what they fought about a form of Government which hath not nor can take root until the Warre which confounds and overthrows all Government be ended The direct and certain issue in the tryall of the first Contention betwixt the King and Parliament was Whether the King having by his Creatures actually invaded the Subjects Liberties the other differences in Church and State are collaterall accidentally emergent out of the grand Difference about the first and more principall viz. the Subjects Liberty The Court of Parliament should sit as Scepticks to look on onely without purposing or endeavouring to redresse the same or to be so confined in Their Consultations and Resolutions as their Enemies should prescribe or the extreamest of all be so driven to new Councels to extraordinary high and severe proceedings to courses seldome practised the passages and quality of the persons with with whom they had to deal being weighed withall as where the disease is imminently dangerous the mischief desperate the Cure must be answerable or the whole Body perish for want of a timely and prudent remedy to be applyed The Parliaments actions if therefore rigid and severe as to their Enemies if variable and uncertaine as to their selves may in these streights and exigencies whereunto they are driven and forced for safety be dispenced with It seems to fare with them as with Seafaring men in a boysterous Storme who are fain to steer their vessell which way they may best secure their Fraught and Charge sometimes Northerly sometimes plain North sometimes Northwest sometimes Northeast sometimes plain South sometimes North againe so from one cross point unto another having still the Harbour and End of their Voyage in their eye so with Them encountring with such uncertainty and variety of oppositions from their Enemyes yet all meeting in one Center to the subversion of their power and strength such Non-conformity dissention even amongst themselvs friends that They cannot yet Act within a direct certain and constant compasse to please all lookers on Their ayme and end notwithstanding may be one and the same the defence of the Lawes the peoples liberties and the maintenance of the supremest Law the Peoples safety yea Their Edicts Orders and Ordinances devised and made in jealous and troubled times cannot well be free from all exception Many of their adversaries being knowing and prudent men if their animosity and height of Spirit would give way to the exercise of their knowledge upon their consulting and conferring their observations to what they have known and read can no doubt frame exceptions against the Parliaments proceedings as the acute and more witty sort can deride and make sport at Them in their looser jests and Poems Neither will any man imagin that in the fiercenes and heat of preparations for a War when their chief thoughts of providing to assaile and to defend were most attentive and wholly taken up that then They could devise so punctually exact and perfeâ—t Laws and Ordinances as perpetually to bind or such as no specious Objections might be urged against the consonancy of some of Their late Ordinances to former and wholsome Lawes yet whilst their endeavours are to maintaine and defend the main Principles viz. God's Honour the Subjects liberty the one in danger to be born downe the other by severall arbitrary actâ— of power invaded and the Laws and Ordinances for maintenance of both by the same power made in-effectuall and neglected when the Parliament in defence thereof saw how They were interrupted in Their proceedings how compassed about with a potent Enemy surrounded with many advantages of power and policy to bend his forces against Them under the calumny of being Rebellious Subjects They were to provide alike how to preserve and secure by all possible means what he did attempt to overthrow wherein they could not tread so even and precise a way in making all their Acts and Ordinances as to be free from being quarrelled with that no Reasons might be framed and arguments raised by such as were likely to prove their adversaries against some of such Their Ordinances yet the intent and ultimate end of Their undertaking may be one and the same the preservation of the Lawes the maintenance of the chief and supremest Law the Peoples h safety wherein if They shall faile or not be able to make it good we know by some late years since experience how barbarously and cruelly their enemy's malice did shew it self against Them as being reputed Rebells in case he shall recover his power againe how a desperate Revenge added to will second his first and furious cruelty and to Crown his glory as for the better exalting his pretence he shall impute it unto Gods justice saying It is the Lord's doing it may be his suffering it through their divisions and it is marvelous in our eyes that he hath wrested the Sword out of our enemies hands and put it into ours for no man he will say can think that Rebellion as he takes it shall for ever passe unpunished thâ—n when he hath regained his Power he will not want Arguments from his own nor from a neutrall party siding with him upon his conquering to bring whom he pleaseth within the compasse of Treason and Rebellion to make the Parliament mens Persons and Acts his i sport and scorne those Proclamations of his lately accusing and proscribing many of both Houses of Parliament as guilty of High Treason with other Edicts of his to be revived those sentences and judgments seriously denounced against Them and Their proceedings the scoffs and flouts jestingly pass'd on the Parliament and Their friends and by the wiâ— and power of Their adversaries made good against Them whey They have lost Their Power which Power is visible yet Their strength