181. viz. It is worthy the Note that we find no execution of blood except in open battel in all these combustions nor any Nobleman to die on a Scaffold either in this King's Reign or any other since William the First which is now almost Three hundred years SECT III. NOW as the strength of this Argument seems to me greater than is that of many others which are produced in this Cause so are there many singular advantages which it hath above them For instance First Whereas 't is said n. 1. That we cannot take this Oath upon the Grounds which commonly are offered to move us so to do without condemning the Doctrine of Non-resistance allowing Subjects in some cases a Power to Depose their Prince asserting that our Allegiance to him may cease even whilst he doth continue to Govern or to sway the Sceptre and so we cannot upon those Motives comply with the Act enjoining us to take it without condemning our ancient and avowed Doctrines our Subscriptions to our Homilies and Canons if not the Doctrine of the Ancient Church and that which once was counted the Glory of the Church of England and consequently we cannot do it on those Principles without the scandal of Hypocrisie and Mutability and so of being Ecclesiastical Weathercocks that turn with every wind that blows and Men of such flexible Consciences as will permit us to swear backwards and forwards or any ways for our interest which scandal would cause ur Persons to be despised and our Doctrine not to be regarded Whereas I say some of the other Grounds of taking the Oath of Fealty and Allegiance to King William seem to subject us to these and many other inconveniencies this way entirely avoids them all For 1. We may still honestly declare as do our Statutes n. 2. 3. Jam. 1. c. 1. Can. 36.60 Can. 1. 1640. our Canons and our Convocations That the King's Highness is the only Supreme Governor of this Realm and of all other his Dominions and Countries That the Kingly Authority within his Dominions and Countries is immediately and after God Chief and Supreme and that all Subjects by divine Law stand bound to yield all Faith and Obedience to it above all Earthly Power whatsoever For this Doctrine doth not in the least diminish any Privileges or meddle with any Prerogatives of our Sovereign Lord the King but only tells us who for the time being is that Sovereign Lord to whom these Prerogatives belong 2. n. 3. We may still honestly declare That it is not lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to take up Arms against the King Stat. Car. 2 A. 14. cap. 2.12 Car. 2. cap. 10. And that by the undoubted fundamental Laws of this Kingdom neither the Peers of this Realm nor the Commons nor both together in Parliament nor the People collectively or representatively nor any other persons whatsoever had have hath or ought to have any coercive Power over the Kings of this Realm And with our Convocation still assert A. D. 1640. Can. 1. That for Subjects to bear Arms against their King offensive or defensive upon any pretence whatsoever is at the least to resist the Powers which are ordained of God. We may still subscribe these Doctrines of our Homilies as wholsome and godly Doctrines and Doctrines to be embraced by all men 2d Par. of the Serm. of Obed. p. 72. That it is not lawful for Subjects and Inferiors in any case to resist and stand against Superior Powers that Christ hath taught us plainly that even the wicked Rulers have their Power and Authority from God and therefore it is not lawful for their Subjects to withstand them Although they do abuse their Power That if they would command us to do any thing contrary to God's Commandments in that case we may not in any wise withstand them violently P. 74 75. or rebel against Rulers or make any Insurrection Sedition or Tumults either by force of Arms or otherwise Against the Anointed of the Lord or any of his Officers but we must in such case patiently suffer all wrongs and injuries referring the Judgment of our Cause only to God. Hem. of Rebel Par. 2. p. 301. And that though Multitudes not only of the Rude and Rascal Commons but sometimes also Men of great Wit Nobility and Authority have moved Rebellions against their lawful Princes whereas true Nobility should most abhor such villanies though they should pretend sundry Causes as the Redress of the Common-wealth which Rebellion of all other mischiefs doth most destroy or Reformation of Religion whereas Rebellion is most of all