the Supream Power to be in themselves Exclusively without a King or House of Lords And they are the Powers that now are as hath been cleared Saunders Mar. 23. 1650. p. 24. 32 It is altogether Lawful for the Parliament to take up Arms for the Defence of the Liberty or any other Imaginable Cause against any Party Countenanced by the Kings Presence against his Laws Baylyes Review p. 83. 33 The Votes Orders and Ordinances of the Lords and Commons in Parliament even without or against the Kings Personal Command are to be obey'd and observ'd Câ—…oftons fastening of St. Peters Fetters p. 118. 34 A Reformation is setled by Highest Authority in despight of Papists Prelate Pope or Devil Staunton to the Commons April 24. 1644. p. 24. 35 Is it so high a Crime for the Great Council of the Nation to determine things necessary for the safety of King and Kingdom without consent of his Majesty when it cannot be obtained Newcomen to the Commons Nov. 5. 1642. p. 48. 36 You are Ambassadors of the Greatest King The Great things of Heaven and Earth are committed to your care the Glory of Iehovah the Gospel of Christ the Welfare of Churches the Good of Kingdoms and in some respect of the whole Christian world is in your hands Greenhil to the Commons April 26. 1643. p. 45. 37 There is no danger in Resisting Acts of Tyranny for Tyrants exercising Tyranny are no Terror to Evil doers Apol. Rel. 154. 38 The Authority and Gods Ordinance can never do wrong but the Corrupt Person placed in Authority may offend so that the King as King is one thing and the King acting Tyranny is another thing Knox Hist. Li. 2. p. 141. Notes on §. 9. THE King render'd Accountable to his Subjects Num. 1 2. His Power Fiduciary and not to be obey'd in doubtful Cases 3 4 The People the Fountain of Power 5 6. And may Depose their Sovereign if he fails in his Duty 7 The Abuse of his Power is the forfeiture of it 8 9. His Parliament is above him 10 11. And so are the People 12. The Parliament are his Superiors and may Depose him 13 14. The Kings Power at Westminster though his Person may be at Oxford 15 The People may discharge themselves of their Allegiance 16 The Crown forfeitable and fâ—…rfeited 17 Supremacy only a Complement 18 The late War justifi'd and the Resistance Lawful 19 20. Cromwel to be Obey'd for Conscienoe sake 21 22. Resistance allowable 23 The Parliament are Supream and the Subjects Obedience Conditional 24 25. Princes Punishable as well as others 26 The Scottish Invasion defended 27 28. And the taking up of Arms against Tyrants 29 Kings subject to their States 30 The Commons and the Parliament-War defended 31 32 33 34 35 36. Tyranny is not Gods Ordinance 37 38. Let the Reader judge now what any man can design that exposes and supports these Positions but the Ruin of the Government §. 10. Tumults Encouraged And chiefly by the Able Holy Faithful Laborious and Truly-Peaceable Preachers of the Gospel Petition for Peace P. 4. 1 IT is not unknown nor unobserved by the Wise that the Ministers have been very serviceable to the Civil State and to the Military too Not only by their Supplications to God for good success in all their Undertakings and their happy Proceedings in all their Warlike Marches and Motions as at the Removal of the Ark Num. 10. 35. Rise up Lord and let thine Enemies be scatter'd Let them that hate thee flee before thee But 2 By their Informations and 3 Solicitations of the People to Engage both their Estates and Persons in the Case of God and their Country Iohn Ley's Examination of the New Quere 1646. Epis. Ded. to the Lord Mayor 2 And we do not Repent of any part of our Pains or Pressures or Perils so long as we may be Serviceable to so good a Cause and to such Good and Gracious Masters as under Christ they The Parliament have hitherto approved themselves towards us And I hope we may without Boasting say by way of Apology that we have not been altogether their unprofitable Servants in respect 1 of our Interest in and 2 Endeavours with the People without whom the Greatest Kings are rather Cyphers than Figures and destitute both of Honour and Safety Prov. 14. 28 1 To Inform their Iudgments and 2 to Enflame their Zeal and 3 to oblige their Consciences and 4 to Fasten their Affections in Loyalty and Fidelity to those worthy Patriots whom they have in their Choice and Votes of Election entrusted with the Religion the Lives and Estates of themselves and their Posterity Hyde p. 80. Sect. 22. 