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A59963 A hind let loose, or, An historical representation of the testimonies of the Church of Scotland for the interest of Christ with the true state thereof in all its periods : together with a vindication of the present testimonie, against the Popish, prelatical, & malignant enemies of that church ... : wherein several controversies of greatest consequence are enquired into, and in some measure cleared, concerning hearing of the curats, owning of the present tyrannie, taking of ensnaring oaths & bonds, frequenting of field meetings, defensive resistence of tyrannical violence ... / by a lover of true liberty. Shields, Alexander, 1660?-1700. 1687 (1687) Wing S3431; ESTC R24531 567,672 774

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oune them as Magistrates The least deference we can pay to Magistrates is subjection as it is required in these words Let every soul be subject to the higher Powers and submit your selves to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake But this cannot be given to Tyrants Usurpers Ergo no deference can be paid to them at all and consequently they cannot be ouned That this subjection which is required to the higher Powers cannot be ouned to Tyrants will be apparent if we consider 1. The Subjection required is orderly subjection to an orderly power that we be regularly under him that is regularly above But Usurpation Tyranny is not an Orderly Power orderly placed above us Therefore we cannot be ordely under it This is gathered from the Original Language where the powers to be subjected to are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ordained of God and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Ordinance of God and he that resisteth the Power is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Counter-ordered or contrary to his orderly duty So the duty is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be subject They are all words coming from one root which signifies to Order So that subjection is to be placed in order under another relative to an Orderly Superiority But to occupy the seat of dignity unauthorized is an Ataxie a breaking of order and bringing the Common-wealth quite out of order Whereby it may appear that in relation to an Arbitrary Government there can be properly no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no orderly subjection 2. The thing it self must import that relative duty which the fifth Command requires not only a passive stooping endurance or a ●eigned Counterfeit submission but a real Active duty including obedience to Lawful Commands and not only so but support maintinance and that both to the acts of his administration and to his standing keeping his station assisting him with all our abilities both humane Christian And not only as to the external acts of duties but the inward motions of the heart as consent Love Reverence Honour and all sincere fealty Allegiance But can a subjection of this extent be payed to a Tyrant or Usurper Can we support those we are bound to suppress Shall we love the ungodly and help those that hate the Lord Can we consent that we our posterity should be slaves Can we honour them who are vile and the vilest of men how high soever they be exalted 3. The ground of this subjection is for conscience sake not for wrath that is so far so long as one is constrained by fear to avoid a greater evil to stoop to him but out of conscience of duty both that of Piety to God who ordained Magistracy and that of equity to him who is His Minister for good and under pain of damnation if we break this orderly subjection Rom. 13. 2 5. But can it be imagined that all this is due to a Tyrant Usurper Can it be out of conscience because he is the Lords Minister for good the contrary is clear that he is the Devils drudge serving his Interest Is resistance to Tyrants a damnable sin I hope to prove it to be a duty 4. If subjection to Tyrants Usurpers will inveigle us in their snares and involve us in their sin judgment then it is not to be ouned to them But the former is true Therefore the Latter In the foregoing head I drew an Argument for withdrawing from disouning the Prelatick Ministers from the hazard of partaking in their sin and of being obnoxious to their judgment because people are often punished for their Pastors sins Aaron his sons polluting themselves would have brought wrath upon all the people L●v. 10. 6. because the Teachers had transgressed against the Lord therefore was Iacob given to the Curse Israel to reproaches Isai 43. 27 28. and all these Miseries Lamented by the Church were inflicted for the sins of her Prophets and the iniquites of her Priests Lam. 4. 