not shortned the great difficulties the fierce conflicts which They have wrestled with the Revolting of Their Friends the multiformity of Opinions amongst Themselves might have have abated Their successe and weakned Their strength had not an Almighty hand supported Them amongst those difficulties never so many stratagems policies and falshoods practised by an Enemy to impaire the Parliaments strength to advance his own but that the God of Truth hath discomfited and dispelled them all in which whither â—he hath done it in favour to the justice of Their Cause or in his fore-knowledge of Their Enemy's malice to be avenged if he could have got the upper hand I leave to the judgment of the cryed up k Author who hath more fitly observed That Gods wise providence often permits what his revealed Word approves not then he hath suited his resembling of the Parliaments successes to prosperous winds filling the Sailes of Pyrates to iustifie their Pyracy when as the giving or denying victory and courage in the day of Battle is a more immediate and effectuall work of God's Almighty Power acting and taking an especiall care in the affairs of War The Reasons l offered against the Covenant
body consisting of many Ruling and all consenting in the maine which is the Major part or which is to be obeyed unlesse that Major part will do the work themselves without the help of those whom they do employ that part rather it should seem most fit to be obeyed which acts and endeavours without respect had to the Majority in the more prudent watchfull and safe way so t is no disobedience or affront offered by their Army where obedience may be dangerous to the obeyers to the Parliament Party of what kind soever and Their adherents The Quarrell is not between a power of a momentary and slight concernment on the one side and a vanishing and light obedience on the other but a long and throughly controverted contention between two Powers upon the issue whereof the safety and welfare of the two Kingdoms doth rest and besides that on which the Correspondencies Observations and Commerce between Them and most Forreigners throughout the Christian World looking on the passages of our Affairs and giving Judgment thereupon depends It may seem as the design is driven on a Contention tripartite handsomely devised and with a great dexterity of wit carried on by the common Enemy in that some of the Kings Party prefer the Presbyterian before the Independent some the Independent before the Presbyterian k haâ—ing both yet they give good words unto and comply with the more discontented and weaker party untill by their cunning Artifice they overcome them also so in this Leger de main and sleight of wit blow the coals of Dissention betwixt them both those of the Presbyterian can look for no other then Polyphemus his courtesie to be of those last to be devoured The Presbyterian out of zeal for the maintenance of his Cause not foreseeing what danger might befall by his Dividing fondly conceives that either the War is ended therefore he may now safely Divide from those with whom he heretofore hath joyned or that his Cause for the Covenant sake is so good that to maintaine his Tenent he sticks not at the endangering himself and his Friends nor that the Enemy having his Friends and instruments up and down in all Corners of the Realm will and can keep those two partyes now in difference at that distance that they shall not be able to joyn their Forces again to conquer him where it is not meant to involve all Presbyterians in the same Tenents or Intents Counsells and Affections for 't is to be believed there are a considerable party amongst them who rightly apprehend the true state of the Controversie between Us and the Scots and cannot but foresee that a compliance with the Scots as matters now stand would prove pernicious to the English Nation as well to themselves as to the Independents so termed for notwithstanding any pretended difference betweene them they cannot well avoid the danger of joyntly suffering if by their Dividing the publique and common safety be deserted Besides as to the major and minor part of Members sitting in the House or secluded or voluntarily absenting themselves from the House so that the greater number are absent as the Presbyterian reckoneth he must take heed of that Objection least he open an old wound long since salved up through Gods blessing on their successe and that Objection be made use of against them all of both Houses and against that Authority whereby they have at any time acted since the Contention first began betwixt the Kings Party's claim to their Parliament at Oxford and the Parliament Party's claim to theirs at Westminster For if the Kings Party did rightly calculate their Numbers which were in both Houses of Lords and Commons l 258. either personally sitting or absent upon imployment for the King that number exceeded that of those sitting at Westminster so that the Argument for the maior part of the number of Members Presbyterially affected and that way Covenanted against which viz. the Covenant the King friends have learnedly as yet unansweredly m argued is no safe or prudent Argument at this time to be used however the Covenant and the Reasons for keeping it are abetted and seconded in an elaborately written Letter by the London Ministers least they helpe their first and common Enemy to rowse an Objection which hath a long time slept for the maintaining their Parliament at Oxford For by the way had those Ministers employed their pains in answering that Book first which indeed was worthy of and required an Answer to have cleared the Question their Letter might have been better credited and more universally received which Book had it come sooner to the