premises confidered answer of themselves to which even the knowledge of the meanest judgement if he know any thing cannot but assent as reall truth Whether ever in this Kingdom any new Law was enjoyned or new Oath imposed upon the people in opposition to the Law established Presupposed the King not the King in his minority although it is as true then for there is his tacite supream power implied his Protectour J Jenk Remonstr Febr. 21. 1647. Vide Recordi by the two houses conjunctim or by either of them seperatim without nay against the King's consent and if none as none can be produced by what power have they contrived Ordinances and imposed them with a Vow and Covenant solemn League and Covenant contrary to established Law and his Majesties Proclamation Whether or no turbulent violent and irregular transaction in former Parliaments wherein Kings have been deposed or necessitated to unlawfull condescentions through force or fear have not been by succeeding Parliaments made null and those Parliaments themselves esteemed but as traiterous Assemblies and so as cannot be denied Res pares cnm paribus comparemus And let us all pray that England may enjoy the happinesse of a free lawfully acting Christian like peaceable unbyased no private self ends respecting but the truly publike and generall good cordially affecting and really effecting Parliament To which let all true English men with my self say Amen Amen Whether ever formerly the Lords and Commons cenjunctim or either of them divisim had the disposing of the Militia of the Kingdom did create Magistrates had power over life and death to whom highest and last appeal were made did make a great Seal acting by vertue thereof by any Law of the Land established without nay against the King's consent And if there be no Law extant interesting them in such a power but on the contrary it must necessarily be confessed that all these things by the letter of the Law and the continuall practice thereof which is optimus leges interpres do belong to the King's Majesty his Heirs and Successors their own Propositions of the second of June 1642. confessing no lesse First Book Col. Ordnan 307. for then they petitioned him for a resignation of all these insignia regalia for the removing of fears and jealousies between him and his people which must necessarily imply a tacite confession that his Majesty is solely interested in the disposing of them for to what end should they petition for those things which without his consent they may claim as their own and if so let every mans judgement speak Quis reus Whether or no there be any Law remaining established or any clause reserved in the Law by vertue whereof the Lords and Commons or either of them are authorized in any case whatsoever reall much lesse upon a pretence of any case to remove Counsellours from his Majesty by force to imprison his sacred Person to use the regall Power to alter the Lawes established to impose new Lawes without his consent upon his Subjects and the like by force All which and more then these have been put in practice since these unhappy times began and if they cannot produce any Law or the least resemblance of a Law nay of Christian reason to warrant such like actions they must give us leave to ask the question Who are guilty of Treason seeing all these particulars thus usurped are by the Law declared no lesse Judge Jenkins Lex tâ—râ—ae Remonstr Frb. 1647. And here by the way let me put them in mind of the different judgement of former Ages in Bishop Cranmer a glorious Martyr for our Religion from such kind of positions or practices He would not admit of the Popes authority in England because he was pre-engaged to the King by Oath Book Martyrs according to the Law of the Land affirming that the Popes authority was against the Crown Custome and Lawes of the Kingdom Now unlesse there be a Law authorizing the People under what notion soever to do that which was unlawfull in the Pope to do the offence being one and the same committed only by differing persons I know not what to write more but that Pope and People begin both with one letter praying God to deliver us from the Pope and Papistical false Doctrines As for that old stalking-horse the fundamental Law which hath so often and so long been pretended as an undeniable warrant authorizing their beginnings and proceedings in opposition to his Majesty Truly loyall English hearts and rationall men will no sooner credit that there is such a Law because of their meer declarative affirmation then that there is such an one as Atlas really supporting the Heavens with his shoulders because Poets have delivered so much to succeeding Ages in their feigned writings There indeed not any such Law warranting these kind of actions for none hitherto hath appeared in view it being a maxime that quod non apparet jure non est therefore shall be bold to put them in mind of part of Master Pym's speech at the beginning of this Parliament leaving the application to their consideration The Law is that which putteth a difference between good and evill between just and unjust if you take away the Law all things will fall into a confusion every man will become a Law to himself which in the depraved condition of humane nature must needs produce many great enormities Lust will become a Law Envy will become a Law Ambition will become a Law and what dictates and decisions such Lawes will produce may easily be discerned Thus far Master Pym. Now that these things may not come to passe in its height however and perfection in these our dayes Let us pray that the Lord would grant us all grace to tread constant steps in the path of his Law giving us loyall hearts to the King and causing us to expresse a reall not verball obedience to the Law of the Land Further because humanum est errare and omnis perfectio nostra est imperfectio all of us being full of originall sin by reason of which the suggestion of Satan and the enticing pleasures and profits of this life we are alas quamvis Christiani though stiled Christians yet ready to commit sin with greedinesse against the God of heaven as also too too apt to prefer our own private advantage and interest before the publike good and benefit not minding the peoples happinesse in practising piety and enjoying Peace the mother of plenty but oftentimes spurred on by avaritious and ambitiously aspiring thoughts we neglect rendring to God his and all other degrees of men from the Prince to the meanest of the people their respective dues which often occasioneth that confusion like a fierce torrent overfloweth and ruine like a boisterous storme suddenly shipwracks a well governed Kingdom Therefore are Oathes tanquam Clavi religiost framed to keepe this building of Government more firme and close together To this end the Oathes
