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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A62025	Reasons of the present judgement of the Vniversity of Oxford concerning The Solemne League and Covenant, The Negative Oath, The Ordinances concerning discipline and vvorship : approved by generall consent in a full convocation, 1, Jun. 1647, and presented to consideration.; Judicium Universitatis Oxoniensis. English	Sanderson, Robert, 1587-1663.; Zouch, Richard, 1590-1661.; Langbaine, Gerard, 1609-1658.; University of Oxford.	1647 (1647)	Wing S624; ESTC R183228	29,783	44

to endeavour the extirpation of the Church-Government by Law established without forfeiture of those Obligations 1. Having in the Oath of Supremacie acknowledged the King to be the onely Supreme Governour in all Ecclesiasticall Causes and over all Ecclesiasticall Persons and having bound our selves both in that Oath and by our Protestation To maintain the Kings Honour Estate Iurisdictions and all manner of Rights it is cleare to our understandings that we cannot without disloyalty and injury to Him and double Perjury to our selves take upon us without his consent to make any alteration in the Ecclesiasticall Lawes or Government much lesse to endeavour the extirpation thereof Unlesse the imposers of this Covenant had a power and meaning which they have openly d disclaimed to absolve us of that Obedience which under God we owe unto His Majesty whom they know to be intrusted with the Ecclesiasticall Law 2. We cannot sincerely and really endeavour the extirpation of this Government without a sincere desire and reall endeavour that His Majesty would grant His Royall Assent to such extirpation Which we are so far from desiring and endeavouring that we hold it our bounden duty by our daily prayers to beg at the hands of Almighty God that he would not for our sins suffer the King to doe an act so prejudiciall to his honour and conscience as to consent to the rooting out of that estate which by so many branches of his e Coronation Oath he hath in such a solemne manner sworn by the assistance of God to his power to maintain and preserve 3. By the Lawes of this Land f the Collation of Bishopricks and g Deanries the h fruits and profits of their Lands and Revenues during their vacancies the i first fruits and yearly tenths out of all Ecclesiasticall Promotions and sundry other Privileges Profits and Emoluments arising out of the State Ecclesiasticall are established in the Crown and are a considerable part of the Revenues thereof which by the extirpation of Prelacy as it is in the Article expounded or by subsequent practice evidenced will be severed and cut off from the Crown to the great prejudice and damage thereof Whereunto as we ought not in common reason and in order to our Allegiance as Subjects yeeld our consent so having sworn expresly to maintain the Kings honour and estate and to our power to assist and defend all Jurisdictions c. belonging to His Highnesse or united and annexed to the Imperiall Crown of the Realm we cannot without manifest Perjury as we conceive consent thereunto 4. The Government of this Realm being confessedly an Empire or k Monarchy and that of a most excellent temper and constitution we understand not how it can become us to desire or endeavour the extirpation of that Government in the Church which we conceive to be incomparably of all other the most agreeable and no way prejudiciall to the state of so well a constituted Monarchy In so much as King JAMES would often say what his long experience had taught him No Bishop no King Which Aphorisme though we find in sundry Pamphlets of late yeares to have been exploded with much confidence and scorn yet we must professe to have met with very little in the proceedings of the late times to weaken our belief of it And we hope we shall be the lesse blamed for our unwillingnesse to have any actuall concurrence in the extirpating of Episcopall Government seeing of such extirpation there is no other use imaginable but either the alienation of their Revenues and Inheritances which how it can be severed from Sacrilege and Injustice we leave others to find out or to make way for the introducing of some other form of Church-Government which whatsoever it shall be will as we think prove either destructive of and inconsistent with Monarchicall Government or at least-wise more prejudiciall to the peaceable orderly and effectuall exercise thereof then a well-regulated Episcopacy can possibly be §. V. Of the other parts of the Covenant HAving insisted the more upon the two first Articles that concern Religion and the Church and wherein our selves have a more proper concernment We shall need to insist the lesse upon those that follow contenting our selves with a few the most obvious of those many great and as we conceive just exceptions that lye there against In the third Article we are not satisfied that our endeavour to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties Person and Authority is so limited as there it is by that addition In the Preservation and defence of the true Religion and Libertyes of the Kingdome Forasmuch as 1. No such limitation of our duty in that behalf is to be found either in the Oathes of Supremacy and Alleagiance which no Papist would refuse to take with such a limitation nor in the Protestation nor in the Word of God 2. Our endeavour to preserve the Rights and Privileges of Parliaments and the Libertyes of the Kingdome is required to be sworn of us in the same Article without the like or any other limitation added thereunto 3. Such limitation leaveth the duty of the Subject at so much loosenesse and the safety of the King at so great uncertainty that whensoever the People shall have a mind to withdraw their obedience they cannot want a pretence from the same for so doing 4. After we should by the very last thing we did viz. swearing with such a limitation have made our selves guilty of an actuall and reall diminution as we conceive of His Majesties just power and greatnesse the obtestation would seem very unseasonable at the least with the same breath to call the world to bear witnesse with our Consciences that we had no thoughts or intentions to diminish the same 5. The swearing with such a limitation is a Testimony of the Subjects Loyaltie to our seeming of a very strange nature which the Principles of their severall Religions salved the Conscience of a most resolure Papist or Sectary may securely swallow and the Conscience of a good Protestant cannot but strein at In the fourth Article 1. We desire it may be considered whether the imposing of the Covenant in this Article do not lay a necessity upon the Son of accusing his own Father and pursuing him to destruction in case he should be an Incendiary Malignant or other evill Instrument such as in the Article is described A course which we conceive to be contrary to Religion Nature and Humanity 2. Whether the swearing according to this Article doth not rather open a ready way to Children that are sick of the Father Husbands that are weary of their Wives c. by appealing such as stand between them and their desires of Malignancy the better to effectuate their unlawfull intentions and designes 3. Our selves having solemnly protested to maintain the Liberty of the Subject and the House of Commons having publiquely declared against the exercise of an Arbitrary Power with Order that their said Declaration

