unto the King as supreme c. Now what is this but to advance the Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ The honour and happinesse of the King that is Covenant honour him as a King of England by a cheerfull obedience unto his Lawes in which consists his greatest happinesse honour him by your assistance as Subjects supporting and sustaining him by your supplies according to his important occasions calling for the same For as Christ advised his Apostles to expresse their affections by keeping of his Commandements if you love me saith he keep my Commandements as if he should have said if you love me you will keep my Commandements and if you doe keep my Commandements you then evidence that you love me so in this respect obedience to and assistance of His Majestie are but expressions of honour if you honour the King you will obey and assist him if you obey and assist him you make it appeare to the world that you do really honour him And Royall Posterity that is Covenant what Honour and Rights were justly due to the Father render to his Children deprive not them of any part of their inheritance their regall honour and power The publike liberty safety and peace of the Kingdome Covenant That must needs imply the * Magna Charta Law for by that we are distinguished from slaves and in that we have security and safety with peace the fruit of the observation of the Law Wherein every ones private condition is included Covenant That is Prince as well as people O Lord blesse the Kings Majesty and royall Posterity restore our Lawes to their vigor and this poore Kingdome to a lasting peace Calling to mind the conspiracies and practices of the enemies of God Covenant against the true Religion and professors thereof That is against the doctrinall part of our Religion Vide the qualification of an oath behind expressed in the 39. Articles of the Church of England for common reason and your Protestation affirmeth it necessarily meant of our Religion established and against the maintainers thereof Covenant Calling to mind the treacherous and bloody plots against the Law of the Kingdome that is plots by such waies and meanes as the deplorable estate of Ireland long since was a sad witnesse of whose rebellious and trayterors courses against His Majesties Royall Person Crowne of England and Ireland sufficiently then spake their intentions to subvert both Religion and Law Covenant We have now at last for preservation of our selves and Religion from utter ruine and destruction That againe I say according to reason must have a respect to a Religion and Law that is established for it is improper and absurd to say much more vaine to sweare that I will preserve that from ruine and destruction which is not in being ruine presupposing somthing that is to be destroyed and preservation somthing that otherwise will be ruined Thus you have the ground of this Covenant without mentall reservation and equivocation which if the contrivers had any as since it appears they had non ad vos pertinet it savoureth too much of the Jesuite ipsi viderint let them look to it it concerneth not you to whom I write according to the literall and Gramaticall sense and consonant to the Rules of Religion Reason and Law explained I proceed to the Covenant it selfe wherein I shall observe the same religious rationall and lawfull method i Art Covenant That we shall sincerely really and constantly through the grace of God endeavour in our severall places and callings That is according to the station wherein God hath placed us the King in his regall Power Magistrates as derivatives from him in their places Ministers in theirs private subordinate persons according to their severall degrees in theirs none exceeding the rules proper to their peculiar Vocation where by the way take notice that although Superiours may and often do at one and the self-same time performe both their owne duties and also actions proper to Inferiours yet it is unlawfull for Inferiours to take upon them without lawfull Commission the duty of Superiours Lay private men must not inâ—ermeddle with what concerneth the proper duty of a Minister nor must Divines wilfully intrench upon the bounds of the Civill Magistrates nor they upon the Royall Fuction of the King for this were to authorize confusion whereas God is the God of Order Covenant Endeavour * That clause must be implied though not inserted Besides it is also confessed as needfull in the exhortation for taking the Covenant Ordered by the House of Commons Die Veneris Feb. 1643. Covenant so far as lawfully I may the preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine That is if their Reformed Religion be not contrary to the Word of God this I adde because few in England know what it is in its Doctrinall part but by an implicite faith and I adde it the rather because the practice of the prevailing party there since these stormes first begun so contrary to professions