the Lords sake whether 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 bappinesse 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 Covenant Calling to mind the conspiracies and practices of the enemies of God 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 Calling to mind the treacherous and bloody plots against the Law of the Kingdome Covenant that is plots by such waies and meanes as the deplorable estate of Ireland long since was a sad witnesse of whose rebellious and trayterous courses against His Majesties Royall Person Crowne of England and Ireland sufficiently then spake their intentious to subvert both Religion and Law We have now at last for preservation of our selves and Religion from utter ruine and destruction That againe Covenant 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 That we shall sincorely 1 Art Covenant really and constantly through the grace of God endeavour in our sever all 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 intermeddle 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 consusion whereas God is the God of Order Covenant Endeavour * That clause must be implied though not inserted Befides 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 end cavours 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 Covenant That is 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 assent 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 The reformation of religion in the Kingdome of England and Ireland Covenant 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
but confesse that many of that Nation were and by their loyall words and deeds then did expresse themselves themselves repugnant to such a repugnancy than with the losse of part of his Commanding power Soon after which these two unequall opposites met in mutuall embraces and a pacification and because their reciprocall agreement was confirmed by the agreeing suffrages of the supreamest Court I will here Jilentium tenere restrain my pen from being further inquisitive Whether or no it was an act lawfull and that warranted also by religion reason and law in them not only to deny obedience unto but oppose the commands of their lawfull for now my expressions shall be plain to the apprehensions of every one and Native Soveraigne or Whether it were not an action absolutely necessary in their Prince both in respect of religions reasons lawes and his honours vindication to demand a reason thereof and that not proving satisfactory to oppose such an opposition However I shall be bold to adde thus much that if amidst the troubled waters of another Nation England then labouring with the almost unavoydable effects of a long continuing peace a supine securitie with its adjuncts as erroneous practices oversights miscarriages in some particular Ministers of State as what Nation can plead a totall freedom from some intervening corruptions and Justice-perverting instruments If by the additionalaggravations of these Errours and mistakes by the Ambition faction of some who the better to facilitate a progresse in their own designes loudly spake to the undistinguishing multitude that such deviations from particular lawes were but intentions but upon what rationall ground I know not of subverting the whole frame of the Law If such like stormes in England proved furthering instruments to purchase them a Calme and a Serene Kingdome If they beyond a probability of former hopes in this very opportunitie of opportunitie obtained their owne desires from the unparalell'd favour of their Soveraigne It were to be wished that they then had rather remained satisfied with the possession of so much happinesse returning to God the fountain of all blessings thankfulnesse for so great a mercy studying expressive gratitude by obedientiall and loyall actions to their Prince for such gracious manifestations than like phanatick people who havving miraculously quenched fire begun in their own houses and thereby prevented a menaced ruine Not satisfied therewith as if the misery of others could adde perpetuitie to their procured happinesse cast fire-balls so long into their Neighbours dwellings untill in it its furiously-devouring race it returne where it first began Which if God for ingratitude and other concomitant sins as he is just without respect of persons should in the revolution of future time permit what mercy although his mercy is above his justice can they with confidence hope from him who with so much neglect I had almost written impudence have slighted his favours Or what pittying assistance can they expect others should shew unto them who never supposed themselves comentedly happy in their own particular interests untill they had endeavoured nay effected the generall unhappiness of others Deus necessitatis causam talis avertat oro O Lord prevent the occasion of such a necessitous assistance Further all things considered rather than expose themselves to future hazards it might have been and still may be a consideration worthy their thoughts a little pravidere Whether or no in after ages when hot fiery disputing passions shall be lull'd a sleep when mens imbittered spirits shall by well poyzed impartiall judgements be stopp'd from irregular verball excursions when private interests shall freely and unanimously resolve themselves into the generally reall good of the pul like Whether or no then their Successours reflecting upon such past actions and their Circumstantiall means also made use of probably may not both in their private discourses esteeme and in publike generall Counsells censure their favours Examples to this effect our Nation hath many and it is believed theirs is not without some few presidents