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contradiction_n to_o your_o sense_n as_o ever_o and_o i_o pray_v you_o consider_v whether_o the_o power_n now_o establish_v without_o king_n and_o lord_n have_v not_o vote_v down_o both_o king_n and_o lord_n as_o useless_a and_o dangerous_a and_o therefore_o now_o establish_v be_v no_o other_o than_o a_o abnegation_n of_o king_n and_o lord_n heretofore_o establish_v therefore_o your_o friend_n be_v in_o this_o pinch_v be_v not_o yet_o ease_v you_o go_v on_o as_o discern_v that_o what_o be_v say_v will_v not_o hold_v suppose_v say_v you_o that_o in_o your_o apprehensâ—â—â—_n of_o matter_n this_o engagement_n do_v material_o settle_v some_o thing_n in_o the_o commonwealth_n which_o be_v contrary_a to_o the_o intention_n which_o you_o have_v in_o take_v the_o covenant_n yet_o i_o say_v that_o by_o give_v your_o assent_n thereunto_o as_o matter_n now_o stand_v you_o break_v not_o at_o all_o your_o covenant_n because_o your_o obligation_n to_o those_o matter_n by_o virtue_n of_o the_o 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it_o for_o their_o own_o disobligation_n david_n be_v bind_v by_o covenant_n unto_o jonathan_n and_o his_o seed_n after_o he_o have_v he_o consent_v to_o the_o death_n of_o mephibosheth_n the_o son_n of_o jonathan_n the_o matter_n of_o the_o covenant_n have_v then_o be_v extinct_a and_o yet_o david_n have_v be_v guilty_a of_o the_o breach_n of_o it_o for_o your_o assumption_n that_o the_o matter_n of_o the_o covenant_n as_o to_o the_o three_o article_n be_v extinct_a it_o be_v impossible_a in_o nature_n to_o preserve_v the_o king_n life_n now_o it_o be_v cut_v off_o and_o the_o house_n of_o lord_n now_o it_o be_v put_v down_o i_o shall_v not_o stand_v upon_o that_o maxim_n the_o king_n never_o die_v and_o so_o though_o the_o man_n be_v cut_v off_o yet_o the_o king_n remain_v and_o may_v be_v preserve_v if_o you_o please_v to_o look_v into_o the_o preface_n of_o the_o
this_o evasion_n to_o eye_n the_o end_n and_o not_o look_v at_o accidental_a form_n as_o you_o call_v they_o will_v facilitate_v a_o way_n to_o any_o oath_n and_o as_o easy_o disoblige_v render_v the_o oath_n vain_a as_o soon_o as_o it_o be_v enter_v thus_o it_o have_v be_v safe_a to_o have_v enter_v the_o canon_n oath_n prescribe_v by_o the_o convocation_n in_o the_o year_n that_o this_o parliament_n do_v commence_v for_o the_o establishment_n of_o the_o hierarchy_n in_o archbishop_n bishop_n dean_n dean_n and_o chapter_n chancellor_n etc._n etc._n see_v we_o may_v have_v enter_v into_o it_o how_o opposite_a soever_o our_o judgement_n be_v against_o it_o and_o then_o have_v avoid_v it_o explain_v ourselves_o that_o we_o swear_v to_o the_o end_n namely_o church-government_n &_o order_n for_o public_a edification_n without_o respect_n to_o external_a form_n which_o be_v accidental_a which_o government_n be_v in_o our_o judgement_n best_o settle_v in_o a_o independent_a congregational_a 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state_n this_o way_n find_v any_o security_n in_o any_o oath_n prescribe_v all_o may_v enter_v and_o then_o evade_v with_o this_o shift_n of_o the_o intrinsical_a good_a of_o the_o commonwealth_n of_o the_o nation_n and_o plead_v that_o the_o necessity_n of_o the_o public_a good_a call_v to_o the_o transgression_n and_o contradiction_n of_o it_o thus_o zedekiah_n may_v have_v free_v himself_o from_o his_o oath_n of_o fealty_n to_o nebucadnezar_n it_o be_v as_o he_o may_v have_v plead_v against_o the_o intrinsical_a good_a of_o that_o nation_n that_o stranger_n shall_v rule_v over_o they_o and_o they_o be_v make_v a_o province_n to_o babylon_n his_o oath_n to_o serve_v he_o will_v have_v strong_o engage_v to_o a_o revolt_n from_o he_o and_o the_o oath_n of_o the_o elder_n of_o israel_n to_o the_o gibeonite_n thus_o understand_v have_v be_v null_a in_o the_o very_a take_n of_o it_o evident_o tend_v to_o the_o public_a damage_n of_o which_o the_o commons_o of_o israel_n be_v very_o sensible_a as_o appear_v in_o their_o exception_n take_v against_o the_o elder_n for_o enter_v into_o it_o saul_n in_o the_o act_n which_o bring_v a_o three_o year_n famine_n upon_o israel_n if_o this_o divinity_n may_v take_v place_n have_v do_v a_o work_n singular_o commendable_a see_v it_o be_v his_o zeal_n to_o the_o house_n