concerning Reformation preservation or defence of any thing that thing necessarily must be extant must have a being otherwise we obliging our selves if we can properly be said to be ingaged to nothing to nothing attest God as witnesse thereunto thereby mocking him and taking his holy Name in vaine and in so doing erre against his third Commandement therefore the Presbyterian Government not being particularly mentioned in the Covenant nor at the first taking thereof now about foure years and an halfe since digested in England into any form much lesse obedience thereunto commanded cannot be intended as a fulfilling of the Covenant but the words Reforme preserve and defend must have a regard to the Doctrine Discipline and Government established as for that evasion that the then takers of the Covenant dispensed with resolutions and actions of preservation c. untill the same should afterwards be setled it is altogether unlawfull and vaine nor can any one by so doing observe the Prophets counsell in Oaths which must be taken in Righteousnesse Judgement and Truth These things premised I proceed to the Oath it self only by the way let me put you in mind of your first Oaths of Allegeance and Supremacy with your Protestation an Epitome of the former in these words I promise vow and protest to maintaine so far as lawfully I may his Majesties Royall Person Honor and Estate the true Reformed Protestant Religion expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England c. For explanation whereof I referre you to what already hath been said concerning the Oaths of Allegeance and Supremacy advising every one to consider seriously that place in 30. Numb 2. Ver. If a man vow a Vow unto the Lord or sweare an Oath to bind his soule with a bond he shall not breake his word he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth We Noble-men Solemne League and Covenant Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgeffes Ministers of the Gospell and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdom of England c. by the providence of God living under one King Vnder one King that according to common sense and reason must imply obedience and subjection in us unto him as a King enabled with power to governe and that obedience must presuppose a rule of reason and law now what that Law is I have already handled to square our actions of obedience by O that the people of England c. would in in this respect obey the Precept of Christ Give unto Caesar what belongs unto Caesar His Majestie never expected more then what the Law manifesteth to be justly his Witnesse all his Declarations why then should we give him lesse Nay endeavour to deprive him altogether of what we have neither reason nor just power to attempt And being of one reformed Religion The Covenant This must necessarily intend our Religion established a Religion that is not that shall be which Religion commandeth obedience to all His Majesties lawfull commands denieth the Subjects Liberty to take up armes against their lawfull Soveraigne acknowledgeth him to be Supreme in all causes and over all persons Vide homilies 37. Artic. Church Engl. as well Ecclesiasticall as Civill c. that to him properly and wholly belongeth the government of all Estates of this Realme therefore without and against his consent no different Government can be introduced Having before our eyes the glory of God Covenant God is never more glorified then when we expresse a willing obedience to his commands two whereof emphatically enjoyne obedience to Superiors and forbid wrong and prejudice to be offered by any to any one whomsoever First Honour thy Father and Mother that is all those that have authority over us as all Expositors upon good grounds render the meaning of it Secondly Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours house c. nor any thing that is his that is thou shalt not wish thy Neighbours hinderance in any thing much lesse deprive him of the least thing properly belonging unto him Vide the Margent of the Bible or you shall not offer any wrong to any man whomsoever whereby he may suffer damage in person estate reputation or otherwise for the word neighbour must be taken in a more extensive signification in the Commandement then we commonly use it O that every man with one eye fixed upon these two Commandements would with the other view what by the Law is justly due to his Majestie and Posterity and then consider c. Besides these you have the Prophets and Apopostles Pro. 27.29.30 speaking the same truth as Ambassadours from heaven Solomon adviseth us not to with-hold the goods from the owners thereof though there be power in thy hand to do it Prov. 3.27 29 30. nor to intend hurt against our neighbour seeing he doth dwell by us without * Feare that is putteth trust in us Pro. 24.21 Eccles 8.3 4. Vide margent in the Bible Covenant feare not to strive with a man causlesse seeing he hath done no harme My sonne fear the Lord and the