against true Religion yet were the multitude of the Rebels never so great the Captains never so noble politick and witty the pretences feigned to be never so good and holy yet the speedy overthrow of all Rebels of what number state or condition soever they were or what colour and cause soever they pretend is and ever hath been such that God thereby doth shew that He alloweth neither the dignity of any person nor the multitude of any people nor the weight of any cause as sufficient for the which Subjects may move Rebellion against their Prince For this Doctrine only adds to these Particulars this That the King Regnant in possession is the King whom we may not resist in any case 3. We are not obliged for the justification of our selves n. 4. and of our Doctrine to appeal from the Homilies themselves to those who composed or subscribed them to prove their Actions towards others and the Sayings of one or two of them elsewhere were inconsistent with the plain import of the words which they subscribed and taught as good and wholsome Doctrine when it served to defend the Protestants against the Insurrections of the Romanists the chief Adversaries of that Doctrine which England knew of in those times or to insinuate to their disparagement that they held this to be good Doctrine when it was useful to secure them against the Romanists but that the Doctrine of the Lawfulness of Resistance was as good when it was useful to preserve the Protestants in England or beyond the Seas against the Romanists But can fairly account for that assistance which they gave to their oppressed Brethren from the difference betwixt the constitution of their Government and ours this being one of the chief Laws by which the liberty of the Netherlands was long maintained and justified If any Prince hath disturbed the State of the Republick either by violence wrong dealing or treachery Oration of the Lawfulness of the Netherlandish War p. 14. then all the States and Burghers may deny him Obedience and shall be free and discharged of their Oaths they shall appoint a Chief in his place until he be reduced to a better Mind and more easie Government From the Observation of Dr. Hammond out of Bodinus L. 2. de Rep. c. 5. That in France Spain England and Scotland Reges sine
CONSIDERATIONS Humbly Offered for Taking the Oath of Allegiance TO KING WILLIAM AND Queen Mary Optima Regula qua nullae est verior aut firmior in Jure Neminem oportet esse sapientiorem legibus LONDON Printed by J. Leake for Awnsham Churchill at the Black Swan at Amen-Corner MDCLXXXIX THE PREFACE ALthough I have insisted chiefly on the following Argument because it seems most fully to take off that scandal from the Genuine Members of the Church of England which others seem not so to have regarded as the importance of the matter doth require yet do I by no means condemn those Writings which plead for taking the imposed Oath upon such Grounds as do more fully justifie the Title of our present Governors which as I never will dispute so I conceive my self unable by reason of my want of Knowledge in the Law to pass an exact judgment in that matter But yet in matters which chiefly do relate to History it may not be improper for one of my Profession to produce what He by reading of our Historians hath observed When by the Greatest Councils of our Nation an Original compact or establishment betwixt the King and People was asserted few can be ignorant with what disdain the Notion was received and how 't was represented as an imaginary notion without foundation either in History or Law or with what earnestness an evidence or prospect of such a contract was demanded Now in order to the satisfaction of such Enquirers be it observed 1. That Florence of Worcester Simeon of Durham and R. Hoveden do with one voice assert That (a) Ubi Aldredus Archiepiscopus Walffunus Wigornensis Episcopus Clito Eadgarus comites Eadwinus Morcarus de Lundonia quique Nobiliores cum multis aliis ad eum venerunt datis obsidibus illi deditionem fecerunt fidelitatemque juraverunt cum quibus ipse soedus pepigit c. Flor Wigorn p. 635. Dunelm p. 195. R. Hoved. Par. Pr. p. 258. William called the Conqueror made a League or Compact with the Archbishop Bishops Earls and Nobles of the Land who met him at Beorcham To this it is indeed replied by Dr. Brady That there was no Election no Consent of the People no Bargain strucken or Covenant made to observe and keep the Laws which were bonae