publique view and before the universall entring into the Covenant many had been drawn for the reasons therein expressed from taking the Covenant The Ministers in that their Letter much insist on the Protestation taken May 1641. wherein the Protesting is for the maintenance of the Kings Honour Person and Estate yet the End at which all matters of weight doe aime is the Preservation of Religion Lawes and Liberties The maintenance of the Kings Honour c. is but a piece of the Protestation the sum full sense and scope thereof the Preservation of Religion and Lawes The Principles which were first engaged upon and protested for if rightly cast up but two in Chief the securing the Protestant Religion the Primum quaerite the preservation of the Laws and Peace the * chiefest Law the Peoples safety the other Principles are subservient onely and fall in by way of complication and dependency upon those two as the Means unto the End The well weighing the Protestation might have confined and setled the unresolved and doubtfull thoughts of man in what the End and Aime of the Protestation was a Promise to fullfill as much as in us lies the Commandements of the first and second Table of the Law directing our duty towards God and Man the severall parts in the Protestation tending in the sum to the maintenance of Gods Honour the Kings the Subiects Right and Liberty no one part thereof if rightly applyed and understood crossing another and therefore how comes it to passe that the Protestation being one and the same the course of mens affections should be thus divided into Factions and Part-takings or that some should be of opinion That To maintaine the Kings Honour Person and Estate is to adhere unto him in this present Warre in what he shall command even because they doe not equally weigh each part of the Protestation viz. The defence of the Protestant Religion the Power and Privileges of Parliament the Subiects Right and Liberty for by the Protester's observing all the King is best observed and truliest his Honour and Promises being engaged to maintaine the latter three when as every one who took the Protestation did in his thoughts endeavour and intend according to his power to make him a Soveraign Lord of a free and flourishing People the Kings Protestations concurring with and tending to
the whole Kingdome In severall his Messages returned unto their Propositions he repeats and confirms the same judgement of and concerning their full and ample power being lawfully summoned and by a Law consented unto by himselfe in full Parliament Not to be dissolved unless by their own consent Notwithstanding which severall attempts of force and violence were offered as far as his and his parties power could extend it self to the dissolving it by contending to divide and scatter them accusing the remaining part of the Members sitting in the House at Westminster of being Rebells so being divided to account no other of the Parliament at Westminster than he did soone after the Pacification made with his Scotish Subjects of the Parliament in Scotland terming them h The divided Members of that distracted Parliamentary Body remaining at Edinburgh So that as to the Parliament of England it must be confessed that he meaned not what he expressed in allowing to them that lati-tude of Power and Priviledges or that his Party hath since prevailed with him to renounce that judgement which he declared to have had of them That the contentions at the first sitting of the House were upon the point about matters of fact what things were done what projected to be done How the King and his Ministers of Justice had demeaned themselves since the beginning of his Reign how many oppressions of severall kinds had been offered by them how they had offended against the known Lawes in an Arbitrary way of Government which being disputed by all men as they conversed together or within themselves a Division could not be avoided but must break out into contrariety of Opinions and Affections consequently into Partyes and Engagings as their judgements should direct some likely to adhere unto the King contending to make him Absolute to doe whatsoever he pleased others contending on the other hand to have him govern according to the Lawes as bound by his Oath the result from out the differences betwixt them both could be no other than for the one Party knowing what of late had passed to endeavour a redresse to consult a remedy against the like Exorbitances withall that there was no other visible power in being to emulate and check a King 's except a Parliament's i the Power and Priviledges of which Court in Rivalship with the Kings have been many wayes manifested in the actings and contestings betwixt their powers In the present contention betwixt which it is not so much what hath accidentally fallen out in the progresse of this war as what hath been actually and intentionally attempted to be done which foments the quarrell or decides the controversy That this Parliament in contending to maintaine their power their friends and assistants against their enemies confronting them was by an high hand interrupted and opposed and if we take our Neighbour Nation the k Scots their judgment in the stating the occasion of this VVarre and the Enemies designe this Parliament was for no other reason called then to give the King relief and aid against their comming into England This the occasion of the League and union betwixt us and them On these and the like grounds they knowing what had been attempted against their Nationall Lawes and Rights foreseeing what the event was like to be in case they did not bear with patience knowing also in what condition the English at or near that time were what Declarations the King had