of power to let into the Church by the Sacrament of Baptisme as indeed it is and whom to admit to and whom to keep back from participation of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper it is a degree of power farre above both whom to ordaine to or whom to debarre from the order of Presbyters for 1. Whatsoever power or authoritie a Presbyter may claime by the word of God is virtually included in his Ordination 2. They that have power to ordaine a Presbyter have power upon just cause to silence and suspend the execution of that power and to stop his mouth Tit. 1.11 if it be opened to broach heresie or blasphemie or if his conversation be vitious and scandalous 3. The Covenant for the generall heads of it comprehendeth a perfect enumeration of the maine parts of the desired reformation under the titles of Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government but Ordination is not to be referred to Doctrine or Worship but to Discipline or Government for the ordaining of Governours and the exercise of Government properly appertaine to the same Topick or Classis 4. Though Government and Worship be distinguished betwixt themselves yet both agree in this that their generall grounds and rules are found in the word of God and in that respect the one may be set forth in the Civill Sanction with a relish of and reference to a religious constitution as well as the other But in case they will not be pleased to expresse any Divine right in any part of the Government in their Civill Sanction and will in a Parliamentary and Legislative way establish that thing which really and in it selfe is agreeable to the Word of God though they doe not declare it to be the will of Iesus Christ as is noted before out of the learned Commissioner of Scotland his * Sect. 8. p. 25. Brotherly examination and he hath the like in his * p. 32. Nihil Respondes we must be satisfied * p. 22. SECT XX. An Appendix to the precedent examination being an Apologeticall Narrative of the Petitions of the Common Councell of the Citie and Ministers of London presented to both the Honourable Houses of Parliament the 19th and 20th dayes of Novem. 1645. with a Vindication of them and the proceedings in them from the scandalous aspersions of the weekely Pamphleters especially of him who miscals himself by the name of the Moderate Intelligencer BVt howsoever the hope of union hath gon on hitherto since the Petitions of the Common Councell and of the Ministers of the Citie were presented to the Parliament there is great likelyhood of a dangerous breach betwixt the Parliament and them which will not easily be cemented up to perfect accord So haply may some conceive who know no more of the matter then they are told by the Moderate Intelligencer or by his Plagiatie the writer of the continuation of especiall and remarkable Passages who repeats his lying and scandalous Relation word for word in these termes This day the Common Councell did present a Petition to the Commons House of Parliament by divers Aldermen and others of that Councell which seemed to complaine or take ill the proceedings of the Parliament with the Assembly in the late businesse past concerning the election of Elders c. The Commons sate long about the businesse and laid it much to heart that any such thing should come from the Citie and that they should lend an eare to any that should in so evill a way represent things unto them and of what dangerous consequence it was and gave them an answer to this effect That they did perceive that they had beene informed and that they could not but lay it much to heart that they who had ever beene so ready to doe all good offices for the Kingdome and goe with the Parliament should from any but the Parliament take a representation of their proceedings and intreated them that herealter they would take satisfaction from themselves It s true they did beleeve they meant well and had a good meaning and intention in it but they were abused They had no sooner given answer to this but there came another from the Clergy to the same effect which was more sad then the former for they conceived this latter was an appeale from the Houses to the people and of as dangerous a consequence as could be imagined and that it deserved a high censure and withall they resolved if that was the way intended they would goe on with their Declaration and quickly undeceive the people and in the interim they referred it to the Committee of examinations that the first contrivers and after fomenters of this businesse may be dealt with according to merit This is a parcell of their weekly report but principally his who miscals himselfe the Moderate Intelligencer for he is neither Intelligent writing what he understands not nor Moderate being passionately addicted to a partie to flatter either out of an erroneous sancie fondly set upon irregular novelties in opinion and practice or out of a covetous affection to the wages of iniquitie the reward of flatterie or slander as the bad cause whereto he hath engaged his Pen hath need to be served with the one or the other and in the latter he hath shewed himselfe this last weeke a very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that 's the word in the Originall for a false accuser 2 Tim. 3.3 a false accuser of the brethren Revel 12.10 not of brethren in evill as Simeon and Levi Gen. 49.5 but in good in most sincere and zealous desires and endeavours to be serviceable to the Parliament in prosecution of the great Cause that is in hand the through reformation of Church and State Among whom there are many who taken single by themselves might in good manners have been entertained with termes which savour more of reverence then of contempt but this three-farthing News-monger takes upon him as if he had beene authorised by the Parliament to involve all the venerable Magistrates and prime men of power and trust in this Honourable Citie and a very great number of the most learned laborious and consciencious Ministers of the Province of London in an unfaithfull and undutifull association against the Parliament for their joynt petitioning to the Parliament And where lyeth the crime that may make them lyable to so loud a clamour was it for petitioning in generall or for their petitioning in particular If we consult with his scandalous paper we shall find that he layeth an heavie charge upon both First for the generall in the precedent page he ushereth it in with an egregious calumny in these words * p. 203 Now let us come home and looke about us and see if while our Army is labouring to subdue the enemy and end strife there is not new beginning by those that Fame saith have beene the causes of all the strife we did intreat them the last weeke they would let the Parliament alone and waite