may occasion suspition of their doctrines sincere truth witnesse their Declarations and therein Protestations to maintaine the Kings Rights c. contradicted by assisting endeavours to deprive him of his Rights In worship discipline and government That is that Government which was established and so remained at the compiling of the Covenant grant it the Presbyterian by the lawfull and supreme power of that Kingdome untill that government shall be altered by virtue of the self-same power Against our common enemies That is Covenant all who by unlawfull meanes contrary to the Word of God the Lawes and customes of that Nation and the consent of his Royall Majesty shall indeavour an inforced alteration thereof And here by the way as well for vindication of my self and many others in England as also seeing they esteem the Presbyterian Government there so rich a purchased jewell for their future security I shall add thus much that since they enjoyed that government so confirmed as they have by the Royall assâ—nt we never would have disturbed them in their desired possession of their Church-government as they have visited for I love mildnesse in expressions in what concerneth my Countries interest us by oaths and armes for an extirpation of Episcopacy and for the future shall never intermeddle contrary to Reason Religion or Law Covenant The reformation of religion in the Kingdome of England and Ireland c. in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches As for the doctrine of the Church of England expressed in the * The doctrine of the Protestant Church in Ireland agreeable to them 39. Articles being grounded on a sure foundation the holy Scriptures which are onely able to make us wise unto salvation hath even to this very day by the assistance protection and efficaciously working of
by the way first let me request all such whose thoughts cannot but speak themselves interested in these lines to lay aside all prejudicate opinions both of my self and others hitherto practically different from them prejudice being like a partition-wall which will hinder the judgements yeelding to what is proposed and really made good to be Reason Religion and Law Secondly that they would banish from their brests that Rebel to Religion and Reason a too confident tenaciousnesse of their own opinions not because in their appearance they still continue undoubted truths to their approving judgements but because the past insinuating Declarations of some cunning Polititians and rhetoricall Jesuitized perswasions of others have consonant to their particular erronious maximes and pre-resolved upon designes urged them to a former practice of unjust and unlawfull actions Thirdly therefore that they would cast away that desperately ruining resolution of potiùs malè currendo crimina criminibus addere quà m errorem confi teri recurrendo veritatemque veritatis causa propugnare being rather willing to continue slayes to the commission of additionall sins then by repentance become triumphing Champions for the sincerity of truth when as it is far greater and better policy humane and divine by repentance to return into the way of truth then by a continuing progresse in erronious paths to expose themselves to a possible ruine here and destruction hereafter Besides the whole current of the Scriptures every where speaketh mercy and pardon to the penitent an argument in my judgement sufficient to induce all thereunto against contrary suggestions of the world and the Devil nay Ezek. 18.21 to the end the very end of Christs Birth Death Resurrection and Ascention onely proclaim an invitation of sinners to come unto him promising them pardon and salvation Now therefore if that any one in this respect shall turn away his ear neglecting to hearken to the Charmer charm he never so well let them take heed that that place of Scripture Zech. 1.4 5 6. prove not an evidence against their obstinacy and the complaint and threats of our Saviour in Mat. 23.37 38. concern not them O Hierusalem Hierusalem which hast killed the Prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thee together as a hen gathereth her chickens and you would not Behold therefore your habitation shall be left desolate From which heavy judgement O thou preserver of men keep and defend us all But I proceed to lay down my first fundamentall positions in respect of a Government already established That all violent and irregular alteration of Government contrary to the fundamentall customes and constitutions of every respective Nation First if it receive its original from the supream Magistrate and pressed upon the people hath alwayes been branded with the names of tyranny and oppession nor have such sins although the Word of God permit not Subjects by armes to rebel against him passed unpunished oftentimes here in this world however without repentance cannot escape in the world to come Secondly if violently streaming from