the Two Houses as also a Power to redress Grievances and to call into Question all Ministers of State and Justice and all Subjects of whatsoever Degree in Case of Delinquency It may be thought that a Part of the Supreme Power doth reside in Them though they have not the Honorary Title And This Part of the Supreme Power is indeed Capable of doing Wrong Yet how it might be guilty of Rebellion is more Difficult to conceive P. 49. The Delegates of the People in the House of Commons and the Commissioners on the King's behalf in the House of Peers concurring do very far bind the King if not wholly P. 112. And when These cannot agree but break One from Another the Commons in Parliament assembled are Ex Officio The Keepers of the Liberties of the Nation and Righteous Possessors and Defenders of it against all Usurpers and Usurpations Whatsoever P. 130. III. KINGS are but the Peoples TRUSTEES Their Power Fiduciary and the Duty of Subjects Conditional The King is but the Servant of the People and his Royalty is only a Virtual Emanation from them and in Them radically as in the first Subject So Rutherford Parker Goodwin Bridges Milton c. The People can give no other Power then such as God has given Them And God has never given a moral Power to do Evil. All Fiduciary Power abused may be repealed And Parliamentary Power is no Other Which if it be abused The People may repeal it and resist them Annulling their Commissions Rescinding their Acts and Denuding Them of their Fiduciary Power Even as the King Himself may be denuded of the same Power by the Three Estates P. 152. Princes derive their Power and Prerogative from the People and have their Investitures meerly for the Peoples Benefit P. 1. It is the King's Duty to pass all such Laws as Both Houses shall judge Good for the Kingdom Upon a Supposition That They are Good Which by them are judg'd Such If the Prince fail in his Promise the People are Exempt frm their Obedience The Contract is made Void and the Right of Obligation is of no Force It is therefore permitted to the Officers of a Kingdom either All or some good Number of them to Suppress a Tyrant P. 120 121. IV. Princes may be DEPOSED and put to DEATH in Case of Tyranny Every Worthy Man in Parliament may for the Publique Good be thought a fit Peer and Judge of the King P. 24. Where there is no Opportunity for the Interposure of Other Judges the Law of Nature and the Law of Nations allow Every Man to Judge in his own Gase P. 34. If a Prince wants such Understanding Goodness or Power as the People judge Necessary to the Ends of Government In the first place He is Capable of the Name but not of the Government In the Second He Deposes Himself In the Third The want of Power Deposes him Theses 135 136 137. It is lawful for any who have the Power to call to Accompt a Tyrant or Wicked King And after due Conviction to Depose and put him to Death if the Ordinary Magistrate have Neglected or Deny'd to do it It is not impossible for a King Regis Personam Exuere In a Natural Or MORAL Madness or Frenzy to turn Tyrant Yea Beast Waiving his Royal Place Violently Extrajudicially Extramagisterially to assault his Subjects as Saul did David In this Case Men think Nature doth Dictate it and Scripture doth Justifie a Man Se Defendendo Vim Vi repellere P. 23. The Real Soveraignty among Us was in King Lords and Commons and if the King raise War against such a Parliament The King may not only be resisted but Ceaseth to be a King Thesis 358. The Lord rent the Kingdom from Saul for sparing One Agag and for want of thorough Extirpation of all the accursâ—…d Things He lost both Thanks for What He had done and Kingdom also P. 27. Let no Law hinder Ye If Law be to be broken it is for a Crown and therefore for Religion Ye are set over Kingdoms to Root out Pull down Destroy and Throw down Do it quickly Do it thorougly By what Rule of Conscience or God is a State Bound to Sacrifice Religion Laws and Liberties rather then endure that the Princes Life should come into any Possibilities of Hazard by Defending them against those that in his Name are bent to suâ—…due them If he will needs thrust Himself upon the Hazard when he needs not Whose Fault is That There never was a Greater Harmony of the Laws of Nature Reason Prudence and Necessity to Warrant any Act then may be found and discern'd in that Act of Justice on the Late King P. 18. Touching the Righteousness of the Sentence past upon the King Doubtless never was any Person under Heaven Sentenc'd with Death upon more Equitable and Just Grounds P. 90. Praised be God Who hath delivered us from the Impositions of Prelatical Innovacions Altar-Genu-flections and Cringings with Crossings and All That Popish Trash and Trumpery And truly I speak no more then what I have