3 After-Ages will Abominate their Baseness and Villanies that have lifted up their hands against the Parliament But the Fsthers the Mordecais the Religious Patriots that have acted in this Sphear the brave Soldiers whose Lives were not dear unto them the FAITHFUL MINISTERS the Horse-men and the Chariots of Israel they shall be had in Everlasting Remembrance Heyrick to the Commons May. 27. 1646. p. 16. 4 You are required to Commend to God in your Prayers the Lord General the whole Army employ'd in the Parliaments Service as also in your Sermons effectually to stir up the People to appear in Person and to joyn with the Army to stand up for our Religion and Liberties as is desired and expected by the Army and the Committee for the Militia in this City Penningtons Order to the London Ministers Ap. 1643. 5 The work of Reformation still goes on There we do get ground as to Perfect a Protestation into a Covenant to ripen an Impeachment into a Root and Branch And in a word to settle an Assembly of Divines as a General Refiners fire to try all Metals of the Church Bond. to the Commons March 27. 1644. p. 56. 6 The Assembly Petition'd both Houses for a Fast and the removing of Blind Guides and Scandalous Ministers destroying all Monuments of Idolatry and Superstition the Executing of Justice upon all Delinquents according to the Solemn and Religious Vow and Protestation for that purpose that so God who is now by the Sword avenging the Quarrel of his Covenant beholding the Integrity and Zeal of the Two Houses might turn from the fierceness of his wrath hear their Prayers go forth with their Armies and perfect the work of Reformation c. Ex. Col. July 19. 1643. p. 242. 7 I must truly tell ye that before these Late Wars it pleas'd the Lord to call me by his Grace through the work of the Ministry and afterwards keeping a day of Humiliation in Fasting and Prayer with Mr. Simeon Ash Mr. Love Mr. Woodcock and other Ministers in Laurence-Lane they did so clearly state the Cause of the Parliament that I was fully convinc'd in my own Conscience of the Justness of the War and thereupon Engaged in the Parliaments Service which as I did and do believe was the Cause of the Lord. I ventur'd my Life
Contributions for all his Payments and Hazards I say he is blind I say his heart is not right with God Marshal to both Houses Jan. 18. 1643. p. 20. All Christendom except the Malignants in England do now see that the Question in England is whether Christ or Anti-Christ shall be Lord and King Ibid. p. 21. 17 Q. Whether the whole Kirk of Scotland in their Letters sent to the King at Oxford as in Mays History hath not judged the late King Guilty of the Blood of Thousands of his best Subjects And if so whether the Laws of God or Man give any Pardon or Dispensation to Kings more than to others If not whether his Judges are not sufficient to justifie it Valley of Achor Q. 8. Q. Whether beside the Guilt of Blood contracted upon himself in the Wars of England and Scotland he was not also Guilty of the Blood of Ireland Ibid. Q. 9. 18 No Sober and Impartial Person can Condemn their Position who denying that a Tyrannous Magistrate was the Minister of God to them for their Good did plainly assert the Lawfulness of Self-defence and Holy Reformation without the Violation of the Ordinance of God Naphtali p. 30. 19. As he The late King to acquit himself hath not spar'd his Adversaries to load them with all sorts of blame and accusation so to him as in his Books alive there will be us'd no more Courtship than he uses but what is properly his own Guilt not imputed any more to his Evil Councellors a Ceremony us'd longer by the Parliament than he himself desired shall be laid here without Circumlocutions at his own door That they who from the first beginning or but now of late by what Unhappiness I know not are so much affatuated not with his Person only but with his palpable faults and dote upon his Deformities may have none to blame but their own folly if they live and dye in such a strucken blindness as next to that of Sodom hath not happen'd to any sort of men more gross or more misleading Miltons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pref. 20 The People exorbitant and excessive in all their motions are prone oft-times not to a Riligious only but to a Civil kind of Idolatry in Idolizing their Kings though never more mistaken in the Object of their Worship heretofore being wont