approbatae leges Regni the good and approved Laws of the Kingdom but on the contrary here is the Submission of the People the Behaviour of a Conqueror Hostages taken Towns burnt Rapine committed Answ to Arg. Antinorm p. 251. and He himself made King by the influence of an Army To which I Answer 1. That Gulielmus Gemiticensis and Walsingham expresly say That William the Conqueror was (b) Ab omnibus tam Normannorum quam Anglorum proceribus Rex est Electus Gul. Gemit de ducibus Norm l. 6. c. 37. Walsingh Hypod. Neuslriae p. 436. Elected King by all the Nobles of England and Normandy 2. Florence of Worcester Simeon of Durham R. Hoveden Daniel p. 36. and John Brompton declare That as the Bishops and Barons of the Realm swore Fealty to him so He reciprocally (c) Cum quibus ipse foedus pepigit nihilominus exercitui suo villas cremare rapinas agere permisit Appropinquante igitur Nativitatis festivitate cum omni exercitu Lundoniam ut ibi in Regem sublimaretur adiit ipsa Nativitatis die ab Aldredo Eboracensium Archiepiscopo in Westmonasterio consecratus est honorifice prius ut idem Archipraesul ab eo exigebat ante Altare Sancti Petri Apoftoli coram clero populo jurejurando promittens se velle Dei Sanctas Ecclesias ac Rectores illarum defendere hec non cunctum populum sibi subjectum juste Regali providential regere rectam legem statuere tenere rapinas injustaque judicia penitus interdicere Flor. Wigorn p. 634 635. Dunelm p. 195. Hov p. 258. Ipsum Regem W. ad jura Ecclesiae Anglicanae tuenda conservanda populumque suum recte regendum leges rectas statuendum facramento solenniter adstrinxit Chron. Job Brompt p. 962. being required thereto by the Archbishop of York made his Personal Oath before the Altar of St. Peter to defend the Holy Church of God and the Rectors of the same to govern the Universal People subject to him justly to establish equal Law or Laws and to see them duly executed And when new Commotions were made by the Nobility and Clergy upon their Submission and Oath of Allegiance re-taken Ibid. p. 37. He himself takes again his Personal Oath (d) Occurrerunt igitur Angli memorati ubi post multas deceptationes praesente Archiepiscopo Lanfranco Rex pro bono pacis juravit tactis Sacrosanctis Evangeliis bonas approbatas antiquas Regni leges quas Sancti ac pii Angliae Reges ejus Antecessores maxime Rex Edvardus statuit inviolabiliter obhservare sic pacificati ad propria laeti recesserunt M. Paris in Vit. 23. Mon. p. 30. before Archbishop Lanfranc and the Lords for the Good of Peace NB. to observe the Ancient Laws of the Realm established by his Noble Predecessors the Kings of England and especially of Edward the Confessor 3. R. Hagulstadensis S. Dunelmensis R. Hoveden M. Paris Henry of Knyghton and W. of Malmsbury inform us That (e) Legem R. Edvardi vobis reddo cum illis emendationibus quibus Pater meus eas emendavit consilio Baronum suorum R. Hagustald p. 311. Dunelm p. 225 226. Fioveden part 1. p. 268. Mat. Paris p. 38. Henr. de Knyght p. 2374. W. Malmsbur l. 5. p 88. Henry the First granted to all the People the Laws of Edward with the Emendations which his Father had made of them strengthening them with his own Oath and the Oath of all his Nobles that they might not be eluded And W. Lambara in his Book of the Ancient Laws of England cites this as one of the Laws of William the Conqueror (f) Hoc quoque praecipimus ut omnes habeant teneant legem Edwardi Regis in omnibus rebus adauctis hiis quas constituimus ad utilitatem Anglorum Apud Seld. Annot ad Eadmer p. 192. This also we Command That All men have and keep the Law of King Edward with the Additions we have made to them for the benefit of the English-men All which things plainly shew in opposition to the Assertion of Dr. Brady That there was an Election of William the Conqueror a bargain strucken between him and his Subjects and that He did consent covenant and swear to observe the good and approved Laws of the Realm and in particular those of King Edward And whereas the same Dr. Brady saith P. 25. These Laws of King Edward were mostly penal or else of small moment our Forefathers were far from having such a slight opinion of them For 1. The (g) Sed postea ad preces communitatis Anglorum Rex adquievit qui deprecati