often thought and said The Removal of those Insupportable Burdens countervails for the Blood and Creasure shed and spent in these late Distractions Nor did I ever as yet hear of any Godly Men that desired Were it Possible to Purchase their Friends or Money again at so dear a Raâ—…e as with the Return of These To have Those Soul-Burdening Antichristian Yokes re-imposed upon Us. And if any such there be I am sure that Dâ—…sire is no part of their Godliness and I profess my self in That to be None of the Number P. 23. V. The PERSONS of Princes may be resisted though not their AUTHORITY The Man who is King may be resisted but not the Royal Office The King in Concreto but not the King in Abstracto P. 265. He may be resisted in a Pitch't Battel and with Swords and Guns 324. That is His Private Will may be resisted not his Legal Will 269. Neither is He in the Field as a King but as â—…n unjust Invader and Grassator 334. If He chance to be Slain 'T is but an Accident and who can help it 324. He is guilty of his own Death Or let Them answer for 't that brought Him thither The Contrary Party is Innocent 273. The King's Authority is with the Two Houses though the Person of Charles Stuart be not there His Capacity was at Westminster when his Body was upon the Scaffold at Whitehall c. P. 18. VI. The King is SINGULIS MAJOR UNIVERSIS MINOR The King is in Dignity Inferior to the People P. 140. The Soveraign Power is Eminently Fontaliter Originally and Radically in the People 156. Detrahere Indigno Magistratum etsi Privati non Debeant Populus tamen Universus quin possit Nemo Opinor dubitabit It is not for Private Persons to Depose a
Heedlesness of the Common-Souldier contributed in a High Measure to the General Fate Nay that his Late Majesty was oppress'd even by those that thought they fought for him before they understood what they did But yet let me Commend to your Observation that these relenting Intervals in the Heads of the Army did manifestly Vary according to the Pulse of their Affairs Which evinces that it was a Deliberation upon the matter of Convenience rather then upon a Point of Conscience But thus far however we are agreed That many of the Non-Conformists were engaged Whether upon Ignorance Interest or Faction take your Choice That is to say upon Which of These Three you will found the Merits of your Party We are next to Enquire How far your Principles and Actions will comport with the Duties of Society and the Ends of Government SECT IX The Non-Conformists Plea for Toleration from the Innocence and Modesty of their OPINIONS and PRACTISES C. IN the Question of Government and Obedience there are many Points wherein the Non-Conformists agree Many more wherein they differ and not a few wherein they are altogether Fluctuant and Uncertain We have Nothing to do in this Place with their Disagreements or Uncertainties save only in those Matters wherein they are United by Common Consent And to Determine what Those are will be a New Difficulty Unless you tell Us before-hand What Authorities we may depend upon Your Principles must be Known or they cannot be Examined Wherefore Pray'e Direct us Where we may find them N. C. Why truly in the History of the Reformation for This Controversie has been on foot from the very beginning of it to this Day C. If you speak of the Reformation beyond the Seas I do not find any thing there that comes neer our Purpose Here is first Pretended a Reformation of a Reformation Secondly A Conjunction of Several Parties and Perswasions at utter Enmity One with Another in a Confederacy against the Order of the Government Whereas in the Great Turn of Affairs Abroad I see little more then a Defection from the Church of Rome and People setling themselves in some other way as well as they could Muncer's Party in Germany had I confess some Resemblance of the Tumults here in England that usher'd in the late War both for the Medly and for the Rabble In Scotland indeed there was a Contest for the Reforming of a Reformation and it went high But it was only a Struggle for the Geneva-Discipline Which Humour was brought over to us too and driven on for a while under Q Elizabeth with much Contumacy and Bitterness But our Case in short was never known in the Christian World till the late Troubles and thither it is that we must resort for satisfaction to our present Enquiry Now whether you 'l be tried by the Declarations Votes Orders and Ordinances of that Pretended Parliament that carry'd on the Quarrel Or by the Undeniable Doctrines and Positions of your own Divines and those the very Idols of your Party is left at your Election N. C. As for the Parliament let them answer for themselves We had no hand in their Proceedings And for our Ministers They were but Men and may have