13. the reason was because they ouned them followed them countenanced them complyed with them or connived at them or did not hinder or else disoune them The same Argument will evince the necessity of withdrawing our subjection from disouning Usurping Tyrannical Rulers when we cannot hinder their wickedness nor give any other Testimony against them to avert the wrath of the Lord. If the defections of Ministers will bring on the whole Nation desolating judgments then much more have we reason to fear it when both Magistrates Ministers are involved in and jointly carrying on and carressing encouraging each other in promoting a woful Apostasie from God when the heads of the house of Iacob Princes of the house of Israeel abhor judgement pervert all equity the heads Judge for reward and the Priests teach for hire and the Prophets divine for money and yet lean upon the Lord and say Is not the Lord among us none evil can come upon us Then we can expect nothing but that Zion for their sake shall be plowed as a field Ierusalem become heaps and the Mountain of the house as the high places of the forest Mich. 3. 9 11 12. Certain it is that subjects have smarted sore for the sins of their Rulers for Sauls sin in breaking Covenant with the Gibeonites the Land suffered three years famine 2 Sam. 21. 1. and the wrath of the Lord could not be appeased till seven of his sons were hanged up unto the Lord. What then shall appease the wrath of God for the unp●ralelled breach of Covenant with God in our day For Davids sin of numbering the people 70000 men died by the Pestilence 2 Sam. 24. 5. For Ieroboams sin of Idolatry who made Israel to sin the Lord threatens to give Israel up because of the sins of Ieroboam 1 King. 14. 16. only they escaped this Judgment who withdrew themselves and fell into Iudah For Ahabs sin of letting go a man whom the Lord had appointed to utter destruction the Lord threatens him thy life shall go for his life and thy people for his people 1 King. 20. 42. Because Manasseh King of Iudah did many abominations therefore the Lord threatened to bring such evil upon Ierusalem Iudah that whosoever heard it his ears should tingle c. 2 King. 21. 11 12. and not withstanding of his repentance and the Reformation in the dayes of Iosiah notwithstanding the Lord turned not from the fierceness of His great wrath wherewith His anger was kindled against Iudah because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked Him withall 2 King. 23. 26. which was accomplished by the hands of the Chaldeans in Iehojakims time Surely at the Commandment of the Lord came this upon Iudah to remove them out of His sight for the sins of Manasseh according to all that he did and also for the innocent blood which he shed ... which the Lord would not pardon 2 King. 24. 3 4. And Ieremiah
Church but in a way of Dependence upon subordination to Christ as King who ascending far above Principalities Powers appointed gave the Gifts of the Ministry Eph. 4. 8. 11. and set them in the Church 1. Cor. 12. 28. and gave them commission to go teach the Nations by virtue of that all Power that was given to Him in Heaven Earth Math. 28. 18 19. If then they take a new holding close with a new Conveyance of the Ministrie and of the Power to exercise the same from a new Architectonick usurped Power in the Church encroaching on Christs Royal prerogative we dare not Homologat such an affront to Christ as to give them the respect of His Ambassadours when they become the servants of men and subject even in Ministerial functions to another Head then Christ for then they are the Ministers of men by men and not by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead because they do not hold the Head Col. 2. 19. Hence those that receive derive their Church-Power from and are subordinate in its exercise to another Head then Christ Jesus should not be received and subjected to as the Ministers of Christ in His Church But the Prelats their curats do receive derive their Church Power from are subordinate in its exercise to another Head then Christ Therefore they should not be received c. The first Proposition cannot be denyed The Second is proved thus Those officers in the Church Professing themselves such that derive their Church-Power from are subordinate in its exercise to a Power truly Architectonick Supreme in the Church to wit the Magistrate beside Christ Do derive their Power from are subordinate in its exercise to another Head than Christ Jesus But so it is that Prelats their Curats do derive c. Ergo The Major is evident for whosoever hath a Supreme Architectonick Power in over the Church must be a Head to the same and the fountain of all Church Power The Minor is also clear from the foregoing Historical Deduction manifesting the Present Prelacy to be Gross Erastianisme for the disposal of the Government of the Church is declared by Law to be the Croun right and an inherent perpetual Prerogative and thereupon the Bishops are restored to the Episcopal function