maketh Legislation the natural right of the Body politick and governing power to be thence derived to depend upon the Body and to returne to it by escheats when heirs fail and that the King is singulis Major and universis Minor c. His eighth Book was in print long before Bishop Gauden published it who yet vindicateth it to be Hookers own 7. In 1637 1638 1639. A. Bishop Land useing more severity against dissenters than had been used of late before and the visitations more enquiring after private fasts and meetings and going out of mens own Parishes to hear and such like and also the Book for sports on the Lords daies being necessarily to be read by all the Conformable Ministers in the Churches and Altars Railes and Bowing towards them being brought in and in many places afternoon Sermons and Lectures put down the minds of men before filled with the aforementioned jealousies were made much more jealous than before And after the imprisonment of some the stigmatizing of some and the removall of many beyond the Seas and the death of more the Nonconformable Ministers were reduced to the paucity before mentioned but the minds of many people were more alienated from the later set of Bishops and the old sort of Conformists more jealous of them and more afraid of Popery c. than before 8. The new Liturgy then imposed on the Scots with the other changes there attempted the designes charged on the Marq. of Hamilton the fear of the Lords losing the Tyths c. which Dr. Heylin mentioneth as the causes or occasions of their arming there with the progress thereof and their entring into England and the advantage thence taken by some English Lords to advise the King to call a Parliament once and again and the discontents and proceedings of that Parliament against the two Ministers of the King for former things with such other matters we had rather the reader took from others than from us We are unwilling to be the mentioners of any more than concerneth our present cause and the things are very commonly known 9. On the 23. of October 1641. The Irish suddenly rose and murdered no less than two hundred thousand persons and Dublin narrowly escaped them of which we refer the Reader to the examinations published by Dr. Henry Jones since a Bishop in Ireland and to the history of Sir John Temple and to the Earl of Orery's Answer to Mr. Welsh 10. The dreadfulness of this Massacre so far exceeding the French the news sent over that the Irish said that they had the Kings Commission and the foregoing jealousies of the people and the Parliaments Declarations raised in multitudes of the people a fear that the Irish when they had ended their work there would come over hither and do the like and that they had partakers in England of whom we were in danger and that there was no way of safety but to adhere to the Parliament for their own defence or else it would quickly be too late to complain 11. In 1642. the lamentable Civil Warr brake out At which time as far as ever we could learn by acquaintance with some of them and report of others excepting an inconsiderable number the Houses of Lords and Commons consisted of those that had still lived in conformity to the Church of England and the Episcopal Government and were such Conformists as Dr. Heylin describeth Archbishop Abbot and the Clergy and Parliaments of his times to have been Crying out of the danger of a new partie that said they would shake our Religion Liberties and Property And such were they when the War began Presbytery being then little known among them 12. Their fear of being overpowred by the party of whom they seemed to think themselves in sudden danger caused some of them to countenance such Petitionings and clamours of the Londoners Apprentices and others as we think disorders and provocation of the King 13. The first open beginning was about the Militia And whether the Lord Lieutenants whom the Parliament chose were not almost all Episcopal Conformists we intreat the Reader but to peruse the Catalogue in the ordinance for that Militia and to ask any that well knew them as some of us did many of them and he may certainly be satisfied 14. The same we say 1. Of the far greatest part of the General Officers Collonels Lieutenant-Collonels and Majors of the Earl of Essex's Army 2. And of the Sea-Captains 3. And of the Major Generals of Brigades and Counties through the Land 15. When the Parliament's Armies were worsted and weakened by the King and they found themselves in danger of being overcome they intreated help from the Scots who taking the advantage of their straits brought in the Covenant as the Condition of their help which the Parliament rather accepted than they would lose them which at first was imposed on none by force But to pass by all other Considerations was judged by many wise men to be an occasion of division as making the opposition to Prelacy to be the terms of the Kingdoms Unity and Concord when they might know that the King and a great if not the greatest part of the Kingdom were of the contrary mind and so it was thought to be as the Papal terms of Unity a means of unavoidable division But others thought that because it tied them to no endeavours but in their Places and Callings they might take it 16. The Assembly of Divines at Westminster were men that had lived in Conformity except about eight or nine of them and the Scots But being such as thought Conformity lawful in case of deprivation but the things imposed to be a snare which should be removed if it could be lawfully done they also received the Covenant but