to repute for Saints those Faithful and Couragious Barons who lost their lives in the Field making glorious War against Tyrants for the Common Liberty as Simon de Momfort Earl of Leicester against Henry the Third Thomas Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster against Edward the Second But now with a Besotted and Degenerate baseness of spirit except some few who yet retain in them the Old English Fortitude and love of Freedom and have testifi'd it by their matchless deeds the rest Embastardiz'd from the ancient Nobleness of their Ancestors are ready to fall flat and give adoration to the Image and Memory of this Man who hath offer'd at more fetches to undermine our Liberties and put Tyranny into an Art than any Brittish King before him Ibid. Pref. 21 Whosoever sheddeth Man's Blood by Man shall his Blood be shed we find here no exception If a King therefore do this to a King and that by men also the same shall be done Ibid. pag. 229. 22 To have brought the King to Condign Punishment hath not broke the Covenant but it would have broke the Covenant to have sav'd him from those Judicatories which both Nations declar'd in that Covenant to be Supream against any person whatsoever Ibid. p. 237. God hath testifi'd by all propitious and evident designs whereby in these latter times he is wont to testifie what pleases him that such a solemn and for many Ages unexampled act of due Punishment was no mockery of Justice but a most grateful and well-pleasing Sacrifice Neither was it to cover their Perjury as he accuses but to uncover his Perjury to the Oath of his Coronation Ibid. 23 This is the Cause of the Kingdom the King should have helpt c. but did not then it became the Duty of the Parliament to have relieved the Kingdom but they did not her necessities great and many Petitions concerning them were slighted and burnt waited many years for help our Oppressions not removed all complain dangers encrease no remedy appears they not help us nor tell us how long it will be before this Parliament will be at an end that we may have another to see if they will help us when all falls no ground of hope of life is left danger eminent and no other means of help left this is a cause of Necessity Now it 's the duty of the Army to help and if they had not it had been their sin if not their overthrow if they had suffer'd it to Perish the Kingdom had been well holpen up with a remedy in extremity An Answer to John Geree c. 1649. p. 4. 24 As to the Blood of the King I have not in the least any Guilt lying upon me for I have many a time sought the Lord with tears to know if I have done amiss in 't but 't was rather confirm'd that the thing was more of God than of Men. Nine Mens Speeches Harrison p. 2. I go to suffer upon the account of the most glorious Cause that ever was in the world Ibid. p. 6. Blessed be the Name of God that I have a Life to lose upon so Glorious and so Honourable an account p. 10. 25 I dye not in the Lord only but for the Lord and think not that this Blessed Cause shall be lost for it shall reach to the end of the Earth Think not your Prayers lost for your Prayers and Tears with our Blood shall come down shortly upon Babylon Mr. Carew's Speech p. 15. 26 I cannot Confess any Guilt It is such a Cause that the Martyrs would gladly come again from Heaven to suffer for if they might I look upon it as the most Noble and High act of Justice that our Story can parallel Nine Mens Speeches Cook p. 41. 27 I Bless Gods Name he hath engaged me in a Cause not to be Repented of Scott Ibid. p. 71. 28 In all that is past I could never yet suffer so much as a wish to pass through my thoughts Oh that I had not been engaged in this thing Or that I had before Forty-eight deserted this Cause Barkstead to a Friend Three Mens Speeches 29 I do believe at long-run there is not a man that Fears the Lord will have any reason to be sorrowful for engaging in that Good Old Cause which I am now to Seal with my Blood again as I have many a time done I am satisfied in my soul that it is a most Just and Glorious Cause c. Three Mens Speeches Coll. Okey 30 As it is unquestionably lawful on serious and real grounds to Depose and do Justice on Kings and Princes as other Magistrates so never was there a greater and more