or if they wil reformation or rather alteration in government Now freely theirs by the voluntary and graciously Confirming grant of his Majesty to bee but the enforced issue of griping necessitie and the purchase of a menacing brandished Sword and because so enforced resolve them as Null and therefore for the Prevention hereof that in the judicious ballances of after times they may not to their lasting dishonour be found too light It had been and as yet may be a well becomming policie in them to be fruitfull in succeeding actions of loyall thankfulnesse Estote prudentes praestat esse Promethium quam Epimethium Too late penitentiall experience is but a sadning mistris Therefore to this purpose before the houre glafle of such an opportunity is irrecoverably past and its sands quite spont It were a seasonable wish that they would take into their serious ednsiderations even their own loving Compellation and title of Brethren and indeed wee are no lesse having one politicall Father the King who is amborum pater regnorum to whom we owe obedience by the law of God and the lands which being undoubtedly true That they would make good that title by affectionate fraternall actions expressing themselves brethren Affectione reali activaque non titulari solummodoque professione That their deeds speaking the language of enemies like Cain's dealing with Abel may no longer contradict their tongues expression Ceremoniously if not treacherously tearming us brethren that they Sub specie fraterni nominis as hitherto wee have imd grounds to fuspect may with more facilitie deceive the credulous and the racher now because it is murmured abroad that Finglands presant misories by their â—ighting and Covenanting assistance have received much addition It concerneth them non verba solummodo sed facta dicere for non prosunt verba quum coniraria facto videmus Therefore it were to bee desired that they would obey the command of Christ to differ no longer nor fall into new fractions or further factions because we are brethren And to this purpose it is expected as well for their own vindication I mean not the whole Nation for many thousands have made good their constant loyalty to their King really not verbally but all such in that Nation whose consciences cannot but whisper themselves necessarily concerned in such a vindication as requested for their Brethrens assistance that they would really and positively not with intermixed uncertain distinctions doubtfull expressions ambiguous tearms which like wax from the Seal may be apted to any construction thereby owning the Jesuit whom they seem so much to detest for their Parent but on the contrary that plene planeque sine equivocatione without mental reservation or premised evasion declare and because mera declaratio sine actu inutilis â—â—iosa words in such a case are ayery nothings accordingly to act for the restoration of our Protestant Religion to its generally practicall purity unity and uniformity his royall Majesty their and
appear plainly to all I shall desire all rationall men to take notice that the Lords and Commons in that grand Remonstrance to the Kingdom in December 1641. and their Petitions to his Majestie Declarations and Ordinances Preambles to their Protestation Vow and Covenant solemn League and Covenant which were but as so many applications to the people for their information and procuration of their approbations assistance and affections alwayes pretended a preservation of the Kings Honour Rights and Authority the Law of the Land the Protestant Religion the Liberty and Propriety of the Subject To this purpose you shall find many expressions In the grand Remonstrance they complain of the Jesuited Papists c. and a malignant Party Col. Ordnan fo 3. pernicious designs to subvert the fundamentall Lawes and principles of Government on which the Religion and justice of this Kingdom is established They confesse the King to be trusted with the Ecclesiastical law as well as temporall Coll. Ordn. fo 19. that next under God the people owe obedience unto him They professe their intent was not to abolish all government and leave every man to his own fancy for the service and worship of God but to reduce within bounds the exorbitant power which some Prelates had assumed to themselves contrary to the Word of God and law of the land Where by the way takes notice that then there was no mention made of extirpating Episcopall Government since that as much as in them lyeth by their solemn League and Covenant and Ordinances effected They professe to maintain the true Protestant Religion Coll. Ordn. 281. the Kings just Prerogative the lawes and liberties of the Land and the priviledges of Parliament Resolved upon the Question 12. July 1642 fo 457. That an Army shall be forthwith raised for the safety of the Kings person preserving of the true Religion Lawes Liberties and Peace of the Kingdom There they expresse fears Fo. 461. that the true Protestant Religion and Lawes will be extinguished c. That they will maintain and support his Majesties royall Honour and greatnesse Fo. 466. But I will trouble the Reader with no more expressions of this nature the first Book of collection of Ordinances if he please will afford him variety Take a brief view of their Preambles to all their Oaths which they pretend as motives and grounds occafioning their framing and imposing them May 5. 