King and meddle not with those that are given to change saith the same wiseman Take heed to the mouth of the King and to the Word of the Oath of God saith the Preacher that is obey the King and keep the Oath that thou had made for the same cause The advancement of the Kingdome of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ His Kingdome is never more advanced then when we obey his Precepts and imitate his practice Now his Precepts will appear in part Mat. 5.3.4 5.6.7.8.9.10.11.16 if we consider that in his Sermon upon the Mount after he had pronounced blessednesse to the poore in spirit to those that mourne to the meeke to those which hunger and thirst for righteousnesse to the pure in heart to peace-makers to those which suffer for righteousnesse sake to those that are falsly reviled and persecuted he addeth this Exhortation to his Apostles Let your light so shine that is let these things for which men shall be blessed practically appeare in your lives and conversations that so they may see your good workes that is others by your example of holinesse may be brought home to the fold of Christ and glorifie his Father which is in heaven And for his practise you may read it in respect of his paying tribute Matth 22.21 as also how that being brought before Rulers whom though causelesly reviling of him hee reviled not againe being led as a sheep to the slaughter and obedient unto death that thereby hee might be a patterne for our imitation to which purpose he invites us Follow me for I am lowly and meeke c. and in our imitation we must follow him in obeying his Messengers the Apostles counsells for they are sent from him and what their counsell was you may peruse Rom. 13. submit your selves unto the higher Powers c. 1 Pet. 2.13 14 17. be obedient to every Ordinance of man for
the making of Canons and Constitutions nor publish and put in ure any of them being made Now Presbyterians take upon them to set up their Discipline in a Kingdom therein indeed shaking hands with Jesuited Papists maugre all opposition It is true for external peace sake they hold it fit to crave leave first and beg the assistance of the Civil Power but if denyed will proceed without it assembling together and making their own Laws without regulations from the Civil Power for the manner and form of exercising their Discipline allowing only the Prince Potestatem Cumulativam as they speak a power to add more strength and vigour not Privativam to interpose or hinder their assemblies or decrees And in this respect it were to be wished that England had never proved exemplary as now in these latter times it doth by such kind of proceedings The fountain from whence hath issued too ny bloody streams And here it will not be amiss to present the Reader with the grounds and reasons enforcing his Majesty with his loyal Subjects assistance to defensive Arms and in that a Declaration of my own in particular and many thousand English Protestant Judgments more whose pens tongues and hands only endeavored a restoration of his Royal Majesty to his just regal honor and authority Themselves and their fellow-subjects unto their due liberties both Parliamentary and private The preservation of the Protestant Religion in the Doctrine and Profession of the Church of England against all Papists and Sectaries The maintenance of the Government of the Church of England as it standeth still by Law established until the Law of the Land shall make alteration thereof not so peremptorily maintaining the continuance of Episcopal Government as to enforce the remaining of its general practice in England by force of Arms in opposition and against his Majesties suppose that the King could or would dispence with his Coronation Oath will and consent to that purpose cheerfully and voluntarily ratified not by the pressing violence of almost unavoydable necessity or tyrannizing power of the prevailing Sword but freely confirmed and declared by Act of Parliament although peradventure they may mourn the alteration and abrogation of so ancient and apostolical a Government But because my Judgment pleadeth for Episcopacy and it hath been an argument much urged against the Bishops and in them the Government it self defamed That formerly they silenced severall godly Ministers prohibiting them and others the exercise of holy duties because they did only exercise duties that were holy I shal write my thoughts freely herein For far be it from me to speak against or any to forbid the Exercise of holy duties as hearing praying reading living strictly Endeavouring to have a Conscience void of offence towards God and towards Men No no the practice of them in sincerity is the high way to Heaven for without holinesse none shall see God but in the mean time take heed what you hear beware of swallowing poyson wrapped up in Leaves of gold take heed of these who have a forme of Godlinesse a forme in Practice onely that under pretence of long Prayers and outside