were divided about the sense of the word Prelacy many professing their Judgment to be for Moderate Episcopacy whereupon the describing additions Archbishops Bishops Deans Archdeacons were added And upon such a Profession that it disclaimed not all Episcopacy Mr. Coleman is said to have given the Covenant to the House of Lords And they complained of the Parliament which tied them to meddle with nothing but what they offered to them 17. This Covenant and Vow was taken by the Parliament and by their Garrisons and Souldiers that would volunrarily take it as a test whom they would trust the rest being had in suspension And after the wars by such as were ordained Ministers and by the Kings adherents when they made their compositions so far was it afterward imposed But many Ministers and Gentlemen refused it and so did Cromwel's Souldiers and in many Counties few did take it 18. How far the Parliament was from being Presbyterians may partly be seen in the Propositions sent from them by the Earl of Essex to the King at Nottingham and partly by their defeating all the desires and endeavours of those that would have Presbytery setled through the Land We know of no places but London and
such as the Counterminer will say that to fear such sin as I have here named by one that is not willing to be damned is Treason Rebellion Schism Faction Pride Obstinacy this will not pass with me for convincing Argument on which I may venture my salvation Jul Scaliger exercit tells us that in France our Bicott the Learned Schoolman was envied by another for his Auditors in Philosophy and his crafty adversary told the King that Bicott was a Peripatetick and Aristotle was against Monarchy There needed no more and Bicott was cast down As for them that think that to name the late Wars is a Confutation of Nonconformists as if they knew not that they were raised on both sides by Conformists Heylin in Lauds Life will tell them who I now only repeat Silence all that had a hand in those Wars except the Conformists and no more and I and thousands will give you thanks I plead not for my self The years are past in which I might have better served the Church had I been thought tolerable I am almost uncapable now of your kindness or of any great hurt that you can do me A torrent of reproaching scornful words may ease some mens minds and serve some mens ends but will not satisfie my conscience nor heal the Land I write not this as accusing Conformists or the Law-makers but as answering their loud and long accusations and demands If telling what I fear seem a telling what others are guilty of it is a consequent which I cannot avoid but to avoid it and such like have seventeen years been herein silent So far am I from desiring the weakening of the Church that I had not written this but to prevent it Though I with Saint Martin renounce communion with Ithacius and Idacius I go not so far as he in separating from the Synods of Bishops nor will I separate from any Christians further than they separate from Christ or expel me Church-Order I love Church Tyranny and Schism I love not I am for more Bishops and not for fewer If Parish-Oratories or Chapels were made Parish-Churches at least in each Corporation antiently called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Yea if the Parish-Ministers might be Pastors Episcopigregis and not forced by strangers to excommunicate absolve and receive to communion against their knowledge and consciences nor to profess promise or practice sin against God nor omit their known Ministerial duty far be it from me to be against Conformity I doubt not but he that will preserve Religion here in its due advantages must endeavour to preserve the Soundness Concord and Honour of the Parish-Churches And as the truly wise and honest Judge Hale hath said to me It must be a new Act of Uniformity that must heal us if ever we be healed I am of the mind of old Mr. Dod who for the peoples sake thanked God that there were so many worthy Conformists and for Truth and Conscience sake thanked God that there were so many Nonconformists I love and honour the Reverend solid worthy Preachers which I hear in most Churches in London where I come and I endeavour to have all others honour them And though I am by the Canon ipso facto excommunicate they shall put me out from them before I will depart But for the Church and Kingdom and their Consciences sake I beg of the Clergy that before they any more render odious those whom they never heard and urge Rulers to execute the Laws against them that is to confine imprison excommunicate silence and undo them they would be sure what manner of spirit they are of and that this is acceptable to God and profitable to the Land or to themselves and that which the Churches Experience commendeth My honest friend whom I once perswaded from Anabaptistry writing against Separation saith that when he saw hereâ—a leg and there an arm in the way it was time for him to stop But in Church-history I have had a sadder sight even the carkasses of thousands streams of blood and turnults in the chief Cities and Churches of the world the Crowns of Emperours Kings the loss of the Eastern Empire the generation of the Papacie the reproach of Christianity and that by Clergie-Domination and Contention striving who should be Greatest and seem wisest Some say If we take in a few moderate men like you what the better are we Ans More than you dream of are far better than I I hope few are worse Bishop Morley bid Ab uno disce omnes Shall London have no clocks unless they will all strike at