1641. We the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament c. having cause to suspect endeavours still continuing to subvert the true re ormed Protestant Religion in his Majesties Dominions * Observe that Established established and the fundament all Lawes and to introduce an arbitrary and tyrannicall Government c. therefore make this ensuing Protestation c. June 1643. in their Vow and Covenant There they declare That there hath been and is a Popish and traiterous Plot for the subversion of the true Protestant Religion c. Thus you may perceive how in all their applications to the common people they still urge intentions of preserving the King 's just Prerogative and royall Rights true Protestant Religion the Lawes and Liberties of the Land Now this must necessarily according to common sense be construed by the common people whatsoever private reserved resolutions to the contrary the framers of the Oathes and Ordenances had to themselves a preservation and defence of Religion Prerogatives Rights Lawes and Liberties which are established and in being for according to that old adage ex nihile nil fit But alas these specious pretences were but Decoyes sent abroad to catch the plain hearted people and the lesse advised multitude into a complying assistance their hands and tongues must help toward the demolition of England's andent and well compacted Monarchieal Fabrick their breathlesse bodies must be instrumentall piles to mount these Designers into the chair of a new modelized pre-intended Government To this purpose therefore contrary to all their Paper intelligencers Nineteen Propositions daily diispersed among the people they in their first Propositions to his Majesty as I have already observed lay the foundation though cunningly of this generall alteration in Church and State wherein they had left nothing more to demand of him but that as a King he had nothing more to grant Which design of theirs hath appeared in more legible additionall demands in their succeeding Treaties and Propositions from that time unto this very day wherein they have violently deprived his Majesty of his regall power he at present being so far from commanding as a * Being kept as a Prisoner in the I sle of wight King that his power in commanding is far below the commanding power of some of his meanest Subjects Proh dolor usque quò domine usque quò how long Lord how long holy and true wilt thou suffer the Rod of the wicked to remain upon the back of the righteous how long shall the workers of iniquity triumph speaking fiercely smiting down thy people and troubling thy Heritage Deliver our Soveraign thy servant King CHARLES from cruell men who imagine evil things in their heart making war continually whose tongues are sharper then a Serpent and under whose lips lye the poyson of Adders Amen Again to make these Rooters defign appear plainer and plainer to every eye the Treaties at Oxford and since at Vxbridge at which time nothing was left ungranted by his Majesty whereby his people might be satisfied but that he would have something left I say as King to give will evidence it to any impartiall judgement At Oxford Anno 1643. the maine dispute betweene his Majestie and the two Houses Commissioners was who should have the Power of Nomination and Election of State-Officers The Right to both belonged to his Majestie how ever so desirous was he of Peace and a Reconciliation his heart bleeding in tendernesse within for the losse of so much of his Subjects blood did readily and willingly condescend that the Power of Nomination should be theirs reserving choice of them to himselfe Now let us weigh the inequality in reference to the prevention of the effusion of more blood It may be supposed upon grounds of reason that if I have the Power of Nomination I will not name any one in whom I cannot confidently repose my trust and of whom I have not a good opinion therefore if it be onely Peace and a mutuall agreement betweene two differing Parties where it is sometimes fitting that both should abate of the rigour of their demands what need I care who chooseth or upon whom the election falleth seeing they are all equall in my esteeme But this would not doe they must have the Kings Supremacy Election too all or as yet no peace otherwise indeed the Civill Government cannot be altered from a Monarchy into an Aristocracy and so by degrees subdivide it selfe into a Democracy The Ecclesiasticall cannot be changed from Episcopacy into Presbytery and so againe into Independency or
confusion visibly at this day so appearing Whereas if these men preintended not these things but had really intended Peace or resented the then bleeding condition and ruining Kingdome of England they would not surely have stood upon such unnecessary punctilioes not any way absolutely availeable to the generall good of the Nation though absolutely necessary Rights belonging to his Majesty with which he could neither in Honour Justice or Conscience voluntarily part O Lord forgive them forgive them such their unreasonable and unseasonable Demands and lay not to their charge those severall bloudy issues which since that time have gush'd out in many places of this Kingdome Amen Againe let us take notice of the further progresse for nemo repente fit turpissimus of these destructive Engeneers Hath not his Majestie resigned all his regall Power since that unto the two Houses during his life being onely desirous that his royall Children may receive no prejudice by his too gracious condiscontions freely offering a generall Pardon and an Act of Oblivion to every one Yet this will not satisfie them they must have him forfeit his Honour and Reason by acknowledging himselfe the Fountaine and originall cause of their unnaturally shedding of his Subjects blood strange action that the gulty Offenders must be justified and the Offended guiltlesse desired unjustly to condemne themselves and wound his Conscience by pulling upon himselfe and Posterity that eating sinne of Sacriledge by assenting unto an utter Extirpation of Episcopall government and a devastation of the Churches patrimony contrary to his Oath taken at his Coronation Thus still you see the Designe of these Rooters at first was to alter the Government of this Kingdome and to that end have to deprive his Majestie of his regall Power Fo. 20 24 30 33. which since hath been openly avowed in their Declaration concerning the Scots Papers 13. Mar. 1647. But peradventure some will say that they are zealous supporters of the Subject Liberties and quellers of wicked actions as Swearing immoderate drinking breaking of the Sabboth and the like To which I returne an answer in generall that nothing can be more desired either for the suppressing or punishing of all sinfull words and deeds and all such viciously guilty Persons or conducing to the liberty of the Subjuct if men desire onely to enjoy liberty under a Law and not live as libertines without a Government than what was established and confirmed by Act of Parliament before ever they exposed their grand Remonstrance that seede Plott of to the view of the World Decemb. 