all Bishops before the Archibishops all the Inferior Clergy Commisaries Masters Doctors of Universities Schools Chaiplans Pedagogues before the Bishops of the respective Diocesses Sheriffs Stewards Baylies of Royalty and Regality and these depending on these Iurisdictions before their respective Courts all Provosts Baylies and others of the Boroughs before the Town-Council all Collectors and Fermers of the Kings Customs and Excise before the Exchequer the Commissioners of the Borders before the Privy-Council all Iustices of the Peace before the Conveeners and the Officers of the Mint before the General of the Mint and the Officers of the Forces before the Commander in chief and common Soldiers before their respective Officers The Lyon before the Privy Council and Heraulds Pursevants and Messengers at Arms before the Lyon And His Majesty with consent foresaid Statutes and ordains that all these who presently possess and enjoy any of the foresaid offices publick Trusts and Imployments shall take and subscribe the following Oath in one of the foresaid Offices in manner before prescribed betwixt and the first of January next which is to be recorded in the Registers of the respective Courts and extracts thereof under the Clerks hand to be reported to His Majesties Privy-Council betwixt and the first of March 1682. and hereafter in any other Courts whereof they are Iudges or Members the first time they shall sit or exercise in any of these respective Courts and ordains That all who shall hereafter be promoted to or imployed in any of the foresaid Offices Trusts or Imployments shall at their entry into and before their exercising thereof take and subscribe the said Oath in manner foresaid to be recorded in the Registers of their respective Courts and reported to His Majesties Privy Council within the space of fourty days after their taking of the same And if any shall presume to exercise any of the faid offices or Imployments or any publick Office or Trust within this Kingdom the Kings Brothers and Sons only excepted until they take the Oath foresaid and subscribe the same to be recorded in the Registers of the respective Courts they shall be declared incapable of all publick trust thereafter and be further punished with the loss of their moveables and liferent-escheats the one half whereof is to be given to the Informer and the other half to belong to his Majesty and his Majesty with advice foresaid recommends to his Privy-Council to see this Act put to due and vigorous execution The TEST Containing the Oath to be taken by all Persons in publick Trust. I Solemnly swear in the presence of the eternal God whom I invoke as Judge and witnesse of the sincere intention of this my Oath That I own and sincerely profess the true Protestant Religion contained in the Confession of Faith recorded in the first Parliament of King James the VI and that I believe the same to be founded on and agreeable to the written Word of God And I promise and swear That I shall adhere thereunto during all the dayes of my life-time and shall endeavour to educate my Children therein And shall never consent to any change or alteration contrary thereto and that I disoun and renounce all such Principles Doctrines or practices whether Popish or Fanatical which are contrare unto and inconsistent with the said Protestant Religion and Confession of Faith And for testification of my obedience ●o my most gracious Soveraign Charles the II. I do affirm and swear by this my solemn Oath that the Kings Majesty is the only Supreme Governour of this Realm over all persons and in all causes as well ecclesiastical as civil And that no forreign Prince Person Pope Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority Preheminency or Authority Ecclesiastical or Civil within this Realm And therefore I do utterly renounce and forsake all foreign Jurisdictions Powers Superiorities and Authorities And do promise that from henceforth I shall bear Faith and true Allegiance to the Kings Majesty his Heirs and lawful Successors and to my power shall assist and defend all Rights Jurisdictions Prerogatives Priviledges Preferments and Authorities belonging to the Kings Majesty his Heirs and lawful Successors And I further affirm and swear by this my solemn Oath That I judge it unlawful for Subjects upon pretence of Reformation or any other pretence whatsoever to enter into Covenants or Leagues or to convocar conveen or assemble in any Councils Conventions or Assemblies to treat consult or determine in any matter of State Civil or Ecclesiastick without his Majesties special command or express licence had thereto or to take up arms against the King or these Commissionate by him And that I shall never so rise in arms or enter into such Covenants or Assemblies And that there lies no obligation on me from the National Covenant or the Solemn League and Covenant commonly so called or any other manner of way whatsoever to endeavour any change or alteration in the Government either in Church or State as it is now established by the Laws of this Kingdom And I promise and swear That I shall with my utmost power defend assist and maintain his Majesties Jurisdiction foresaid against all deadly And I shall never decline his Majesties Power and Jurisdiction as I shall answer to God And finally I affirm and swear That this my solemn Oath is given in the plain genuine sense and meaning of the words without any equivocation mental reservation or any manner of evasion whatsoever and that I shall not accept or use any dispensation from any creature whatsoever So help me God Act J. 6. P. 1. C. 3. Anno 1567. Anent the annulling of the Acts of Parliament made against God His Word and for maintainance of Idolatrie in any tymes bypast ITem our Soveraigne Lord with advice of his dearest Regent and three Estates of this present Parliament ratifies and approves the Act under-written made in the Parliament holden at Edinburgh the 24. day of August the year of God an● thousand five hundred threescore years And