once shall none be tolerated but the perfect Are you such your selves Do you differ in nothing how then shall we have Communion with you when we differ in all the things here described Pardon me for saying I think that Mr. Tombs hath said more like truth for Anabaptistry the late Hungarian for Polygamy many for drunkenness stealing and lying in cases of necessity than ever I yet read for the lawfulness of all that I have here described And what is it that some men cannot copiously and confidently talk for And what wretched Reasons be they that have hindred Englands unity and peace And how fully hath Rom. 14. and 15. and our Common interest and notorious experience confuted them I have long wondered what powerful cause it is that with such men and so many could so long prevail against such evidence and light If you will not hear those will whom God will use to the healing of his Churches and blessed are the Peacemakers for though you call them otherwise they shall be called the Children of God I have prefixed the words of some as our admonition and I have written with this a fuller Treatise of the only true terms of the Concord of all Christian Churches and of the false terms which they never will unite in but are the causes of Schism I commitall with my self living and dying to him that is the Lord of the dead and living and will shortly judge us all in righteousness Come Lord Jesus and prepare us for thy Coming Amen THE CONTENTS 1. THE Reasons of this writing and the sense of the word CHURCH 2. The various opinions of such as we have to do with 3. What Churches we hold to be instituted of God and what not 4. What Princes and Pastors may do in such matters 5. What separation and what assembling or gathering Churches is unlawful and what lawful 6. Matters of fact to be known preparatory to our case 7. Matters required of us for Conformity first of â—ay-men 8. Secondly Matters imposed on Ministers And I. Of Assent Consent Approbation and Canonical subscription that nothing is contrary to the Word of God II. 9. The second Part of the Matter of Conformity Reordination III. 10. The third Part of the Matter of Conformity of swearing or Covenanting never to endeavour any alteration of Church Government VI. 11. The fourth part of the Matter to declare that neither
I nor any other person is obliged by the vow to endeavour any such alteration of Church Government V. 12. The fifth Part of the Matter The Declaration and Oath as not understood of not resisting any Commissioned VI. 13. The sixth Part of the Matter To cease preaching and administring Sacraments till we conform at least not to preach to more than a family and four persons VII 14. The seventh Part Consequential Not to come within five miles of any City or Corporation which sendeth Burgesses to Parliament or of any place where we have preached to more than aforesaid since the Act of oblivion 15. The Adjuncts and the other Matters agreed on which affright the Nonconformists 16. The case and practice of the Ministers since they were silenced Additions occasioned by Mr. L. Fresh Suit and some others about National Churches THE Question stated § 3 c. Whether we are obliged by or to the Jewish National Polity § 5 c. or by scripture to a National limitation of them Whether a National Church-form be lawful § 30 c Whether it be a prudential desirable form § 38 c The resolution of this by a short history of Prelacie and Councils § 39 c. Obj. From the necessity of Appeals § 40 c. Obj. Shall all gather Churches that will ib. Obj. The Apostles have successours ib. Q. Whether the King or who is the National Church Head § 41. 42 c A Christian Kingdom what § 43 Q. Must real holyness in the judgment of rational Charity be required in all Church members § 1 Q. What Covenanting is necessary to particular Church relation § 5 c. The spirit maketh Ministrs how I. The Epistle of an African Council in Cyprian Ep. 68. p. 200. to Felix a Presbyter and the Laity at Legio and Asturica and to Laelius the Deacon and the Laity at Emerita concerning their Bishops Bafilides and Martial worthy to be read as to our present controversies II. The Letter of Rob. Grosthead the good Bishop of Lincoln to Pope Innocent containing the reason of his Nonconformity and shewing that hindring preaching is the greatest sin next Divelism and Antichristianism Out of Mat. Parâ— An. 1253. p. 871. 872. III. An extract from Bishop Saunderson de juramento SECT I. The Reasons of this writing and the sense of the word CHURCH IT was the saying of acute and holy Augustine though we call him not with Fromondus Omniscâ—um that no man ought to be patient under an accusation of Heresie He meaneth by Patience a silent neglect of his own Just Vindication Not that we must be like Hectoring Duellers that would kill or hurt others in revenge or in a sinful way of Vindication But by silence those that slander men may be encouraged in their sin to their own destruction and those that value the slandered persons may be tempted to think too well of Heresie for their sakes And the honour of God and his Truth and our own good names so far as they are serviceable are none of them to be disregarded We have with grieved souls beheld the Land of our Nativity distracted by Divisions and much if not most about Religion we wish it were not against Religion by some that indeed have no true Religion Teachers against Teachers in Discourses Sermons Books rendring each other despicable and unlovely and some calling out aloud to Rulers to draw the Sword against their Brethren so learnedly and industriously