in the word Concessimus for the honour of the King yet were they saith Sir Edward Coke the Common Laws and Rights of the People before 3dly It plainly is asserted That the whole Realm is subject to these Laws and to be Governed by them and no otherwise And agreeable to this Statute is that excellent Resolution of King James when his Subjects desired to know of him Whether he would Rule according to the Ancient form of this State and the Laws of this Kingdom or if he had an intention not to limit himself within these bounds but to alter the same when He thought convenient by the absolute Power of a King. Fourth Speech at White-hall A. 1609. p. 530 531. He Answers That the King was Lex loquens after a sort binding himself by a double Oath to the observation of the fundamental Laws of his Kingdom tacitly as by being a King and so bound to protect as well the People as the Laws of his Kingdom and expresly by his Oath at his Coronation So as every just King in a setled Kingdom is bound to observe that paction made to his People by his Laws in framing his Government agreeable thereunto And therefore a King governing in a setled Kingdom leaves to be a King and degenerates into a Tyrant as soon as He leaves off to Rule according to his Laws therefore all Kings that are not Tyrants or perjured will be glad to bound themselves within the limits of their Laws and they that perswade them to the contrary are Vipers and Pests both against them and the Common-wealth CONSIDERATIONS Humbly offered for Taking the Dath of Allegiance TO King WILLIAM and Queen MARY SECT I. BEFORE I produce the particular Arguments which may be urged for taking of this Oath it may be useful to lay down some general Considerations relating to this matter viz. 1st That through the whole Series of our Kings it hath often happened that Ground sufficient hath been given to question the Right of their Succession and in the Cases of Edward the Second and Richard the Second the lawfulness of their Deposition and yet no scruple ever hath been made till now of taking an Oath of Allegiance to the King who had Possession of the Government That ever the Bishop of Carlisle refused the Oath of Allegiance I do not remember 2dly That all the Interests of the Protestant Religion plead for the taking of the Oath if lawfully it can be done it being reasonable to conceive that from the present King we may expect the Preservation of that Religion and the Defence of it to the utmost of his Power not only here but in the Neighbouring Nations against the Malice of the French King against it He being chosen the Head of the Protestant League for that effect whereas we cannot reasonably expect King James should by French Interests return to sway the Scepter without the outmost hazard of the Interest of Protestants in this and all the Neighbouring Nations 3dly If we comply with those who take this Oath we shall prevent that Division of the Church of England which may if it be not prevented give great Advantage to her Enemies we shall strengthen the Hands of King William and of the Kingdom against the Adversaries of Church and State we shall contribute to the Peace of the Nation which all good Men are bound to pray for and seek by all means lawful If we refuse compliance we shall accidentally at least give Advantage to Dissenters who generally comply against the Church we by our Example shall cause others to refuse compliance and so shall strengthen the Hands of the Papal Party and Minister to those Divisions which may cause our Ruine 4thly By refusing to take this Oath we shall deprive our selves of our Subsistence and of the ordinary means of providing for our Family which without absolute necessity we cannot do 1 Tim. v. 8. for saith the Apostle If any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own house he hath denied the faith and is worse than an Infidel We shall deprive our selves of the capacity of exercising our ministerial Function which without like necessity we cannot justifie 5thly We seem not well able to Answer the Question What it is we would have or what we would be at for if we be asked whether we would have King James return a Conqueror or whether we would have him put in statu quo we must in Conscience Answer No unless we would have Popery and Slavery entailed upon us And that he should return any otherwise as matters now stand is next to impossible Since then we cannot be willing that we should be reduced to a capacity of yielding him ctual Allegiance upon those sad terms we seem upon the matter to have renounced the Allegiance we swore to him which was 1st That we were then willing and inclined to yield him