the seditious compulsive combination of the people without and against the supream Magistrates consent hath ever been stigmatized with those odious titles of Rebellion and Treason whose just rewards are death here with a successive never dying infamy and unlesse the mercy of Heaven interpose the eternity of death hereafter Therefore for the avoyding of Tyranny and Oppression on the one side preventing of Treason and Rebellion on the other with all those bloody issues and ruinous effects flowing from thence tanquam a fonte sanguinolento and consequently those punishments which tanquam undae sequuntur undas tread on the very heels of such offences It must necessarily be granted an undeniable truth that obedience indispensable is due from every Subject of what degree soever according to the qualification of the persons unto all Lawes not opposite to the Law Word of God made confirmed by the supream power of any Nation and that these Lawes according to reason ought and must remain in full force and vertue untill the same lawfull power which first gave them the power of a commanding law shall repeal and nullifie them That all Christian Subjects do or should yeeld obedience to Kings personall and the Law his vertuall commands if not derogatory to the Law of God not onely because the King quatenus Rex or the Law quatenus Lex tantùm commandeth the same but because in his Word he hath laid a precept upon us both in the fourth Commandement and in Rom. 13.1 2 3. where he enjoyneth every soul to be subject to the higher Powers c. and 1 Pet. 2.14 15 17. where he commandeth us by his Apostle to submit our selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be unto the King as unto the supream c. so that if we deny active obedience to his legall commands we deny it not to the King and oppose the Law therein alone but to God himself per quem Reges regnant Prov. 9.15 16 acting contrary to his will revealed in his Word and the practice of Christ himself who gave Caesar his due But because peradventure a demonstration of my own judgement about passive obedience active to Kings having already been discussed of may be expected therefore that I might not leave my self to the uncertain interpretation of any I professe my self an English Protestant and therefore in the truest sense shall not refuse the stile of an English Catholike disavowing all hereticall idolatrous and superstitious Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome and all other Opinions different from and contradictory unto the Doctrine of the Church of England established in the thirty nine Articles not because it is established onely but because it is consonant and agreeable to the Word of God the truth whereof hath been is and hereafter will be made good against all hereticall and schismaticall Opponents whomsoever In particular reference to a lawfull King and the continuance of his government in peace and piety I detest and protest against all Jesuiticall distinctions Vide King James premonition to christian Princes and his Apology for the Oath of Alleagiance pag. 50 51 108 109. alibique destructive tenents to all Religion and Government of power reserved in Pope or people of what degree or number soever whether they be a body representative conjunctìm if a body can properly be termed a body without an head or any particular members divisìm under any pretence or intention whatsoever by force to dispose of and change the Lawes of a Kingdom depose Kings divest them of their lawful power dispense with Oaths by which their Subjects stand as well religiously as naturally obliged resist their lawfull commands by the sword perswading Subjects to follow their example I acknowledge according to the truth of the Word of God 2 Thes 1.4 Matth. 26.51 Matth. 9.54 55 56. Mat. 16.23 Book of Martyrs
3. vol. Hom. Church Engl. Artic. the practice and precept of Christ himself the examples of the Prophets and Apostles the pattern of all the Martyrs the generally concurring Doctrine of the Catholike Church now in profession continued in the Church of England That active obedience is to be yeelded to the King as supream in omnibus licitis in things lawfull but if God for the punishment of a Nation should set over us a tyrannicall King secundam voluntatem pravam non rationem rectam regentem governing by his depraved will against reason and commanding things contrary to the Word of God we must not by force of arms rebel against him but rather then so if not prevailing by Petition unto him or escaping by flight from him patiently submit to the losse of our lives estates agreeing with the ancient Christians that preces lachrymae sunt arma ecclesiae that the pen rather then the sword patience prayers and tears then actively shedding blood best becommeth Christians Herein committing my soul into the hands of my faithfull Creator and mercifull Redeemer Revel 2.10 Mat. 5.10 11 12. 1 Pet. 3.14 17. 