pleading the Cause against each other with the Laity high and low as if the destroying of their Love and kindling Wrath and Hatred were the Evangelical necessary work and without this zeal and skill and diligence hard to be accomplished No wonder then if we have people against people families divided and all confounded and this grievous Schism carryed on by crying out against each other as Schismaticks and implacably causing it while we loudly inveigh against it The case is lamentable that distraction should be thus expressed and promoted and when God hath warned us by the mischiefs of an odious Civil War and hath tryed us again with peace with all Nations about us when most of them are involved in grievous Wars that yet we will not give peace to one another but live as if Peace were the Plague which we most desire to escape Yet as it is the good providence of God that the Names of Wisdom Godliness Truth Justice Mercy Honesty and Vertue are all still honourable even among those that hate and oppose them and the names of Folly Ungodliness Lying Unjustice Unmercifulness Dishonesty and Vice are all dishonourable where the things themselves are followed and prevail so Love Peace and Concord are names that are by most commended when if most were for the things indeed we were in a hopeful way of recovery And Malice Schism and Discord are cryed down by those whom no intreaty will prevail with to forbear them or to accept any remedy against them Yet we are thus far prepared for peace that if we be not false Hypocrites if we did but know which is the true way of Love Peace and Concord we would follow it And if we knew what is Schism indeed we would avoid it And its pity that men that think themselves wise should yet not know the way of Love and Peace Especially that the Learned Preachers of the Gospel of Love and Peace should still be the incendiaries and stir up the Laity that would be more peaceable against each other And that after so many Volumes of History have these thirteen hundred years at least asperst the Clergy with the reproach of being the contentious troublers of the world And yet must we despair of a cure of so odious a disease The thing that Books Sermons and Discourses cry out against those called Non Conformists for is Humorous Obstinate Schism and Disobedience in Preaching when forbidders and keeping up Assemblies not allowed and gathering Churches out of Churches separating from the Parish-Communion and Church of England If we can find out the Schismatick we hope he will be condemned by us all But that the Cause may be heard at least in some part before it is judged we that publish this here give an account of our own judgment and those that we are best acquainted with how far we hold it lawful or unlawful to gather Churches or to separate from Churches or to differ from what is established by Authority But the Application to our particular Case and our Arguments thereabout we must not here presume to publish They that accuse others as Schismaticks and Separatists for deserting Churches or gathering Churches out of Churches and will not tell us what they mean by the word Church nor give us leave to tell them what we mean but judge in confusion and despise explication and necessary distinction are men that we can neither be edified by nor edifie in this way SECT II. The Various Opinions of such us we have to do with
in the power of a Prince to cast out Christianity when he pleaseth and to deny God all Publick Worship and we must ask leave of Rulers that Christ may be Christ and souls may be saved as if the Keys of Heaven and Hell were theirs None that we write for Protestants or Papists will assert this But if All must not lay down their Ministry why must a thousand or two thousand do it rather than all the rest We suppose it will be said that if a thousand should refuse Conformity all might continue their forbidden Ministry but if two thousand only of ten thousand should deny Conformity these two thousand must lay down because the rest are a competent supply to the Churches Answ But these be but unproved words 1. How shall we be sure that other mens sinning will absolve the two thousand innocent from their duty If in the first Instant it be confessedly the equal duty of all how will the weakness and sin of one part change the obligation of all the rest 2. If the Churches be somehow supplied by mens sin will it follow that truth and righteousness in sounder blameless men will not mend their supply but must be cast out by others sin 3. And where can the wit of man ever set bounds to such power of sinners It will here be granted us that if the most in France conform to Popery it will not disoblige all others from the exercise of their Ministry And who then can say what those untruths and sins are which a weak and erring Ministry may be guilty of which shall serve to disoblige the rest No man here can set us any certain measure 4. Would it have an honest sound if it should be said to the people The greater part of the Ministers by sin yea gross deliberate sin unrepented of have procured the liberty of their Ministry and they are enow for you and therefore you must hear none of those that refused so to sin and are cast out e. g. suppose it were the subscribing of the Covenant against Pâ—elaey that were made the Condition of our Preaching here by Law Or subscribing to the Divine Right of unordained Elders and their power in Presbyterian-Classes If most of the Ministers take that Covenant doth that prove that all the rest if forbidden to Preach must be silent