And it is expressly Declared that there is no Church Power in the Church-office bearers but what depends upon is subordinate unto the Supremacy and authorized by the Bishops who are declared accountable to the King for the Administration By virtue of which Ecclesiastick Supremacy He put excomunication spiritual Censures consequently the Power of the Keyes into the hands of Persons meerly Civil in the Act for the High Commission Hence it is clear that as the fountain of all Church Government he imparts his Authority to such as he pleases and the Bishops are nothing else but his Commissioners in the exercise of that Ecclesiastick power which is originally in Himself and that the Curats are only His under Clerks All the stress will lie in proving that this Monster of a Supremacy from which the Prelats their Curats have all their Authority is a Great Encroachment on the Glory of Christ as King which will appear if we briefly consider these Particulars 1. It usurps upon Christs Prerogative who only hath all undoubted right to this Architectonick Magisterial Dominion over the Church His oun Mediatory Kingdom not only an Essential right by His Eternal Godhead being the Everlasting Father whose goings forth hath been of old from Everlasting Isa. 9. 6. Mic. 5. 2. in recognizance of which we oune but one God the Father and one Lord by whom are all things we by Him 1. Cor. 8. 6. But also a Covenant-right by Compact with the Father to bear the Glory rule upon His Throne by virtue of the Counsel of Peace between them both Zech. 6. 13. A Donative right by the Fathers Delegation by which He hath all power given in Heaven in Earth Math. 28. 18. and all things given unto His hand Iohn 3. 35. and all judgment Authority to execute it even because He is the Son of man Iohn 5. 22 27. and to be Head over all things to the Church Eph. 1. 22. An Institute right by the Fathers inaugaration who hath set Him as King in Zion Psal. 2. 6. and appointed Him Governour that shall rule His people Israel Math. 2. 6. An Acquisite right by His oun purchase by which He hath merited obtained not only subjects to Govern but the Glory of the Sole Soveraignty over them in that relation A name above every name Phil. 2. 9. which is that He is the Head of the Church which is as much His Peculiar Prerogative as to be Saviour of the body Eph. 5. 23. A Bellical right by Conquest making the people fall under Him Psal. 45. 4. and be willing in the Day of His power Psal. 110. 3. and overcoming those that make war with Him Rev. 17. 14. An Hereditary right by Proximity of blood Primogeniture being the first born higher then the Kings of the Earth Psal. 89. 27. and the first born from the dead that in all things He might have the preeminence Col. 1. 18. An Elective right by His peoples choise surrender having a Croun wherewith His Mother Crouned Him in the day of His Espousals Cant 3. ult By all which undoubted Titles It is His Sole incommunicable Prerogative without a Copartner or Competitor Coordinate or subordinate to be Iudge only Lawgiver King in Spirituals Isa. 33. 22. to be that one Lawgiver Iam. 4. 12. who only can give the power of the keyes to His officers which Comprehends all the power they have Math. 16. 19. to be that one Master over all Church officers who are but brethren Math. 23. 8 10. in whose Name only they must perform all Church Acts and all Parts of their Ministry and not in the Name of any Mortal Math. 28. 18. 19. Math. 18. 20. from whom only they receive what ever they have to deliver to the Church 1. Cor. 11. 23. To be the only Instituter of His Officers who hath set them in the Church 1. Cor. 12. 28. and gave them to the Church Eph. 4. 11. whose Ambassadours only they are 2. Cor. 5. 20. from whom they have authority for edification of the Church 2 Cor. 10. 8. 2 Cor. 13. 10. in whose Name only they are to assemble and keep fence their Courts both the least Math. 18. 20. and the Greatest Act. 15. But now all this is usurped by one who is not so much as a Church member let be a Church Officer as such for the Magistrate is neither as he is a Magistrate otherwise all Magistrats would be Church members Hence they that have all their power from a meer usurper on Christs Prerogative who is neither member nor officer of the Church have none
