power of naturs enmity in Professours over the life of true godliness and their being given up to the lusts sinful inclinations of their owne hearts that thus sets them in opposition to the meanes appointed for their delivery from the dominion power of damning sins whither are we gone and what may we expect will be the hight of our defection and the judgment of it if Professours put themselves in such a plaine open professed contradiction to their Christian Profession 2. Let not your Lo. think we say this with an intention to justify any failing in this mater commited by any of our perswasion that shall be made appear to be such from the Word of God our Professed principles And although we cannot condemne all the instances that are now disapproved by our antagonists yet we grant there were considerable escapes in preaching exercise of discipline which were the effects of imprudence passion in some and of wordly inclinations designes in others of corrupt minds who to raise themselves in this world and for that end to gaine the favour of persons of leading influence power keept no measure but rune to strang hights of zeal against some sins while they connived at others but seing by their compliances with the cryed-up cause of these times they do now declare to all the world that they vvere never of us how unjustly are their wicked follies imputed to our Government and vvay But for all the instances given in against us and the hideous cry raised after them yet vve must say the greatest and most common failing among Ministers vvas in the defect in that the most vvere not so diligent faithful impartial in the application of the vvord to the sins of the times personal rebukes censures as they should have been as alas vvas too visible observed by many for vvhich novv they bear their rebuke in that many of those are now become their cruel persecutors to whom they were sinfully sparing indulgent Moreover let it be granted that many of these instances were in the excesse unjustifiable yet if the constitution and principles of Presbyterian Government were not for but against them it cannot be charged with these they must be the faults of the persons and not of the Government otherwise all Governments must be condemned as guilty of all the mal-administrations commited by Governours which all acknowledg to be absurd But when any of the contrare minded shall demonstrat these to be the native product of our principles for doctrine and Government they shall be considered according to the conviction they give of the same they shall be acknowledged But will your Lo. be pleased to consider the sad deplorable extreme our antagonists are run into who medle not with any sort of scandals except a few and these in the meanner lower degree of persons over looking all in the more opulent and great which hath encouraged wickedness to lift up its head and to diffuse its self thorow all ranks without control to the infecting of this Church with all kindes of scandals which no doubt will resolve either into the total ruine of the Protestant Religion or els in sad desolating judgments on this land and if it come this length which we earnestly beg of the Lord he would prevent by pouring out of a Spirit of repentance and reformation on us where will be our advantage by Prelacy that is now so much extolled Therefore not loving to trouble your Lo. any further we shall adde but this humble and earnest request that your Lo. would be pleased to make some due and just representation of the true State and low condition of this Church unto his Maj. who we hope through your Lo. intercession will in his wisdome and clemency finde out some just expedient for relieving of this Church of her oppressing evils under which she groans and undoing of these heavy burdens that lye on us for which we are your Lo. humble petitioners and had been so alittle sooner if we had not been discouraged by lawes anent Church maters that seems to us to close all door of accesse to his Maj. and your Lo. for representing our just greivances this way If we may not obtaine this reasonable and just request as we suppose there is not another refuge left us but to referre our cause to the righteous tribunal of the just and almighty God where your Lo. and we will stand on evâ—n ground and have judgment passed without respect of persons An Apology for or vindication of the oppressed persecuted Ministers and Professors of the Presbyterian Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland emitted in the defence of them and the cause for which they suffer The Introduction IT is not unknown as we suppose to the Churches of Christ in the Ilands of Britans and Ireland and other parts of the Christian World what persecutions upon the introduction of Prelacy in the Year 1662 the partie called Presbyterian hath suffered especially in the Church of Scotland and yet lytth under throw the implacable and violent rage of their adversaries the Prelates and their adherents who having 〈◊〉 the Civil powers on their side have prevailed to the enacâ—â—â— of such lawes that these who from the conscience of duty 〈◊〉 wards God and sense of the obligations of their Covenaâ—â—â— and Oaths lying on them and these Churches cannot coâ—ply with nor give obedience unto are not only exposeâ— to bitter and hard sufferings for a considerable time 〈…〉 loaded with all sort of reproach and represented as 〈…〉 ous and disloyal to Authority contrary to their 〈…〉 ciples and actings It is not the designe of 〈…〉 to descend into the consideration of the 〈…〉 ferings nor yet to lay any Odium on 〈…〉 prâ—judice of their just authority as the righteous judge of the worâ—â—â— knowes and we hope will make manifest in due 〈…〉 â—o clear some Necessary truths and duties and