1641 witnesse that Declaration it selfe which recounteth severall Acts of favour condescended unto by his Majestie for the Subjects benefit which with that lasting Bulwarke of preventing or remedying Errours the Trienniall Parliament were enough to satisfie any but seditious and ambitiously aspiring thoughts To make this appeare It is worthy observation that after the issuing out of that Remonstrance not one Propofition was ever tendered to his Majestie really tending to the generall good and liberty of every Subject but whatsoever were presented unto him under the title of Propositions contained nothing but Demands in ordine ad Causam in order to this Designe of alteration and change of Government Now at this very day as every one not prepossessed with prejudice cannot but grant the vifible purchase of Hypocrisie Perjury blood and oppression an ill foundation and the worst lime to erect a building with and which most commonly is followed with succeeding heavy judgements Micah 3.9 10 11 12. From which good Lord deliver us To this purpose further you have already seene Ordinances framed Oathes contrived for the Eradication of Episcopall government and least it should by degrees like a Flowe pressed downe by the violence of a falling showre rise againe in future times when more favourable sunny dayes appear they have exposed to Sale its Lands the Churches patrimony You have seen the Presbyterian Government also digested into Ordinances the preaching of it into approbation the practice of it in severall Churcher in London and other adjacent parts the peoples obedience pressed thereunto by Divines of the present Synod You have seen the civill Government also changed Ordinances of one or both houses supplying the place of Acts of Parliament without the Royall assent Demands of a totall resignation of his Majesties regall Power and because not in every respect condescended unto as what father will be so unjust to his Posterity though he may be uncharitable to himself as to deprive them of their Inheritance contrary to the Law of Nature Religion and Law the King therefore detained a Prisoner Tantumne potest sundere malorum religio Thus you may see the Designers riding triumphantly in the bloody Chariot of their compassed Ends Revelling it at the Helmes of the Church and State whilest their Royall injured Master is forced to a sad Cabbin under decks O that my abused Country-Men would seriously consider of the Premises and that they would at length desert these Impostors who by their glorious pretences of Reformation have deceived them into a Ruining assistance of themselves and others not thinking it a shame to confesse an errour and return when their Judgements are informed that their former Judgements and practises have been erronious Againe you have seene the meanes used by them toeffect their ends by Perjury infringing their Oathes of Alleagiance Supremacy and their owne famed Protestation by the effusion of Blood And here I cannot choose but adde my feares that some tall and gloriously spreading Cedars of Church and State have rather beene hewen downe because they hindered the Prospect of others or prejudiced the rising growth of some Neighbour shrubs than fallen because rotten uselesse or cumbersome to the grounds which if true as some in the world best know we had all need to pray that the Lord would even in the blood of Christ Jesus wash this Nation especially from such kinde of blood-guiltinesse You may read the sad effects of these Defignes A wronged King in distresse A discontented Nobilitie A disconsolate and dispersed Gentry A disgraced disparaged and defamed Orthodox Cleargy A murmuring and repining Communalty An impoverished Countrey A selfe-dishonouring Nation Division Ambition Sedition and Security the forerunners of a generall ruine and desolation Helpe O Lord least we perish And it be said of us What is become of that glory of Nations England formerly feared and beloved by all yet not for feare expressing love to any least what was omce spoken of Troy be affirmed true of our Kingdome Jam seges est ubi Anglia fuit You may every where see God dishonoured the Church of God unfrequented Schismes and Prophanenesse every where abounded and Heresies of all sorts even to the denying of the Deity of Christ the holy Scriptures the immortality of the soule and all these if not publiquely maintained yet connived at by those who pretend otherwise you may see all Religion contracted into tongue discourse Sanctification
Thus much I write God the searcher of all hearts is my witnesse not to revile any Divines of the Presbyterian Party whom I honour as Ambassadours from Heaven when they dispense the truth of of God's Word but they must give me leave to acquaint them that unlesse they can shew any better grounds then I have hitherto read or heard from any of them since these unnaturall Wars for the making good the lawfulnesse of introducing this their meer alteration of Government by blood contrary to the Kings consent and the warrant of the Law of the Land and having not the least ground for it in the Word of God No ertours formerly in Government being unreformed by his Majesty no lawfull means by a Synoy legally called and elected for redresse of what possibly could be found either unnecessary or burdensome in the Church to really tender consciences being by him also denied the Poynt of Government being then onely and still is the difference between his Majesty and the two Houses Therefore although the Protestants and they mutually agree in the fundamentals ef faith and many other necessary truthes yet I say I cannot but certifie them that neither my self not any Protestant of ENGLAND have reason to beleeve that they have kept so close to the rule of God's Word Reason and the Law as they should have done Malachi 2.7 or perhaps may prend Therefore If they have any Arguments now in this juncture of time besides that of meerly ignorant persons professions of their good intentioÌ„s good meaning which they know will not excuse a toto though in some things in may a tanto It being a common excuse of many in these times though they still persist in their irregularly first begun courses they may perform a Christian like and wise duty to themselves