published against some what severe courses he had taken against other Members of the Parliament of England which the Historian notes the dejected People were enforced to endure with patience and to allow against their own reason the Scots considering withall that if of themselves they made resistance without the aid of friends they were too weak a power that if they delayed their course for remedy too long their friends and strength might have been prevented and knowing before hand that there are but two remedies applyable to the approach of dangers Prevention and Recovery the first the right hand rather the heart of Policy the other the left and after-game They begun before any preparations made for or against a VVar with sending to the Parliament of England a Iustification of their proceedings intreating them to be wary in Vindicating their own Lawes and Liberties to frustrate the designs of those evill Counsellours who had procured this Parliament for no other end than to arme the King with warlike supplies against his Scotish Subjects and by that Warre to enslave if not to ruine both Nations that after many violations and dissolutions of Parliaments in England This was not to redresse grievances but to be so over-reached if they were not carefull and couragious that no possibility should be left for the future redressing any That so dangerous practises might be well suspected when at the same time a Parliament was denyed to Scotland although promised on the word of a King granted to England when not expected and obtruded upon Ireland when not desired The rise of all which was from the anger which the Scots knew the King conceived against them for some particular acts of theirs charged with Disloyalty as without recounting all other differences and jealousâ—es betwixt him and them That they refused and declared against the Messages sent them to receive the Service-Book obtruded on them for which as for vindicating themselves from the like charged Disloyalties they were accused by the King to have wrote a l Letter to the K. of France Imploring His Protection as weary of their Obedience to their owne King for which disloyall Letter as it was termed a chief m Peer of theirs was imprisoned and condemned to dye That the Pacification had and made to take away all differences past and which might ensue betwixt the King the English and the Scots by the prudent and joynt advice of a select Committee of English and Scotish Lords as to remove all jealousies betwixt both Nations was soone after it was made scoâ—ned and slighted the Scots then complaining in their informations made unto the English their Friends and Brethren of many injuries they had received since the Pacification made and contrary to that Agreement This was the condition of the Scots these the very words of their Remonstrance That the Union and Brotherly League entred into by both Nations was no otherwise construed than an Invitation in the one and invasion of n Forreiners in the other Nation and howsoever the Charge in the 7. Articles exhibited against the 5 Members of the House of Commons and one Lord of the House of Peers was laid to those few onely yet probably it had reached many other of the English Nation had not the first assault of violence in the Kings party miscarried as it did But wherefore were those Articles exhibited against those Members and the King attempt in an hostile array to seize their Persons in the House of Commons which when he could not effect
Hominum for no other reason than that the People of the one are subject and obedient to the Will and Arbitrary Government of theirs the People of England pay a known and limited obedience by the Lawes which the King is alike sworn to keep by his practice in his own Person and by his power to maintaine it towards others as the People to obey The Lawes Customes and Constitutions of England as a b Noble Prince and Peer of France observes are of another Forme of Government differing from all other Nations some being Free-States others simply and absolutely Monarchies having Power and as they think also Right to inforce and conform all under them to slavery and vassallage XIIII That if the Parliament notwithstanding these attempts and practices against Their Power should prevail They would and must to keep up Their Power lay Taxes and Payments on the People who when the War did seem or was neer an end their complaint would be and that with repining and murmuring The War is ended the Taxes and Payments yet continued not considering that it is of as great concernment to keep as to gaine a Victory nor sensible of the quiet and safety which through the counsel and vigilancy of the higher Powers they doe enjoy and other Countries infested with the like Civil Wars doe want when as the Parliament in case of Their prevailing were to weigh withall the doubts and dangers attending Them the care jealousie and fears which no men but would avoid the troubles of and such as They must be subject to untill the Conquest be fully made the cares against the surprizall of their Enemy the Jealousie of friends proving false or falling off the feares of losing what They should gaine all these being passive more serious and anxious than the hopes of the adverse part Feares more deeply seizing and disquieting the Conquerours spirits especially whilest their Victory is accompanied with study and thoughts of mercy towards the Conquered hopes in the vanquished being more bold and active raising thoughts working still how to recover what they have lost XV Again They could not but consider that in a War with Them the King Their Enemy would have some of his Party fit and able to inveigh and declaim against Them as being Rebels for contending with him wherefore