piety devour Widdows houses that deny the truth of the word of God the holy Scriptures by their false Doctrines seducing many into erronious Opinions the parents of worse succeeding actions For my part if any did so forbid performance of holy duties as I am altogether ignorant of any such nor can easily be induced to believe it howsoever were I assured of its truth I would not minima defendere peccata plead an excuse for them But if then they did as I believe they did onely by suspensions endeavour to prevent the sowing of the seeds of sedition schisme and heresie or the growth thereof to any strength either in publick or in private as it was there and is the duty of all Ecclesiasticall Governours they did no more then what the law of God and the land gave them a warrant for therefore let every one as well take heed of calling good evill as tearming evill to be good for in all probability had such preventing-remedies as these been timely applied when sedition schisme and heresie first opened their black mouths we never had arrived at this high degree as at this present we are of variety of Errours and pernicious destructive Opinions O Lord have mercy upon us But grant that some of them stretched the exercise of power beyond its lawfull bounds and in that respect were guilty deserving punishment What is the fault of one or more Bishops to the Government it self could not the errours of particular persons be reformed or punished but by an extirpation of the whole Government durus est hic sermo it is hard indeed if God for the sin of two Adam and Eve nay of many thousands more should have therefore denied mercy and reconciliation to all mankind How everlastingly unhappy would the residue of the world have been Deliver us good God from the cruell dealings of men and if affliction must be our portion let us fall into thy hands O Lord for thy mercy endureth for ever As for the remaining clauses in the first Article viz. Of bringing the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the nearest uniformity c. these things considered That the Discipline of the Church of God is most Consonant to the word of God Covenant approved of and desired by forraigne Divines and therefore the best reformed not intrenching with the Papists upon the Civill power nor with them denying the Kings supremacy in causes Ecclesiasticall agreeing best with Monarchy confirmed by the Law of the Land Other Churches therefore according to the rule of reason and religion within His Majesties Dominions should rather conform to ours then the uniformity of ours in Religion Government and Worship admit a change or be transformed into any other form To this purpose O Lord inspire the universal Church with the spirit of truth unity and concord and grant that all that do Confesse thy holy name may live in peace and godly love one with another Amen That we shall in like manner Covenant This limitation is approved by the Parliament as behind fol. 53. that is in a lawfull manner according to the word of God endevour the extirpation of Popery that is their tenents of transubstantiation worshipping of Images praying to Saints Preaching good works as meritorious to everlasting life and salvation that Kings for diverse respects may be Deposed by the people that then Subjects Oaths of Alleagiance may be dispensed with King James Apol. Oath Alleg. with their deniall of the Kings Supremacy in all Canses as well Ecclesiasticall and Civill and the like Endeavour extirpation of these by execution of good Laws already established against their Errours and Professours thereof by that meanes preventing their further growth hindring their seducing of ignorant and unwary people and in case of Conspiracy and Treason against the Kings Majesty His Queen or
appear plainly to all I shall desire all rationall men to take notice that the Lords and Commons in that grand Remonstrance to the Kingdom in December 1641. and their Petitions to his Majestie Declarations and Ordinances Preambles to their Protestation Vow and Covenant solemn League and Covenant which were but as so many applications to the people for their information and procuration of their approbations assistance and affections alwayes pretended a preservation of the Kings Honour Rights and Authority the Law of the Land the Protestant Religion the Liberty and Propriety of the Subject To this purpose you shall find many expressions In the grand Remonstrance they complain of the Jesuited Papists c. and a malignant Party Col. Ordnan fo 3. pernicious designs to subvert the fundamentall Lawes and principles of Government on which the Religion and justice of this Kingdom is established They confesse the King to be trusted with the Ecclesiastical law as well as temporall Coll. Ordn. fo 19. that next under God the people owe obedience unto him They professe their intent was not to abolish all government and leave every man to his own fancy for the service and worship of God but to