Discipline must all the Estates within this Realm be Subject as well the Rulers as they that are Ruled 1 Lib. Disc. cap. 7. 22 As the Ministers and others of the Ecclesiastical State are subject to the Magistrate-Civil so ought the Person of the Magistrate be subject to the Kirk Spiritually and in Ecclesiastical Government 2 Lib. Disc. c. 1. 23 As Ministers are Subject to the Judgment and Punishment of the Magistrate in External things if they offend so ought the Magistrates to submit themselves to the Discipline of the Kirk if they transgress in matters of Conscience and Religion Ibid. 24 The National Assemblies of This Country called commonly the General Assemblies ought always to be retained in their own Liberty and have their own place with Power to the Kirk to appoint Times and Places and Convenient for the same And all men as well Magistrates as Inferiors to be subject to the Judgment of the same in Ecclesiastical Causes without any Reclamation or Appellation to any Judge Civil or Ecclesiastical within the Realm 2 Lib. Disc. c. 12. 25 The Princes and Magistrates not being Exemed and these that are Placed in the Ecclesiastical Estate Rightly Ruling Governing God shall be Glorified c. 2 Lib. Disc. c. 13. 26 The Ministers Exerce not the Civil Jurisdiction but teach the Magistrate how it should be Exercised according to the word 27 To Disobey or Resist any that God hath placed in Authority while they pass not over the Bounds of their office we Confess or Affirm to be sin Large Confess Art 15. 28 We Confess and Avow that such as resist the Supream Power doing that thing which appertaineth to his Charge do resist God's Ordinance and therefore cannot be Guiltless Ibid. Art 25. 29 Blasphemy Adultery Murder Perjury and other Crimes Capital worthy of death ought not properly to fâ—…ll under Censure of the Kirk because all such open Transgressors of Gods Law ought to be taken away by the Civil Sword 1 Book of Discip. cap. 7. 30 In the fear of God we signifie unto your Honours that whosoever persuades you that ye may pardon where God Commandeth Death deceives your Souls and provokes you to offend God's Majesty 1 Book of Disc. cap. 9. 31 The Magistrate Commandeth External things for external Peace and Quietness among the Subjects The Minister handleth External things only for Conscience-cause 2 Lib. Disc. cap. 1. 32 If the Offender abide an Assise and by the same be Absolved then may not the Church pronounce Excommunication but justly may exhort the man by whose hand the Blood was shed to enter into Consideration with himself how precious is the Life of man before God and how severely God commandeth Blood howsoever it be shed except it be by the Sword of the Magistrate to be punished And so may Enjoyn unto him such satisfaction to be made publick to the Church as may bear Testification of his obedience and unfeigned Repentance Psalm-Book in the order of Excommunication 33 Wanton and Vain words Uncomly Gestures Negligence in hearing the Preaching or Abstaining from the Lords Table when it is publiquely Ministred suspicion of Avarice or of Pride Superfluity or Riotousness in Chear or Raiment These We say and such others that of the world are not regarded deserve admonition amongst the Members of Christs Body If he continues Stubborn then the Third Sunday ought he to be Charged Publiquely to satisfie the Church for his Offence and Contempt under the pain of Excommunication Psalm Book in the Order of Publique Repentance 34 It is Ordained that every Thursday the Ministers and Elders in their Assembly or Consistory diligently Examine all such faults and suspicions as may be espied not only amongst others but chiefly amongst themselves Psalm-Book Sect. of the weekly Assembly 35 In every Notable Town we Require that one day beside the Sunday be appointed to the Sermon and Prayers which during the time of Sermon must be kept from all Exercise of Labour as well of the Master as the Servant 1 Lib. Disc. cap. 9. of Policy Notes on §. 