to vindicaâ— some of our practises from the unjust aspersions of adversaries who by lies and unjust representations of our principles and carriage do publikly and privatly defame and misrepresent to Authority and others our behaviour under the present course of affairs an artifice they have used of old and late for ingratiating of themselves and their interests into the favour of our Rulers and sharpening of the â—dge of persecution against us in which they have had no smal successe If it were not for the Interests of truth and Religion which through the hot contests and debates of thir times actuated by ambition and covetousness on the one â—and and the love of truth on the other are in hazard to suffer shipwrack we incline rather to keep silence and to possâ—sse our souls in patience under the present violence used against us as our too much silence hitherto does sufficiâ—â—â—ly witness but finding that the interests of the Gospel â—nd the concerns of immortal souls are struck at and are 〈◊〉 to
they were time out of minde exerâ—â—ed But this with other Acts of the like nature which followed was suitable to the basis and foundation on which the new superstructure of â—hurch government was founded and built the â—â—premacy How visible is it from this act the 〈◊〉 used for bringing in 〈◊〉 prelacy the frame of the 〈◊〉 of Parliament anent it and the Supremacy 〈◊〉 proâ—â—dour in executing of the same that the designe was not only to subject the Church wholly to the State but to rob her of all power which the prelates perceiving laboured to help in their after outting of Ministers not comprehended in this Act some of them complaining that Ministers should be exautorated by the Magistrat without any Church sentence preceding but more of this afterwards But supposing this to be within the compasse of the Magistrats power yet how unproportionat was the penalty to the alleaged crime if there had been heresy in doctrine or scandals in life conversation a justification might have been made of this sentence but for simple non-conformity to prelacy that had been by Church State exploded from amongst us as an high corruption in the government of the Church and its reentry barred with the solemnest Covenants and oaths that ever any Church or Nation came under we say for such a crime in such a case to take from Ministers as men their lively hoods and as Ministers their Ministery dearer to them then their lives is a punishment when weighted in the ballances of equitie and justice much beyond we are sure the demerit of the cause especially considering that the Persones imposeing conformity and punishing others so severely for refusing it were the same for the most part that had made and enacted lawes severe enough against it What is prelacy a jewel of so much worth that the Church of God cannot be well without it have we not found the contrare from the experience of past and present times Although we should be judged uncharitable in this yet we mâ—â—◠〈◊〉 it that they who see not this do either 〈…〉 eyes throw carnal interest or wilfull 〈…〉 â—â—â—inst all evidence that not only Scripture but the effects of Prelacy in this Church affords to all men Or els fight against their light If we take our measures by the true interests of the Church or these things wherein her true welfare does consist we shall undoubtedly and undeniably see that prelacy is not of that worth and use to the Church of God as to inflict such grievous punishments on Non-compliers with it sure we are soundness of doctrine purity of worship and holiness of life have flourished in this Church without it and since its erection these have come under a sad decay Obj. But many place the demerite of these severe punishments in the disobedience to the lawes establishing Prelacy the now great cry of these engadged in the present course for justifying of all enormities committed in the administrations of government Ans To this we say first that all Divines and Lawyers assert if non-obedience be seperated from contempt of authority as in many cases it may be that the demerit of disobedience is not rigourously to be pursued with punishments especially of so high a naâ—â—â—â— as these inflicted on us for meer non-conformity and the reason they give is because there are and maâ— be such things in non-obedience as will to â—â—â—â—teous judges not only alleviat the guilt thereof 〈◊〉 discharge it from disobedience let be contempt 〈◊〉 authority as invincible ignorance inability 〈◊〉 of passion the tendencie of the thing commanded 〈◊〉 sâ—me cases to the everting of the end of the law â—â—â—â—ch in such cases is presumed not to be the will of 〈◊〉 makers the disposition profession of persons 〈◊〉 â—â—dieiâ—nce-manifested in all others things c. if our known and professed principles extant in our publict confessions and treatises on this head with our actions in all other matters relating to authority be admitted and beleved we will have as much so say for freeing of our non-obedience to lawes in this matter from contempt of authority as any Give us the just liberty of our Religion in preferring of God our absolute and Supream Soveraigne to all others and in yeelding to him that obedience he requires of us in his word and none shall be found more obedient to Authority in all things that do not intrinch on this We do solemnly professe and in the sight of the alseeing God who searches the hearts and reins that this and this only is the cause why we cannot give obedience to the lawes establishing prelacy for upon all the search we have made we cannot find a warrant for it in the word of God that perfect rule of Religion and Righteousness but find it contrarâ— unto â—lagainst the precepts and institutions of Christ â—â—sus anent the