1 Tim. 2.9 who have pronounced them blessed that suffer for righteousnesse sake and the testimony of a good conscience But I know the Jesuite and others too neer him in opinion though remote from him in name will contract their browes into a frown at this though Christian like asseveration and resolution interposing many ayery suppositions distinctions Homily Chur. Engl. Sacred royall Prerogative of christian Kings printed Anno 1644. and I know not what frivolous questions all which I shall at present forbear to insert much more to answer because they have sufficiently been in the religious and rationall works of many learned Writers both ancient and modern refuted and made to appear but groundlesse quickly vanishing into ayre Beside his royall Majesty since the beginning of this unnaturall War having commanded nor demanded any thing as in the sequell will appear contrary to established Law nor performed any action which any other Prince as supream might not lawfully have done se sobolem leges Regnaque defendendo It would be a needlesse and a labour in vain in me although in my conscience I approve the same to spend paper in vindication of a Christians passive obedience it being a question not arising from the past or present practice of our Soveraign Lord the King therefore without all question at present standeth not in need either of mine or any other his Majesties Subjects defence For he hath been and is so far from commanding any unjust things contrary to the Law of God and the Land that he hath patiently suffered reproaches against his royall person deprivation of his noble Consort dispersion of his Princely Son hazard of his own life losse of his Revenues with many thousands of his loyall Subjects nay almost all the comforts which felicitates a mans life upon earth being at last after all these a restrained prisoner O happy thrice-blessed wals conteyning such a King pattern of true Piety president of religious constancy example of an unparalelled Patience O unnaturall men Rebels to the King Reason Religion and Law whose trayterous commands thus turns Princes Pallaces into a royall Prison And all this he undergoeth because he would govern onely by Law and preserve a power in himself whereby he may be enabled to preserve the Law But I proceed passing by the generall power of a King in Divinity and in that respect what he may do and consider him onely as he is King of England in a well setled Government and therefore to this purpose shall lay down some more fundamentall positions and unquestionable truths Vide all Acts of Parliament confessing the 1. Jac. cap. 1. 9. Edw. 4 fol. 8 That our Soveraign Lord CHARLES by the grace of God is lawfull King of England and of all other his Majesties Dominions and Countries that he is supream Governour over all persons and in all causes whether Ecclesiastical or Civil That is There is by the Law of the Land established in which he is vertually present no commanding power above him without him much lesse against him nor can ought or must any conjunctim or divisim exercise any governing power within his Majesties Dominions nor must any willingly expresse subjection or obedience to such an unjust and usurped power standing in opposition to his lawfull power That there are regales columnae to support this Monarchicall Fabrick from sinking or suffering any injury from any persons whomsoever as summoning and dismissing of generall Counsels whether Ecclesiastical or Civil making or anulling of Laws that is his affirmative or negative voyce in Parliament without which the Building were rather a painted then substantiall Edifice Secondly making of War or Peace that is disposing of the Militia of arming his Subjects to prevent forraign Invasions or suppresse domestick rebellious Insurrections without which it would also soon fall by seditious and ambitious underminers nor could the King without this power be able to defend himself from wrong or his Subjects from oppression Thirdly creating and disposing of Magistrates power over life and death highest and last appeal without which his title of Supremacy would be a title of supream mockery the stile of * School boys know that Rex is but a derivative of Rego which signifies to Govern King a meer contradiction nay if he had not these additionals whereby he is onely abled Regis agere partem he were rather Rex titularis quà m realis and if so rather regulatus and therefore in the best sense but a supream Subject then Rex regens by vertue of his supream power governing his Subjects were he deprived of these necessary adjuncts to a regall power he then may as his Majesty hath well observed himself be waited upon bare-headed have his hand kissed His Answer to the nineteen Propositions Anno 1642. his Authority declared by his Subjects have Swords and Maces carried before him and please himself with the sight of a Crown and Scepter but as to true and reall power he should remain but the out side picture and sign of a King Now that all these with many more attributes of power requisite for a King to have do appertain by the established Law of this Land to our Soveraign Lord King CHARLES his Heirs and Successors I will not trouble the margin with quotations from the Fountain Lex terrae A-1647 a principio ad fiuem Remonst Feb. 21. 