8. THere can be no better Antidote against the Poyson of a Presbyteriaâ—… Government than the very Orders of their Discipline which are the most Unanswerable Condemnation of the Party You have here a more than Papal Tyranny in the Usurpations of the Kirk over Kings and Princes in the 6 first Clauses Treason it self exempted from the Cognizance of the Civil Power Num. 7. The Kings Supremacy not only disclaimed but the bare acknowledgment of it made Criminal 8 9 All the Governments of the World subjected to the Holy Discipline and Rebellion it self abetted and maintained 10 11 Sovereign Power Vested in the Multitude 12 The Restoring of the King Condemn'd 13 14 And the Objections against it his receiving the Sacrament from a Prelatical hand according to the Order of the Church and the Charging his Father with the Guilt of Bloâ—…d 15 The Taking of the Oâ—…th of Allegiance and the Acceptance of the Kings Indulgence pronounced utterly Unlawful 17 18 19 Conventicle-Preachers Warranted from the Precedent of Christ and his Apostles 20 The Ministers above their Sovereign 21 22 23 24. Princes upon their Good Behaviour and accountable to the Presbytery if they transgress their Bounds 25 26 27 28. The Power of Life and Death taken from the Magistrate 29 3â—… The Minister Usâ—…rps the Civil Power 31 The Presbytery take upon them to punish Malefactors when the Law has acquitted them 32 And call People to account for their very Thoughts Cloaths Gestures nay a suspition is enough to make a body lyable to their Censure 33 They make Two Sabbaâ—…hs in the Week more than God ever Commanded and by the same Authority they may set apaâ—…t all the rest 34. 35. This is enough said to shew the Shameful and Intolerable Rigour of that Government §. 9. Principles and Positions 1 WHEN the Supream Magistrate will not Execute the Judgment of the Lord those who made him Supream Magistrate under God who have under God Sovereign Liberty to dispose of Crowns and Kingdoms are to Execute the Judgment of the Lord when Wicked men make the Law of God of none Effect 1 Sam. 15. 32. so Samuel killed Agâ—…g whom the Lord expresly Commanded to be kill'd because Saul disobey'd the Voice of the Lord. Lex Rex p. 173. 2 Shall it Excuse the States to say We could not judge the Cause of the Poor nor Crush the Priests of Baal and the Idolatrous Mass Prelates because the King forbad us Lex Rex p. 175. 3 The Kings Power is Fiduciary and put in his hand upon Trust and must be Ministerial and borrow'd from those who put him in trust and so his Power must be Less and derived from the Parliament Lex Rex p. 177. 4 The Magistrate hath no Power to suppose things Doubtful and Disputable upon the Practice of any in the Service of God and therefore it cannot be lawful for any to obey him when
freely for it and now dye for it Nine Mens Speeches Axtel at his Execution p. 89. 8 It cannot be unknown how much we and other Ministers of this City and Kingdom that faithfully adhered to the Parliament have Injuriously smarted under the scourge of evil Tongues and Pens ever since the first Eruption of the Unhappy Differences and Unnatural War between the King and Parliament for our Obedience to the Commands and Orders of the Honourable Houses in their Contests with his Majesty and Conflicts with his Armiâ—…s London-Ministers Vindicatiâ—…n 1648. p. 1. 9 When we consider how much it concerns the Honour of our Master and the good of all to preserve our Ministerial Function Immaculate we dare not but stand by and assert the Integrity of our hearts and the Innocency of all our actings in reference to the King and Kingdom for which we are so much calumniated and traduced Ibid. p. 3. 10 Doubtless the Lord is highly displeased with their proccedings in the Treaty at Newport in reference to Religion and Covenant concerning which they accepted of such Concessions from his Majesty as being Acquiesced in were dangerous and destructive to both The Kirks Testimony against Toleration p. 12. 1649. 11 I pray look on me as one that comes among you this day to beat a Drum in your Ears to see who will come out and follow the Lamb. Marshall 1641. 12 The Sabbath-day following next after their Arrival to London from Branford the Godly and well-affected Ministers throughout the City Preached and Praised the Lord publiquely for their so joyful and safe return home to their Parents Masters and Friends exhorting those young Soldiers of Christ's Army Royal still to retain 〈◊〉 be forward and ready to shew their Courage and Zeal 〈◊〉 of Gods Cause and their Countrys welfare shewing 〈◊〉 of their Adversaries to have Introduced Popery and 〈◊〉 Kingdom and assuring them that this War on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 waged and managed by Papists an Army of Papists being 〈◊〉 the Kings Command contrary to his Vows Protestations and deep Asseverations to the contrary Iehova-Iireh p. 212. 13 My House was a Receptacle for Godly Ministers in the worst of times Here was the Remonstrance fram'd against the Prelates Here were all meetings c. Mr. Calamy's Apology against Burton 1646. 