nane shall be repute as loyal and faithful Subjects to our said Soveraign Lord or his Authority but be punishable as Rebellars and Gainstanders of the samine quhilk shall not give their confession and make their profession of the said true Religion And that all sik as makes profession thereof and yet hes made defection fra their dew obedience ought to our Soveraign Lord shall be admonished be the Pastors and Ministers of the Kirk to acknowledge their offence and turn to their dutieful obedience And if they failzie therein to be excommunicat and secluded from the Society of the Kirk as rebellious and corrupt Members betwixt and the first of Jun nixt to come and that alwayes before sik persons as hes made defection be received to our Soveraign Lords mercie and favour they shall give the Confession of their Faith of new and promise to continue in the Confession of the true Religion in time coming and maintaine our Soveraign Lords Authoritie and that they shall at the utmost of their power fortifie assist and maintaine the true Preachers and Professors of Christs Religion against whatsomever enemies and gainstanders of the same and namely against all sik of whatsomever Nation Estate or degree they be of that hes joyned and bound themselves or hes assisted or assist to set forward and execut the cruel decreits of the Councel of Trent quhilk most injuriously is called by the adversaries of Gods Truth the halie league contrary the Preachers and true Professors of the Word of God Many other Acts and these most peremptory and strict against the Popish Religion as Idolatrie and very pernicious to the Kingdom might here be added But these are set down as most apposite to the purpose and the rest may be seen at length in the printed Acts of Parliament Act Ch. 2. P. 2. C. 1. Anno 1669. Act asserting His Majesties Supremacy over all Persons and in all Causes Ecclesiastik THE Estates of Parliament having seriously considered how necessary it is for the good and peace of Church and State that His Majesties Power and Authoritie in relation to maters and Persons Ecclesiastical be more clearly asserted by ane Act of Parliament Have therefore thought fit it be enacted asserted and declared Likeas His Majestie with advice and consent of his Estates of Parliament doth hereby enact assert and declare that His Majesty hath the supreme Authority and Supremacie over all Persons and in all causes Ecclesiastical within this his Kingdom And that by vertue thereof the ordering and disposal of the external Government and Policie of the Church doth properly belong to His Majestie and his Successors as ane inherent right of the Crown and that His Majesty and his Successors may setle enact and emit such Constitutions Acts and Orders concerning the administration of the external Government of the Church and the Persons imployed in the same and concerning all Ecclesiastical meetings and maters to be proposed and determined therein as they in their Royal Wisdom shall think fit Which Acts Orders and Constitutions being recorded in the Books of Councel and duelie published are to be observed and obeyed by all His Majesties Subjects any Law Act or Custom to the contrary notwithstanding likeas His Majesty with advice and consent foresaid doth rescind and annull all Lawes Acts and Clauses thereof and all Customs and Constitions Civil or Ecclesiastick which are contrary to or inconsistent with His Majesties Supremacy as it is hereby asserted and declares the same void and null in all time coming The Bishop of Aberdeen and the Synods Explanation of the Test. I. WE do not hereby swear to all the particular Assertions and Expressions of the Confession of Faith mentioned in the Test but only to the uniform Doctrine of the Reformed Churches contained therein II. We do not hereby prejudg the Church's Right to and Power of making any alteration in the said Confession as to the ambiguity and obscure expressions thereof or of making a more unexceptionable frame III. When we swear That the King is Supreme Governour over all Persons and in all Causes as well Ecclesiastick as Civil and when we swear to assert and defend all His Majesties Rights and Prerogatives this is reserving always the intrinsick unalterable power of the Church immediately derived from Jesus Christ to wit the power of the Keys consisting in the preaching of the Word administration of the Sacraments ordaining of Pastors exercise of Discipline and the holding of such Assemblies as are necessary for preservation of Peace and Unity Truth and Purity in the Church and withal we do not hereby think that the King has a power to alter the Government of the Church at his pleasure IV. When we swear That it is unlawful for subjects to meet or conveen to treat or consult c. about matters of State Civil and Ecclesiastick this is excepting meetings for Ordination publick Worship and Discipline and such meetings as are necessary for the conservation of the