1647. alibique scriptis to make good but refer the Reader to those pure streams flowing from thence those brief Collections of that Reverend Lawyer Judge Jenkins who therein Atlas like hath supported the true fundamentall Lawes of England and like a faithfull Expositor given the most religious rationall and lawfull practiced sense of them But for the cleering hereof I shall propound some queries to all rationall men which will the premises considered answer
Gods Spirit in the hearts of many glorious pillars of our Church reverend Bishops and other pious and learned Divines stood like a rock unshaken their tongues preaching their pens maintaining their bloods confirming the irresistable prevailing truth thereof against Turke Jew Jesuite and all other hereticall and schismaticall opponents whatsoever Thus much I am confident all neighbouring Protestant Churches will condescend unto therefore I shall proceed Covenant In Doctrine and Worship That is all erroneous tenents and practices whether Papisticall Schismaticall or others of those qui ambulant post spiritum suum against whom the Prophet denounceth a woe Ezek. 13.3 who being departed from the * 1 Tim. 4.1 faith which they once professed are guided by the spirit of error leading silly women and unstable mindes captive by the whistling of every breath of their windy doctrine being clad in sheeps cloathing Mat. 7.15 but inwardly ravenous Wolves Examples of which nature too too many offer them themselves in these unhappy times wherein almost all things are countenanced or at least connived at as lawful but lawful things therefore let us pray That the God of Peace and Truth would bring into the way of Truth and Peace all such as have erred and been deceived by seditious Schismatical guids and erronious directions and prosper thou oh Lord all their endeavours tending to such a Reformation Amen Discipline Government according to the Word of God Covenant and the best Reformed Churches Now the question will be which cometh nearest to the Word of God That Episcopacy claimeth the nearest alliance truly entituling it self to be of Apostolical Institution is a truth that hath been made good in all ages That for 1500 years continuance of Christianity there is no example of the Church Governed otherwise An Argument sufficient to suspect Novelties in opposition unto it That it hath been approved of by most of the Protestant Divines beyond the Seas Vide Ecclesiast Historiâ—â— who are rather induced by necessity to the practise of Presbytery there wanting means to maintain or abilities lawfully to compass Episcopal Government them wills and desires to enjoy the same A strong Argument perswading that our Church is the best Reformed is also an apparent truth That in all disputes especially this latter Doctor Hall against 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11 SMECTYMNVVS Since the War of the reverend and learned Remonstrancer against that odd Combination of * Letters Episcopacy hath stood the field triumphing in Reason and Religion which have only perswaded my judgment to an inclination thereunto and an approbation thereof and I presume any one not obstinately prejudicate in their judgments will soon be satisfied thereof and agree with me herein by the perusal of that learned Bishops writings or by any whose learning and judgments are able to inform them therein But to write truth whether Episcopacy or Presbytery come nearest to the Word of God never was nor at present is the dispute between His Majesty and the two Houses but quis regnabit Where the supream power in Causes Ecclesiasticall and Civil shall practically remain for the future either in Prince or people Nor indeed was it the end that these Covenant-Contrivers did aim at Witness their second Article wherein before tryal and examination whereby truth or falshood is made evident they contrary to reason pass sentence of condemnation upon it therein positively swearing without respect of persons a strange expression whereas the King is the first moving wheel of a new Law to extirpate the Government it self that indeed being a Marble pillar which first must be removed by them before they can introduce their bloody-colour'd post of Presbytery endeavouring in that Article to ingage the common peoples Consciences though I shall by and by make good that no mans Conscience is thereby ingaged to assist them I mean the Plotters to attain that which they had a pre-resolution to effect si non Precibus tunc vi armisque Since that plainly appearing as I have already shewed However that my deceived Countrymen