both ingenuous and religious correspondence doth dispose them for no where in the Protestant Churches so farre as I have read or received by report are good Ministers better accepted of or more respectively used then in this City nor by any Citizens more then by those who are most worthy of honour and is cannot but be the desire as well as the duty of godly Ministers to advance them as much as may be in the estimation of the people and to presse upon them obedience according to their duty and dependence for conscience sake And though it be obvious to common observation how much the Magistrates favour maketh for the Ministers honour and succour it is not unknowne nor unobserved by the wise that the Ministers have been very serviceable to the Civill State and to the Military too not onely by their supplications to God for good successe to all their publique undertakings and their happy proceedings in all their warlike marches and motions as at the removall of the Arke Numb 10.35 Rise up Lord and let thine enemies be scattered let them that hate thee flee before thee but by their informations and soliâ—itations of the people to engage both their estates and persons in the Cause of God and their Countrey and I could name such at have bâ—â—â— looked on by the blood shâ—tten â—yes of professed enemies and fained by them by way of most hatefull reprâ—ach at the Authours of the Rebellion of whole Counties that is in the true sense of their charge the perswaders of them not to betake themselves to a divided party but to unite in the union of the King and Parliament And I am sure that some of them who have been envied and reviled in Print by libellous Schismaticks as growing rich upon the revenues of fat sequestrations when by a just accompt they have come short of a competent subsistence have been offered both riches and honour in the Kings name by persons of eminent degree to imploy their parts in his Majesties service the termes were no worse the intention likely not so good and have modestly and yet resolutely refused them then when it seemed both most profitable and honourable to aâ—cept them and not a little dangerous to withstand rewards when there was power to call for observance by minatory commands And it was then an advantage visible enough which the King had above the Parliament as the Pope hath above a Councell that the dispoâ—all of Church dignities was held in right and exercised in fact as a branch of the Royall Prerogative whence arose the Proverbe which made so many Ecclesiasticall Courtiers No fishing to the Sea No service to the King and by the power and Court Countenance that such had over the inferior Ministers both they by the Prelaticall Clergie and the people by them were made more obsequious and serviceable to whatsoever constitutions and impositions which came upon them whether from the Civill or Ecclesiasticall Authority And though wee have cause to multiply our benedictions as David did 1 Sam. 25. â—2 33. Blessed be God and blessed be the Parliament and blessed be their advice not only to themselves but to all the Kingdom that the heavie yoke of the domineering Hiâ—rarchy is taken off our neckes yet betwixt the Magistrates and the people the godly Ministers of the Kingdome and ordinarily the Ministers of this Citie especially for the Synod of Divines is an extraordinary Assembly will be alwayes as least instrumentally profitable for the promoting and upholding of a conformity and commodious correspondence on both sides according to the Relations wherein for the glory of God and the publique welfare they are mutually obliged to each other In prâ—posall of these particulars to your Lordship I shall not be thought to present you with an impertinent discourse by any thus will consider bow much the union of three Kingdoms depends upon the union of this Metropolis or mother Citie with the Parliament above it the Ministry within it and all the sister Cities and daughter Townes and Villages round about it and how much the union of this City now depends upon your Honour and I doubt not but that by Gods speciall providence your Honour was reserved for such a time as this when by a prudent and zealous and authoritative endevour for the cure of the manifold distractions among us you may be a blessed meanes to keepe off the destruction from us which is threatned by our Saviour to a Kingdome and there is the like danger to any either City or family given over to division Matth. 12.25 wherein your Lordship and your Venerable Colleagues may have the deepest share in suffering according to the measure of your eminent prelations in honour and estate above ordinary Citizens if which God forbid violent and unruly spirits should not be circumscribed with the virge of your awfull authoritie To this end though the Presbyterian Government may be very subservient and the Ministers of the City will be alwaies ready as their faculties furnish them with abilitie and their duties oblige them with diligence to serve your Honour yet since that is set up but in part and for a good part subiect to dispute as your power is not for it is wholly compleat and no way questionable the through reformation of this spatious and populous Citie next under God and the Parliament will more depend upon your head for counsell your heart for affection and your hand for execution then on any humane helpe or meanes whatsoever it be And if in regard of newly emergent mischiefs for Satan infusâ—th into his Agents new fancies and devices and stirreth them up to dangerous Innovations every day you find not ready remedies for all present or imminent evils within the bounds of your municipall Charters you are so neere the well-head and spring of Civill Government the Legislative Senate at Westminster that you may easily and speedily procure a supplement of power for any service that may conduce to the safety of the Parliament and Citie and with both by consequentiall operation and virtuall influence of many millions of subiects within the three Kingdomes united in the most Sacred bond of our solemne Covenant which may with more iâ—genuitiâ— be desired and with more facility be obtained because thereby the Parliament it selfe may be the better secured both from contempâ— and tumult which may justly be feared from such an insolent and violent generation of fanaticke and some franticke Enthusiasts and other fiery spirited Separatists who account it the height of their Evangelicall zeale to bring downe the highest and most eminent Worthies of the State for true piety prudence dignitie and power under the feet of confused Anarchy and popularity Wherein that they meane to make no reserves of reverence for the supreme Senate of the Kingdome nor to allow any protection by priviledges of Parliament is clearly discovered in that most seditious Pamphlet besides many others called Englands Birthright For notwithstanding the present