Church and true Protestant Religion V. When we swear there lyes no obligation on us c. to endeavour any change or alteration in Government either in Church or State we mean by Arms or any seditious way VI. When we swear That we take the Test in the plain and genuine sense of the words c. we understand it only in so far as it does not contradict these Exceptions The Explanation of the Test by the Synode and Clergy of Perth BEcause our Consciences require the publishing and declaring of that express meaning we have in taking the Test that we be not mis-interpreted to swear it in these glosses which men uncharitable to it and enemies to us are apt to put upon it and because some men ill affected to the Government who are daily broachers of odious and calumnious slanders against our Persons and Ministry are apt to deduce inferences and conclusions from the alledged ambiguity of some Propositions of the Test that we charitably and firmly do believe were never intended by the Imposers nor received by the Takers Therefore to satisfie our Consciences and to save our Credit from these unjust imputations we expresly declare That we swear the Test in this following meaning I. By taking the Test we do not swear to every Proposition and Clause contained in the Confession of Faith but only to the true Protestant Religion founded upon the Word of God contained in that Confession as it is opposed to Popery and Fanaticism II. By swearing the Ecclesiastick Supremacy we swear it as we have done formerly without any reference to the assertory Act we also reserve intire unto the Church it s own intrinsick and unalterable power of the Keys as it was exercised by the Apostles and the pure primitive Church for the first three Centuries III. By swearing That it is unlawful to convocate conveen or assemble in any Councils Conventions or Assemblies to treat consult c. in any matter of State Civil or Ecclesiastick as

received the same For we dare not receive nor admit any interpretation which repugnes to any principal point of our faith or to any other plain text of Scripture or yet unto the rule of charity XIX Of The Authority of the Scriptures AS we believe and confess the Scriptures of God sufficient to instruct and make the man of God perfect so do we affirm and avow the Authority of the same to be of God and neither to depend on Men nor Angels We affirm therefore that such as alledg the Scripture to have no other Authority but that which it has received from the Kirk to be blasphemous against God and ●njurious to the true Kirk which always hears and obeys the voice of her own Spouse and Pastor but takes not upon her to be Mistres over the same XX. Of General Councils of their Power Authority and cause of their Convention AS we do not rashly damn that which godly men assembled together in General Council lawfully gathered have proponed unto us so without just examination dare we not receive whatsoever is obtruded unto men under the name of General Councils For plain it is as they were men so have some of them manifestly erred and that in matters of great weight and importance So far then as the Council proves the determination and commandment that it gives by the plain word of God so soon do we reverence and embrace the same But if men under the name of a Council pretend to forge unto us new Articles of our Faith or to make Constitutions repugning to the Word of God then utterly we must refuse the same as the Doctrine of Devils which draws our souls from the voice of our only God to follow the Doctrines and Constitutions of men The cause then why that General Councils conveened was neither to make any perpetual Law which God before had not made neither yet to forge new Articles of our Belief nor to give the Word of God Authority much less to make that to be his Word or yet the true Interpretation of the same which was not before by his holy will expressed in his word But the cause of Councils we mean of such as merit the name of Councils was partly for confutation of Heresies and for giving publick confession of their Faith to Posterity following which both they did by the authority of Gods written Word and not by any Opinion or Prerogative that they could not erre by reason of their general Assembly-And this we judg to have been the chief cause of General Councils The other was for good Policy and Order to be constitute and observed in the Kirk in which as in the house of God it becomes all things to be done decently and in order Not that we think that any policy and order in Ceremonies can be appointed for all ages times and places For as Ceremonies such as men have devised are but temporal so may and ought they to be changed when they rather foster Superstition than that they edifie the Kirk using the same XXI Of the Sacraments AS the Fathers under the Law besides the verity of the Sacrifices had two chief Sacraments to wit Circumcision and the Passeover the despisers and contemners whereof were not reputed of Gods People so do we acknowledg and confess that we now in the time of the Evangel have two chief Sacraments only instituted by the Lord Jesus and commanded to be used of all these that will be re●uted Members of his Body to wit Baptism and the Supper or Table of the Lord Jesus called the Communion of his Body and Blood And these Sacraments as well of Old as New Testament were instituted of God not only to make a visible difference betwixt his People and these that were without his League but also to