reduce within bounds the exorbitant power which some Prelates had assumed to themselves contrary to the Word of God and law of the land Where by the way takes notice that then there was no mention made of extirpating Episcopall Government since that as much as in them lyeth by their solemn League and Covenant and Ordinances effected They professe to maintain the true Protestant Religion Coll. Ordn. 281. the Kings just Prerogative the lawes and liberties of the Land and the priviledges of Parliament Resolved upon the Question 12. July 1642 fo 457. That an Army shall be forthwith raised for the safety of the Kings person preserving of the true Religion Lawes Liberties and Peace of the Kingdom There they expresse fears Fo. 461. that the true Protestant Religion and Lawes will be extinguished c. That they will maintain and support his Majesties royall Honour and greatnesse Fo. 466. But I will trouble the Reader with no more expressions of this nature the first Book of collection of Ordinances if he please will afford him variety Take a brief view of their Preambles to all their Oaths which they pretend as motives and grounds occafioning their framing and imposing them May 5. 1641. We the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament c. having cause to suspect endeavours still continuing to subvert the true re ormed Protestant Religion in his Majesties Dominions * Observe that Established established and the fundament all Lawes and to introduce an arbitrary and tyrannicall Government c. therefore make this ensuing Protestation c. June 1643. in their Vow and Covenant There they declare That there hath been and is a Popish and traiterous Plot for the subversion of the true Protestant Religion c. Thus you may perceive how in all their applications to the common people they still urge intentions of preserving the King 's just Prerogative and royall Rights true Protestant Religion the Lawes and Liberties of the Land Now this must necessarily according to common sense be construed by the common people whatsoever private reserved resolutions to the contrary the framers of the Oathes and Ordenances had to themselves a preservation and defence of Religion Prerogatives Rights Lawes and Liberties which are established and in being for according to that old adage ex nihile nil fit But alas these specious pretences were but Decoyes sent abroad to catch the plain hearted people and the lesse advised multitude into a complying assistance their hands and tongues must help toward the demolition of England's andent and well compacted Monarchieal Fabrick their breathlesse bodies must be instrumentall piles to mount these Designers into the chair of a new modelized pre-intended Government To this purpose therefore contrary to all their Paper intelligencers Nineteen Propositions daily diispersed among the people they in their first Propositions to his Majesty as I have already observed lay the foundation though cunningly of this generall alteration in Church and State wherein they had left nothing more to demand of him but that as a King he had nothing more to grant Which design of theirs hath appeared in more legible additionall demands in their succeeding Treaties and Propositions from that time unto this very day wherein they have violently deprived his Majesty of his regall power he at present being so far from commanding as a * Being kept as a Prisoner in the I sle of wight King that his power in commanding is far below the commanding power of some of his meanest Subjects Proh dolor usque quò domine usque quò how long Lord how long holy and true wilt thou suffer the Rod of the wicked to remain upon the back of the righteous how long shall the workers of iniquity triumph speaking fiercely smiting down thy people and troubling thy Heritage Deliver our Soveraign thy servant King CHARLES from cruell men who imagine evil things in their heart making war continually whose tongues are sharper then a Serpent and under whose lips lye the poyson of Adders Amen Again to make these Rooters defign appear plainer and plainer to every eye the Treaties at Oxford and since at Vxbridge at which time nothing was left ungranted by his Majesty whereby his people might be satisfied but that he would have something left I say as King to give will evidence it to any impartiall judgement At Oxford Anno 1643. the maine dispute betweene his Majestie and the two Houses Commissioners was who should have the Power of Nomination and Election of State-Officers The Right to both belonged to his Majestie how ever so desirous was he of Peace and a Reconciliation his heart bleeding in tendernesse within for the losse of so much of his Subjects blood did readily and willingly condescend that the Power of Nomination should be theirs reserving choice of them to himselfe Now let us weigh the inequality in reference to the prevention of the effusion of more blood It may be supposed upon grounds of reason that if I have