government of his house This being our perswasion we are not able to evite the force of these obligations of our Covenants and Oaths made to God and one another against it to the strick observation of which we are by commands and threathings contained in the word most indispensibly bound and from which tyes no humane power can loose us Is it not a sad matter in this case that we meet with no other thing from any for satisfying our consciences and bringing us the length of cheerful obedience in this thing but the cry law law which in the matters of God can be no sure bottome to our consciences 〈◊〉 seing we as Christians are under a law antecedent 〈◊〉 superior to that of mens Secondly Where the guilt of disobedience is truly sound yet the sentence passed against it ought cheefly to respect the matter of the disobedience and according to the quality and circumstances of it the punishment should be proportionated there are no divines or lawyers that we know of but hold this and it is beyond disput evident from the judicial lawes of the Iews enacted and established by God himself for the administration of justice in that Common-wealth for the guilt of disobedience being alike in all deeds contrare to law disobedience in smaller matters sould have as heavy punishments inflicted on the contraveeners as in greater which all acknowledge to be a strange solecisme in government contrare to all natural equity and justice the basis and ends of government Thirdly And that our non-obedience to lawes erecâ—â—ng and establishing prelacy is so high a crime in itself as to deserve such punishments as have been statute and execute upon us we do not yet see especially while we consider 1. The little evidence as hath been said for it in the word of God Some of that party â—â—â—e racked their witts for finding out its divine right and institution as Ioseph Hall and some others but wiâ—h so little successe as hath forced many of them to â—â—â—te that plea and take them to arguments of another â—â—ture 2. The confessions of some who plead for the
act nor lead our antagonists Do not their opinions about Prelacy their Profession of all readiness to comply with the contrare if on foot their frequent changes into the interests and formes of all preceeding times how contrare soever to their once professed and sworn principles while true Presbyterians remained constant and immoveable thorow the times that went over their heads their covetous and licentious lives discover their want of conscience in the courses they now so furiously run Let not your Lo think that it is his Maj. interests as they pretend or any true consciencious regaird to these that moves them to such obseqiuous compliance with the present lawes Let the out ward interests of this world be separated from their way and it shall soon appear how void they are of true zeal for his Maj. and his lawes as is evident beyond all denial from their carriage behaviour in past present times As we have no external benefite to expect to engage us against conformity to the present lawes about Church Government so we are to look from our principles and practises conforme thereto no lesse then the ruine of our selves families in this world if conscience of duety towards God this Church according to the word did not determine and move us of all men we were the most foolish and miserable but seeing our hearts in the consideration of the justice of our cause of the sincerity of our intentions in acting conforme to it does not condemne us we have this confidence towards God that as we are acquit shall be justified before him so shall we be recompenced and rewarded to the aboundant compensation of all outward loses even for these things for which we are condemned of men so that that which is esteemed our folly sin and misery is and shall be reputed our righteousness wisdom and glory Albeit we have not the external advantages of power riches and wordly policy but the contrare to contend with and endure yet seing the Word of God in our hands doeth prosper and prevail to the gaining of immortal souls the restraining of impiety and the propagating of the savour of the true knowledge of Christ Jesus in all places where it comes notwithstanding of the opposition made unto us in this work it will on many accounts be your Lo. wisdome not to stand in contradictory tearmes thereto least your Lo. be found to fight against God in the persons of his servants and people for we are assured that this work and cause is of God partly for its conformity to his holy word partly for its undeniable fruit and successe in converting saving of souls from sin preserving and maintaining of its self against the opposition it meets with on all hands which we take for a signe of its being of God as the Christians did of old in their debates for the Christian Religion against its adversaries which under great opposition grew and prevailed exceedingly although stript of all the outward advantages of worldly power and policy If this cause be of God and approven by him as we nothing doubt it will not be in the power of the mightest to crush it Men may afflict and put us to great sufferings which to them will be a signe of perdition but to us of salvation but while this Church continues Protestant and hath God abiding in her their contradiction will be in vaine as is hitherto manifest And a thowsand to one but it resolve in their own ruine here here after The mater of difference betwixt us and our adversaries being in their owne confession a popular argument they much use with the people not foundamental but indifferent we humbly beg of your Lo that for preventing of further confusions in this Church attaining of the true peace of the same you will be pleased to consider