14 You must do and you must do and yet you must do and yet ye must do as long as there is a Penny in thy Purse as long as there is strength in thy hand as long as there is breath in thy body c. Sedgwick's Speech at Guildhall Octob. 6. 1643. 15 I may not omit here to speak of all the Faithful Presbyterian Ministers in this City as well as through the Country those Chariots and Horse-men of our Israel though now forgotten many of the which not only ventur'd their Lives in Battel but by holding up their hands as Moses did when the People of Israel fought against the Enemy and by the lifting up their Hearts and Voices to God with strong crys made all our Armies abroad and our Counsels at home to prosper and all our undertakings happily to succeed Neither is that all but by their Wisdom Vigilancy and Powerful and persuasive Preaching they were the principal means under God of keeping the People here and every where in obedience to the Parliament by resolving their doubts satisfying their scruples and going before the People to their abilities yea many of them to my knowledg out of zeal to the Cause beyond their Abilities in all Contributions animating and encouraging others to bring in their Plate and Moneys and whatsoever was of price and esteem with them exhorting them now if ever to stand for their Religion Lives Liberties and the Liberty of the Subject Bastwicks Appendix to Indep c. p. 628. 16 I am one who out of Choice and Judgment have embarqued my self my Wife Children Estate and all that 's dear to me in the same Ship with you to sink and perish or to come safe to Land with you and that in the most doubtful and difficult times Pleading your Cause Justifying your Wars satisfying many that scrupled and when your Affairs were at lowest and the Chance of War against ye and some of the Grandees and Favorites of these times were packing up and ready to be gone I was then Highest and mâ—…st Zealous for ye Preaching Praying stirring up the People to stand for ye by going out in Person lending of Money c. Edwards Gangraena Ep. Ded Notes upon §. 10. AFTER these Proofs and Declarations of the Ministers Zeal and Industry for the promoting supporting and carrying on of the late Bloody Impious and Unnatural War let not any man take upon him any longer to acquit the Nonconformist Divines of the Guilt and Consequences of that Execrable Rebellion You have here under their hands and from their own tongues not only a Confession of the Fact but a Valuing of themselves even to the degree of Vanity and Ostentation for what they did toward the Advancing of that Sedition as a most Meritorious Service Nay they do not stick to acknowledge that the War could hardly have proceeded without them There 's no evading or qualifying the dint of this Charge since we have their own Papers in Iudgment against them §. 11. The War Iustified 1 LET us set hand and heart and shoulder and all to advance the Lords Sion to a perfection of beauty and to set up Christ upon his Throne Whites Centuries Pref. 1643. 2 Did ever any Parliament in England lay the Cause of Christ and Religion to heart as this hath done Did ever the City of London the rest of the Tribes and the Godly Party throughout the Land so willingly exhaust themselves that Christ might be set up Marshal to the Commons 1643. p. 19. And then let all England cry that our Blood our Poverty c. are abundantly repaid in this that there is such a Concurrence to set up the Lord Christ upon his Throne to be Lord and Christ over this our Israel p. 20. 3 As the Spirit of the Lord came upon Sampson and Iephtaâ—… and David so hath it been in our Conflicts The Spirit of the Lord hath come upon our Noble General and all our Commanders The Spirit of the Lord hath come upon our Gallants Gentlemen Young men Faithful Country-men Renowned Citizens So that he that was weâ—…k among them is as David and he that was as David hath been as the Angel of the Lord. Case to the Commons 1644. p. 28. 4 Tell them from the Holy Ghost says Beech from the word of Truth that their Destruction shall be terrible it shall be timely it shall bâ—… total Serm. Licensed by Mr. Cranferd 1645 p. 1â—… And ibid. O give thâ—…nks unto the Lord for he is Gracious and his Mercy endurâ—…th for ever who remembred us at 〈◊〉 for his Mercy endureth for ever who remembred us in 〈◊〉 shiâ—…e for his mercy endureth for ever who remembred us at Leicester