REASONS Of the present judgement of the Vniversity of OXFORD CONCERNING The Solemne League and Covenant The Negative Oath The Ordinances concerning Discipline and VVorship Approved by generall consent in a full Convocation 1. Iun. 1647. AND Presented to Consideration Printed in the Yeare 1647. A Solemn League and Covenant for Reformation and defence of Religion the honour and happinesse of the King and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdomes England Scotland and Ireland WE Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospell and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland by the Providence of God living under one King and being of one Reformed Religion having before our eyes the glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ the honour and happinesse of the Kings Majestie and His Posterity and the true publick Lybertie Safetie and Peace of the Kingdoms wherein every ones private condition is included and calling to mind the treacherous and bloudy plots Conspiracies Attempts and practices of the Enemies of God against the true Religion and Professors thereof in all places especially in these three Kingdomes ever since the Reformation of Religion and how much their rage power and presumption are of late and at this time increased and exercised whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland the distressed estate of the Church and Kingdome of England and the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdome of Scotland are present and publick Testimonies We have now at last after other meanes of supplication Remonstrance Protestations and Sufferings for the preservation of our selves and our Religion from utter ruine and destruction according to the commendable practice of these Kingdomes in former times and the Example of Gods People in other Nations after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutuall and solemne League and Covenant wherein we all subscribe and each one of us for himselfe with our hands lifted up to the most High God do swear I. THat we shall sincerely really and constantly through the Grace of God endeavour in our severall places and callings the preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common Enemies The Reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches And shall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdomes to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith Form of Church Government Directory for Worship and Catechizing That we and our posterity after us may as Brethren live in Faith and Love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us II. That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church Government by Archbishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Archdeacons and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending on that Hierarchy Superstition Heresie Schisme Profanenesse and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of Godlinesse lest we partake in other mens sinnes and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues and that the Lord may be one and his Name one in the three Kingdomes III. We shall with the same sincerity reallity and constancy in our severall Vocations endeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Privileges of the Parliaments and the Liberties of the Kingdomes and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties person and authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdomes that the world may bear witnesse with our consciences of our Loyaltie and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish His Majesties just power and greatness IIII. We shall also with all faithfullnesse endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evill Instruments by hindring the Reformation of Religion dividing the King from his people or one of the Kingdomes from another or making any faction or parties amongst the people contrary to this League and Covenant that they may be brought to publick triall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the supream Judicatories of both Kingdomes respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient V. And whereas the happinesse of a blessed Peace between these Kingdomes denied in former times to our progenitours is by the good providence of God granted unto us and hath been lately concluded and setled by both Parliaments we shall each one of us according to our place and interest endeavour that they may remain conjoyned in a firm Peace and Union to all posterity And that Justice may be done upon the wilfull opposers thereof in manner expressed in the precedent Articles VI We shall also according to our places and callings in this common cause of Religion Liberty and Peace of the Kingdomes assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant in the maintaining and pursuing thereof and shall not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination perswasion or terrour to be divided and withdrawn from this bles●ed Union and Conjunction whether to make defection to the contrary part or to give our selves to a detestable indifferencie or neutrality in this cause which so much concerneth the glory of God the good of the Kingdoms and the honour of the King but shall all the dayes of our lives zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition promote the same according to our power against all lets and impediments whatsoever and what we are not able our selves to suppress or overcome we shall reveal make known that it may be timely prevented or removed All which we shall do as in the sight of God And because these Kingdoms are guilty of many sinnes and provocations against God and his Son Iesus Christ as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers the fruits thereof We professe and declare before God and the world our unfained desire to be humbled for our owne sins and for the sins of these Kingdoms especially that we have not as we ought valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel that we have not laboured for the puritie and power thereof and that we have not endeavoured to receive Christ in our hearts nor to walke worthy of him in our lives which are the causes of other sinnes and transgressions so much abounding amongst us And our true and unfained purpose desire and endeavour for our selves and all others under our power and charge both in publick and in private in all duties we owe to God and man to amend our lives and each one to goe before another in the example of a reall