whether it be better and safer for this Church that the Chistian Reformed Religion be totally ruined among us for satisfying of a few or a thing indifferent far removed from the vitals of Religion be taken away and not thus enforced by violence on so considerable a part of the subjects who for conscience sake cannot receive nor subject thereto And knowing that a serious and impartial examination of this one question if diligently pursued would quickly determine your Lo to courses quite opposite to these now prosecuted with so much heat against us we intreat your Lo not to give eare to these calumnies and undue representations of the present case of affaires in this Church made by our enemies the Prelates by which they labour to instigat to all this unjust and unseasonable violence that will Produce bitter and lamentable effects to this the succeeding generation if not prevented in time Most noble honourable Lords we cannot but take notice of that too common prejudice entertained against Presbyterian Government instilled with so much artifice by our opposits in the mind of many on which they have alas too much advantag through the love of sin natural enmity at the wholsome severity and power of the Christian Religion that is predominant in all unregenerat persons to wit the strictnes impartiality of Presbyterian Government in its exercise against all sorts of scandals in all degrees of Professours the great as well as the meane for we know that while Presbytery was up and in vigour amongst us the zeal and faithfulness of Ministers in reprehending all sorts of sins and exercising of discipline impartially conforme to the commands and ruls of the word without exception of persons is that which hath caused all this dislike of and rigour against Presbytery and conciliat that much respect to and love for Prelacy as to eject the one bring in the other We will not now enter on the debait whether this strictnes against sin be the native product of Presbyterian Government when exercised conforme to its principles or the contrare the genuine consequence of Prelacy that necessarly results from its constituent preserving causes Which were no great labour to make out But leaving this we humblie entreat your Lo. to have that patience towards us as to suffer us to say 1. In conformity to the principle of the Christian profession it must be in the confession of all Christians mater of sad regrait lamentation that in places where the Christian Religion is owned zealous faithfulness against soul destroying sins should be admited received as a prejudice against Ministers their Government which should commend cry it up yea that does endear it to all conscientious Christians that rightly understand their owne Profession Must it not be a terrible length this generation is gone in declineing from the power of Religion when that which is its excellency glory in the sight of God good men is become the occasion mater of its dislike reproach Can there be a fuller evidence and discovery of the predomining prevailing
and all wayes taken to crush us and our cause who owne no other principles but these that are either implicitly or explicitly asserted by all Protestants which are known to the world to be corroborative of government and such as make way for all just obedience from the Subject to the same To make way for the full and sure execution of this law there is another enacted Parl. Caroli 2. Session 2. Act. 2. Intituled an act against those who refuse to depone against delinquents which is particularly designed for comeing at full information against Conventicles and Conventicle keepers as is expressed in the body of that act but so conceived and framed as it answers to that oath de super inquirendis used by the Papists in their inquisition condemned by all Protestant Divines for its opposition to justice mercy and equity for first no sort of persons are exeemed the Father against the son the husband against the wise c. were the relations never so near no exception of them is made in this act which use to be admitted in all other crimes except that of treason Next by this act the deponent whoever he be is oblidged to answer all interrogations and questions proposed to him although he hath had no previous consideration of them which in all other crimes used formerly to be allowed that so the deponent might answer from mature and sure knowledge which here is not granted What aâ— foundation is hereby laid for the molestation of the subject Shall we be that unmerciful and unjust to all men yea to our nearest and dearest relations as to reveal that of them which if keept secret brings no prejudice to Church or State And if revealed will ruine them in this present world and that for a mater that antecedent to the law is no transgression before God but the doing of a necessare duty An invention we must say framed against the good and dousciencious who cannot escape by this law and for the encouraging of the bad to the persecuting of such who throw the power of their lusts are at liberty to say and do what they list Are these the fruits of Prelacy that most endeared it to us Whither are we gone Shall we thus fight against heaven to reach a poor handful of persons that are able to do nothing but to look up to God and sigh to him for these evils that no doubt are procureing and bringing dismal and sad dayes on this land We forebear to anatomiz these and other acts of the like nature and to give judgment to every clause and part of the same but leave them to the impartial consideration of all concerned to whom the effects thereof may afterwards speak more then we love to utter at this time Only in all humility we offer two things to be observed which are the observations of not a few that these