their Failings as well as other People If you would know our Principles We are for Worshipping according to the Light of Our Consciences for Obeying God rather then Man and for yielding all due Obedience to the Civil Magistrate C. All This comes to Nothing For you may make that Light what you please and Qualifie that due Obedience as you list What does all this Evasion and Obscurity signifie but that there is somewhat in the bottom more then you are willing to own There are a sort of People that tell us The War raised in 41 in the Name of King and Parliament was Lawful And That the Soveraignty was lodg'd in the Two Houses Nay in the People in Case of Necessity That Kings are but the Peoples Trustees Their Power Fiduciary and the Duty of Subjects only Conditional That Princes may be Depos'd Nay and put to Death in Case of Tyranny And That their Persons may be Resisted but not their Authority That the King is Singulis Major Universis Minor And that the People may Enter into Covenant for the Reformation of Religion without the Consent of the Chief Magistrate nay against his Authority and Propagate Religion by the Sword They make their Appeals from the Literal Construction of Law to the Equitable from the Law Written to the Law of Nature and Necessity A Man might ply You with fresh Instances upon this Subject till to morrow morning But here we 'l stop And pray'e speak your Opinion now of Granting a Toleration to a Party that Professes and Teaches These Principles and Acts accordingly N. C. What is all This to the Non-Conformists Who are already come to an Agreement that In the Question of Toleration The Foundation of Faith Good Life and Government is to be Secured C. Very Good So that what Party soever shall be found Guilty of the Positions aforesaid and of Actions answerable thereunto cannot reasonably pretend to a Toleration from the Innocency of their Opinions and Practises Now to Particulars The POSITIONS of Divers Eminent Non-Conformists I. The War raised by the TWO HOUSES in the Name of King and Parliament 1641. was Lawful I cannot see that I was mistaken in the main Cause Nor dare I repent of it Nor forbear the same if it were to do again in the same State of Things And my Iudgment tells me That if I should do otherwise I should be guilty of Treason Or Disloyalty against the Soveraign Power of the Land Pag. 486. A King abusing his Power to the Overthrow of Religion Laws and Liberties may be Controuled and Opposed This may serve to justifie the Proceedings of this Kingdom against the Late King who in a Hostile way set himself to overthrow Religion Parliaments Laws and Liberties P. 10. The Righteousness of the Parliament's Cause is as clear as the Sun at Noon-day And like the Law of God it self in These Excellent Qualifications of it That It is Holy Just and Good P. 6. II. The Lords and Commons are the Supreme Power Nay the People in Case of Necessity Parliaments may judge of Publique Necessity without the King If deserted by the King and are to be accompted by Virtue of Representation as the Whole Body of the State P. 45. Whensoever a King or other Superior Authority creates an Inferior They Invest it with a Legitimacy of Magistratical Power to Punish Themselves also in Case they prove Evil-doers P. 7. England is a mixt Monarchy and Governed by the Major Part of the Three Estates Assembled in Parliament P. 111. The Houses are not only requisite to the Acting of the Power of making Laws but Co-ordinate with his Majesty in the very Power of Acting P. 42. When as a Part of the Legislative Power resides in
Opinion in his Grand Declaration of Aug. 12. 1642. where he complains of the Tumultuous Assemblies of Brownists Anabaptists and other Sectaries Indep But still you will find in the same Page that These very People were Animated and Countenanced by Presbyterians and Acted as the Creatures and Servants of That Interest Presb. Can you say that the English or Scottish Preshyters did ever go about to Dissolve Monarchy Indep Yes And I do aver that the Nineteen Propositions of Iune 2. 1642. were as much a Dissolution of Kingly Government as the very Act it self of March 17. 