may see how they have been abused into a belief of enjoying I know not how much happiness under the term of Reformation in Church now generally re-baptized Presbytery I shall present to your veiw a short Paralel collected out of the writings of a pious learned and conscientious Divine of these two Governments Episcopal and Presbyterian Doctor Fearne For as for that illegitimate thing that new-born brat Independency it hath such variety of shapes and each of them also so monstrous that I shall not need to meddle with it at all being Confident that it will soon be hissed out of the Kingdom by a Universal Consent or like Jonah's gourd vanish away unthought of in a moment And here I cannot but insert my admiration to perceive so many men still so firmly in their affections and Judgments adhering to the present conclusive determinations of that changeable-coloured thing nay that word Parliament when as it is that which hath so much abused even these first affecting persons the City of London in general their mis-lead supporters Witness in particular the present continuing imprisonment of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and that strange and uncivil expulsion out of the Leiutenan cy of the Tower that deserving Gentleman Col. Francis West without the least pretended cause even in the very middest of his expressed courtesies and feasting favours cofenr'd upon their great Don and his followers although he formerly was chosen by the general Vote nay acclamation of the whole City approved of by themselves and indeed beloved by all Only to make way for that unflâ—dg'd Titmouse of Manhood and Wit that Imp of Independency Tichbourn fitter by far mimically again in his Fathers Chamber to act a wanton girles part in a Commedy then to have so great a part of trust and commanding power as he now hath conferred upon him Oh Lord open the eyes of poor deceived England especially the City of London and suffer them no longer to walk in darkness and in the shadow of a senceless stupidity thus like blind men groping for the path of peace and truth even at noon day But I proceed to the Paralel of these Ecclesiastical Governments And in the first place take their definitions in general Episcopacy in it self considered is a prelacy or superiority of one above all the Presbyters within such a precinct or diocess which one is appointed to have care of all the Churches within that compass and furnished with Power and Authority for Ordination and Jurisdiction that Authority not being Arbitrary but bounded by Laws and administred or exercised with advice and assistance of certâ—in choyce Presbyters to the intent that all Churches or Congregations under him may be provided of able Pastors and that both these inferior Pastors and people may perform the duties required of them Pressbytery is such a form of Church-Government Doctor Fearn in his book of Episcopacy Presbytery considered as
the disturbance of the Peace of Church and State by complaining of their attempts and deeds to the Magistrate leaving them to the justice of the Law and lastly by recovering them by strength of holy arguments as with strong phisick from that infection of their judgment and consciences and their soul-poysoning heresies praying continually in the fervency of the spirit for their conversion But before I proceed to the next words Extirpation of Church-Government by Bishops c. I must desire the Reader to reflect back upon what I have already written concerning the Limitations of an Oath briefly thus That no unlawfull Oath bindeth Vide fol. 46. nor must unlawfull means be used for the compassing for effecting any thing in it self lawfull c. Extirpation of Government by Arch-bishops Bishops Covenant their Chancellors c. That is by using all lawfull means warrantable by the law of God and the Kingdome to that end as petitioning the supream Magistrate the King or any other way if any other way can be imagined not I say intrenching upon the law of God For were an abolition hereof absolutely necessary conducing to the generall peace of the Kingdom as it is upon good grounds believed rather altogether distructive thereunto will you buy a temporall peace upon such unequal termes as to hazard your soul eternally unlesse the mercy of God interpose by wilfull perjury in the purchase and gain an eating curse to your Posterity by Sacriledge Besides it is against the Principles of all Governments the Law of God and the Land to enforce an alteration by bloody force as I have already shewed Nay you doe not onely hereby make your selves guilty of perjury treason bloud and sacriledge but you endeavour to compell His Majesty to the breach of His Oath taken at His Coronation wherein He swore to Defend the Bishops their priviledges and Churches under their government Again were the Presbyterian government absolutely good so out of necessity the Episcopal must be removed as it is not yet a bloudy eradication