and other acts do pave the way to all sort of cruel persecution if a furder declension in religion shall happen to follow which we beg the Lord in his rich mercy to this nation would prevent Rulers are subject to â—erre in the matters of God as well as others as the instances of all ages leave beyond debat and if others shall arise after us that incline to popery or any other false Religion are there not lawes made to their hands by us that will facilitat their work and make it most easy What have they more to do but to rescind some very few in regaird of these that once were and to execute those they finde in force and on record for the persecuting of all opponents to the height of crulty Next there needs no act of Parliament to this change and introduction of another Religion an act from the King recoâ—ded in the Councel bookes and sufficiently published which is declared to be of sufficient force and obligation about this mater is enabled by law to do all An act without a precedent in this nation when confidered in its full latitude and extent From what is said anent these acts any may gather the true reasons of our refuseing the Bond lately framed by the Councel that takes us engaged against Conventicles as they are called and was enforced by violence on us Not pretending to much knowledge in the lawes we have alwayes understood bonds to be voluntare and first to proceed from persons found guilty and sentenced by the judge conforme to the law which the clemency of the Magistrat doeth often suspend or remit upon the guiltys offered and voluntare engagment for better behaviour in times comeing and never required of nor imposed on persons not proven nor found guilty The truth is if this violenting imposition of bonds be thus allowed and practised what ground will there be thereby laid down for the trouble and molestation of the subjects And who can promise to himself security from the oppression of others that out of malice or covetous designes may on any pretence give information against others altho never so quiet and peaceable SECT III. The Ministers preaching and peoples hearing vindicated and foure Objections answered HAving thus far opened our hearts and touched at some things that are truly greivous to us not so much for what we have suffered as for the fear of what is like to be the consequences of the engines framed and set on foot for perpetuating ours and the Churches oppressions in this and the following generations we shall in the next place give an accompt of our practise in preaching and hearing of the Gospel dispensing and receiving of ordinances at and from the hands of the ejected Ministers the new cause of these heavy acts sentences and punishments inflicted on us for the same in doing of which we shall first in all singlness of heart bring forth the true grounds and reasons binding our consciences to these practises and then shall take off the exceptions that are most used against us Our practise in this mater we build on such foundations that all Christians especially Protestants by vertue of their professed subjection to Christ Jesus our only King and Law giver in the house of our God are bound to owne and adhere to and from which they cannot recede without contradicting of the said profession and doing manifest violence to the law and word of Christ the holy Scriptures our only statute and law book in all matters of doctrine worship and government If on bringing our case to them it shall be found that our condemned practice in these stands justified we hope with much assurance we shall be acquited in the sight of God and in the consciences of all that have any feeling and sense of true Religion the censures and talkings of others against us which do not a little afflict us for the sad consequences thereof to themselves shall not much move us Therefore first the Ministery of the Gospel being by positive institution and appointment from Christ Jesus as Head and King of his Church
in all parts of the Land while we have the dispensation of the Gospel committed to us the mean that Christ hath appointed in his house and useth to bless with power to the salvation of sinners Will not our neglect in slighting of this make us guilty of their blood and accessory to their eternal perdition We are assured of this from the word of God While we reflect and think on this we dar not for fear of men and the sufferings that threaten us from â—â—â—m stand by and look on but labour as we can in our ministerial capacity to prevent the ruine we see coming on immortal soules come of us what will If it be granted to us that our obligation to obey God in all he hath commanded us in hâ—s word is antecedent and superiour to the tyes on us for obedience to men and that the commands of men should and ought to give place to the commands of God as we expect will not be demed by any that intertaine the true notion of a God head much lesse by them that professe subjection to the holy Scriptures as the only rule of faith and obedience then our practice cannot be condemned but must be justified which is but a necessare consequence of this truth so universally received and closed with by all men except those who have debauched their consciences throw the predominant love of temporal things to a slavish subjection to the lusts and sinful commands of others for are not Ministers commanded to preach the Gospel and the people to hear it to assemble and gather themselves together for that end How many are the commands and precepts of God to us in his word about this mater In a thing so clear and evident through the Scriptures it is astonishing to us to think that men professing themselves Christians dare issue out commands so directly opposite to the commands of God and