exercise the faith of his Children and by participation of the same Sacraments to seal in their hearts the assurance of his promise and of that most blessed conjunction union and society which the Elect have with their Head Christ Jesus And thus we utterly damn the vanity of them that affirm Sacraments to be nothing else but naked and bare signs No we assuredly believe that by Baptism we are ingrafted in Christ Jesus to be made pertakers of his Justice by which our sins are covered and remitted And also that in the Supper rightly used Christ Jesus is so joyned with us that he becomes very nourishment and food of our souls Not that we imagine any Transubstantiation of Bread into Christs natural Body of Wine into his natural Blood as the Papists have perniciously taught and damnably believed but this Union and Conjunction which we have with the Body and Blood of Christ Iesus in the right use of the Sacraments is wrought by the operation of the Holy Ghost who by true faith carries us above all things that are visible carnal and earthly and makes us to feed upon the Body and Blood of Christ Iesus which was once broken and shed for us who now is in Heaven and appears in the presence of his Father for us And yet notwithstanding the far distance of place which is betwixt his body now glorified in Heaven and us now mortal in this earth yet we most assuredly believe that the bread which we break is the Communion of Christs Body and the Cup which we bless is the Communion of his Blood So that we confess and undoubtedly believe that the faithful in the right use of the Lords Table do so eat the Body and drink the Blood of the Lord Iesus that he remains in them and they in him Yea they are so made flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones that as the eternal Godhead has given to the flesh of Christ Iesus which of its own condition and nature was mortal and corruptible life and immortality so does Christ Iesus his flesh and blood eaten and drunken by us give unto us the same Prerogatives Which albeit we confess are neither given unto us at that time only neither yet by the proper power and virtue of the Sacrament only yet we affirm that the faithful in the right use of the Lords Table has such Conjunction with Christ Iesus as the natural man cannot apprehend Yea and further we affirm That albeit the faithful oppressed by negligence and manly infirmity does not profit so much as they would in the very instant Action of the Supper yet shall it after bring fruit forth as lively seed sown in good ground For the Holy Spirit which can never be divided from the right Institution of the Lord Iesus will not frustrate the faithful of the fruit of that mystical Action but all this we say comes of true faith which apprehends Christ Iesus who only makes this Sacrament effectual unto us And therefore whosoever slanders us as that we affirm or believe Sacraments to be naked and bare signs do injury unto us and speak against the manifest truth But this liberally and frankly

word of God be the certain and infallible signs of the true Kirk we mean not that every particular person joyned with such company be an elect member of Christ iesus For we acknowledg and confess that dornel cockle and chaff may be sown grow and in great abundancely in the midst of the wheat that is the Reprobate may be joyned in the society of the Elect and may externally use with them the benefits of the word and Sacraments But such being but temporal professors in mouth but not in heart do fall back and continue not to the end And therefore have they no fruit of Christs Death Resurrection nor Ascension but such as with heart unfeignedly believe with mouth boldly confess the Lord Iesus as before we have said shall most assuredly receive these gifts First In this life remission of sins and that by only Faith in Christs blood in so much that albeit sin remains and continually abides in these our mortal bodies yet it is not imputed unto us but is remitted and covered with Christs Justice Secondly in the general Judgment there shall be given to everyman and woman resurrection of the flesh for the Sea shall give her dead the Earth these that therein be inclosed yea the Eternal God shall stretch out his hand on the dust and the dead shall arise uncorruptible and that in the substance of the self-same flesh that every man now bears to receive according to their works glory or punishment For such as now delight in vanity cruelty filthiness superstition or idolatry shall be adjudged to the fire unquenchable in which they shall be tormented for ever as well in their bodies as in their souls which now they give to serve the Devil in all abomination But such as continue in well-doing to the end boldly professing the Lord Jesus we constantly believe that they shall receive glory honour and immortality to reign for ever in life everlasting with Christ Iesus to whose glorified body all his Elect shall be made like when he shall appear again in Iudgment shall render up the Kingdom to God his Father who then shall be and ever shall remain in all things God blessed for ever To whom with the Son and with the Holy Ghost se all honour and glory now and ever So be it Arise O Lord and let thine enemies be confounded let them flee from thy presence that hate thy godly Name Give thy Servants strength to speak thy VVord in boldness● and let all Nations cleave to thy true Knowledge Amen Thir Acts and Articles were read in the face of Parliament and ratified