for their owne vindication and to others for their information to divulge them to the world or if they cannot produce any that then they would be perswaded even for Christ Jesus sake the Bishop of our soules to returne and doe their first workes least God come against them and us and remove our Candlestick out of its place But I proceed Because the introduction of the Presbyterian government in the Church and a proportionable alteration of the Civill Government in the State is by some Ministers of that Party cryed up as the unum necessarium tending to their preintended Reformation and the fulfilling of their solemne League and Covenant I shall endeavour although the Designers intents probably were to lock fast the Common Peoples Consciences thereby unto them to make good according to the rule of Reason Religion and Law that nothing lesse is comprehended and contained therein so that none stand ingaged unlesse they wilfully will persist in sin by their further assistance to endeavour a compleating of their Innovasion To this purpose I shall desire all a little to reflect backe upon what I have already premised how that seeing the irregular faction of the two Houses alwayes applyed themselves to the Common People as assertours and maintainors of the Law Religion and the Kings just rights towards which the assistance of many have been desired and accordingly veelded they themselves having deserred their own Principles acted in oppofition to the Law and their owne Oathes and Covenant as I have made good they are not in theis owne sence though for my part I deny that they were ever at first in a lawfull sence ingaged to take notice of their Ordinances and Commands But rather to use all possible lawfull meanes for the Restoring of his Majestie to his just Rights The established Religion both in Doctrino and Discipline to its former purity in practice according to Law the Parliament of England to its ancient genuine freedome and regular Priviledges and the reset ling of Peace truth in Church and State And to this effect because some peradventure may apprehend themselves conscienciously ingaged by the solemne League and Covenant to continue their aydes in firmly setling the Presbyterian Government I shall for the removing of such obliging apprehensions passing by the unlawfulnesse of contriving imposing and indeed unwarrantablenesse of entring into it at first in which regard I acknowledge it contrary to the Lawes of the Land and authority of Scriptures give a truely Christian and lawfull construction thereof as it did at first literally and still doth onely appeare to the takers thereof who at first were not Concatenated Designers and therefore for the better clearing of Mens judgements herein shall first propound some necessary Qualifications and Limitations of Promissary Oathes being bold to affirme that if any afterwards shall obstinately persist in remaining Instrumentally Active for this Innovasion that I cannot see how they can free themselves from being wilfully guilty of opposing Reason Religion and Law as also rending in peeces all holy and obligatory Oathes and Covenants That all Promissory lawfull Oaths being religious bonds must be taken in a literall and Gramaticall sense and all lawfull endeavours used for the performance of each clause contained therein as they plainly appear not admitting of alteration afterwards or a contradiction by the mentall Reservations of the Imposers at the time of taking thereof to the judgment and understanding of him that sweareth otherwise a man cannot sweare in Judgement That if any clause shall be inserted into any Oath directly opposite to the Word of God or if any part of an Oath cannot be observed and performed without intrenching upon the breach of Gods Lawes the one ipso fucto is void for Rei illicitae nulla obligatio and the other ingageth to a * Impia pâ—nitenda promissiâ— non perficiâ—â—da repentance only and not to endeavours of performance for per juramentum non tenemur nisi ad bonum legale by Oaths men are bound to nothing but what is lawfull and good either in respect of the end to which Oaths have a respect or meanes conducing to that end therefore in all such kind of Oaths their generall conditions should be inserted however are necessarily implied if I can if it shall please God if lawfully I may for nemo tenetur ad impossibile and wil possimus quod non de Jure possimus both possible and things lawfull must be the substance of Oaths otherwise we cannot sweare in righteousnesse That no particular sentence in a secondary Oath destructive unto or different from any former lawfull ingagement ought to be kept therefore any Oath imposed by the irregular factions of the two Houses must not receive a construction or actions accordingly used in opposition to the Affirmatively and Negatively Genuine and commonly received and practised sense of the former Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy both lawfull in themselves and still according to Law resting established least we adde sinnes of Omission to sinnes of Commission but what is lawfull in any second Oath we must performe what is not we must forbear That in all clauses in Oaths
concerning Reformation preservation or defence of any thing that thing necessarily must be extant must have a being otherwise we obliging our selves if we can properly be said to be ingaged to nothing to nothing attest God as witnesse thereunto thereby mocking him and taking his holy Name in vaine and in so doing erre against his third Commandement therefore the Presbyterian Government not being particularly mentioned in the Covenant nor at the first taking thereof now about foure years and an halfe since digested in England into any form much lesse obedience thereunto commanded cannot be intended as a fulfilling of the Covenant but the words Reforme preserve and defend must have a regard to the Doctrine Discipline and Government established as for that evasion that the then takers of the Covenant dispensed with resolutions and actions of preservation c. untill the same should afterwards be setled it is altogether unlawfull and vaine nor can any one by so doing observe the Prophets counsell in Oaths which must be taken in Righteousnesse Judgement and