God save a Heretick neither must we say God save an Hertical King or a Popish Tyrant a sworn enemy to the Gospel of Christ and the coming of His Kingdom This is also inconsistent with that Rule Directory of our prayers commonly called The Lords prayer not only because it cannot be reduced to any of its petitions which are comprehensive of all that we are warranted to pray for but because it is contradictory to the Second which is Thy Kingdom come The Coming of Christs Kingdom in our Land cannot consist with the preservation of the Tyrants reign which is Satans rule for Antichrists ● Satans Kingdom and Christs cannot be promoted both at once It may be also demonstrated that it is inconsistent with all the petitions of that perfect form of prayer With the first Hallowed be thy Name for when they who rule over His people make them to houl then His Name continually every day is Blasphemed Isai 52. 5. yea much profaned in the frequent repeating that imposition With the Second Thy Kingdom come for when He takes unto Him His great power Reigns then is the time He will destroy them that destroy the earth Revel 11. 17 18. It is against the third Thy will be done for it is against His preceptive will that there should be a Throne of iniquity it shall not have fellowship with Him as it would have if according to His will. And therefore Habbakkuk pleads from the Lords Holiness Righteousness against Tyrants Habbak 1. 13 14. It is against the fourth Give us this day our daily bread to pray for them that rob us of it whom the Lord hath set over us for a plague to domineer over our bodies and all the means of life Neh. 9. 37. The Saints there make a Complaint of Kings and pray to remove them not to save them The Church also prayes agains● base Rulers on this account because under them they get their bread with the peril of their lives Lam. ● 8 9. It is against the fifth Forgive us our debts or sins for if we pray for taking away the guilt of sin we must also pray for removing the punishment whereof this is one to be under Tyrants And if it be sin which brings on such a judgment then it is sin to pray for the keeping of it on continuing thereof And though we should forgive their sin against us yet we ought to complain against their sins against God and the Church in defiling it shedding the blood of the Saints Psal. 79. 1-7 It is against the sixth Lead us not into Temptation and deliver us from evil for their Government is a continued tract of Temptation they being a snare on Mizpah a net spread upon Tabor Hos. 5. 1. And if we pray to be delivered from all evil then we must pray to be delivered from Tyranny which is a great evil It is against the Conclusion also for thine is the Kingdom Glory Tyrants being stated in opposition to the Glory of God. Again in the next place it is against many promises of giving good Rulers and of breaking the yoke of Tyrants as I cited several above Neiether of which can consist with the preservation of Tyrants if such a Prayer should be answered according to the idol of the heart of the supplicants for if God should save this man as long as we may pray for him as a King then all the promises of a Change Revolution are precluded Lastly it is contrary to the constant tenor of the Saints prayers against theé Enemies of God. Deborah prayed upon the destruction of a Tyrant So let all thine enemies perish O Lord Iudg. 5. ult Iotham prayed against that bastard King let fire come out from Abimelech devour the men of Shechem and let fire come out from the men of Shechem devour Abimelech Iudg. 9. 20. David prayes against Saul whom he calls Cush the Benjamite in the title of Psal. 7. alluding to Kish his Father or because he was no better than an Ethiopian a Cushite Amos 9. 7. and could no more change his manners than an Ethiopian can change his skin Ier. 13. 23. See Pool Synops. Critic in Locum Where it is proven that this was Saul against him he prayes that the Lord would awake to Iudgement Psal. 7. 6. and that He would break the arm of the wicked and the evil man Psal. 10. 15. that He would not slay them to wit suddenly or in a common way lest the people forget but scatter and bring them doun and consume them in wrath that they may not be that it may be known God ruleth in Iacob to the ends of the earth Psal. 59. 11 13. This is a Psalm against Dogs vers 6. what Dogs Saul and his men watching David See the Title As also it is against Saul that he prayes that the Lord would not grant his desires nor further his devices and as for the head of them that compassed him about which was Saul let the mischief of their oun lips cover them Psal. 140. 8 9. There is also a prayer that the Saints may execute vengeance the judgement written upon Tyrants and bind them with chains Psal. 149. 7 8 9. The Church is brought in praying for vengeance against the Babylonian Tyrant Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon hath devoured me the violence done to me and my flesh be upon Babylon shall the Inhabitant of Zion say Ier. 51. 34 35. Paul imprecates any man that does not love the Lord Jesus let him be Anathema Maranatha 1 Cor. 16. 22. and sure no Tyrant persecuter subverter of Christs Kingdom can be a Lover of Christ. The Martyrs under the fifth seal slain for the Word of God and the Testimony which they held are brought in crying against the Tyrants that murdered them How long O Lord Holy True dost thow not judge aveange our blood Revel 6. 