1648. for Abolishing it And the Uxbridge Propositions were to the same purpose Presb. You know very well that after the New-Modelling of the Army the Presbyterians were able to do nothing and this was a good while before the King went to the Scots Indep Let us see then how the Presbyterians behaved themselves after his Majesty cast himself into the Protection of the Scotch Army before Newark in May 1646. Notice was Immediately given of it to the Two Houses by the Commissioners of the Army Importing their Adherence to the Covenant and Treaty and that they had no fore-knowledge of his Majesties Coming The English Army presently March'd with 5000 Horse and 〈◊〉 toward Newark and our Brethren fairly retreated with the Prey in the Foot toward Newcastle After This Both Parties stood at Gaze for several Months but not without a World of Tedious Papers betwixt the Scotch Commissioners and the Two Houses touching their Ioynt Right in Disposing of the Person of the King But in the Conclusion The Presbyterians Compounded the Controversie for the Sum of 400000l In May they took their Sovereign into their Protection In the December following they Sold him and in February they Deliver'd him up And All This According to their COVENANT Presb. They must needs Deliver him up when they could Keep him no longer Indep They had at that time the City of London to Friend a Balancing Vote in the House of Commons a Considerable Mixture in the Army Scotland behind them Entire if ever the Kings Interest came in Play And at least Ten Thousand Men in a Body The Royal Party over and above So that here was no visible Force to over-awe them And Lowdon himself acknowledged as much at a Conference Octob. 6. 1646. If any such Course shall be taken says he or any Demand made for Rendring of his Person which cannot stand with his Honour and Safety or which cannot consist with our Duty Allegeance and COVENANT nor with the Honour of That Army to whom in time of his Extreme Danger he had his Recourse for Safety It cannot be Expected that we can be Capable of SO BASE AN ACT And if to shun this and avoid occasion of Quarrelling between the Kingdoms He shall go to Scotland and resent his Expulsion out of England and crave the Assistance of That Kingdom for Recovery of his Right to This Crown He may in a short time raise such Forces in Scotland and Ireland as with the Assistance of Forreign Princes these Kingdoms may be made a Field of Blood c. By This it appears Evidently that They were under no Necessity of Delivering the King And you may now see their Opinion of the Action it self If it be Contrary say the Scotch Commissioners to the Law and Common Practise of Nations to Delivâ—…r up the meanest Subject fled to them though it be for the Greatest Crimes How much more would the World abroad condemn our Army for a BASE DISHONOURABLE Act if they should Deliver up their Head and SOVEREIGN having cast himself into their Hands to be Disposed of at the Arbitrâ—…ment of another Nation Presb. But yet you saw that they Condition'd for his Honour Freedom and Safety Indep That 's a Shuffle For upon such Terms did they render him that they might have cast a Sheep into a Herd of Wolves with as much Confidence and Likelihood of Safety You are here to distinguish the Fâ—…ction of Scotland from the Nation No Country affording greater Instances of Honour and Loyalty Nay I have heard even on This Occasion that upon the Kings Earnest Desire to go for Scotland It was carried in the Negative but by Two Voices Presb. Can you Imagine that if they had apprehended any Danger to his Râ—…yal Person they would not have ventur'd their Libes a thousand timeâ—… over to have sav'd him Indep No no But on the Contrary They Foresaw the Danger debated it and yet expos'd him Nay which is still worse they reserv'd him for it Were not his Majesties Friends kept from him by a strict Order at Newcastle Was he not Spied and Guarded for fear of an Escape And upon Information that He intended one Was not a narrower Watch set over him That they foresaw the Danger is confest by the Chancellor Himself Lest we should walk in the Dark says he upon Obscurity of Ambiguous Words I shall desire that the Word of Disposing of the Kings Person may be rightly understood For Dolus versatur in Universalibus For to Dispose of the Person of the King as Both Houses or Both Kingdoms shall think fit may in some sense be to DEPOSE or WORSE And in a Speech to his Majesty he goes yet further If your Majesty says he shall refuse to assent to the Propositions which God forbid you will lose all your Friends lose the City and the Country and All England will joyn against you as one Man And when all hope of Reconciliation is past it is to be feared they will Process and Depose you and set up another Government Upon your Majesties refusing the Propositions both Kingdoms will be Constreined for their mutual Safety to Agree and Settle Religion and Peace without you which to our unspeakable Grief will ruine your Majesty and your Posterity And if your Majesty reject our Faithful Advice and lose England by your Wilfulness your Majesty will not be permitted to come and ruine Scotland Presâ—… These Propositions I suppose were of Absolute Necessity to the Well-Being of the Publique they would never have been brought in Competition else with the Kings Freedom Life and Dâ—…gnity Indep The King was