the obligation on Ministers and Christians to obey Him before all others We grant when there is another duty on foot and called to hic nunc the Magistrat may yea ought to super cede the practice of that that would hinder the duty necessare and called to for the time to which in the circumstantiat case there is an obligation and call antecedent to the Magistrats commandâ— bu◠〈◊〉 lay on and fix a stated cessation from the practice of commanded duties on those that are under an obligation of serving God in the maters forbidden by men is beyond the power of any to do so is to frame and state a war with God and to fix ourselves in opposition to him Are not Ministers and Professors then in a pussing strait who must either disobey God or men To them that ask us why do we preach and hear to the offending of our Rulers and the causeing of so much trouble to the Countrey Our answer is God in his word hath commanded us so to do they that susâ—ean the relevancy of this reason but yet deny the consequence are oblidged to give us something that takes off our obligation of obedience to God in these things in our case sure we are they are commanded but nothing can we meet with from the Scriptures of truth to answer our arguments and satisfy our consciences but the cry of hazard from some and sharpe severity from others Fiftly We hold according to the Scripture that as the Magistrat cannot jure Magistraâ—ico exautorat the Ministers of the Gospel or take their power and office from them so he hath no power to untye the obligation on Ministers and Professors for obedience to God in the least of his commands It is a principle in politicks held by all that no inferiour power can disannul a power or hinder its exercise that is immediatly derived from and dependant on a power superiour except they show a warrant from the same but in this matter it is so we know all will grant that Gods supream authority and dominion is superiour to and above all authorities and â—owers seing they derive the same from and hold them of him who is truly Lord of Lords and King of Kings And seing the Ministerial power as to 〈◊〉 â—â—ing and exercise in the Church is immedâ—atly â—â—om God throw his Son Christ Jesus by positive institution and appointment in his word no other power can exautorat these that are cloathed with it but they must shew a warrant for it from God in the Scriptures there being no other way by which God makes known his will to the sons of men if there be let it be shown and this will end the debait and bring us to a quiet and cheirful subjection to the present laws about the maters controverted We meet with confident assertions but no proofs without which we cannot look on our selves as loosed from the obligations lying on us to use and exercise the Ministerial power by vertue of the institutions and commands of God given anent it in the word We know the Ministery was institute without a dependance on the Magistrat and exercised in the Church not only without but against his will and command and God was obeyed while the Magistrat did countermand oppose himself thereto to his outmost which sayes that Ministers and professors did not then dreame of a dependance on and subjection to the Magistrat in the Maters of God The truth is to give the Magistrat a power to dissolve powers institute by God and to supercede our obedience to him in the things he hath commanded is to make him equal with if not to exalt him above the Almighty God the only Absolute and Universal Soveraigne of all Creatures in heaven and in earth Is not this to substitute the Magistrat and to put him in the place of the Pope that Anti-christ the man of sin who in nothing so much as in this now under debat exalted himself above all that is called God or is worshiped as is prophecied of him 2 Thess 2.4 The consequence of this usurped power now given to and assumed by the Magistrat in over the house of God is such that we tremble to think on that which will if things continue in this present course be the issue of it As we finde in the accomplishment that Luther did prophecy in saying that there should arise a Civil pope in the Church who should extend his power over the same as far as ever the Ecclesiastical Pope had done So we fear that the troubles tryals and persecutions of the Church shall come near to that hieght they were at under the Pope of Rome This strange inhansing of things divine and humane speaks some thing to fall out that will make the present and succeeding generations to tremble for God will not alwayes be mocked nor suffer his Glory to be taken from Him Sixtly When we consider the sinful and evil consequences that would of themselves follow upon our obedience to the Magistrat in the mater now controverted we dar not
the Church in particular the case was wholly altered from that of our worthie Predecessors in the former Prelats time foâ— as prelacy was then subtilly brought in upon them by degrees and not all at once so they continued in the possession of the Government of the Church that had been seâ—led by law and never legally or actually disinabled to meet and exercise the same in their fixed and ordinare judicatories but continuing as formerly in Presbyterated meetings had the Prelats thrust in upon them as is evident from history even of Spotiswood But in our case Prelacy is at the first raised by law to its greatest height Presbytery discharged cashiered and ejected out of this Church all lawes for it either in late or former times being disanuled and abrogated the meetings of Ministers in their fixed Presbyterial and Synodical assemblies inhibited under severe penalties by acts of Councel which became so universally obeyed that Presbytery had neither a legal nor actual being in the time that