in case of the Parliaments prevailing untill a full Conquest made They being subject to the charge of Rebellion Treason and accused thereof as by several Edicts and Declarations published it hath fallen out and that the King with the help of his c Chronicler hath in a continued tone named Them the Rebells at Westminster Perjured and nothing since of pardon to assoil them from such guilt to repeale such censure could not but expect to be dealt with by their Enemies thirsting after Revenge and Conquest with Vices of as sharp an edge to revenge and wound as with Dissembling Treachery Falshood Perjury whilst the Parliament and their friends are in the state of Traytors as the Kings party counteth Them and nothing done by him to clear Them from such guilt t is held but just to recompence Treason with Treachery Forswearing with Forswearing and all held honest means in order to the chastising Rebells and good enough to be practiced against the Power of Traytors casting and scattering the seeds of those Vices even amongst the Parliaments own Friends to divide Them within Themselves to cut asunder the Tyes and Ligaments which should strengthen their Accord that being weakned they may be overcome at last So the Dissembling Fraud and Art which the Loser practiseth as his means of recovering his loss may teach the Winner as his means to keep what he hath got XVI That all disasters and evils whether Sicknesse Dearth or what Calamities soever happening through and by reason of such numerous bodies as an Army consists of what Enormities and Errors committed or suffered either in Church or State an Army can by their strength defend and justifie none daring to question them so all the evils and injuries done to be laid to the charge of the present power which Governs and Rules no better in the peoples account thence reckoning all the disasters of the war to flow not looking on the first occasion and Authors of the war Neither doth the peoples Regreet and Iealousie cease in this surmise for that moreover there are to be Agents and Officers belonging to and providing for an Army Receivers Expenditors Treasurers others too many to be here recited who in troubled waters will bring in to their private banke what is to be raised for the publique use and that the Warre and Calamities thereof are protracted through their corruption and privy gainings XVII That in a Battle fought which side soever should prevaile there would fall ouâ— enough to disturbe and divide the thoughts of either side the Conquered and Conquerour fears and doubtings in the Conquered whether they should wholly yeeld unto the Conquerour or entertaine hopes of recovering their losse againe Pride and Insolence in the Conquerours dividing them likewise into variety of opinions what course were fittest to be taken for their next atchievement the distractions thereof have sometimes overthrown an Army the Commander in chief being not at al times present nor his judgment at any time infallibly certain to direct and when a d victory shall be gained which naturally is proud and by Pride comes contentions emulations and variances in actions as well as in opinions the Conquerors strength would be thereby weakned and thence in danger to be lost XVIII That untill a compleat and full conquest made which could not be without much pressure and heavy sufferings on the vanquished without charge and payments layd on all Enemies Friends Enemies in being fined for their Delinquency Friends burthened by reason of their expence and charge in the publique service of providing for the common peace for the maintenance of the Souldiery and the like an Army was to be continued and maintained to prevent Insurrections here at home inroads and invasions from abroad that the Army was to consist of multitudes of Souldiers those multitudes would have their severall humours and opinions tending to divisions consequently to the destruction and ruine of the whole that without an extraordinary care to please and satisfie them in their demands there would be mutinying revolting and inconstancy in the private Souldiery for want of judgment to discern for what they fought XIX That if the Conquerours power should at any time abate before a full and totall conquest made he would be put to it what course to take to encrease it againe Forcing and Impressing men to fight in a cause so intricate as unto some it seemed then and for a long time controverted as this hath been would prove harsh and irksom and would meet with resistance in a people made and born free unlesse their pay and reward be answerable to yea beyond their meritings XX That in the confusion
Place receiving them by traducing and rendring it one of the most famous Cities of Christendome guilty of High Treason and thirsting to make the Citizens wealth their Enemies prey another way by contending against the Parliament it self and Their z Friends assisting Them to undermine Their power they thought the Covenant not like an Almanack out of date as the a Ministers within the Province of London doe smilingly object rather like an Obligation where the Obligor is left remedilesse through the Obligee his fury and oppression disabling him from performing his Conditions b one part of the Covenant then being that they had no thought or intention to diminish the Kings just power and greatnesse another part when they presse the Covenant-taking the maintenance of the Peace and Union betweene the three Kingdoms they would bring to Justice all without respect of Persons who did or should wilfully oppose the same or hinder such Peace or Union so that if the King did by himself by his friends and followers by his example awing other men from taking the Covenant or did by any Power or Commission