true Allegiance and 2dly That we hereafter would act suitably to that Inclination 6thly We all conceive it reasonable that we should live peaceably and quietly under the Government of King William that we should never be active to introduce King James or to disturb the Possession of King William and that whilst we enjoy his Protection we should pay him the Taxes imposed on us Now this is all that many of those who write for taking of the Oath and many of those who take it for taking of the oath and many of those who take it think is meant by swearing Faith and true Allegiance to King William and therefore according to the ordinary Sence imposed upon the Oath by many Wise Judicious Persons we our selves think it reasonable to take it and surely then there concerns of the Protestant Religion at Home and Abroad our love to the Church of England to the Peace of the Nation to our selves to those Souls to whom we minister must weigh much with us to engage us to do that which in the ordinary import put upon the words by many Wise and Judicious Persons we own we cannot rationally refuse to do SECT II. HAving premised these general Considerations I now proceed to those Arguments which seem to prove it lawful in our Circumstances to take the Oath imposed by the said Act. And First This seems to be self-evident That a legal Oath n. 1. or an Oath imposed by Law ought to be understood in a sence reconcilable to the Law and consequently no Man by virtue of a legal Oath can be obliged first to transgress the Laws and then to suffer for so doing It is also evident from the nature of the thing Cowel verbo ligeance and the determination of our ablest Lawyers that Ligeance or Allegiance is such a kind of duty as no Man may owe to more than one Lord. It is that duty which no man owes or by the Law should pay but to his Sovereign who in one Imperial Kingdom can be but one and it is agreeable unto our Saviour's
reason a King de facto is not to be owned or obeyed as our Superior in opposition to a King de jure because he cannot be supposed to have a lawful Call or Warrant to Exercise the Kingly Government If an Inferior Magistrate hath a Law to warrant his Commands Answ he is to obeyed even against the verbal commands of his Superior without law Now a King de facto in quiet Possession hath a Law to warrant his Acting as our Sovereign Lord the King and requiring our Faith and true Allegiance ot him for the time being he therefore is to be owned and obeyed as having a legal Call to the Government for the time being Secondly To give a satisfactory Answer to this and many Objections of the like nature it will be proper to consider what a Call or a Commission to be the Governor of any Nation doth import and for the Resolution of this Enquiry let it be noted 1. That God doth not now as in the Case of Saul and David by himself appoint and nominate the Person who shall sway the Sceptre in any Nation of the World. We see by plain Experience God doth not interpose in this extraordinary manner in the Election or Constitution of Superiors The Roman Emperors had no such Appointment but were Elected by the roman Armies or chosen and confirmed by the Senate whence it must follow That an immediate Appointment or Designation of the Person by God cannot be necessary to render any Prince God's Ordinance 2. By virtue of God's general Appointment or Ordinance that all Nations shall have some Government placed over them no Individual Person can claim a Right to be the Higher Power in any Nation moe than Others nor are the People tied to yield Subjection by it to this Man rather than to that As then the former Designation was more so this is less than reasonably can be required to make a Man the Individual Person who is God's Civil Ordinance in reference to such a Nation 3. It cannot be said of any Person or Family at present in the World That he or it claimeth or holdeth the Throne in any Nation by a Right of Fatherhood or Primogeniture derived from Adam I know no Prince on Earth who thus pretendeth to derive his Pedigree and am perswaded that if any hath the Vanity to make such an Extravagant pretence he cannot thus make out his Title It remains therefore 4. That Government be conveyed to this or that Individual Person or Family by Compact or Consent and Choice of the Persons governed that such a Person or Family shall Exercise the Government over such a Nation it therefore must be that Choice Consent or Contract