the Power of Nomination I will not name any one in whom I cannot confidently repose my trust and of whom I have not a good opinion therefore if it be onely Peace and a mutuall agreement betweene two differing Parties where it is sometimes fitting that both should abate of the rigour of their demands what need I care who chooseth or upon whom the election falleth seeing they are all equall in my esteeme But this would not doe they must have the Kings Supremacy Election too all or as yet no peace otherwise indeed the Civill Government cannot be altered from a Monarchy into an Aristocracy and so by degrees subdivide it selfe into a Democracy The Ecclesiasticall cannot be changed from Episcopacy into Presbytery and so againe into Independency or
confusion visibly at this day so appearing Whereas if these men preintended not these things but had really intended Peace or resented the then bleeding condition and ruining Kingdome of England they would not surely have stood upon such unnecessary punctilioes not any way absolutely availeable to the generall good of the Nation though absolutely necessary Rights belonging to his Majesty with which he could neither in Honour Justice or Conscience voluntarily part O Lord forgive them forgive them such their unreasonable and unseasonable Demands and lay not to their charge those severall bloudy issues which since that time have gush'd out in many places of this Kingdome Amen Againe let us take notice of the further progresse for nemo repente fit turpissimus of these destructive Engeneers Hath not his Majestie resigned all his regall Power since that unto the two Houses during his life being onely desirous that his royall Children may receive no prejudice by his too gracious condiscontions freely offering a generall Pardon and an Act of Oblivion to every one Yet this will not satisfie them they must have him forfeit his Honour and Reason by acknowledging himselfe the Fountaine and originall cause of their unnaturally shedding of his Subjects blood strange action that the gulty Offenders must be justified and the Offended guiltlesse desired unjustly to condemne themselves and wound his Conscience by pulling upon himselfe and Posterity that eating sinne of Sacriledge by assenting unto an utter Extirpation of Episcopall government and a devastation of the Churches patrimony contrary to his Oath taken at his Coronation Thus still you see the Designe of these Rooters at first was to alter the Government of this Kingdome and to that end have to deprive his Majestie of his regall Power Fo. 20 24 30 33. which since hath been openly avowed in their Declaration concerning the Scots Papers 13. Mar. 1647. But peradventure some will say that they are zealous supporters of the Subject Liberties and quellers of wicked actions as Swearing immoderate drinking breaking of the Sabboth and the like To which I returne an answer in generall that nothing can be more desired either for the suppressing or punishing of all sinfull words and deeds and all such viciously guilty Persons or conducing to the liberty of the Subjuct if men desire onely to enjoy liberty under a Law and not live as libertines without a Government than what was established and confirmed by Act of Parliament before ever they exposed their grand Remonstrance that seede Plott of to the view of the World Decemb. 1641 witnesse that Declaration it selfe which recounteth severall Acts of favour condescended unto by his Majestie for the Subjects benefit which with that lasting Bulwarke of preventing or remedying Errours the Trienniall Parliament were enough to satisfie any but seditious and ambitiously aspiring thoughts To make this appeare It is worthy observation that after the issuing out of that Remonstrance not one Propofition was ever tendered to his Majestie really tending to the generall good and liberty of every Subject but whatsoever were presented unto him under the title of Propositions contained nothing but Demands in ordine ad Causam in order to this Designe of alteration and change of Government Now at this very day as every one not prepossessed with prejudice cannot but grant the vifible purchase of Hypocrisie Perjury blood and oppression an ill foundation and the worst lime to erect a building with and which most commonly is followed with succeeding heavy judgements Micah 3.9 10 11 12. From which good Lord deliver us To this purpose further you have already seene Ordinances framed Oathes contrived for the Eradication of Episcopall government and least it should by degrees like a Flowe pressed downe by the violence of a falling showre rise againe in future times when more favourable sunny dayes appear they have exposed to Sale its Lands the Churches patrimony You have seen the Presbyterian Government also digested into Ordinances the preaching of it into approbation the practice of it in severall Churcher in London and other adjacent parts the peoples obedience pressed thereunto