while I seek after a controverted truth I may not turne aside from a certaine duty which is in meeknesse to deale with a brother that is contrary minded so farre as may not prove to the prejudice of what in conscience I am bound to undertake and to manage also to the best advantage This for the Author and for the Title page besides for the Authors Name is a part of it it is as followeth SECT II. Of the Title Page A New Quere at this time seasonably to be considered as we tender the advancement of Truth and Peace He knew very well how the Athenian humour of listening after news prevaileth with our people of all sorts and therefore being to fish in troubled waters he puts upon his hook that bait at which it was like many would be nibling Next he saith It is at this time seasonably to be considered as we tender the advancement of Truth and Peace He commends his New Query to acceptance in two respects 1. As seasonable 2. As much importing the advancement of Truth and Peace For the first he saith it is at this time seasonably to be considered So it is now it is published but it was very unseasonably offered and I marvell that he who hath written a whole booke of policy should be so unpoliticke as to thinke it seasonable to set forth such a Quere and so to resolve it such it tends to retard the establishment of Government whereto the Parliament is so much engaged not onely for the thing it selfe but for a timely proposition and imposition of it by their civill sanction For the first that they intend to set up a Church government we have it 1. From their expresse profession December 15. 1641. We doe here declare that it is farre from our purpose or desire to let loose the golden reines of Discipline and Government in the Church to leave private persons or particular Congregations to take up what forme of service they please for we hold it requisite that there should be throughout the whole Realme a conformitie in that order which the Lawes enioyne according to the word of God So in the first Remonstrance of the Honourable House of Commons pag. 25. 2. from the first Article of the solemne League and Covenant published by Authoritie of Parliament September 21. 1643. Wherein they and all others that take it doe covenant to endeavour the reformation of Religion in the Kingdomes of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches 3. this Covenant was ordered againe by the Honorable House of Commons Januarie 29. 1644. to be publiquely read every Fast day and to be set up in every Congregation in a faire Table where every one may read it and to this are set the names of Master Speaker and 243. more of the Honourable House of Commons And for the second that they meane to expedite the settling of Government with all convenient speed we have good cause to conceive 1. Because they have bestowed already very many dayes in consultation about it 2. They insist in the same consultations still 3. They according to the eminence of their wisdome apprehend many and great evils that grow both in number and power by Doctrines of Libertinisme which necessarily require the restraint of a reformed Church Government 4. They have already set it up 1. In their Ordinance of Ordination set forth the last yeare 2. In an Ordinance for making London a Province this last yeare dividing it into severall Classes and for choosing a Committee for tryall of Elders to be chosen and Rules to be observed for orderly proceeding in the same and this before this Quere came forth 3. Since that they have advanced further by a Vote and Order for choosing Elders forthwith in particular Congregations 4. And last of all they have published an Ordinance with rules and directions for suspension from the Sacrament in cases of Ignorance and Scandall Yet they cannot make that speed with the Government which by most is desired and very much desired by themselves as we of the Assembly can witnesse who have often beene sent to by that Honourable Senate to quicken our worke and to ripen our debates to a full resolution because as with us the libertie of speaking wherein every one is free to propose and prosecute any doubt prolonged the Government in our hands so the like libertie in the Honourable Houses or rather our libertie is like theirs it being the Prototypon lengthens the debates and delayes the Votes of that most Honourable Senate and so much the more because they are more in number then we in our Synod and because their determinations are finall as ours are not And though that which is published doe not yet reach home to our full satisfaction we hope it is in the way towards further perfection which cannot reasonably be expected in the first Essayes of frames and formes of Government for we may say of Jerusalem as well as of Rome that it was not built in a day though in time it became the perfection of beautie the ioy of the whole earth Lam. 2.15 Such we pray God that fabrick may prove which is under the hands of our Honourable and holy Nehemiahs and Lord polish finish and establish the worke in their hands yea the worke of their hands establish thou it Psal 90.17 The other particular he propounds to make his Quere more plausible is the reference it hath to two precious things viz. Truth and Peace both which are upheld by Government Church-Government and without it for truth we have abundance of errours and heresies broached among us which divide men into manifold Sects and Factions and where they are multiplied there can be no peace without a treacherous toleration which will resolve at last into an Anarchy and confusion Having premised this he putteth his Quere thus Whether it be fit according to the Principles of true Religion and State to settle any Church-government over the Kingdome hastily or not and with the power commonly desired in the hands of the Ministers First he putteth the case according to the Principles of Religion and State which if he had well considered he might have thought the Parliament for the one and the Assembly of Divines for the other competently qualified each in their profession for resolution of such a doubt especially since it is a chiefe part of the publique worke of them both to drive it to its issue might have prevented such a Quere as this from a private Divine Secondly he suggests a suspition as if the Parliament were driving on the Discipline and Government of the Church in Jehu's Chariot with furious haste whereas both Parliament and Assembly have much adoe to ward off imputations of procrastination and delay for debating so long and determining so little whereof we have rendred the reasons before Thirdly he presents it as a gravamen or