by the three Estates at Edinburgh the 17. day of August the year of God 1560. years Act I. 6. P. 1. C. 8. Anno 1567. Anent the Kings Aith to be given at His Coronation ITem Because that the increase of vertue suppressing of Idolatrie craves that the Prince and the People be of ane perfite Religion quhilk of Gods mercie is now presently professed within this Realm Therefore it is statute and ordained be our Soveraign Lord my Lord Regent and the three Estates of this present Parliament that all Kings and Princes or Magistrats whatsoever holding their place quhilk hereafter in any time sall happen to reigne and bear rule over this realm at the time of their Coronation and receipt of their Princely Authoritie make their faithfull promise be aith in presence of the eternal God that during the haill course of their lives they sall serve the samin eternall God to the uttermost of their power according as he hes required in his maist haly Word revieled and contained in the new and auld Testaments And according to the samin word sall maintaine the trew Religion of Christ Iesus the preaching of his halie word and due and right ministration of the Sacraments now received and preached within this realme And sall abolish and gainstand all false Religion contrare to the samin And sall rule the people committed to their charge according to the will and command of God revealed in his foresaid Word and according to the laudable Lawes and Constitutions received in this realme nawise repugnant to the said Word of the eternal God And sall procure to the uttermaist of their power to the Kirk of God and haill Christian people trew and perfite peace in all time cumming The Rights and rents with all just Priviledges of the Croun of Scotland to preserve and keep inviolated nouther sall they transfer nor alienate the samin They sall forbid and represse in all estates and degrees reife oppression and all kinde of wrang In all judgements they sall command and procure that justice and equitie de keeped to all creatures without exception as the Lord and father of all mercies be mereyful to them And out of their Lands and Empyre they sall be carefull to root out all heretikes and enemies to the trew worship of God that shall be convict be the trew Kirk of God of the foresaid crymes And that they fall faithfullie affirme the things above written be their solemn aith Act. J. 6. P. 1. C. 9. Anno 1567. No person may be judge Procurator Notar nor Member of Court quha professis not the Religion ITem The Kings grace with advice of my Lord Regent and the three Estates of this present Parliament statutes and ordains That no manner of person nor persons be received in any times hereafter to bear publick office removabill of judgment within this Realm but sik as profess the puritie of Religion and Doctrine now presently established And that nane be permitted to procure nor admitted Notar or created a M●mber of Court in any time coming without he in likewise professe the Evangel and Religion foresaid Providing alwayes that this Act be on no wise extended to any manner of person or persons havand their offices heritable or in life-rent but that they may use the samin conforme to their infeftments and dispositions granted to them thereof Which Act was thereafter Anno 1609. explained and extended in this manner Part of the Act I. 6. P. 2. C. 5. Anno 1609. intituled c. AND that the Act made in His Highness first Parliament bearing that nane that professe not the true Religion presently professed within this Realm may be judge Procurator or Member of Court be extended to all and whatsomever offices without any exception or restriction in all time coming Act. J. 6. P. 3. C. 47. Anno 1572. Adversaries of the true Religion are not Subjects of the King Of Apostats ITem Forsameikle as there hes been great rebellion and disobedience against our Soveraign Lords authoritie in time bypast and seeing the cause of Gods true Religion and His Highness authoritie foresaid are so joyned as the hurt of the ane is common to baith It is therefore declared statute and ordained by our Soveraign Lord with advice and consent of his Regents grace with the three Estates and hail bodie of this present Parliament That

God Subjects may take up Arms against him 2. They maintain That nothing is to be allowed in the worship of God but what is prescribed in his Word Were not these the Principles that embroiled these Kingdoms that raised a Combustion and that turned all things upside down both in Church and State And are not these Principles plainly taught in this Confession It is reckoned Art 15 a duty to repress Tyranny and to disobey and resist Kings is a sin with this caution and limitation while they pass not over the bounds of their Office or do that thing which appertains to their charge And in like manner the assistance we ow them is cautioned and limited while they vigilantly travel in the execution of their Office Is not this the very Doctrine of the Solemn League and Covenant by which they bind themselves to defend the Kings Majesty's Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdom Let any but read Spotswood's History of the Resormation Anno 1558 1559 1560. among others how Subjects did bind themselves by Oaths and Subscriptions to assist one another for advancing the Cause of Religion how by the advice of the Ministers they deprived the Queen Regent of her Government and this very year this Confession was compiled and ratified in Parliament