by Divines of the present Synod You have seen the civill Government also changed Ordinances of one or both houses supplying the place of Acts of Parliament without the Royall assent Demands of a totall resignation of his Majesties regall Power and because not in every respect condescended unto as what father will be so unjust to his Posterity though he may be uncharitable to himself as to deprive them of their Inheritance contrary to the Law of Nature Religion and Law the King therefore detained a Prisoner Tantumne potest sundere malorum religio Thus you may see the Designers riding triumphantly in the bloody Chariot of their compassed Ends Revelling it at the Helmes of the Church and State whilest their Royall injured Master is forced to a sad Cabbin under decks O that my abused Country-Men would seriously consider of the Premises and that they would at length desert these Impostors who by their glorious pretences of Reformation have deceived them into a Ruining assistance of themselves and others not thinking it a shame to confesse an errour and return when their Judgements are informed that their former Judgements and practises have been erronious Againe you have seene the meanes used by them toeffect their ends by Perjury infringing their Oathes of Alleagiance Supremacy and their owne famed Protestation by the effusion of Blood And here I cannot choose but adde my feares that some tall and gloriously spreading Cedars of Church and State have rather beene hewen downe because they hindered the Prospect of others or prejudiced the rising growth of some Neighbour shrubs than fallen because rotten uselesse or cumbersome to the grounds which if true as some in the world best know we had all need to pray that the Lord would even in the blood of Christ Jesus wash this Nation especially from such kinde of blood-guiltinesse You may read the sad effects of these Defignes A wronged King in distresse A discontented Nobilitie A disconsolate and dispersed Gentry A disgraced disparaged and defamed Orthodox Cleargy A murmuring and repining Communalty An impoverished Countrey A selfe-dishonouring Nation Division Ambition Sedition and Security the forerunners of a generall ruine and desolation Helpe O Lord least we perish And it be said of us What is become of that glory of Nations England formerly feared and beloved by all yet not for feare expressing love to any least what was omce spoken of Troy be affirmed true of our Kingdome Jam seges est ubi Anglia fuit You may every where see God dishonoured the Church of God unfrequented Schismes and Prophanenesse every where abounded and Heresies of all sorts even to the denying of the Deity of Christ the holy Scriptures the immortality of the soule and all these if not publiquely maintained yet connived at by those who pretend otherwise you may see all Religion contracted into tongue discourse Sanctification
swallowed up by Justification as if because Christ dyed to save Sinners we must therefore wilfully sinne if we will be saved you have many running so farre from the Papists meritorious hope of gaining heaven by good Workes that they expect in haste to post thither by a barren Faith arguing nay esteeming good Workes as altogether unnecessary whenas indeed they must both be concomitants for such a Faith without Workes will prove but a lame Sacrifice and Workes without Faith will be but a blinde Offering never finde the way to heaven You may see London an envyed City declined in the affections of all abroad By assessements Contributions Exwise c. because they were blinded in their affections by these deceivers at home who by degrees have eaten out the very heart of her Hononr Wealth and Reputation You have seen many of her Citizens tossed too and fro with every winde of Doctrine steering their course with the current of each prevailing Faction rather yeelding to a destruction then endeavouring a preservation of the Cities honour and wealth You have seen her well proportioned and admirable Government dashed in pieces the wisdom of some of her wise men degenerated into a self-contriving Interest and Advantage neglecting the Cities good in generall You have seen her grand Counsell turned into a Counsell of War combining with the unruly Sword to disturb nay to destroy the Inhabitants with her civill Government many sacrificing their fellow-Citizens to the disposall of domineering Faction spirits who eat the bread of extortion Prov. 4.17 and drink the wine of violence You have seen the Cities peace formerly even to the envy of their Neighbours dwelling onely within her walls whilest blood want and poverty ran like a devouring Lyon up and down each Country interrupted by those who had most reason to preserve it in peace You have seen Sword-men strangers unto you if you confider your selves as Citizens of that famous Metropolis by some stiled your servants because entertained and paid you but howsoever I say not servants to the City but more truely