Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A38477
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The English Presbyterian and Independent reconciled Setting forth the small ground of difference between them both.
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An English gentleman, a well-willer to the peace of his country.
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1656
(1656)
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Wing E3113A; ESTC R220208
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74,553
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124
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The English PRESBYTERIAN AND INDEPENDENT Reconciled SETTING FORTH THE Small ground of Difference between them Both LONDON Printed for Edward Brewster at the Sign of the Crane in Pauls Church-yard 1656. THE ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN and INDEPENDENT RECONCILED THe great long and heavy troubles brought upon the three Kingdoms under the late King's Dominions complained of in the Discourse and a Meditations of the Book called The Kings Pourtrayture have had other Causes from whence they originally did spring and have derived their Being from a more antient date of time than of what the Author of that Book complaines of the King's Complyance and giving way unto the death of a Lord a Favorite of his mentioned in that Book when as the late Jealousies between the King and his party on the one side and the Court of Parliament on the other grown into Civil broils and having for many years disturbed the Peace of his Kingdomes cannot be ascribed to any other visible Motive than to a more generall and universall one at first Iniustice and Oppression practised where no Power was able to resist for if as the b Wise man observes Righteousnes exalts a Nation sheweth also how the King's Throne may be established by the rule of contraries Iniustice overthrows a Nation and by His listening unto the wicked His Throne is thrown down The next motive whereunto the continuation of these troubles mentioned in that Booke may be ascribed is unto the Violence and Heat in the prosecuting their severall Interests upon the one Party's mis-apprehending the Subject of the Quarrell both Parties pretending to the preservation of the common Peace and severally setting forth the justice of their Cause the reason and equity of their proceedings which hath produced so much Sedition Strife and Faction that untill in more of all sides a right and perfect understanding be had the Common-wealth is likely to remain as a long time it hath in a languishing and sad estate Severall discourses have been vented diverse Bookes of an opposite sort each to other published to vindicate and cleare the one to calumniate and traduce the other Party when as there is but one Truth and Justice which both Parties challenge to be theirs laying the Iniquity and Wrong-doing to their Adversaryes charge A scrutiny made into the falshood and counterfeit glosses practised by the one an equitable acceptation of the just interest and pleading of the Other a serious and true examining the various Writings on either part what hath passed in the transaction of their Affairs might stint the Quarrel the observing how the one Party in their Declarations have unjustly and deeply charged the other of severall Crimes and Misdeamenours thereby wronging their own proceedings in the manner of their dealing might convince the Adversary and consequently put a speedy period to this contention When about eleven years since the King c from the urgency of his own affairs as is given out in his behalf from indeed His contesting with His Subjects of Scotland about their endeavouring to defend their antient Constitutions summoned this Parliament and by his Writ confined it to such a Time and Place when the matters were debated there the Convention being full and free so by himself acknowledged that which seemed displeasing and not consonant to his Will was attempted to be made frustrate by his Power which the Parliament being sensible of and foreseeing future and forcible attempts to be made upon their Priviledges sought on the other side to maintain their Power and Rights to relieve their fellow subjects suffering under the late oppressions offered by the Ministers of Justice against the peoples liberties against the known fundamental Laws The infringing of which added to the late jealousies entertained by our neighbouring Nation the Scotish and divers of the English Nation was in most mens judgment the first Ascent to these Divisions Oppression Injustice in the King his party first then their contending to defend and excuse themselves to accuse and retort on the Parliament and their Party the guilt of their own demeanor wherein when they could not prevaile their desire and pursuit of making good their Accusation encreased the division to this height how and by what degrees it went higher what projects and practices to get the upper hand follows in this Narration In the resenting which all men seemed engaged either in Affections and tacite Wishings or in Action some to the one others to the other Party most unto that which they conceived was ordained and then convened to preserve Peace and Justice which by the other had been not long before disturbed Not by the way that it is thence inferred that the Parliaments Cause was therfore the better or more just because the most and greatest part of People then sided with them or that the King's Parties Cause is so now in that so many are faln off from the Paâ—â— and that party some upon dissenting in Opinion others grudging at without duly weighing the reasons of the Parliaments actings most indeed troubled at being subject to their Power Government by reason of the Impositions Taxes wch for a time they do lie under repine to pay not looking back to the first Occasioners of the war but fondly conceiving because they feel not the fury of a prevalent hostility war that therefore there is no war but because the People the wiser sort at least long since knew the benefit and use the dignity necessity of that Court as the supreme Judicatory of the Kingdom therefore the antient Authority thereof to be maintained the Power and Priviledges not to be infringed or violated they knowing the End wherefore that Court was instituted at first by an ancient necessary and wholesom * Law of giving redresse to grievances in a Common-wealth of what quality the Persons assembled by solemn Writ should be directing how they were to be Habited to defend their Country against all force opposing them as by the d Emblem of Valour required in them it may appear And no question if the Kings of this Realm have deputed none to place of iustice but e meunltz valiantz as King Edward the 3. expresseth it None but such are to defend serve their Country in the highest place of Judicature That as to this present Parliament the King himself in his f Answer to a Declaration sent him from both Houses of Lords and Commons doth confesse and allow them a full and Iuridicall power to iudge and determine the most doubtfull high and weightiest crimes and causes although he seems to limit it again by particular Cases and regularly brought before them acknowledging withal g together with the Lords and Commons assembled at Oxford the Privileges of Parliament to be so substantiall and entire a Right that the Invasion of the liberties of either House as the course of Parliaments was then heretofore held was an iniury to the other and to