was first presented by a competent number of Aldermen and of the Common Councell and afterwards the Petition of the Ministers by many of them and on the twentieth day was each Petition presented to the House of Peeres in like manner as the day before to the House of Commons SECT XXII The offensive Acceptance of them by the Parliament as the weekely News-makers make report of it Cautions premised before their confutation FOr the third particular the acceptance the Petitions had This Malignant Intelligencer tels his Reader that the Commons sate long and laid it much to heart that any such thing should come from the Citie and that they should lend an eare to any that should in so evill a way represent things to them and of what dangerous consequence it was To which before I make any punctuall Reply I desire to premise these particulars 1. That in nothing that I have said or shall say I intend any contradiction to the Honourable House of Commons 2. I beleeve not this Relater hath truly delivered the fence of that House 3. That if any worthy Member among them according to any information received and beleeved by him have used his libertie in speaking of his mind though his wisdome as well as others innocencie may be abused by mis-report I shall not desire to raise any part of my Reply so high as to him but to confine my selfe to the report of this Pamphleter who I am sure hath no Parliamentary priviledge to speake what he pleaseth which yet a Parliament man that hath it will not take upon him to use when he is out of Parliament as when he is in it And if any of that grave and judicious Senate supposing us faulty have thought it fit and just that we should be charged we doubt not but there are many among them who if we be innocent will be well content to see us cleared since for many of us their Honour is in part ingaged for our reputation in the * We have consulted with the Reverend Piâ—us and Learned Divines called together to that purpose The Ordinance of Parliament of the third of January 1644. prefixed before the Directory p. 1. publique Testimonie they have given of us to three Kingdomes and the most of us are the same men and have the same consciences engaged in the desire of a present establishment of Government so as it may be safely and profitably practicall who in confidence of the goodnesse and godlinesse of the Reformation owned managed and maintained by the Parliament and in hearty and faithfull devotion thereto and ready and cheerfull obedience to them have suffered the shipwrack of our estates and hazarded our lives and we repent not of any part of our paines 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 have hitherto approved themselves toward us and I hope we may without vain-boasting say by way of Apology that we have not beene altogether their unprofitable servants in respect of our Interest in and endeavours with the people without whom the greatest Kings are rather cyphers then figures and destitute both of honour and safety Prov. 14.28 to informe their judgements and to inflame their zeale and to oblige their consciences to fasten their affections in loyaltie and fidelity to those worthy Pâ—triots whom they have in their choice and votes of election intrusted with the Religion the lives and the estates of themselves and their posteritie To which purpose we cannot be of so good use nor our mediation so effectuall for hereafter as aforetime if we be such Prevaricators as he hath represented us to the publique view or not being such if we suffer our innocence to be betrayed in mistrust to suspition by either inconsiderate or cowardly silence Thus much premised in dutie to the Honourable House of Commons and in due circumspection and caution to my Reverend Brethren and my selfe I shall now make answer to the charge given out and the answer so farre as it concerneth us may be partly made out of the conclusion of the Schedule as it was tendered with the reasons of the Ministers to the Court of Common Câ—uncell in confoâ—â—itie to their desires made knowne unto us which was as that Honorable Assembly can witnesse with us in these words These our desires and reasons we humbly present to this Honourable Court not that we have the least intention of investing our selves and the Ministery with any arbitrarie unlimited and exorbitant power For the power is not to be settled upon the Ministers alone but upon the Presbyteries in all which it is provided already that there shall be alwaies two at least of the people for one Minister And we sincerely professe our desires and intentions to manage this weightie Government not according to our wils or wisdomes but as neere as is possible according to the will and word of God the most certaine Rule in the world nor that we would carry on this work by might and power for we have good hope that God in due time will patronize his owne Cause though men should be wanting but that we may discharge a good conscience in our utmost endeavours to advance the Kingdome of Christ in the puritie of Reformation to be faithfull to the Church of Christ wherein we are stewards and watchmen and to succeeding posteritie to maintaine the truth to which we are bound to beare witnesse to fulfill our solemne League and Covenant with God from which we cannot goe backe and as your remembranâ—ers to put you in mind to neglect no pious endeavours in your places and callings for expediting both your selves and us out of the former difficulties and for promoting of such a Reformation of Religion in Discipline and Government as may have due puritie in it selfe may bring sweet unitie amongst us and most conduce to an happy uniformitie in all the three Kingdomes according to the vowes of God that are upon you in your solemne League and Covenant He goeth on saying that the House did perceive that they had beene mis-informed and that they could not but lay it much to heart that they who had ever beene so ready to doe all good offices for the Kingdome and goe with the Parliament should from any but the Parliament take a representation of their proceedings Mis-informed wherein is there any thing untrue in that they presented in their Petition or Schedule annexed and by whom mis-informed by the Ministers of London that is the meaning but certainly they that originally made this suggestion are little acquainted with the minds consciences intentions or proceedings of the Ministers who gave in their writing to the Common Councell of the Citie subscribed with no fewer then fourescore and nine hands and they had presented more to the Parliament if they had not beene straiâ—ned in time for the Petition was drawne up but at night and was to be