first to Iustifie the Prâ—…ceedings of the Two Houses and to deliver up to Death Beggery and Infamy his Whole Party 2. To Settle the Militia of England and Ireland in the Hands of the Parliament for Twenty Years giving them Authority to raise Men and Moneys 3. To make vâ—…id all Honours since 1642 and no Peers admitted for the future to Sit â—…nd Vote in Parliament but by Consenâ—… of Both Houses who were likewise To dispose of all Great Places and Offices of Honour in England and Ireland 4. His Majesty was to Swear and Sign the COVENANT and Command the taking of it throughout the Three Kingdoms Abolishing Episcopacy and Settling Religion as Both Houses should Agree Upon his Majesties Refusal to Sign These Propositions the Scotch Declaration of Ian.
16. 1646. tells us That there would be a Ioynt Course taken by Both Kingdoms concerning the Disposal of His Majesties Person With Respect had to the Safety and Preservation of his Royal Person IN THE PRESERVATION AND DEFENCE OF THE TRUE RELIGION AND LIBERTIES OF THE KINGDOMS According to the COVENANT And According to the COVENANT His Majesties Person was Disposed of Presb. And do you believe that the Two Houses would have used the King any better if he had gone to Them They made it Treason Immediately and Death without Mercy for any Man to Harbour and Conceal the Kings Person upon a Supposition that his Majesty was then in London This was the fourth of May and on the sixth The Commons Uoted him to Warwick Castle which was Unvoted again upon the ninth In â—…une the Kings going to the Scots was Uoted A Design to Prolong the War And this was as much the Action of the Independents as the Other was of the Presbyterians Indep Pardon me there I beseech ye You see by the Voting Back and Forward that the House of Commons was upon a hard Tug but the Scottish Party was totally Presbyterian But will you hear the Kirk speak for it self after the putting of the King into English Hands They Exhort their COVENANTED BRETHREN the Assembly at Westminster to hold fast their Solemn League and Covenant to entertein a Brotherhood and Unity between the Nations Feb. 12. 1646. but not a Syllable of the King Again Iune 18. 1647. The General Assembly of the Kirk presses the Two Houses to a speedy Establishment of the Presbytery but not a Word again of his Majesty And in truth their Silence is a Favour considering how they order him when they speak of him As you may observe in a Resolve of theirs upon a Question Debated at Edinburgh If the King be Excluded from Government in England for not Granting the Propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and for not giving a Satisfactory Answer to the Remanent Propositions Whether in That Case it be Lawful for this Kingdom to assist him for the Recovery of the Government or whether it be not Lawful Being put to it We cannot but Answer in regard of the Engagement of This Kingdom by Covenant and Treaty NEGATIVE Resolved upon the Question 1. That the Kingdom of Scotland shall be Governed as it hath been these last Five Years All Means being used that the King might take the Covenant and Pass the Propositions 2. That the taking of the Scots Covenant and Passing some of the Propositions doth not give Warrant to assist him against England 3. That upon bare taking the National Covenant we may not receive him 4. That the Clause in the Covenant for Defence of the Kings Person is to be understood in Defence and Safety of the Kingdoms 5. That the King shall not Execute any Power in the Kingdom of Scotland until such time that he hath Granted the Propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and given a Satisfactory Answer to Both Kingdoms in the rest of the Propositions presented to him by both Kingdoms at Newcastle 6. That if his Majesty refuse to Pass the Propositions he shall be disposed of according to the COVENANT and Treaty 7. That the Union be firmly kept between the Kingdoms according to the Covenant and the Treaties Here 's PRESBYTERIAN LOYALTY If the King would have consented to give up his Crown Blast his Conscience Betray his Trust and Sacrifice his Friends he might perchance have been allow'd the Pageantry of a Court and some Mock-Properties of Royalty but upon other Terms the Kirk you see gives him no Quarter The King is now under the Care of his new Governours Holdenby is his Prison The Question is Matter of Church-Government and his Majesty is prest to an Alteration Some Two Months are spent in the fruitless Desires and Expectations of his Chaplains for his Advice and Comfort and any Two of Twelve in Nomination would satisfie his Majesty But That could not be they said No not a Common-Prayer-Book for his own Private Use. These were the Presbyterians still Upon the fourth of Iune 1647. Coâ—…not