This were an easie way to introduce any Errour by forbidding any but the defenders of it to Preach If Julian might not thus have put down the Gospel nor Valens have put down the Homoousians as they called the Orthodox nor the Papists so put down the Protestants why may Calvinists or Lutherans so put down one another As if I were bound to be a Minister only till other men will sin Obj. But suppose that the sin be on the silenced Ministers part and the other be in the truth Ans 1. Then the silenced Ministers are not guiltless of the Schism 2. But if it be so if their errour be in a small and difficult matter not deserving silencing as theirs Rom. 15. about meats and daies c it may be far greater Schism in the silencers then in them Obj. But suppose it a doubtful case and one party take consenting to be a sin and the other part and the greater take it to be none If you may preach on because you think that you are in the right then no Heretick should be silenced Ans This was answered before 1. If men will still thus confound the scire and the esse or put the scire before the esse they may go on in errour and no reason can silence them The thing is realy first true or false before it is known or thought so to be If it be true then he that thinketh it false is the delinquent If it be a sin it is not mens taking it for no sin that will make it so nor disoblige the orthodox from their Ministry But if it be no sin that is Commanded the Nonconsenters are in the fault And if it be a Heresie which they stand for may be sâ—lenced And yet we will not deny but if the generality of the Ministry obtain their liberty by some small tollerable sin or errour and the sounder part be few and unnecessary in that Country â—rudence obligeth them to go to some other place that needeth them and never to excercise their Ministry where in true reason it is like to do more hurt than good LXIX 25. Where under any of the foresaid unjust prohibitions the silenced Ministers and people shall gather no distinct Churches but only Auditories or Chappels as parts of the Parish Churches and that only where there is through the bigness of the Parish or distance from the Parish Church or paucity or insufficiency or unfaithfulness of Parish Priests a true necessity not unchurching or separating from the Parish Church but owning it and holding Communion with it and promoting the reputation of the true Parish Minister and Communion and perswading others to the like we cannot see that this is any Schism but rather their practise who fire and divide mens minds by envious clamours against the innocent and proudly calling others Schismaticks LXX 26. We have greatly lamented the true Schismatical disposition of some religiously affected persons who make their singularities or little differences the occasions of unchristening unchurching or degrading those that are wiser than themselves and running away from one another on pretence of discipline and avoiding sin But yet we hold that gentle forbearing tolerable differences even in distinct Churches guilty of Schism so they be kept from unpeaceable reviling of others is a meeter way to avoid the mischiefs than with prison sword or fire to exasperate them It is noted that Nestorius the Heretick was the first sharp persecutor of the Novatians But most of the better Bishops tolerated them as did the Emperours And two prudent gentle Bishops of Constantinople Atticus and Proclus reduced the Joannites and lenified other divided Parties which the flercer men had made and kept up by their violence SECT VII Some Matters of Fact preparatory to the true Application of what is before laid down WE must crave that justice of the Reader as to note that hither to we have spoken but of the Doctrinal part about Schism not applying it to England or any others Nor shall we now any otherwise apply it than to lay down some little part of the Matters of Fact which the Nonconformists are considering to help others to apply it without mistake as they shall see cause We intend not in this the determination of the points in matter of right nor do we here tell men unless on the by in the stating of some few questions what it is that we account good or evil much less do we here give the proofs or reasons of our Cause That is the thing for which we greatly desire the allowance of our Superiours But must not unnecessarily presume to do it lest we displease them
as an Innovator and those that followed him And some think that every side had too much hand in it and were to be blamed The truth is 1. That more by far of the Nonconformists than of the late sort of the Prelatists were for the Parliament in those times 2. That some that were Sectaries and some that were hot for the Parliament did conform 3. That some few that had been in the King's Army or Cause and that were sufferers for him and were against the Covenant and the Parliaments War were Nonconformists 4. That many more of the old Episcopal Comformists than of the later sort of them were for the Parliament 5. That the Archbishop of York Williams who had some time been Lord Keeper was one of the Parliaments Commanders in North-Wales as it is reported without denial 6. That most Ministers are dead that were in that War 7. That the Westminster Assembly as is said came thither almost all Conformists 8. That so small is the number of the present silenced Ministers who had any hand in those Wars that if no other were ejected and silenced but they the case would be judged comparatively very easie and it would be thankfully accepted as hath oft