in the High Court of Parliament in ENGLAND The humble Petition of the Ministers of the Gospel within the Province of London Humbly sheweth THat your Petitioners and daily Oratours at the throne of Grace doe unfainedly blesse our God and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour the head over all things to the Church that in the midst of those many insufferable miseries over flowing and almost over whelming both this Church and Kingdome he hath graciously opened for us a door of hope in raising up continuing together and assisting of this Renowned Parliament above our expectations and against all oppositions for the rescuing both of Church and State from their deepe calamities having to these ends engaged your hearts and with you the three Kingdomes unto himselfe in so Religious a Covenant And we humbly present our hearty thankes unto the Right Honourable Houses for all their indefatigable endeavours these five yeares together for the Kingdomes happinesse and the Churches Reformation and in particular for the hopes of a speedy establishment of Church Government intimated unto us in your Directions of Aug. 19. 1645. Order of September 23. and Ordinance of October 20. 1645. In which Directions and Ordinance notwithstanding divers difficulties appeare both to us and to our people hither to obstructing our putting the Presbyteriall Government therein mentioned into actuall execution according to our earnest desires by reason of divers things as we humbly conceive partly doubtfull partly defective therein Wherefore your Petitioners in pursuance of our solemne Covenant in zeale to the glory of God the Kingdome of Jesus Christ and the compleat establishment of puritie and unitie in the Church of God for the satisfaction of our owne and our peoples consciences in this weighty matter of Church Government and for the generall benefit not onely of the Province of London but of all the Provinces in England both for present and future Ages Do most humbly and earnestly beseech the Right Honorable Houses That the Presbyteriall Government in Congregationall Classicall Provinciall and Nationall Assemblies agreed upon already by the Right Honourable Houses may be speedily established with such fulnesse and sufficiencie of power upon all the said Elder ships that they may fully faithfully and chearfully with well satisfied consciences submit unto and put in execution the said Government And that there may be to that end by your Authoritie superadded a cleare explanation of things doubtfull and full supply of things defective in the said Directions and Ordinance of the Right Honourable Houses according to the Schedule annexed and herewith humbly presented to your Wisdomes and Piety And your Petitioners c. This being the Petition to a word pardon mine incredulitie if I beleeve not that you can perswade any Intelligent Reader that so prudent a Senate as the Honourable House of Commons is could so mistake the meaning of it as to put such an odious construction upon it as an Appeale from them to the people the people of London that were to sow sedition and endeavour dissention betwixt the Parliament and the Citie whose unanimous consent and correspondence in counsels and executions have been under God the strongest suppport of the whole Common-weale a crime worthy of the reward of Metius Suffetius in * Vt paulo ante inquit Tullus animum inter Fidenatem Romanemque rem ancipitem gessisti it a jam corpus passim distrabendum dabis Exinde duabus admotis quadrigis in currus earum distentum illigat Metium deinde in diversum iter equi concitati lacerum in utroque curru corpus qua inhaeserant vinculis membra pâ—rtantes c. Liv. Dec. 1. lib. 1. p. 14. Livy who for his double dealing betwixt the Fidenates and the Romanes was so fastened to two Charets that the Horses that drew them being forced divers waies into a furious pace fore him in pieces But Sir if those on your partie doe no worse offices to the Citie by your insinuations into the minds of the worthy Members of the Honourable Houses then Presbyteriall Ministers doe to the Parliament by their entercourse with the Citizens there will be no occasion given for the least shew of suspition or jealousie betwixt them and whosoever shall read your paper and mine Answer will see good cause to conceive that some of your spirit have too busily bestirred themselves out of the union betwixt Citizens and Ministers to raise a Division betwixt the Parliament and Citie which he that desires to see I wish rather that the Ravens of the valley pick out his eyes Prov. 30.17 But that union doth clearly confute the calumny you cast upon the Ministers Petition for so farre is it from an appearance of an Appeale from the Parliament to the people that it plainly representeth both Ministers and people consulting and concluding joyntly to make an Appeale to the Parliament and humbly waiting to be disposed of by their finall Resolutions This is it sure for which you say the latter Petition was more sad then the former for when that came in so conformable to the Citie Petition in matter though differing in phrase style and in scope and Intention and word for word the same in a Schedule of Reasons annexed to it it was an evidence of so good agreement betwixt the most eminent Citizens and the forementioned Ministers as must needs be a great griefe of heart to those that make great advantage of the divisions of Reuben yea and of all the Tribes throughout out Israel He goeth on with a proficiencie from bad to worse and though he hath no honey at all he hath a double sting in the taile of his Intelligence scruing up a charge against the Petitioners to the highest aggravation that may be and concluding with the commination of a censure commensurate to their merit For the Charge these be his words They that is the House of Commons conceived this latter that is the Petition of the Ministers was an Appeale from the Houses to the people and of as dangerous a consequence as could be imagined Having answered the former words I will now speake onely to the latter But first I must pause and wonder a while at this superlative Slander How Sir Was that Petition of as dangerous a consequence as could be imagined no such matter Sir For what danger at all can be imagined in it when all is in effect no more but this that the Citizens and Ministers upon Petition may clearly understand the mind of the Parliament and may be throughly enabled to put in execution their commands to obey them to the full according to their engagement in the solemne Covenant Such fearefull apprehensions even of dangerous consequence if they be reall not fained may proceed from the selfe-love of your party who confine the common felicitie to your owne particular Interests and thinke the world will be in a very ill condition if the Presbytery should be set up and should set bounds to your ambitious or covetous