Ioyce with a Party of Horse took the King from Holdenby under colour of preventing other Secret Designs upon the Person of his Majesty The next day at a Rendezvouz near Newmarket was Read and Signed The Armies ENGAGEMENT compleining of the Two Houses and in particular of a Vote they had Past for Disbanding the Army Where Note that the Houses were still Presbyterian The Sum of their ENGAGEMENT was That they would Disband upon full Satisfaction received and not without it This Liberty was menag'd all this while with much Formality of Duty and Respect The Houses at every Turn advertis'd concerning the King's Motions and Iune the 9th consulted how further to Dispose of his Majesty Some Three days after the Army drew toward London and Alarm'd the City contrary to an Express Order of the Houses the very day before A Months Pay was their Errand and to save Carriage they made a step from Royston to St. Albans to receive it On Iune the 15 out comes a Terrible Representation with Desires from the Army Against all Arbitrary Powers and Interests whatsoever Pleading the Presbyterian Presidents and the Principles of the Two Houses in their Iustification The Parliament say they hath Declar'd it no Resisting of Magistracy to side with the Iust Principles and Law of Nature and Nations being That Law upon which we have assisted you and that the Souldiery may Lawfully hold the Hands of the General who will turn his Cannon upon his Army on purpose to destroy them They Demanded The Purging of the Houses and Retrenching the Power of Committees An Accompt for Publique Moneys A Period of the Present Session and Limits for the Future c. It could not chuse but Gall the Two Houses to see their Throats cut with their own Weapons but still they kept up their Greatness of Pretense and Stile and by an Order as Imperative as ever they commanded the Placing of his Majesty at Richmond in Order to a Treaty forsooth for a Safe and Well-grounded Peace But the Army had another Game to Play However what the Presbyterians would have done upon that Occasion may be seen in what they did afterward at the Isle of Wight in his Majesties last Distress and Extremity Presb. You are willing I find to pass over the Barbarism of the Independents toward his Majesty while they had him at Hâ—…mpton-Court but there is enough yet behind to make That Faction Odious to all Eternity Indep Truly no but I would not spin out a Debate to the length of a History As to the Barbarisms you speak of let his Majesty Himself be heard Colonel Whaley I have been so civilly used by You and Major Huntington that I cannot but by this parting Farewell acknowledge it under my Hand Nov. 11. 1647. And again from Carisbrook Castle to the General Nov. 27. 1647. The
were misâ—…ed by the Example may be set right again by the Retraction and Repentance This Conclusion pronounces All Those of the old stamp that abused the People formerly under Colour of Conscience and are now at Work again upon the same Pretext without a Publique Recantation to be in a State of Impenitency and gives Us reasonably to presume that if their Consciences can Swallow and Digest a Rebellion There is no great Danger of their being Choak'd with a Ceremony Another Thing is This You do not plead for Particular Iudgments In which Case a Plea of Conscience may be allowed But every Man urges the Equity in Effect of a Toleration for all the Rest. In which Number You your selves do severally and jointly acknowledge that there are a great many People of Insociable and Intolerable Principles such as in Conscience are not to be admitted And yet herein also You profess to be guided by Impulses of Tenderness and Piety although in Opposition to the whole Course of your former Declarations and Proceedings that rise up in Judgment against You. N. C. If you grant that there may be a Plea for Particulars I shall not much trouble my self about Generals C. That Point shall come on in due time But let us look a little further yet into the General Cause for if it be not Conscience it is Confederacy SECT XIII The Conjunct Importunity of the Non-Conformists for a Toleration is a Manifest CONFEDERACY C. THis appears First from the Method of their Proceedings Secondly from the Natural Prospect and Tendency of that Method Thirdly from the Nature and Quality of their Demands and Arguments Fourthly from the Way and Manner of their Addresses and Applications Lastly from their Agreement in Matters of Dangeroâ—…s Consequence upon the Peace of the Government As to their Method The Non-Conformists of This Age â—…read in the very steps of their Predecessors and This you may observe throughout the whole History of Them even from the first time that ever the Pretence of Popular Reformation set foot in his Majesties