Truth These things premised I proceed to the Oath it self only by the way let me put you in mind of your first Oaths of Allegeance and Supremacy with your Protestation an Epitome of the former in these words I promise vow and protest to maintaine so far as lawfully I may his Majesties Royall Person Honor and Estate the true Reformed Protestant Religion expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England c. For explanation whereof I referre you to what already hath been said concerning the Oaths of Allegeance and Supremacy advising every one to consider seriously that place in 30. Numb 2. Ver. If a man vow a Vow unto the Lord or sweare an Oath to bind his soule with a bond he shall not breake his word he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth We Noble-men Solemne League and Covenant Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgeffes Ministers of the Gospell and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdom of England c. by the providence of God living under one King Vnder one King that according to common sense and reason must imply obedience and subjection in us unto him as a King enabled with power to governe and that obedience must presuppose a rule of reason and law now what that Law is I have already handled to square our actions of obedience by O that the people of England c. would in in this respect obey the Precept of Christ Give unto Caesar what belongs unto Caesar His Majestie never expected more then what the Law manifesteth to be justly his Witnesse all his Declarations why then should we give him lesse Nay endeavour to deprive him altogether of what we have neither reason nor just power to attempt And being of one reformed Religion The Covenant This must necessarily intend our Religion established a Religion that is not that shall be which Religion commandeth obedience to all His Majesties lawfull commands denieth the Subjects Liberty to take up armes against their lawfull Soveraigne acknowledgeth him to be Supreme in all causes and over all persons Vide homilies 37. Artic. Church Engl. as well Ecclesiasticall as Civill c. that to him properly and wholly belongeth the government of all Estates of this Realme therefore without and against his consent no different Government can be introduced Having before our eyes the glory of God Covenant God is never more glorified then when we expresse a willing obedience to his commands two whereof emphatically enjoyne obedience to Superiors and forbid wrong and prejudice to be offered by any to any one whomsoever First Honour thy Father and Mother that is all those that have authority over us as all Expositors upon good grounds render the meaning of it Secondly Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours house c. nor any thing that is his that is thou shalt not wish thy Neighbours hinderance in any thing much lesse deprive him of the least thing properly belonging unto him Vide the Margent of the Bible or you shall not offer any wrong to any man whomsoever whereby he may suffer damage in person estate reputation or otherwise for the word neighbour must be taken in a more extensive signification in the Commandement then we commonly use it O that every man with one eye fixed upon these two Commandements would with the other view what by the Law is justly due to his Majestie and Posterity and then consider c. Besides these you have the Prophets and Apopostles Pro. 27.29.30 speaking the same truth as Ambassadours from heaven Solomon adviseth us not to with-hold the goods from the owners thereof though there be power in thy hand to do it Prov. 3.27 29 30. nor to intend hurt against our neighbour seeing he doth dwell by us without * Feare that is putteth trust in us Pro. 24.21 Eccles 8.3 4. Vide margent in the Bible Covenant feare not to strive with a man causlesse seeing he hath done no harme My sonne fear the Lord and the King and meddle not with those that are given to change saith the same wiseman Take heed to the mouth of the King and to the Word of the Oath of God saith the Preacher that is obey the King and keep the Oath that thou had made for the same cause The advancement of the Kingdome of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ His Kingdome is never more advanced then when we obey his Precepts and imitate his practice Now his Precepts will appear in part Mat. 5.3.4 5.6.7.8.9.10.11.16 if we consider that in his Sermon upon the Mount after he had pronounced blessednesse to the poore in spirit to those that mourne to the meeke to those which hunger and thirst for righteousnesse to the pure in heart to peace-makers to those which suffer for righteousnesse sake to those that are falsly reviled and persecuted he addeth this Exhortation to his Apostles Let your light so shine that is let these things for which men shall be blessed practically appeare in your lives and conversations that so they may see your good workes that is others by your example of holinesse may be brought home to the fold of Christ and glorifie his Father which is in heaven And for his practise you may read it in respect of his paying tribute Matth 22.21 as also how that being brought before Rulers whom though causelesly reviling of him hee reviled not againe being led as a sheep to the slaughter and obedient unto death that thereby hee might be a patterne for our imitation to which purpose he invites us Follow me for I am lowly and meeke c. and in our imitation we must follow him in obeying his Messengers the Apostles counsells for they are sent from him and what their counsell was you may peruse Rom. 13. submit your selves unto the higher Powers c. 1 Pet. 2.13 14 17. be obedient to every Ordinance of man for