encroachments upon the rights of Ministers and people and it may be because you are no Ionasses to be willing to be cast into the Sea to save the Ship and passengers in it you may have in your thoughts some Military commotion of your owne making for you know or may know that bloody words lyable to such a sence and tending to the like effect have beene more then once laid to the charge of some of your side as hath beene noted pag. 76. And if your dangerous consequence be but a fiction and pretence which I rather imagine it must be supposed to be but a cast of your subtilty to make the simple afraid of and to beget a mistrust of some dangerous designe in the Ministers that they may desert them and adhere unto you as men of prudent insight into imminent mischieves and of provident forecast to secure them from danger who betake themselves to your cause and complices for succour and safety Which of these conjectures is true or whether any other any worse for a plaine Presbyterian is too shallow to sound the depth of a projecting Independent I will not determine but I will confidently resolve that such an imagination of transcendent danger in the Petition of the Ministers was no part of the mind of the major part of the House of Commons which must give denomination to the whole for they can never be so much mistaken as to put such an exuberant expression of offence upon so inoffensive a Petition who very well know and cannot but as well remember your Brother Lilburnes businesse and what seditious papers he and his faction sent abroad which if you had forgotten for I doubt not but such a schismaticall polypragmâ—â—n as those that know you report you to be if not wise enough to be of his counsell may be busie enough to be active in his desperate designe I would helpe your memory with a repetition of some such passages out of them as might be worthy of your now misapplied aggravation of as dangerous consequence as may be imagined but that I thinke them fitter to be burned by the common Hangman or buried in everlasting oblivion then now to be mentioned especially in a Discourse of defence of the Innocent And truly Sir next unto Lilburnes Libels we may say of your malevolent Intelligence of this weeke that it is a matter of as dangerous consequence as may be imagined For doo not you as farre as your credit will carry a mischievous suggestion disperse all about a suspition of the Cities and Ministers combination against the two Houses of Parliament who have hitherto with honour and safetie very much confided in their affection and fidelitie as I doubt not they will ever have cause so to doe though such malignant medlers as you say and doe what they can to the contrary SECT XXIV Britanicus taxed for traducing the Petitioners YOur Athenian Colleague Britanicus though they that reade you both will haply take you to be rather a * Boeotion in crasso jurares aere natum Horat. Beotian hath a conceit of some disparagement to the Parliament by a supposed division though he lay his action wrong mistaking an occasion for a cause and one person for another whom though I first mention him in way of opposition to you I must take for an adversary to us I meane to the City and Ministry in this businesse of Petition and when I have given him an animadversion by the way I shall return unto and proceed with you It may prove saith he a train to blow up the reputation of the renowned Parliament and harden the enemy in their courses if they should see a doore of hope opened through any supposed divisions the common Adversary will take heart againe and those which favour them whether at home or abroad will dare again to shew themselves as not doubting to perfect their designe if we disjoynt our selves and contribute to our owne ruine Divisions among us divulged by you may animate the common Enemy to a greater height of hopes and attempts so much his observation implyeth and that 's your fault Mr. Intelligencer but he applyeth it to the Petitioners and that 's his calumny as well as yours It may prove saith hee a traine c. What is that that may prove so the Petition the Petition a traine to blow up the reputation of the Parliament Reade it Sir and you will see it is not a trainâ— but a Trumpet to blow up their reputation with a loud sound and melodious accent with humble thankes acknowledging and highly extolling them by the name of A renowned Parliament for their indefatigable endevours for five years together for the Kingdoms happinesse and the Churches Reformation And can the Petition be charged to open a doore of hope to the enemies through supposed divisions from the Parliament when it expresly maketh the Parliament a doore of hope of much happinesse to the Kingdome It is an easie matter to turne the most innocent action or businesse into an occasion of exception but they are the causes for the particular in question both of disturbance to the Parliament and of danger from the common enemy who proclaime unkindnesse betwixt the Parliament and their most faithfull and serviceable Votaries the Common Councell and Ministers of the City of London This Retortion as by a kind of partnership belongeth to both these false Brethren but taking Britannicus by himselfe he beginneth at the beginning of the weeke by the figure Anticipation for the Petitions were not presented to the Honourable Houses untill two oâ— three dayes after and so he cometh over the matter againe upon Wednesday and Thursday In the first place he findeth fault with Petitioning as out of season and so indiscreet and as imputing neglect to the Parliament and implying distrust of the Indgment care of those whom we acknowledge the wisest and supreme Councell and so undutifull but neither so nor so for the purpose of Petitioning was so fanned and sifted by the free and impartiall debates of divers wise and worthy Citizens and by learned and well advised Ministers that if there had been any folly or indiscretion it would have vanished into nothing but Sir I can assure you of my knowledge the more it was weighed and examined the more it was approved by the prudent as well as the pious of both Societies not only as necessary but as seasonable also And if the Honourable Houses were intentively imployd to perfect the Government and did set themselves in a constant course and chose set dayes for that purpose and the day of presenting the Petition was one of them all which I beleeve and cannot thinke of it without thankes to them nor without praises of them and prayers for them yet was it not unseasonable to petition them because the concurrent desires of so many so considerable Petitioners might be a meanes to remove some obstructions Qui monet uâ— facias quâ—d jam