of the Persons to be governed which renders any person the Ordinance of God to such a Nation that is it must be granted that all the present Governors of any Nation become God's Ordinance to them by the Consent of the Community Where therefore any person is invested with the Supemacy by them to whom God hath committed the Choice of a Superior or by their consent to have such Persons for their Superiors there is the Ordinance of God. And if they do admit that person to the Government who by Constitutions and antecedent Compacts hath a right to be so he is to them the Ordinance of God de jure If in this Choice they deviate substantially from these Constitutions he only is the Ordinance of God de facto but yet he truly is the Ordinance of God because he is so by the only means which God hath left for the Investing any Individual Person with that Office. Hence do we find throughout the History of our Kings that the Election of or else a Compact with the People hath generally been looked upon as a thing proper either to satisfie the People or to strengthen their Title to the Crown thus v. g. Of the Conqueror Dunelm p. 195. Hoved. par 1. p. 258. Simeon Dunelmensis and Hoveden inform us That Foedus pepigit he made a Covenant with his People and at his Coronation took an Oath to defend the Holy Church f God and the Rectors of the same to govern the Vniversal People Subject to him justly to establish equal Laws and see them duly executed Daniel p. 36. William the Second held the Possession of the Crown of England by the Will of the Kingdom Ibid. p. 52. the Succession in Right of Primogeniture being none of his * Dan. p. 61. Rich. Hugust p. 310. Henry the First was invested in the Crown by the Act of the Kingdom concilio Communi Baronum Regni Angliae saith the King. King Stephen declares himself to be chosen King †Assensu populi Cleri in Regem electum Malmesb. Hist Nov. l. 1. f. 101. b. Rich. Hugust p. 314. by the consent of the People and the clergy as he had good reason to do having no title at all saith Daniel but as one of the Blood by meer Election advanced to the Crown p. 69. King John received the Crown by way of Election as being chosen by the States saith Daniel The Succession of Edward the Second saith 1 Pag. 127. Non tam jure haereditario quam unanimi assensu procerum Magnatum Ed. Franc. 1602. P 95. Walsingham was not so much by Right of Inheritance as by the unanimous Assent of the peers and Great Men. Edward the Third was Elected 2 Dan. p. 217. Cui electioni consensit populus universus id p. 126. with the Vniversal consent of the People upon his Fathers Resignation Edward the Fourth on his entrance on the Government makes a solemn declaration 3 TRussel p. 179. of his Right to the Crown of England challenging it to belong to him by a double Right The first as Son and Heir to Richard Duke of York the Rightful Heir of the same The second as Elected by Authority of Parliament upon King Henry 's forfeit thereof And Henry the Seventh to all his other Titles by 4 Lord Bac. Hist of H. 7. p. 12. Marriage Conquest and from the House of Lancaster adds that of the Authority of Parliament This Principle makes Authority and Supreme Power inseparable from Actual Regency n. 19. Obj. 5. or Command investing him with the Supreme Power who hath it for the time being and making him incapable of being the Higher Power who is out of Possession whilst he so continues which seems clear contrary to the decision of the Holy Scriptures for though all Israel chose Absalom to be their King 2 Sam. xix 10. and anointed him over them though he had for the time the Kingdom in possession and David fled out of the Land leaving no Governor behind him yet the Power was in David he was even then the Supreme Governor and Higher Power to whom Subjection was due 2 Sam. xx 2. 2 Chr. xxij 12. So he was also when all Israel followed Sheba And though Athaliah possessed the