is proculdubio unlawfull for we must not do evill that good may come thereof we must not like mad Mariners desperately steer our course amongst Rocks hoping to arrive at a rich freight lest we shipwrack our selves here and lose the end of our voyage our hopes hereafter therefore let all men take heed of pretending a necessity of keeping this one Article of extirpation because they have so Covenanted unlesse they will make good also a necessity of breaking all Gods Commandements which is an high degree of Blasphemy to maintain for that is impia promissio quae sine scelere impleri non potest nonque obligat no Law obligeth in opposition to the Gods Law if it doth binde it is to a repentance only Therefore Recollect your thoughts now for your owne Experience cannot but acquainte you that a violent deprivation of the Kings Regall power was at first the contrivers designe and now plainly appeareth to be the Result of the Warre on their part and reflect upon the almost six years means made use of or rather sinnes committed to effect the accomplishment thereof as Envy Hatred Malice Hypocrisie publick pretences of Reformation private intentions of Eradication and Deformation revilings of His Majesties Royall Person and Government Scandalizing of the English Nationall Church abominable Lying contempt of Superiors forceing of mens Consciences Disloyalty Perjury Theft Bloodshedding nay all imaginable Sinnes with renewing of old Heresies and raising of all manner of Schismes Now if you love your selves and your soules and would not contract the guilt of all these sinnes upon your owne heads and as it were set your Seal of confirmation and approbation to the Sinnes of others thus heaping up wrath against the day of wrath be perswaded to desert these Plotters and their Designes persist not contrary to Reason and Religion in a rigid and sinfull keeping of that extirpating Article Now seeing the day-star appeareth and every one who formerly were wraped up in the night of mistakes and misapprehensions or blinded with the silken veile of a good Opinion of the Contrivers because outwardly they appeared in Angelicall habits may without spectacles read that their pretences were only to usher in the intention therefore the plea of ignorance and good meaning as formerly can no longer be used but be perswaded to come out from among these progressive ROOTERS lest continuing with them in Sinne you also with them partake of punishment For God is just as well as mercifull Covenant Superstition Heresie Schisme and Profanesse c. For the residue of this second Article having already written something which also may aptly be applyed to these when I handled the word Popery I shall only turne it into a Prayer yet because Schisme is joyned with the rest if it were a time in these sad times to jest I should make it good Rationally that your Contriving Presbyterians have in that Sworn against their owne Practice for although the Protestant Church like the Spouse in the Canticles is black that is not appearing genuina gloria by reason of stormy weather yet still she is Comly still in her doctrine and discipline unaltered remaining firme upon its old established foundation notwithstanding the violent Endeavours of their changing times nor was their Presbyterian Government then extant and as yet but an infant for want of the Royall assent being neither able to stand goe or speak they themselves also very well knew what the word Schisme in an Ecclesiasticall sense meaneth how that ille Schismaticus qui a ritu Ecclesiae petulanter ambitionis studio discedit that Separateth himselfe upon a proud Pharisaicall conceit of holinesse from the Communion of the Church in the performance of Religious acts But I passe that by Praying that God the searcher of all hearts would be pleased to root out of all our hearts and mindes the destroying blindnesse of Superstition the spreading Leprosie of Heresie the peace-Eating Gangren of Schisme the tainting Corrupt humours of Profanesse and all other things displeasing unto him and contrary to His word that we enjoy a blessed harmonious consent in Truth and Godlinesse expressing the power thereof in our lives and conversations and that the Lord may be One and his name One in these three Kingdomes We shall with the same sincerity 3 Article Covenant c. Endeavour to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament These are freedome of expressing mens judgements if taken in a comprehensive compleate sense King Lords and Commons power to repeal old and Establish new Lawes to which every Subject is bound to yeild obedience Only thus much let me adde that no Priviledges of one or both Houses can Patronize Treason Murder Vide Lex terrae J. Jenkens or breach of the Peace by their own confession nor is it indeed consonant to reason that they whose first institution was ordained for preservation should themselves practice or command desolation whose