command desolation whose Consultations should tend to the prevention of Treasonable and Rebellious excursions their concatenated effects dissolution of the band of a nationall Peace effusion of bloud by imposing to that purpose penalties punishments upon the offenders should amidst such consultations be practically guilty themselves of the same Crimes they should be guiltless that condemne the guilty Quae culpare soles ea tu ne feceris ipse Turpe est doctori cum culpa redarguit ipsum Preserve the Liberties of the Kingdomes That is as Kingdomes having liberties by the Law and Custome thereof distinct one from the other Covenant to preserve each of them free from any usurping power and unlawfull intrenching one upon the Other And in this respect it were to be wished that our Northern friends had kept close in their practice and that England for the future would take care to defend its particular Interests Liberties of the Kingdomes not Libertinisme in a Kingdome But Liberties that is the Liberty of each man therein which as Natives or otherwise belong unto them according to the fundamentall Constitution and Law of each respective Nation now this Liberty must necessarily have a respect to all degrees of men therein Pray then let us not exclude the head of all the King as I have touched in my observation upon the preamble especially having sworn in the next Clause to Preserve and Defend the Kings Majesties Person Covenant c. That is Not to hazard His Person by opposing Armies in the field where the ignorant Bullet cannot distinguish persons Nor by administring the least occasion of heart-grieving melancholy sadnesse the slie yet certain impairers of health menacers of the bodies ruine nor by and actions or speeches derogatory to the honour of a King and not becomming the duty of a Subject for you all know what greived David most and who it was that said At quod tu facis hoc mihi dolet Subjects insurrections against and insolent abuses of their King like the apprehension of an injury received from an intimate friend non tam cito tangit quam penetrat like an arrow pierceth the very heart upon an instant therefore this is not the way to preserve the Kings person And Authority Now Covenant Vide more to make this good backward what that is I have already shewed how that to Him belongeth the power of making and repealing Lawes War or Peace c. In the preservation of the true Religion Liberties of the Kingdom Covenant This upon Rationall grounds must necessarily imply Religion and Liberties in esse not posse or velle as I have already observed Now both this Religion in esse by Law established and the Kingdomes Liberties His Majesty hath preserved stil doth even with the losse of his own Defence the Kingdomes true Liberties And for His Religion I attest His very Enemies confession to make good His constant Perseverance therein and preservation thereof my self in this particular esteeming it melius silere quam pauca dicere admiration supplying the place of Expression O therefore that the world may bear witnesse with your Consciences of your Loyalty that is Covenant faithfull obedience to your Soveraigne notwithstanding former aberrations through ignorance and that you for your parts had no thoughts or intents to diminish that just power and greatnesse which belongeth unto him by the Law Use your best endeavours to free Him from this unparallel'd and unjust restraint and restore Him to His Regall power and possession of His Royall prerogative Thus you will be instrumentall restorers of Englands Honour Peace and Glory and doe not content your selves as too many doe that you have only sworn to maintaine the Kings Just Rights when as your actions Endeavour the contrary or endeavour not at all the maintenance of them contrary unto this Clause of your Covenant We shall also with all faithfullnesse endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants 4. Article Covenant orevill Instruments by hindring the Reformation of Religion c. Who hindreth Reformation and a reduction of Religion to the purity of practice but those who hitherto have countenanced and still connive at a Toleration of all Erroneous practices Schisme c. contrary to the second Article of this Covenant hereby making themselves guilty for Qui non vetat peccare cum potest Jubet Dividing the King from His people Are not they such dividers who have taken up armes only to deprive His Majesty of His Regall Power Declared him not in a condition to governe Covenant Answers to Scots Papers Novemb. 1647. Dec. Answer to Scots Papers 13 March 1647. band by imprisoment of Him disabled Him from performing His duty as a King by protecting His Subjects and by Proclamations enjoyning their Obedience to the established Lawes Who have divided the Kingdome from the King but such as by their actions Negat Oath Oathes and Declarations have endeavoured to frame Rem publicam in Regno Supreamacy in the people never heard of nor ever practised in this Nation before in opposition to His Majesties justly Supream power going about to transforme this Kingdome into a body with two heads which is monstrous and contrary to nature and to contrive two shining Suns in Englands Hemisphear which was ever ominous and Prognosticatours of Destruction O Deus bone in quae tempora reservasti Preserve us good God from confusion and suddaine ruine Who divide one Kingdom from another making factions among the people and causing fractions in their duties and affections but they that invite the assisting invasion of neighbour Nations maintaining Armies within its one bowells to effect an alteration of Government by force Who divide one Kingdome from another but they that neglect nay deny timely supplies whereby Ireland might have been reduced in Obedience to His Majesty and the Law of the Land the want whereof disabled the Protestant party there and enableth the Irish Papists to divide themselves from the Crown of England and Ireland endangering also the ruine of our own Nation and all these contrary to the common rules of Humanity much more Christianity and in opposition also to the Law of the Land and this League and Covenant thus rightly Rationally and Religiously expounded That they Covenant that is Incendiaries Malignants c. may be brought to publick triall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their Offences shall require For this part of the Article I have nothing to write but this Secundum Leges fiat Justitia may Justice take place running down like a stream yet because non sanguinis homo Misericordia praevaleat opto may they all finde pardon for their Treason and Rebellion against our Soveraign Lord the King the Laws in this world mercy forgiveness for all their sins against the God of Heaven in the world to come To this purpose it were to be wished