saith That no person or persons shall take any benefit or advantage by this Act which shall hereafter decline from his or their said Allegiance So can they from our Doctrine have no advantage so to do Lastly Our Principles do not concern themselves either with the supposed Title of the Prince of Wales or the supposed defect of Title in King William for do but grant what is plain matter of Fact that neither King James nor the Prince of Wales are in Possession of the Crown of England and that King William and Queen Mary are in Possession of it by the consent and approbation of the Parliament and Faith and true Allegiance for the time being must by our Principles be due unto the latter whatsoever Right or Title may being unto the former FINIS ERRATA PAge 18. line 16. for displeased read displaced p. 31. l. 32. dele of p. 46. l. 5. add resist Books lately Printed for Awnsham Churchill at the Black Swan at Amen-Corner THE Late Lord Russel's Case with Observations upon it Written by the Right Honourable Henry Lord De la Mere. fol. An Historical Account of Making the Penal Laws by the Papists against the Protestants and by the Protestants against the Papists Wherein the true Ground and Reason of Making the Laws is given the Papists most barbarous Usage of the Protestants here in England under a Colour of Law set forth and the Reformation Vindicated from the Imputation of being Cruel and Bloody unjustly cast upon it by those of the Romish Communion By Samuel Blackerby Barrister of Grays-Inn fol. Obedience Due to the Present King notwithstanding our Oaths to the Former Written by a Divine of the Church of England 4º A modest Enquiry Whether St. Peter were ever at Rome and Bishop of that Church wherein I. The Arguments of Cardinal Bellarmine and others for the Affirmative are considered II. Some Considerations taken Notice of that render the Negative higstly Probable 4º The Spirit of France and the Politick Maxims of Lewis XIV laid open to the World. 4º Memorials of the Method and Manner of Proceedings in Parliament in Passing Bills Together with several Rules and Customs which by long and constant Practice have obtained the Name of Orders of the House Gathered by Observation and out of the Journal Books from the time of Edward VI. 8º Dr. Burnet's Tracts in Two Volumes Vol. I. Containing 1. His Travels into Switzerland Italy and Germany with an Appendix 2. Animadversions on the Reflections upon the Travels 3. Three Letters of the Quietists Inquisuion and State of Italy Vol. II. 4. His Translations of Lactantius of the Death of Persecutors 5. His Answers to Mr. Varillas In Three Parts 12º A Collection of Texts of Scripture with short Notes upon them And some other Observations against the Principal Popish Errors 12º The Fallibility of the Roman Church Demonstrated from the manifest Error of the Second Nicene and Trent Councils which Assert That the Veneration and Honorary Worship of Images is a Tradition Primitive and Apostolical 4º A Demonstration that the Church of Rome and her Councils have Erred by shewing That the Councils of Constance Basil and Trent have in all their Decrees touching Communion in one Kind contradicted the Received Doctrine of the Church of Christ with an Appendix in Answer to the XXI Chapter of the Author of A Papist Misrepresented and Represented 4º A Treatise of Traditions Part I. Wherein it is proved That we have Evidence sufficient from Tradition 1. That the Scriptures are the Word of God. 2. That the Church of England owns the true Canon of the Books of the Old Testament 3. That the Copies of the Scripture have not been corrupted 4. That the Romanists have no such Evidence for their Traditions 5. That the Testimony of the present Church of Rome can be no sure Evidence of Apostolical Tradition 6. What Traditions may securely be relied upon and what not 4º A Treatise of Traditions Part II. Shewing the Novelty of the pretended traditions of the Church of Rome as being 1. Not mentioned by the Ancients of their Discourses of Traditions Apostolical truly so called or so esteemed by them Nor 2. In their Avowed Rule or Symbol of Faith. Nor 3. In the Instructions given to the Clergy concerning all those things they were to teach the People Nor 4. In the Examination of a Bishop at his Ordination Nor 5. In the Ancient Treatises designed to instruct Christians in all the Articles of their Faith. 6. From the Confessions of Romish Doctor with an Answer to the Arguments of Mr. Mumford for Traditions and a Demonstration That the Heathens made the same Plea from Tradition as the Romanists do and that the Answer of the Fathers to it doth fully justifie the Protestants 4º All these four Books Written by the Reverend D. Whitby D.D. An Exhortation to Charity and a Word of Comfort to the Irish Protestants Being a Sermon Preached at Steeple in Dorsetshire upon occasion of the Collection for Relief of the Poor Protestants in this Kingdom lately fled from Ireland By Samuel Bold Rector of Steeple 4º THE END