9 10. Which though it be to be understood of a Moral Cry of blood as Abels blood cried against Cain yet ought to be a pattern of our prayers against such Bloody Enemies imbrewing their hands in the blood of our Brethren for which we ought to pray that the Lord would haste to make inquisition Durham Observes from this place that Gods people in a holy way may pray for vengeance upon persecuters 5. Let us consider the person matter for whom and for what this prayer is extorted Either it is for the personal salvation of Iames the Papist or the Royal preservation of Iames the Tyrant It will not satisfie to pray that if it be possible and if it were the Lords will he might be taken to Heaven that so we might be quit of him Neither were it Lawful to pray that except we prayed first that he might repent of this his wickedness if perhaps it might be forgiven him as Peter directed Simon M●gus to pray for himself Act. 8. 22. for it is unlawful to pray for the salvation of
all the concurrence there required for seeking searching delating apprehending of these people and to all the cruel villanies committed against them 4 They have taken on their prescribed discriminating Sign of Loyaltie and of being repute by them men of good principles that is their friends men for the times Which is so sinful scandalous that it is shameful to hint at them and yet shameful to hide them 6. If we consider the Apologetical Declaration it self which is so bespattered and so odiously represented and so rigorously enjoined to be abjured who will more narrowly look into it and ponder perpend the purpose Scope of it will see nothing that can be abjured conscienciously in it but the whole of it laying aside prejudice invidious Critical Censoriousness capable of a fair acceptable Construction The Motives leading them to set it forth being only their desires and just endeavoures to prosecute and secure themselves in the prosecution of Holy Commanded Duties and to keep a standing Testimony against the Insolencie of those that are given up of God to lay out themselves in promoving a Course of profanity persecution notwithstanding of all their viperous threatenings Their Measures being none other than the commendable precedents Examples of zealous tender hearted Christians who have done the like and our National and Solemn Covenants lying with their binding force indispensable upon all of us and obliging us to endeavour all that 's there declared as being bound for ever to have common friends foes with our Covenanted Reformation to all which they declare avouch their resolved adherence And their oun former Declarations Disouning their Allegiance to Authority of a Man who had ipso jure forfeited all Authority by his intollerable Tyrannie Perjurie perfidious breach of Trust reposed devolved upon him by Covenant and by his overturning all the fundamental constitutions of the Government perverting inverting everting all Laws all Liberties all Priviledges of Church State all establishments of our Covenanted Work of Reformation all Securities of our life and enjoyments whatsoever Usurping to himself an absolute Tyrannical Civil Supremacy inconsistent with the safety or freedom of the people and a monstrous blasphemous Ecclesiastical Supremacy Upon which considerations to endeavour to make good their freedom emancipation from that yoke which they had cast off they behoved to resolve upon defensive resistence against him and his bloody emissaries Which war being declared before they only in this Declaration testified their unanimous approbation of adherence to and resolutions for prosecuting the same against him his accomplices such as lay out themselves to promove his wicked hellish designs By which war they do not mean a formed stated declared Insurection with hostile force to break the Peace of the Nation and involve all in blood but a resolved avowed constant Opposition to the Murdering violence injustice oppression persecution of this wicked faction now raging rather than reigning who have declared still prosecute a declared war against Christ bearing doun His Work Interest in the Land And a constant endeavour in opposition to them to pursue the ends of our Covenants in standing to the defence of the Glorious Work of Reformation and their oun lives And in the defence thereof to maintain the cause Interest of Christ against His enemies and to hold up the Standard of our Lord Jesus Christ meaning the Gospel the Word of our Testimony whereunto they looked upon themselves as bound obliged by their holy Covenants being therein dedicated to the Lord in their persons lives Liberties fortunes for defending promoving this Glorious Work of Reformation notwithstanding of all opposition that is or may be made thereunto and sworn against all neutrality indifferency in the Lords Matters Whereunto they beseech invite obtest all