servants to the factious vipers within the City even glorying in dying the stones of your streets with your own childrens blood Nay consider I appeal to the whole City what practicall Law have you almost left now in use but the Law of imprisonment whereby some men first being made pretendly guilty of that old ayery bugbear crime ill affoction or if you will that beldam fault malignancy that is that will not swim in the same current of such hainous sins with the faction are to use their own word secured or others by reason of their long continuing distractions being disabled so fully and speedily to satisfie some griping Creditors their debts are the sooner hastened by additionall necessity want and grief to a satisfaction of the last debt they owe to nature in a loathsom prison Or else that in it self excellent but as it is now used bloody lettered Law for suppressing and punishing pretended mutinies which only like a Gyant standeth armed at the door that so each successive Faction may the more freely ruine within in the mean time denying the entrance either of justice mercy peace or truth You have long since seen the Pulpit from whence nothing but the sincerity of truth religious admonitions holy advice perswasively tending to the practice of godlinesse and true righteousnesse should issue forth turned into a sophisticall Desk to distract the brains of men with strange distinctions of Government new fangled Doctrines perswading their Auditors persons and Estates to an assisting compliance in the late Wars You have heard bitter expressions there against the established Government of the Kingdom some envying like mad more more then rationall men much lesse Christians against Episcopacy as Antichristian and the book of Common Prayer as unlawfull and erronious their best arguments being but invective railings although one hath stood the shock unmoved of the most frery opponents and the other a perfect pattern of true Piety both of them receiving approbation and applause from all other Protestant Churches beyond the Seas being onely disgraced and defamed though without just cause at home by children of her owne womb You have heard the Ceremonies of the Church stiled limbs of Antichtist and others perswaded that they were imposed on tender consciences as necessaries whenas indeed their own consciences could not but inform them the contrary and that they were onely ordained for order and decency sake Besides His Majesties Anlwer to the Kingdoms Remonstrance Decemb. 1641. if any one seemed offensive to tender consciences his Majesty long before the Sword was unsheathed graciously promised an exemption from observance of them and therefore needed not to have been made Arguments perswading to blood You have seen learned Divines Doctor Featly that brazen wall of our Religion who unrazed hath maintained his hold retorting the Jesuites arrowes into their own brests with shamefull wounds Doctor Holsworth a lively pattern of Piety with many other religious and learned Divines imprisoned and disgraced And my dear Country-men ad quem finem haec omnia to what end think you did all these things tend Prâ—y consider you may see the result of all quickly in what concerneth you to whom I write I meane you misled instruments for I intend not as I have already written the contrivers hereof no further then as I am a Christian to pray for their repentance conversion and forgivenesse You have been pleased like children in lieu of things substantiall with toyes as pulling down of Mâ—y-poles destruction of senselesse stony crosses Reformation of Tavern signs by fantasticall cringers inserted instead of Angels pictured I think least the sight of such shadowes should put the misled people in minde of those reall Augels in heaven and thereby fright or invire them into a too soon repentance You have had as fruits of your endeavoured Reformation ignorant painted glasse windowes broken the Communion table removed the Font locally changed though as by Baptisme we are visibly initiated into the Christian Congregation it more significantly became the entrance into then the body of the materiall Church yet neither of them so absolutely and meerly necessary as to counterpoize blood Heu pro quantillo pacem perdidimus You have had a new Directory a piece made like wax apted for any impression easily squeezed into any form by active brains You have had a Catechisme in a large Character the issue of above six yeers labour which ever since King Edward the sixt's dayes you might have furnished your selves with in a smaller print at an easie rate And to knit all these together you have the Presbyterian Government practized in place and opposition to the Episcopall and what have you purchased by this onely an intermixture of Lay-men with the Clergy as afterward I shall plainly make appear for the managing of Ecclesiasticall affairs both concerning Doctrine and Discipline Heu pro quà m parvis tantum sanguinis effudimus