both and so in stead of clearing your owne conscience you corrupt iâ— againe with a new guilt If the House of Commons did so conceive of the Petitioners as you have published before you have indiscreâ—tly deserted the true information you had from them by a good hand as you call it twice but how good soever you take it to be there be some false fingers in it iâ— it wrote that to you which you have written to others and have mâ—â—â— your self an offender above the degree of your 〈◊〉 for though the tale you were told were matâ—rially an untruth it was not foâ—mally a slander in you while you did but publish it not as any thing made or 〈◊〉 by you â—ot as received by report from an 〈◊〉 with yourselfe of much 〈◊〉 for his trusty Intelligence And yet I conceive it had been a part of good manners to have forborne the divulging of such newes of so great moment wherein not only the integâ—â—y of the Common Councell and Ministers of London but the prudence of the Honourable House of Commons was highly concerned unlesse they had given you warrant to proclaim to the world that which in such cases is or should be kept within the compasse of their owne walls You conclude as you began with commendation of your selfe for the innocency of your intentions and charitablenesse of your affection saying in your first lines There past us the last weeke something that was displeasing both to the Common Councell and likewise to the Clergie to neither of which we intended the least displeasure and you end with the same selfe conceit wherein you began for you tell us in the close of your speech that you hold it 〈◊〉 high offence to wrong the poorest particular man yea if an enemy nor durst we say you ever publish that against the Parliaments and Kingdomes present enemie much more much lesse you should say against their friends which we did not receive from very good hands as truth If you say this in sinceritie we shall see some clearer evidence of your conscientious acknowledgement then that contradictory confession can be accompted which is like an Iliaca passie in the belly and bowels of your retractation though the head and loot of it be sutably qualified of your wronging not of a single or a private enemy but of a numerous society of the most publique Honourable and venerable Friends and Votaries of the Parliament in the Kingdome which if you seriously consider you cannot satisfie your selfe much lesse can you expect that they should rest satisfied with such a recanting recantation as you have now made if other wise this Paper will assure the Intelligent Reader that as Belshazzars government so your repentance is weighted in the ballanâ—e and found wanting Dan. 5.27 But untill I know the worst my charitie disposeth me to hope the best and my hope is that you are on the mending hand and so fare you well Now for the bold Britainâ— who brags of his daring spirit and would have every man to turne coward in a good Cause for 〈◊〉 of his courage in a 〈◊〉 yet it seemeth some body 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 to tell him of his miscarriage towards the Magistrates and Ministers of the Citie in such sort that as Salust said to Cicero * Si quam voluptatem male dicendo cepisti eam male audiendâ— amittas Orat. Salust in Ciceron Cicer. Orat. p. 671. If he tooke any delight in speaking what he ought not he may lose it againe by hearing what he would not and I must now doe it the second time by giving him another check for his vanitie in magnifying himselfe and his injurie in vilifying such as he cannot sufficiently honour For himselfe he makes as if he were a man of such high elevation that it is a stooping below his genius to have any thing to doe though by way of reproofe with such a despicable company as the Court of Common Councell and the Ministers of the City whom he would not meddle with were it not to serve the Parliament and serve them I dare saith he in as high a nature as any man and shall in all things comply with their proceedings and endeavour to make this compliance universall Were it not to serve the Parliament For your service to the Parliament Mr. Brit. I would not have you to be confident either in your owne performances or of their acceptance or of the good effects it hath brought forth among the people of the Kingdome there are some who though they doe not bragge of wit as you doe have a great deale more wisdome then you have and they say you have begotten much malignitie in many against the Parliament and confirmed it in others and have much weakened the hands of their most conscionable friends by the licentious extravangancie of your Pen beyond all bounds of grace or modesty and they further adde which honest men will lay hold on as a promise but you perhaps will take as a threatning that they will trace your irregular steps from the first page of your first Pamphlet to this present of the number 945. and represent you so in one entire delineation and discovery as if you be not a man of impenetrable impudence will make you ashamed of your owne resemblance And for your particular service you pretend to doe unto the Parliament in abusing the Petitioners I beleeve they will have little cause to give you thanks much lesse any reall reward for your painer since it will scarce lye in your power to doe them a greater dishonour then to make good men beleeve and Malignants insult that their most potent and beneficent I may say munificent Assistants the Citizens and their most faithfull and not altogether impotent or unusefull servants the Ministers of the Citie of London either give or take such offence at each other as may tend to a rupture but the hope is there will be present helpe and an effectuall Antidote against this scandall in the Apologeticall Narrative of the Petitions as now it is presented to publique view which will be the more expedite and prevalent in its operation by the little credit you have with all such as read your papers as the dictates of a Poet not of an Historian and you are like Sir to have lesse credit hereafter and to doe the Parliament lesse service then you have done if ever you did any worthy acceptance because you professe you will in all things comply with their proceedings For 1. No body will beleeve you will be so regular in you writing as they are in their Parliamentary passages 2. When you say you will in all things comply with their proceedings you must either suppose that they cannot erre which is farre from their thoughts for they know it is a pitifull and perillous ignorance or perversenesse not to acknowledge their humanitie Psal 9.20 and that it is the presumption of the Papall Conclave not a Priviledge of Parliament to assume