Prelacy was erected brought in upon this Church So that at its actual introduction we were conforme to Lawes required to come in submit to and concur with the government setled by them which was purely Prelatical and Erdstiuml an They that deny this must contradict the law and make the law makers liars if the laws and actings conforme thereto have any sense that may be rationallie deduced therefrom Hence what was required was directly contrare to our principles known judgment which to this day we never saw any convincing reasons to make us relinquish Here we cannot but complean of the palpable injustice done us by the Author of the seasonable case falsly so called who contrare to all evidence makes the case now and then alike But notorious lies and untruths must be made use of to fill up the roome of truth so shamefully deserted by that party 4 The government of the Church that then was was by law totally subverted and Prelacy brought in its place at and by the meer authority of the King the government thereof by a preceeding law or act being wholly put into his hands the authority of Parliament interposed afterwards for the establishing of prelacy being by this only corrobovative and precarious as if it were only of his frameing and making and had no higher derivation but that of humane authority which we look upon as an high derogation of the Regal and Supream authority of Christ Jesus the alone Head and King of his Church and a dreadfull presumption in changing the laws and ordinances enacted and instituted by Him in his house which all Christians especially Protestants esteem sacred and inviolable Can we according to the principles we have received and drunk in from the word of the liveing God allow of this forme of Government this way introduced into the Church Those that love ease and things of this world may think light of all but it is not so to us who are through grace resolved to owne no other Head of that body then Christ Jesus of whom we professe ourselves members The recent and fresh memory of the National and Solemne League and Covenants under the tye of which this Nation and Church came oftener then once all rankes and degrees of persons Noble and Ignoble from the Kings Majesty to the lowest Subject being solemnly engadged thereby against the evils and corruptions ejected by them The obligation of which had been enforced and legally secured by a continued series of lawes and practises for a long time that seemed to promise all imaginable securitie to the work of Reformation against the out most assaults of its adversaries nothing was left undone that could be attempted by rational men in this case While all these things were in being and recent in the memory of all at home and abroad at one dash in so little a time to raze to the foundations all the former superstructure and build up the contrare and that by persons who for their generality had been so active for and so deeply engadged in former proceedings is strange to think on especially considering the verbal securities and engagments made unto us immediatly before this change We say in this case to give the concurrence and complyance required in joyning with and receiving the Prelats and their Creatâ—rs is beyond all question an approving of all that was done contrare to our fixed judgments these obligations we with thâ—â—est of this Church came under Let any man of conscience put himself in our case suppone our judgment principles to be his owne and then 〈◊〉 him judge if he would not finde himself necessitated to carry in this matter as we have done Obj. Some assert that they never having taken on the personal obligation of the Covenants are not bound by them for which they offer irrefragable arguments but yet see it fit to hold them in Ans However there are two things we are sure of First All Ministers that entered into the Church in the time of Presbytery were taken engadged for the government of the Church that then was in opposition to Prelacy and in or near the time that Prelacy was a bringing in into this Church Ministers in many Presbyteries Synods declared their resolutions for adhereing to Presbytery that then was in being had been exercised in this Church for many years preceeding that time but it is like as their after carriage did make out that these are knots they can easily loose seing they are able to master overcome far greater Next That Church Goyenants in the maters of God which by vertue of divine commands institutions do antecedently bind do obleige all in the Church both in the time or afterwards and that with this adventitious and supervenient obligation of a Covenant beside the former He hath a stout conscience that will get this denyed it is so evidently manifest from Deut. 29 10. c. they must be arguments of iron steell that will break this Scripture in pieces These who assert the contrary shall do well to try their strength on what the answerer of Mr. Gilbert Burnets first dialogues hath on this Subject that have not yet received a reply But it seems it is a piece of new policy to make up the weakness of arguments with big swelling words We might here consider a little if our purposed brevity could permit it what one in a certaine manuscript hath undertaken to prove in several propositions but his mistaking of the question in the second propositâ—on makes us easy work it being a truth we do not deny and in which we close with our predecessours so that all his citations of ours are to no effect for we grant that the sin of fellow worshipers is no just ground for withdrawing from publict ordinances where there is no just exceptions beside will it from thence follow that we should submit to and hear the Curates in our present case we must havâ— other arguments