And I am sure there can remain no doubt about the sense of the Confession in this point But to render the matter beyond exception It is declared rebellious and treasonable by Act of Parliament for Subjects to put limitations on their due obedience and allegiance And for the other Principles about Divine Worship the Confession affirms these to be evil works that in matters of Religion and Worship of God have no other assurance but the invention and opinion men In this principle they condemn very Ancient and laudable Customs of Churches as singing the Doxology and the most innocent and indifferent Ceremonies for decency and helps for Devotion calling them by the odious titles of Superstition and Will-worship But be these Principles true or false in themselves certainly they are utterly inconsistent with these other clauses in the Test that assert it unlawful on any pretence whatsoever to take Arms against the King and invest him with such a Supremacy as impowers him to erect such Constitutions and orders about Ecclesiastical matters as His Majesty thinks fit And in this also there is a palpable Contradiction that the Test binds us not to consent to any change contrary to the Confession and by and by enjoyns to swear what is flatly contradictory to it We cannot take this Test unless with the same breath we swear and forswear under Oath protest onething and forthwith under Oath protest the quite contrary It obliges us to swear we shall with our utmost power defend assist and maintain all the Kings Rights And is not this to swear we know not what or is it not to swear we shall maintain and defend with the greatest zeal and concernedness whatsoever the King challenges or the Parliament votes to belong to him And may not a Prince come to claim a Right to act Arbitrarily and may not iniquity happen to be established by Law Nay doth not the King de facto challenge and has not the Parliament declared Supremacy to be an inherent Right of the Crown by which His Majesty may settle and emit such Acts and Orders as he pleases about Ecclesiastical matters And are not Articles of Faith Ecclesiastical maters And what is this but to avow we hold our selves obliged to believe as the King believes And so ere long the Rights Jurisdictions Prerogatives Priviledges Preeminences and Authorities that may be v ted to belong to our Prince may come to swallow up Religion Liberty Property and all our Priviledges We do not see how any man of Sense and Conscience can swear this clause in so great a Latitude and so illimited Terms It obliges us to swear That we acknowledg it unlawful without the Kings special Command to convocate conveen or assemble in any Council Convention or Assembly to treat consult or determine in any matter of State Civil or Ecclesiastik The clause excepting ordinary judgments which was added in all such convocating conveening and assembling which were declared unlawful Anno 1661. 1. Par. Char. 2. Act 21. being left out here we have reason to think that all such Sessions Presbyteries and Synods are discharged there being no special Command or Express for them that we know of And these meetings being of great use for curbing of Vice and Prophanesse and for setling and entertaining Peace and good Order in the Church we cannot swear to forbear holding of them tho we have not an express License from the King We acknowledg Princes have Power and Authority to inhibit their Subjects to meet as they see cause but we cannot bind our selves to obey them against such liberty which Christ hath conferred on his Church This is a Priviledg the Church ever enjoyed since it was founded and erected by our Saviour and in all Ages used as the state of affairs required So we cannot devoid our selves of it without proving betrayers of our Trust and condemning the conduct of the Primitive Christians who without special command nay contrary to the express Edict of Princes did convocate conveen or assemble in Councils and Conventions to treat consult and determine about Ecclesiastical matters and yet for all that have been no less commended and admired for loyalty and peaceableness than for piety and zeal And seeing that in the present juncture its notour that there are Cabals and Engines formed and carried on to undermine the Protestant Religion and to bereave us of the Truth which our Lord has committed to us as so many Depositaries Can we without the most horrid guilt and the blackest infamy swear That we shall not so much as meet Two or Three of us together till we have the Kings Warrant perhaps never to consult about the Welfare of the Church and the Salvation of our own and other Mens Souls It obliges us to swear there is no obligation on us any manner of way whatsoever to endeavour any change or alteration in the Government either in Church or State Is not this to swear what no man living can assuredly know And are there not indeed many tyes on us as Men as Christians as Pastors to procure as far as in us lyes the happiness of the Church and State Now if we discern and it be acknowledged by wise and good men that the Government may be bettered by enacting wholsome new Laws and abrogating corrupt old ones might we not ought we not in our stations endeavour such an alteration The Constitution of a National Synod e. g. gives the Archbishop of St. Andrew's a Negative when the whole Clergy is contrary so that were all our Bishops and other Members of the Synod men of Apostolick sanctity and zeal yet nothing could be done