whether to defend himself or offend his Opposites act or abett whereby the Peace became disturbed one Kingdome engaged against nother the Parl. could not according to their Covenant preserve his Power and Greatnesse and punish such without respect of Persons as did willfully oppose the Peace and Union as is before observed comprehending within that Universality of without respect of Persons him and all who did adhere unto or take part with him so that the Covenant the parts whereof seem to be hetreogeneous and inconsistent within themselves and therefore not perfectly and exactly to be kept is either newly to be molded or which is more probable if he had had power to carry on his purpose the War to continue between the Covenanâ—ers and the Non-Covenanters many thousands of men neither having nor through the Kings example willing to take the same By the observing the passages and times when the Covenant was made and tendered what since hath happened impartiall men will judge that there was no fraud or failing of syncerity in the Parliaments proposall of the Covenant before nor any backsliding or levity since in preferring the main end which was and still is the publique safety before any of the clauses supposed and set down as conducible to the Covenant The great Quarrell of prophane and ignorant persons against the uniforme current of the Holy Scripture of an higher concernment then an humane Covenant is acutely taken up by a learned * Writer Distingue tempora reconciliantur Scripturae in answer unto those who cavill against the Scriptures as if the Texts thereof were dissonant and repugnant each to other as if Gods word most certain and infallible in it self were contradictory to it selfe distinguish between the time of the Covenant taking four or five years before the time of bringing the King to Tryal observe the limitation in the particle of the Covenant That they had then no intention to diminish the Kings Just Power in opposition to unlawfull and Arbitrary and you will find that the Covenant could not be so well and safely taken or that it is not so heinously broken as some of the Covenanters give out But to the Objections against the Army and the powâ—â—s establishing it That in adhering to them is to trust to an Arm of Flesh so all sublunary and Earthly Powers are but Arms of Flesh and it doth not therefore follow that those that do set forth the Army do put their confidence in Them further then God is pleased to give a blessing to their endeavourings Secondly That Independency admits of all Irreligion Heresies c. The Proposition is not well proved in that some particular Souldiers others well-wishing to the Army do devise and publish strange and unsound Tenents and Opinions which is not to be imputed to the governing part of the Army to the Court or Councel of Parliament neither is a present â—ure forthwith to be applied in all parts and places where they are vented The Army and their party have enough to doe to prevent and provide against the Power and Policy of their Enemies without an overhasty endeavouring to suppresse the Schismes and Errours of every one of their Adhereâ—ts The Complaint against Heresie and Schismes abounding is just seasonable and most sit that the Herefies should be suppressed both to settle the Discipline and Government of a Reformed Church as to remove and take away all occasion of scandall and quarrellings between us and other Nations but how and when Every thing to be done in its order and appointed time The complaint was long since made and it was foretold of old That Heresies must be the Apostle gives the reason That the sound and approved Truth may be known and differenced from fond and received Heresie the ground and seminary of broaching them may be besides the common and inbred corruption of Pride and Falshood which mankind is prone unto that so many sorts of men in many places doe despise and speak against the Scriptures although they be the infallible rule of our Christian Faith In disordered and licentious times caused through the distractions of a civill Warre it may fall out as a * Father of the Church complained it did in his of Scripture Teachers of expounders of the Misteries in Divinity cited by a learned Divine upon the words of the Apostle charging the unlearned and unstable for wresting the Scriptures to their own destruction whose presumption the Divine tells us is enough to produce any Schisme or Heresie Sola saith he Scripturarum ars est quam sibi omnes passim vendicant hanc garrula Anus hanc â—elirus Senex hanc Sophista verbosus he might have filled up the measure of his complaint by discovering many other sorts of unlearned people intruding into the holy mistery of Divinity hanc universi presumunt lacerant docent antequam discunt every one presuming upon his parts and gifts to be a teacher and interpreter of Scripture whereas Practitioners in other arts can keep themselves within the the bounds of their own profession the times are now for Reforming and the Parliament is sedulous therein wherefore there must be persons to Informe and instruct qualified with Knowledge for that Office The Divine gives the reason why the unlearned are so bold namely the want of abilities to discerne the strength of the Objections which may be made against them By the unlearned is not meant he who hath not read a multitude of Auâ—hors but he who taking upon him to divide the word of God is raw and unexperienced or if he hath experience wants judgment to make use of it the anguish that these rash presumers bring unto the discreeter sort of Brethren cannot but be great when being convinced of their unsound Oâ—inions for the maintaining that which with much boldnesse and open falshoods they have averred