of_o israel_n and_o judah_n which_o alone_o move_v he_o against_o the_o letter_n of_o his_o covenant_n to_o the_o slaughter_n of_o those_o person_n even_o the_o public_a good_a so_o evident_o damnify_v and_o endanger_v by_o their_o abode_n in_o the_o midst_n of_o the_o people_n saul_n slaughter_n of_o these_o gibeonite_n have_v be_v as_o praiseworthy_a as_o david_n his_o successor_n slaughter_n of_o the_o jebusite_n the_o public_a good_a be_v saul_n end_n the_o holy-ghost_n bear_v witness_n as_o well_o as_o david_n and_o what_o good_a the_o present_a state_n can_v reap_v by_o this_o engagement_n your_o interpretation_n be_v once_o admit_v i_o believe_v you_o know_v not_o which_o way_n to_o demonstrate_v the_o engager_n may_v say_v they_o will_v be_v true_a and_o faithful_a to_o the_o commonwealth_n as_o now_o establish_v without_o king_n or_o house_n of_o lord_n in_o their_o endeavour_n to_o re-establish_a a_o king_n and_o house_n of_o lord_n which_o they_o may_v think_v most_o tend_v to_o the_o honour_n and_o peace_n of_o it_o you_o go_v on_o to_o answer_v a_o further_a objection_n of_o your_o friend_n that_o in_o the_o three_o article_n of_o the_o covenant_n he_o be_v swear_v to_o preserve_v the_o right_n and_o privilege_n of_o parliament_n among_o which_o this_o be_v one_o that_o therein_o shall_v be_v a_o house_n of_o lord_n distinct_a from_o the_o commons_o and_o this_o another_o that_o all_o the_o member_n of_o the_o commons_o shall_v sit_v and_o vote_n free_o for_o when_o he_o swear_v he_o mean_v a_o parliament_n so_o constitute_v and_o no_o other_o in_o answer_n of_o which_o you_o first_o confess_v and_o then_o endeavour_v to_o avoid_v and_o if_o you_o do_v avoid_v as_o clear_o as_o you_o do_v confess_v ingenuous_o you_o will_v give_v more_o satisfaction_n you_o confess_v that_o these_o be_v privilege_n that_o the_o intention_n of_o the_o covenant_n be_v to_o preserve_v these_o and_o that_o now_o such_o intention_n can_v be_v prosecute_v which_o confession_n alone_o be_v enough_o to_o create_v a_o big_a scruple_n in_o your_o friend_n than_o the_o whole_a force_n of_o all_o which_o yet_o have_v appear_v in_o your_o answer_n can_v wipe_v off_o your_o way_n to_o avoid_v be_v that_o your_o friend_n do_v what_o in_o he_o lay_v when_o time_n and_o place_n be_v according_a to_o his_o call_v to_o prevent_v these_o breach_n and_o so_o can_v be_v accuse_v of_o the_o infringement_n thereof_o for_o when_o a_o fatal_a necessity_n of_o state_n as_o you_o say_v in_o the_o course_n of_o divine_a justice_n with_o a_o power_n irresistible_a not_o only_o to_o man_n of_o private_a but_o to_o all_o that_o be_v in_o public_a vocation_n do_v bring_v about_o that_o change_n upon_o the_o parliament_n no_o particular_a man_n engagement_n be_v considerable_a this_o no_o doubt_n be_v a_o clear_a justification_n of_o your_o friend_n one_o man_n sin_n pollute_v not_o another_o when_o by_o oppose_v and_o in_o his_o place_n withstand_v he_o keep_v himself_o from_o guilty_a participation_n but_o in_o this_o excuse_n of_o he_o from_o breach_n of_o covenant_n in_o the_o infringement_n of_o parliament_n privilege_n you_o do_v plain_o charge_v that_o irresistible_a power_n which_o you_o speak_v of_o with_o it_o he_o be_v therefore_o innocent_a because_o he_o do_v what_o in_o he_o lay_v in_o his_o place_n to_o prevent_v this_o change_n those_o than_o can_v be_v innocent_a that_o be_v interest_v and_o oblige_v in_o the_o same_o covenant_n do_v yet_o with_o such_o a_o power_n as_o you_o mention_v work_v it_o neither_o can_v that_o suppose_a fatal_a necessity_n of_o state_n which_o your_o answer_n speak_v of_o acquit_v that_o power_n from_o breach_n of_o their_o covenant_n in_o such_o confess_a infringement_n of_o parliament-priviledge_n the_o reason_n of_o the_o kingdom_n as_o elsewhere_o you_o call_v it_o see_v no_o such_o necessity_n as_o your_o paper_n take_v for_o grant_v but_o with_o high_a resolution_n oppose_v when_o the_o power_n be_v at_o their_o door_n and_o themselves_o in_o imminent_a danger_n both_o house_n judge_v the_o way_n that_o they_o be_v upon_o to_o be_v the_o way_n most_o conduce_v to_o the_o state_n safety_n and_o it_o be_v their_o business_n and_o no_o other_o power_n in_o such_o case_n to_o give_v judgement_n and_o in_o case_n this_o necessity_n have_v be_v real_a and_o not_o imaginary_a