Reformation that the Lord may turn away his wrath and heavy indignation and establish these Churches and Kingdoms in truth and peace And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of all hearts with a true intention to perform the same as we shall answer at that great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed Most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his holy Spirit for this end and to blesse our desires and proceedings with such successe as may be deliverance and safety to his people and encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or in danger of the yoke of Antichristian tyrannie to joyn in the same or like Association and Covenant to the glory of God the enlargement of the Kingdome of Iesus Christ and the peace and tranquility of Christian Kingdoms and Common-wealths The Negative Oath I A. B. Doe sweare from my heart that I will not directly nor indirectly adhere unto or willingly assist the King in this War or in this Cause against the Parliament nor any Forces raised without the consent of the two Houses of Parliament in this Cause or Warre And I doe likewise sweare that my comming and submitting my selfe under the Power and Protection of the Parliament is without any manner of Designe whatsoever to the prejudice of the proceedings of this present Parliament and without the direction privity or advice of the King or any of his Councell or Officers other then what I have now made knowne So helpe me God and the contents of this Booke Reasons why the Vniversity of Oxford cannot submit to the Covenant the Negative Oath the Ordinance concerning Discipline and Directory mentioned in the late Ordinance of Parliament for the Visitation of that place WHereas by an Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for the Visitation and Reformation of the University of Oxford lately published power is given to certain persons therein named as Visitors to enquire concerning those of the said University that neglect to take the Solemne League and Covenant and the Negative Oath being tendred unto them and likewise concerning those that oppose the execution of the Ordinances of Parliament concerning the Discipline and Directory or shall not promote or cause the same to be put in execution according to their severall places and callings We the Masters Scholars and other Officers and Members of the said University not to judge the Consciences of others but to cleare our selves before God and the world from all suspicion of Obstinacie whilst we discharge our own present to consideration the true reasons of our present judgment concerning the said Covenant Oath and Ordinances Expecting so much Justice and hoping for so much Charity as either not to be pressed to conforme to what is required in any the premisses further then our present judgements will warrant us or not condemned for the refusing so to doe without cleare and reall satisfaction given to our just scruples §. I. Of the Preface to the Covenant THe Exceptions against the Introductory Preface to the Covenant although we insist not much upon because it may be said to be no part of the Covenant yet among the things therein contained the acknowledgment whereof is implicitely required of every Covenanter 1. We are not able to say that the rage power and presumption of the enemies of God in the sense there intended is at this time increased 2. Nor can truly affirme that we had used or given consent to any Supplication or Remonstrance to the purposes therein expressed 3. Nor doe conceive the entring into such a mutuall League and Covenant to be a lawfull proper and probable meanes to preserve our selves and our Religion from ruine and destruction 4. Nor can believe the same to be according to the commendable practice of these Kingdomes or the example of Gods people in other Nations When we find not the least foot-step in our Histories of a sworne Covenant ever entred into by the people of this Kingdome upon any occasion whatsoever nor can readily remember any commendable example of the like done in any other Nation but are rather told by the defenders of this Covenant that a the world never saw the like before §. II. Of the Covenant in grosse FIrst we are not satisfied how we can submit to the taking thereof as it is now imposed under a penalty 1. Such imposition to our seeming being repugnant to the nature of a Covenant which being a Contract implyeth a a voluntary mutuall consent of the Contractors whereunto men are to be induced by perswasions not compelled by power In so much that the very words of this Covenant in the Preface conclusion and whole frame thereof runne in such a forme throughout as import a consent rather grounded upon prudentiall motives then extorted by Rigour 2. Without betraying the Liberty which by our protestation we are bound and in the third Article of this Covenant must sweare with our lives and fortunes to preserve To which Liberty the imposition of a new Oath other then is established by Act of Parliament is expressed in the b Petition of Right and by the Lords and Commons in their c Declarations acknowledged to be contrary 3. Without acknowledging in the Imposers a greater Power then for ought that appeareth to us hath been in former time challenged Or can consist with our former Protestation if we rightly understand it in sundry the most materiall branches thereof Neither secondly are we satisfied although the Covenant should not be imposed upon us at all but only recommended to us and then left to our choice 1. How we should in wisedome and duty being Subjects of our own accord and free will enter into a Covenant wherein He whose Subjects we are is in any wise concerned without his consent either expressed or reasonably presumed It being in his power as we conceive by the equity of the Law Numb. 30. to annull and make void the same at his pleasure 2. How we can now that His Majesty hath by His publique d Interdict sufficiently made known His pleasure in that behalfe enter into a Covenant the taking whereof he hath expresly forbidden without forfeiting that Obedience which as we are perswaded by our naturall Allegiance and former Oathes we owe unto all such His Majesties Commands as are not in our apprehensions repugnant to the will of God or the positive Laws of this Kingdome III. Of the first Article of the Covenant WHerein first we are not satisfied how we can with judgement sweare to endeavour to preserve the Religion of another Kingdome 1. Whereof as it doth not concerne us to have very much so we professe to have very little understanding 2. Which so far as the occurrents of these unhappy times have brought it to our knowledge and we are able to judge is in three of the foure specified particulars viz. Worship Discipline and Government much worse and in