rests upon the issue of these Questions Whether from Irelaâ—d so erroneously misled and malevâ—lently affected towards England by a two-fold Antipathy both of Nation and Religion and so impetuously set on by three severall parties the Royall Popish and Prelaticall there be not an evident approach of perill to England in case the English be not some way cemented and untâ—ed as the Engagement now in question aymeth at and with a joynt vigour to subdue them and to keep them under when subdued Whether through and by reason of these distractions England be not in danger of losing their ancient Rights and Claims their credit and privilege of Commerce and Traffique which heretofore they have had with other Nations Whether Scotland not remaining in the same condition of Amity and Brotherhood as in their League and Covenant with England they at first United in but rather revolting from it it be not necessary to make up that breach by a closer union amongst our selves and against them when as it appears without recounting the particular actions falling out betwixt the Parliament and Army betwixt divers and private Members and Officers of Both as what this or that particular person by himselfe or by the instigation of some few hath done contrary and against the directions or command of his superiours That the Scots have in the maine broke with us For instance sake in the Article of the large * Treaty betwixt us and them granted and confirmed by the late King and wherein amongst the rest they having covenanted and Declared against Popery and Prelacy which the King and his party hath countenanced and favoured and now endeavouring to helâ— his Sonne into his Fathers power that then he may make good his favour towards Papists and Prelates would excuse themselves and Quarrell to assigne the breach of Covenant to us but how justly let the Reader judge Their insisting on a pretended Loyalty clears them not in the judgment of any who since the beginning of these troubles have observed their Motions their Demands and Treaties neither doth their literall leaning on the words in that Article of the Covenant to defend the Kings Person and Authority excuse their guilt the Kings Person and Authority being but one and an halfe part of that Article the sense and drift of it makes it up which the English according to the End and Meaning do pursue in the preservation of the true Protestant Religion the Liberties and Peace of the three Kingdome c. Now that they give out and threaten to come in an hostile manner into England under their Apologeticall and specious pretence of fighting against the Sectaries thereof of repressing Schisms and Heresies when as they have nothing to do with our Doctrine and Discipline Ecclesiasticall or Civill when as our own Divines can do better service by their Tongues and Pens for the suppressing Schismes and Heresies then can be expected from the Scots their Swords and Arms which if we may speak by experience are by the continuing this Warre more like to increase them both in number and power then to suppresse or lessen them in either and for the English Laity none or a very few and inconsiderable number of them doe tolerate Heresies and Sects as is elswhere set forth in this discourse Moreover when the English have shewn their Aversenesse from a VVarre with Them q their tender and compassionate thoughts towards them when they were at the lowest ebbe and they expecting the like measure of friendship and Brotherhood from the Scots according to their motto and profession to deal as they would be dealt with have assisted them before and even at the beginning of these troubles when they suffered most when by their applying themselves to the King for redress they could have none the English was their only ayd and best support The last Question then falls out Whether whilst these matters be in dispute we may rest secure from an Hostile invasion from them or other Forraigners whether by these unnecessary disputes and dissentions here at home the Commonwealth be not in danger to lose that in a short time which hath cost so much Treasure Industry and Blood For the powers that be once shaken and becomming weake will soon fall most men being apt to lay hold on the r Politicians advice Not to leane on a weak and toâ—tering Wall The judgment and knowledge of deciding these Questions rests in the Prudence and Experience of the State who after a long time casting and consulting what was fittest to be done what the safest course to be taken for the strengthning and support of a firme and present Government have resolved upon an universall Engagement in such manner and forme as to their wisdomes seems most expedient and they have accordingly Declared and Ordained that they knowing the justnesse of their Cause ought in relation to the present security and maintenance of their power to the preservation of a firme and lasting Peace to use all Expedient and Lawfull means against the violence and restlesse opposition of their Enemies none they judge so safe as by an Engagement and Subscription thereunto which if throughly weighed crosseth no former Vow either of Protestation Covenant Oath of Allegiance or Supremacy the subscriber only promising to be true and faithfull to the Commonwealth as it is now Established without King or House of Lords not the Oath of Allegiance or Supremacy as is before observed if you look into the Reason and End of enjoyning the said Oaâ—kes Nor the Proâ—estation taken 1641. for the maintenance of the Kings Honour Person and Estate Nor the Covenant taken 1643 for the preserving his just Power and Greatnesse where his Honour and Power are transitory and personall capacities during life dying with his Person without further respect had unto his successors So the taking the Engagement commencing since the time of the King his death is no breach either of Covenant or Protestation taken for him in the time of his life nor by the words Now Established without a King or House of Lords are the Nobility excluded for ever from their Privileges as to succeeding Parliaments if the Wisdome of the State shall so admit and these continued Divisions beget not an universall ruine taking away the succession of Parliaments all Order and Government to be hereafter had nor from an Envy or Neglect had by the House of Commons to degrade the Lords or lay their Honours in the dust as hath been of late seditiously given out for so the Gentry of which the Parliament themselves consists being in the next ranke to the Nobility may fear their turn is next to be thrown from their station also al become Levelled Such suggestions questionlesse are infused by the Enemy's Factours into the Gentry's ears to draw away the affections of them also as well as of the Nobility to set on those ancient ranks of men against the Parliament and their proceedings endeavouring indeed to turn the