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A65697 Considerations humbly offered for taking the oath of allegiance to King William and Queen Mary Whitby, Daniel, 1638-1726. 1689 (1689) Wing W1720; ESTC R30191 59,750 73

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181. viz. It is worthy the Note that we find no execution of blood except in open battel in all these combustions nor any Nobleman to die on a Scaffold either in this King's Reign or any other since William the First which is now almost Three hundred years SECT III. NOW as the strength of this Argument seems to me greater than is that of many others which are produced in this Cause so are there many singular advantages which it hath above them For instance First Whereas 't is said n. 1. That we cannot take this Oath upon the Grounds which commonly are offered to move us so to do without condemning the Doctrine of Non-resistance allowing Subjects in some cases a Power to Depose their Prince asserting that our Allegiance to him may cease even whilst he doth continue to Govern or to sway the Sceptre and so we cannot upon those Motives comply with the Act enjoining us to take it without condemning our ancient and avowed Doctrines our Subscriptions to our Homilies and Canons if not the Doctrine of the Ancient Church and that which once was counted the Glory of the Church of England and consequently we cannot do it on those Principles without the scandal of Hypocrisie and Mutability and so of being Ecclesiastical Weathercocks that turn with every wind that blows and Men of such flexible Consciences as will permit us to swear backwards and forwards or any ways for our interest which scandal would cause ur Persons to be despised and our Doctrine not to be regarded Whereas I say some of the other Grounds of taking the Oath of Fealty and Allegiance to King William seem to subject us to these and many other inconveniencies this way entirely avoids them all For 1. We may still honestly declare as do our Statutes n. 2. 3. Jam. 1. c. 1. Can. 36.60 Can. 1. 1640. our Canons and our Convocations That the King's Highness is the only Supreme Governor of this Realm and of all other his Dominions and Countries That the Kingly Authority within his Dominions and Countries is immediately and after God Chief and Supreme and that all Subjects by divine Law stand bound to yield all Faith and Obedience to it above all Earthly Power whatsoever For this Doctrine doth not in the least diminish any Privileges or meddle with any Prerogatives of our Sovereign Lord the King but only tells us who for the time being is that Sovereign Lord to whom these Prerogatives belong 2. n. 3. We may still honestly declare That it is not lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to take up Arms against the King Stat. Car. 2 A. 14. cap. 2.12 Car. 2. cap. 10. And that by the undoubted fundamental Laws of this Kingdom neither the Peers of this Realm nor the Commons nor both together in Parliament nor the People collectively or representatively nor any other persons whatsoever had have hath or ought to have any coercive Power over the Kings of this Realm And with our Convocation still assert A. D. 1640. Can. 1. That for Subjects to bear Arms against their King offensive or defensive upon any pretence whatsoever is at the least to resist the Powers which are ordained of God. We may still subscribe these Doctrines of our Homilies as wholsome and godly Doctrines and Doctrines to be embraced by all men 2d Par. of the Serm. of Obed. p. 72. That it is not lawful for Subjects and Inferiors in any case to resist and stand against Superior Powers that Christ hath taught us plainly that even the wicked Rulers have their Power and Authority from God and therefore it is not lawful for their Subjects to withstand them Although they do abuse their Power That if they would command us to do any thing contrary to God's Commandments in that case we may not in any wise withstand them violently P. 74 75. or rebel against Rulers or make any Insurrection Sedition or Tumults either by force of Arms or otherwise Against the Anointed of the Lord or any of his Officers but we must in such case patiently suffer all wrongs and injuries referring the Judgment of our Cause only to God. Hem. of Rebel Par. 2. p. 301. And that though Multitudes not only of the Rude and Rascal Commons but sometimes also Men of great Wit Nobility and Authority have moved Rebellions against their lawful Princes whereas true Nobility should most abhor such villanies though they should pretend sundry Causes as the Redress of the Common-wealth which Rebellion of all other mischiefs doth most destroy or Reformation of Religion whereas Rebellion is most of all against true Religion yet were the multitude of the Rebels never so great the Captains never so noble politick and witty the pretences feigned to be never so good and holy yet the speedy overthrow of all Rebels of what number state or condition soever they were or what colour and cause soever they pretend is and ever hath been such that God thereby doth shew that He alloweth neither the dignity of any person nor the multitude of any people nor the weight of any cause as sufficient for the which Subjects may move Rebellion against their Prince For this Doctrine only adds to these Particulars this That the King Regnant in possession is the King whom we may not resist in any case 3. We are not obliged for the justification of our selves n. 4. and of our Doctrine to appeal from the Homilies themselves to those who composed or subscribed them to prove their Actions towards others and the Sayings of one or two of them elsewhere were inconsistent with the plain import of the words which they subscribed and taught as good and wholsome Doctrine when it served to defend the Protestants against the Insurrections of the Romanists the chief Adversaries of that Doctrine which England knew of in those times or to insinuate to their disparagement that they held this to be good Doctrine when it was useful to secure them against the Romanists but that the Doctrine of the Lawfulness of Resistance was as good when it was useful to preserve the Protestants in England or beyond the Seas against the Romanists But can fairly account for that assistance which they gave to their oppressed Brethren from the difference betwixt the constitution of their Government and ours this being one of the chief Laws by which the liberty of the Netherlands was long maintained and justified If any Prince hath disturbed the State of the Republick either by violence wrong dealing or treachery Oration of the Lawfulness of the Netherlandish War p. 14. then all the States and Burghers may deny him Obedience and shall be free and discharged of their Oaths they shall appoint a Chief in his place until he be reduced to a better Mind and more easie Government From the Observation of Dr. Hammond out of Bodinus L. 2. de Rep. c. 5. That in France Spain England and Scotland Reges sine