or_o pretend_a yet_o it_o be_v no_o sufficient_a plea_n for_o such_o a_o transgression_n joshua_n and_o the_o elder_n of_o israel_n understand_v no_o such_o state-divinity_n to_o break_v covenant_n on_o such_o ground_n much_o less_o on_o such_o pretence_n much_o may_v have_v be_v say_v by_o they_o to_o have_v necessitate_v a_o breach_n with_o those_o gibeonite_n with_o who_o they_o have_v enter_v covenant_n gibeon_n be_v one_o of_o their_o royal_a city_n and_o of_o danger_n to_o be_v possess_v by_o such_o a_o enemy_n or_o to_o have_v he_o still_o in_o their_o howel_n to_o lay_v claim_n to_o it_o the_o land_n be_v israel_n by_o the_o gift_n of_o god_n and_o too_o narrow_a for_o themselves_o in_o such_o multitude_n to_o inhabit_v there_o be_v no_o reason_n that_o the_o fat_a and_o the_o sweet_a shall_v be_v devour_v and_o eat_v up_o by_o stranger_n the_o argument_n of_o egypt_n against_o israel_n may_v well_o here_o have_v be_v take_v up_o by_o israel_n when_o there_o fall_v out_o any_o war_n they_o will_v join_v unto_o the_o enemy_n these_o reason_n or_o the_o like_a of_o equal_a or_o great_a strength_n saul_n doubtless_o see_v when_o he_o seek_v to_o slay_v they_o not_o out_o of_o
congregation_n if_o they_o have_v execute_v the_o sentence_n of_o death_n which_o god_n by_o moses_n have_v denounce_v against_o they_o can_v not_o have_v be_v count_v transgressor_n against_o god_n notwithstanding_o the_o oath_n of_o joshua_n and_o the_o elder_n but_o than_o it_o will_v have_v be_v count_v cruelty_n in_o the_o congregation_n and_o breach_n of_o oath_n in_o the_o elder_n and_o a_o disrespect_n in_o the_o people_n towards_o the_o engagement_n of_o their_o prince_n and_o many_o other_o inconvenience_n beside_o will_v have_v follow_v in_o reference_n to_o man_n and_o their_o interpretation_n of_o that_o action_n if_o no_o equitable_a temperament_n have_v be_v find_v in_o the_o business_n which_o upon_o a_o second_o treaty_n the_o first_o be_v declare_v void_a be_v do_v with_o the_o consent_n of_o the_o congregation_n and_o this_o second_o contract_n god_n do_v ratify_v as_o appear_v by_o the_o punishment_n of_o saul_n for_o the_o breach_n of_o it_o thus_o you_o have_v 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so_o be_v the_o privilege_n of_o parliament_n and_o if_o there_o be_v any_o remainder_n of_o privilege_n in_o actual_a be_v as_o you_o contend_v then_o the_o three_o article_n that_o bind_v to_o preserve_v they_o bind_v we_o to_o perfect_v they_o a_o physician_n can_v preserve_v unless_o he_o recover_v strength_n in_o his_o weak_a patient_n you_o conclude_v this_o first_o general_a piece_n of_o you_o with_o hope_n that_o your_o friend_n will_v find_v no_o cause_n to_o scruple_n any_o further_a at_o it_o whereas_o other_o think_v that_o you_o have_v small_a cause_n of_o hope_n that_o you_o have_v ease_v he_o of_o any_o of_o his_o scruple_n in_o your_o second_o part_n you_o make_v it_o your_o business_n to_o satisfy_v your_o friend_n concern_v the_o power_n whereby_o this_o present_a engagement_n be_v tender_v which_o he_o take_v to_o be_v very_o doubtful_a as_o a_o power_n unlawful_o usurp_v as_o also_o whether_o by_o this_o engagement_n he_o shall_v make_v himself_o accessory_a to_o 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the_o inconsistency_n of_o the_o duty_n which_o god_n appoint_v subject_n with_o the_o scrupulosity_n of_o this_o question_n you_o be_v please_v to_o allow_v your_o friend_n in_o the_o judgement_n of_o discretion_n as_o a_o member_n of_o this_o commonwealth_n and_o concern_v in_o the_o public_a welfare_n thereof_o to_o look_v upon_o superior_n to_o see_v how_o they_o pretend_v to_o stand_v that_o be_v by_o what_o apparent_a right_n and_o with_o what_o visible_a power_n they_o possess_v their_o place_n which_o liberty_n of_o judgement_n you_o yet_o allow_v with_o this_o reservation_n that_o he_o suffer_v not_o his_o conscience_n to_o follow_v the_o dictate_v of_o it_o for_o so_o he_o be_v bind_v up_o in_o that_o which_o follow_v which_o yet_o you_o call_v the_o bound_n of_o christian_a liberty_n and_o rationality_n sure_o to_o i_o blind_a obedience_n be_v to_o be_v prefer_v before_o such_o use_n of_o light_n that_o when_o i_o believe_v i_o see_v my_o way_n i_o have_v no_o allowance_n 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