them who wish well to Zion to a concurrence concerting the same cause Quarrel In maintaining of which opposition against such wicked Enemies because by them they were restlessly pursued and hunted and Murdered wherever they were found neither could find any harbour or hiding place in any Corner of the country for Searchers Informers Justigators who still stirred up the country to raise the hue Crye after them and caused them to be delivered up and del●ted them to the Courts of their Murdering enemies whereby much innocent blood was shed Therefore to stop their Career of violence and deter them from such Courses they found it necessary to threaten them with more active vigorous opposition and that they might expect to be treated as they deserved Wherein they are far from ouning assassinating principles or practising assassinations for they give only open plain warning and advertisement to the world of their necessitated endeavours to defend themselves and prevent the Murder of their Brethren And can no way be charged with asserting it Lawful to kill all employed in the Kings service in Church State Army or Country as the Proclamation in viperous invective Calumny misrepresents the Declaration but on the contrary do jointly unanimously declare they detest abhor that hellish principle of killing such as differ in judgement from them and they are firmly really purposed not to injure or offend any whomsoever but such as are directly guilty of or accessory to the Murder of their Brethren whom yet they mind not to assassinate or kill tumultuarly but to prosecute them with all the legal formalities that Justice in their Capacity and the times disorder distracted condition will allow Expressly declaring that they abhor condemn discharge all personall attempts upon any pretext whatsomever without previous deliberations common consent certain probation of sufficient witnesses or the guilty persons confession Neither could it ever be supposed that they threaten all imployed in the Kings service with this sort of handling but some select expressly distinguished Kind of Notorious villains men of death blood openly avowing vaunting of their Murders and these they distinguished into several Classes according to the respective aggravations of their wickedness In the first they place those that Murder by Command under pretext of an usurped Authority as Councellours Justiciary Officers of their forces or bands of Robbers not all nor any of these neither but the cruel bloody In the second Class they threaten such as are actually in armes against them of an inferior rank And such Gentlemen and Bishops Curats as do professedly willingly serve them to accomplish effectuate their Murders by obeying their commands making searth for these poor men delivering them up instigating informing and witnessing against hunting after them not all these neither but such as cruelly prosecute that service to the effussion of their blood Neither do they threaten all equally nor any of them peremptorly but that continuing after the publication of this their Declaration obstinately habitually in these courses
fictionibus sese liceat involvere i. e. Whither the confiscation of goods can be sought back again from a Prince in the name and behalf of these who are forfaulted for Religion to which he Answers that it is certain it cannot be done without sin for the new right or the de novo damus as we call it granted by the Prince doeth really contain open blasphemies against the glory of God because therein mention is made of errors crims divine lese-Majestie whereof the condemned are found guilty which new right most in Law be exhibited by him who intendeth to use the same and that is a certain kind of approbation no ways to be tolerat Wherfore I see not that it is Lawfull for a Godly man rightly instructed in the Gospel to involve himself into such fictions 2. From the Fountain Conveyance whence they proceed the iniquity of these payments might be concluded which is nothing else than that Arbitrary Power domineering over us and oppressing overpressing the Kingdoms with intolerable Exactions which to pay is all the consent Concurrence required of us to entail slaverie on the posterity I mean to pay it out of submission only to the Moral force of its Imposition which is all the justification required of that absolute Tyranny imposing it For we have the Testimony of a King for it K. Iames Speech to the Parliament anno 1609. that a King degenerateth into a Tyrant when he leaveth to rule by Law much more when he begins to set up an Arbitrary Power impose unlawful Taxes c. It can be denyed by none that know either Religion or Liberty and are not enemies to both that these Impositions under consideration upon such accounts for such ends are as unlawful Taxes and as illegally and arbitrarily imposed as ever could demonstrate the most Despotical Absoluteness Paramount to all Law or precedent but that of Benhadad of a very Tyrannical strain Thus saith Benhadad thy silver thy gold is mine yet I will send my Servants and they shall search thine house and it shall be that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes they shall put in their hand take it away 1 King. 20. 