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A84058 The equity of the Solemne League and Covenant iustified, against an infectious and libellous pamphlet: intituled, The iniquity of the late Solemne League and Covenant discovered. As it was lately sent from Oxford: and intercepted by the way to London. Written by way of caution to all those who either have or shall reade the said dangerous paper. 1644 (1644) Wing E3186; Thomason E39_20; ESTC R17157 7,410 13

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Reformation 3. Thirdly they have set three Kingdomes together by the eares which now lie weltring in their own blood 4. Fourthly experience now shewes there is no inconvenience in their want either in Scotland or England Object 3. The third Objection is that here is sacriledge in spoyling them or a Church rather of those possessions and interests which beside the right of dedication do by as good Law and Title belong to them as any Liberty and possession doth to other Subjects Answ Be it granted that the right of their possessions hold good by Law yet when their Order and Function shall be disannulled by Law there must be a necessity of disposing their Revenues otherwise to the benefit of the Church and so the end of the dedication being kept by disposing them to that use whereto they were at first intended it were vain and foolish to call this sacriledge and spoiling of the Church Object 4. The fourth and last objection against the first and second Articles of the Covenant is that here is rebellion with the greatest impiety Subjects endeavouring this by force of Armes as it will appeare by the sixt Article they that Covenant bind themselves to do that is to compell your Soveraigne to such an extirpation and spoiling against which he is bound by the Law of God and by expresse oath and cannot be released of that oath without their consent to whom he makes it viz. those that must here be extirpated and spoiled Answ 1. First I answer that here is neither Rebellion nor impiety in the least kind to endeavour the extirpation of those by Armes which have been the maine cause of this present warre against the Parliament and enemies to Reformation with whom because the King is now there in person being seduced by evill Councellors and such as have a designe to alter our Religion invade our Liberties and bring in Popery therefore we shall not defend our selves our Religion and Liberties nor labour to deliver the King from them but you will say we Covenant to compell His Majestie to that which in conscience he cannot do that is to extirpate prelacie which brings me to my second answer Answ 2. Secondly I answer that no oath is to be observed but in licitis honestis so farre forth as the matter sworn to is approved and found lawfull and it holds good in Divinity that such oathes as are not lawfull are rather to be repented of then persisted in But upon politicke considerations there needs not any repentance where the same power which ordained the things sworn to doth after the manifest inconvenience of it with the present constitution of publike affaires ordaine also the abolishment thereof for then the obligation becomes altogether invalid and in no wise binding to the swearer And therefore it is frivolous to say that the King cannot be released of such an oath as he hath taken to maintain Prelacie unlesse the Prelates give consent when at the best to use the Language of the learned Exhortation to the taking of the Covenant their whole government is but a humane constitution and such as is found and adjudged by both Houses of Parliament in which the judgement of the whole Kingdom is involved and declared not only very prejudiciall to the civill State but also a great hindrance to the perfect Reformation of Religion His second exception is against the fourth Article whereby he sayes he which enters this Covenant doth professe that he allow all those which adhere to His Majestie in this cause should be esteemed and proceeded against as Malignants Incendiaries and as in the first Article they are set out common enemies Also by the same fourth Article he binds himself to discover all such that they may be brought to punishment Object Now he tels him that the iniquity of this appears by what was said upon the former Articles but more especially by the duties unto which the Oathes of Supremacy and allegiance bind all Subiects viz. the assisting of His Majestie against all attempts and the discovering unto Him all conspiracies duties contrary to what is undertaken here Answ I answer that it is great equity and reason that those now about his Majesty which have involved him in this war and are declared and known to be Incendiaries and Malignants and the common Enemies of the Kingdome should be discovered and proceeded against thereafter and that the equity of that Article may further appeare the intent of it is the very same with those in the Oathes of Supremacie and Allegiance viz. The assisting of his Majestie against attempts and the discovering of conspiracies which doth not only evidence the equity but also the seasonablnesse of this Covenant being taken in such a time when there are so many attempts practices and conspiracies in hand by a desperate partee of Cavaliers against Religion and the Kingdome the greatest of which attempts is absolutely against his Majestie though it seem otherwise by engageing his Person in a bloody and strange war Object The third exception taken is concerning a clause in the third Article for preserving and defending the Kings Majesties Person and Authority without any thought or intention of diminishing his just power and greatnesse And all which he hath to say against it is this That though hee which enters this Covenant may thinke this clause to be just and faire yet is it indeed a fearfull collusion and mocking of God there being nothing more against his Majesties authoritie and power then the intent and pursuit of this Covenant Answ All the answer which I shall give to this is that it is but his say so and I shall referre the impertiall Reader to my former answers Object His fourth exception is against the fifth Article and hee objects that hee which enters this Covenant doth binde himself by that Article to indeavour the continuance of peace between the two Kingdomes which according to the intent of this Covenant hee must do by joyning with those who have actually broken the Pacification and in pursuit of this Covenant invaded this Kingdome which is also a fearfull collusion and macking of God Answ I answer that it is absurd to say that the Pacification between the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland is broken by this Covenant when both the Kingdomes by an unanimous consent are joyned in this holy League for the mutuall defence and preservation of each others peace and with as little reason may it be called an Invasion or a collusion and mocking of God For it is monstrous to conceive that any men should affirm that ratification to be broken when the persons ratifying do joyntly prosecute the preservation of it by vertue of this Covenant with all earnestnesse and alacrity which is manifested at this day by an ample testimony of the full and free concurrence of the Bodies of both Nations The fifth exception taken is against the sixt Article because he that enters this Covenant doth professe by the sixt