an infallible guidance in their determinations or that they may erre and then we must think that though they doe so you resolve to be on their side be it right or wrong if so doe you not tell the world that your complyance with them hath more of policy in it then of conscience and will it not readily follow that such a Mercurius at Westminster would easily turne to an Aulicus at Oxford if which God forbid the Royall Prerogative should so farre advance as to plunder the Parliament of their ancient and Honourable Priviledges The other Animadversion upon Britanicus this weeke concerneth the vilifying of the Petitioners whom Lucian like he fals upon in this scornfull and jeering manner It is a fine humour in any to cry We will have this we will have that done Come let 's petition he should have said we would have this or that done for we will have this or that done are termes rather of the Imperative then the Optative Mood fitter for Commanders then Petitioners Besides Sir you know there be a sort of men who have taken upon them without petitioning to the Parliament or Authoritie from the Parliament to set up a Government of themselves which the Petitioners dare not attempt without warrant from the Parliament this is a humour indeed a fine humour of a new impression but when did you bestow a jeere or a taunt upon them in this surely you bewray your partialitie and somewhat worse which you may heare of hereafter but say on Yes I warrant you we are wise Statesmen know the due times and seasons well enough and though we lye under the decke are able to discerne as well as they that sit at the sterne Did the Petitioners take upon them to be Statesmen did they not professedly disclaime so vaine a conceit when in a modest and humble way they came to the Parliament as to Statesmen the Fathers and Physicians of the State to receive from their prudent resolutions present remedies against the maladies wherewith the Citie is dangerously infected and infested and was it not time to complain when they perceived the subtle insinuations of Schisme creepe into their families and found it had stolne their wives from their bosomes their children and servants from Oeconomicall communion in their families and from hearing Orthodoxe Divines in the publique Churches of the Citie to sort themselves under erroneous and hereticall Teachers in private Conventicles And whereas you would degrade the Petitioners sitting at the stâ—rne to lying under the dâ—cke though you for feare or shame may have occasion to play least in sight and to lurke under the hatches to secure your selfe the Petitioners are for the chiefe pâ—â—t of them eminently conspicuous divers of the one sort sit upon the Tribunall of Authoritie and all of the other weekly appeare visible to common view in their Pulpits and have so much advantage ground for discovery of the evils of the times and places they live in that it can be no disparagement to the Parliaments prudence in many particulars to receive informations from them But they goe beyond their bounds as Britanicus chargeth them for their duty leads them 〈◊〉 further saith he then to present matter of grievance in things already established not to demand the establisment of any thing 〈◊〉 this must be left in the Parliament who it is presumed and we must hold to this maâ—ime will neglect nothing necessary or convenient Now he takes upon him to play the Casuist and to resolve both positively and negatively how farre men may proceed to petition how farre not they may saith he present matter of grievance in things already established not demand the establishment of any new thing This Aphorisme is framed of purpose for the pulling downe of the Prelacy and against the setting up of the Presbytery that Independencie and under that Title all Sects of what sort soever may be set up and spread abroad without restraint but a man would think it more reasonable that when things are established they should command either assent or silence but in the want of necessary things the presenting of requests for supply to those that are able to grant them hath no affinitie with a fault but rather hath the nature of a dutie and therefore they who petitioned the Parliament for Ordination of Ministers in a new way without Bishops new to this State though most ancient in the Church of Christ were never blamed but approved by the Parliament and accordingly an Ordinance passed both the Honourable Houses for enabling a certaine number of Divines to put it in practise much more cause is there to approve the Petitioners who received a command for the choice of Church Governours whereto without further direction and warrant they could not performe compleat obedience as they desired And for that he saith of leaving all to the Parliament in confidence of their universall care neglecting nothing which may be necessary and convenient it hath a pretence of respect to the Parliament but the drift of it is to make all those who desire a deliverance out of dangerous confusion by a setting up and settling a regular Government remisse in their mediation for it while Independents intentively bestirre themselves in severall Counties to make choice of such for Knights and Burgesses as favour their faction and quicken their Patrons with uncessant importunitie to expedite their designe in Parliament in Committees in the Army and some of them are such ubiquitaries within the Kingdome and without to worke themselves up to a capitulating partie that none but that great Peripatetick 1 Pet. 5.8 goeth beyond them for sedulitie in prosecution of a plot And yet whatsoever he aimeth at in this diversion or prohibition of Petitions the Parliament may have need of them and may make good use of them yea and as some Antipresbyterians bragge a The most and best things that ever this Parliament did were first mâ—tioned by private men and then authorised and established by them The Postscript of the Libellous Pamphlet called Lilburnes Englands birth-right have done so and may be very well pleased therewith For instance having a purpose to ordaine the Presbyteriall Government which as the b The Copy of the Remonstrance lately delivered to the Assembly by T.G.I.B. c. Independents confesse they have voted already it may be matter of much incouragement to them to perfect their purpose in that behalfe since they see such a generall accord of the Common Councell and Ministery of the Citie petitioning together for the establishment thereof This may suffice for the second Edition of this scandalous contumely against the Petitions and Petitioners of London for whose sakes they being so many in number and so eminent in ranke and order and for the good Cause wherein they and many more are so much engaged I have taken the opportunity that was cast in my way to make this Apologie otherwise I should not think it meete to bestow my most idle minutes upon so meane an imployment as a conflict or contestation with such Antagonists as now I have answered Who if they appeare againe with any degree of folly or offence in this Cause above that which discretion may disdaine or Religion must pardon though I be silent which yet I doe not promise there will be a course taken to make some more sensible of their unsufferable excesses and others more circumspect and cautelous then to runne the hazard of their deserved reward FINIS