3 6. which even an Ahab and his Elders would not hearken to nor consent But from an Exotick Dominator this were not so intollerable as from such as pretend an hereditary right to Govern who should remove violence spoyl and take away their Exactions from the Lords people as the Lord saith Ezek. 45. 9. but instead of that that they may do evil with both hands earnestly the Prince asketh and the Iudge asketh for a reward and the great man uttereth his mischievous desire so they wrap it up Mic. 7. 3. The easie Complyance with which makes Zion as the grape gleanings of the vintage If those Exactions be wicked then Complyance with them must be iniquity For it justifies the Court that enacts exacts them a pa●qued Iunct● of a prevalent faction made up of perjured Traitors in a Course of enmity against God and the Country who to prosecute the War against the Almighty and root out all His people out of the Land condescend upon these Cesses Fynes c. as a fit adapted Medium thereunto Wherefore of necessity all that would not oune that Conclusion as their oun deed in these Representatives and oune them as their Representatives in that deed must bear witness against the same by a Refusal to oune the debt or pay the same But I shall conclude this with observing 1 The holy remarkable righteousness of the Lord that we who would not contend earnestly for the Liberty of the Gospel who would not acquit our selves like men in witnessing our Loyaltie to Christ were not fixed in our Engagements nor stedfast in holding the Liberties wherewith Christ hath made us free did not reclaim nor reluctate when we saw our Royal Masters Prerogative invaded should be trode upon in all Civills and treated as Slaves even by these whom we had gratified with a base sinful forbearance to plead for God and preserve from their violence these things these precious invaluable things which we should have kept more tenderly than the apple of our eye O the relucency of this Righteousness in making the Gods whom we have served smite us and in making them whose interest we minded with a misregard Perjury-involving neglect of the Interest of Christ thus to destroy our poor pitiful Interests And thus having taught them to be Captains over us we must now sit in the house of bondage in our Land. 2 Who will not adore admire the Righteousness of the Lord particularly in leaving some of these to be designedly trode upon who not only were involved in the common guilt of not with-standing these Encroachments but first went a great way in concuring to the making of these wicked Laws And now have been made to lye under the load laid upon their loyns by the hands of such to whom they gave the hand in overturning the Work of God Why should not they be spoyled Why should not the young Lyons roar upon them and make their Land wast Why should not men of the same mettal soul with the Children of Noph Tahapanes break the Crown of their head or feed upon their Crown who have sold set the Crown of Christ upon anothers head and concured to crush His faithful Remnant O let us learn to read revere Let us not be wheedled with we know not what out of our good old Principles into the espousing the Interest or embarquing into the same bottom with men of such Principles Practices And whoso is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord Great loving kindness that He hath shewed to his poor Remnant in delivering us from deliverances by such Deliverers whereby the work had been more really and more shamefully ruined and the hope of the posterity more certainly razed 3. From the declared Ends of all of them declared either verbally or virtually and indisputably universally known To wit that by such Exactions they might be enabled to maintain prosecute the National Rebellion against Christ and root out His Gospel and all the faithful Preachers Professors thereof These designs being notour and the Impositions demanded being the best expedients and most adapted means to attain them it cannot but be manifest that whosoever complyes with the means do cooperate with the ends Which if any thing will involve the Complyers in the Contrivers sin and make the Payers obnoxious to the Enacters judgments If they that take rewards to slay Innocents be lyable to a Curse Deut. 27. 25. they cannot be free who give them They cannot say Amen to it who so cooperate to the effectuating the slaughter If any thing make Zion lyable to be plowed as a field when the heads thereof judge for reward Mic. 3. 11 11. it must be