been told For most were then youths at School and in the Universities and many lived in the King's quarters and garrisons and many other never medled with Wars at all it being now about thirty four or five years since the War began 9. That all the Wars that have been since their opposition to the Parliament and violence done to the person of the King were far from being owned by the common sort of the now Nonconformists as was said 10. The Doctrine of Bilson Hooker and such like containing such Principles as Parliament men then usually professed is before mentioned though not fully recited and is commonly known and that the main body of the Parliament Assembly Army Commanders Lord Lieutenants Mâ—jor Generals of Bragades and Sea-Captains were professed Conformists of the Church of England 11. Lastly We had hoped that His Mâ—jesties prudence had by the Act of Oblivion long since ended this part of the Contention but we find still some conformable Ministers whom in other respects we much esteem and love who as if Truth Charity Justice and Humanity had been forgotten by them affirm in print that All the Nonconformists were guilty of the King's Death passing over what is aforesaid of the Conformists and others of them crying out to Magistrates to execute the Laws on us by the urged Motive of their late sequestrations and sufferings as if they knew not or would not have others to know how few Nonconformists in Parliament or Militia there were at the beginning of the War in comparison of the Conformists and how much the second third and following Causes Parties and Tragedies in that War were disliked by the now Episcopal and Presbyterian Nonconformists 36. The people who now adhere to the Nonconformists who were at age before the Wars whom we that write this were acquainted with had very hard thoughts of the Bishops persons and some of Episcopacy it self because of the foresaid silencing of Ministers and ruining of honest men about Sunday-sports Reading that Book and other such things besides Nonconformity But when the Ministers that guided them began to seem more reconciled to the Episcopal Party and upon the reports and promises which they had heard had put them in hope that the next Bishops would prove more moderate peaceable and pious than the former and would by experience avoid divisions and persecution the said people began to be enclined to more reverent and favourable thoughts of Episcopacy and the Bishops and were upon experience of the late confusions in a far fairer way to union submission to them than before But when they saw their Teachers taken from them and some such set over them against their wills who were better known to them than to the obtruders and when they heard of about 2000 silenced at once this so much alienated them from the Bishops that it was never since in our power to bring them to so much esteem of them and reverence to them as might have been but multitudes by this were driven further from Conformity than the silenced Ministers 37. The 2000 silenced were not a quarter of the Ministers of England who were in possession before the return of the Bishops so that it is evident that above three fourth parts of the Ministers that kept in under the Parliament and Protector notwithstanding Covenant Directory and all did prove Conformists 38. The New-altered Liturgy was not printed and published till August 24. or near it when the Ministers were to be silenced that subscribed not and consented not so that we must needs suppose that they were but few Ministers in England in comparison of the rest who ever saw and read much less long considered that Book before they declared their Assent and Consent to all things in it Sure we are that we that lived in London who had it at the first publishing found the time past or so short to examine all things in it with due deliberation that had it been blameless we must have been silenced unless we had consented upon an implicit faith 39. Since we were silenced His Majesties Declaration for more Liberty in Religion came out 1673. but soon died And since then we have been called to many attempts for Unity in which we have twice come to an agreement with those honest peaceable pious and learned Divines of the Church of England who were appointed to treat of it with us But that signified nothing as to our healing while Reasons unknown to us or ineffable prevailed 40. Yet still we have been called on to Tell what we sâ—â—ck at and what we desired and what would satisfie us who desire nothing but leave to excercise the Ministry to which we were ordained and the Cant still goeth on among the ignorant at least as if we had never told them to this day or as if since the new conformity we had ever been called or had leave to tell them or as if the same men would endure us to tell them our case of dissent and the reasons of it to this day But the Judg is at the door SECT VIII The Matters of Fact as to what is required of us by Laws and Canon to which we must conform And first of Lay-men I. OF Laymen that will have any Government or Trust in any City or Corporation is necessarily required the taking of the following Oath and Declaration by a Law I Swear that it is not Lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to take Arms against the King And that I Abhor that Trayterous position that Arms may be taken by His Authority against his Person or against those that are Commissioned by him And the Declaration is That there is NO OBLIGATION upon me or ANY OTHER person from the Oath Commonly called the solemn League and