Dominions unto This Instant This is not a Place for a Deduction of Particulars at length But a Touch from Point to Point will not be much amiss Wherefore if you please Give me a Brief Accompt of the Non-Conformists First What kind of People they are Secondly What It is They would have Thirdly What will the Kingdom be the better for Granting their Desires Fourthly What are their Grievances as the Case stands with them at present Fifthly What are they for Number and Resolution N. C. They are a People Zealous of Religion Pa. 43. An Intelligent Sober sort of Mâ—…n and Numerous among all Ranks P. 25. Peaceable and Useful in the Commonwealth Sound in the Faith Men of Conscience Evident Opposers of all Errors Pernicious to the Souls of Men and of an Evil Aspect upon the Publique Peace C. Very Good And were not the Conspirators that Seiz'd King Iames at Ruthnen 1582. as much as all This amounts to If You will believe either Themselves or the Assembly at Edinburgh in their behalf The Reforming Non-Conformists under Queen Elizabeth were Unreprovable before all Men Her Majesties most Loyal Subjects and God's Faithful Servants Most Worthy Faithful and Peinful Ministers Modest Watchful Knowing in the Scriptures and of Honest Conversation Learned and Godly says the Admonitioner Pa. 25. And Martin Senior calls them The Strength of Our Land and the Sinew of her Majesties Government The Scotch Covenanters in 1638. out-did All This for Zeal to his Majesties Person and Authority The True Religion Liberties and Laws of the Kingdom And the Two Houses at Westminster In 1642. come not behind Them in their Professions for the Defence and Maintenance of the True Religion The King's Person Honour and Estate and the Iust Rights and Liâ—…erties of the Subject Here 's Your Character Now to Your Dâ—…mands What is it You would have N. C. A Reformation of Church-Government Liturgy and Ceremonies A Bearing with weak Consciences and A Relaxation of the Prescribed Uniformity C. And This you will find to have been the Constant Pretence of the Non-Conformists if you Consult their Story from One End to the Other Not to let loose the Golden Reins of Discipline and Government in the Church But to Unburthen the Consciences of Men of Needless and Superstitious Ceremonies Suppress Innovations and Settle a Preaching Ministry c. Put the Case now that you had your Asking What would the Kingdom be the better for it N. C. It will be the better for the King Church Nobility and Gentry And there is No Nation under Heaven wherein such an Indulgence or Toleration as is desired would be more Welcome Usâ—…ful Acceptable Or more Subservient to Tranquillity Trade Wealth and Peace C. Reformation no Enemy to Her Majâ—…sty and the State is the very Title of a Desperate Libel Printed 1590. against Both. And the Humble Motioner tells You that it is for the Advantage of the Queen Clergy Nobility and Commonalty That the Wealth and Honour of the Realm will be Encreased by it c. This was the Stile too of Our Reformers in 1642. The Securing of the Publique Peace Safety and Happiness of the Realm And the Laying the Foundation of more Honour and Happiness to his Majesty then ever was Enjoy'd by any of his Royal Predecessors Now speak your Grievances N. C. We are Excommunicated Outlawed Imprison'd Our Families Starved and Beggâ—…r'd P. 8. Proceeded against with Outward Punishments Pecuniary and Corporal Nay Death it self P. 9. And all this while Trade languishes Rents fall Money scarce P. 26. Never a greater Separation Never a more General Dissatisfaction P. 27. C. Pray'e say Was it ever better since Non-Conformists came into the World Was not King Iames a Favourer of the Enemies of God's Truth and of Dissolute Persons A Discountenancer of Godly Ministers A Promise-Breaker to the Church and a Perverter of the Laws Insomuch that No man could be assured of his Lands and Life Was it any better even under the Celebrated Government of Queen Elizabeth There were Citations Degradings and Deprivations Some in the Marshalsey Some in the White-Lion Some in the Gateâ—…house at Westminster Others in the Counter Or in the Clinke Or in Bride-well Or in Newgate How many Good Mens Deaths have the Bishops been the Cause of How many have they driven to leave the Ministry and live by Physique Or to leave their Countrey Poor Men have been miserably handled with Revilings Deprivations Imprisonments Banishments and Out of This Realm they have all the best Reformed Churches through Christendom against them If This Persecution be not provided for great Trouble will come of it How your Party demean'd Themselves toward the Late King of Blessed Memory in the matter of Calumny and Reproach You may read at large in that Grand and Infamous Libel The Remonstrance of
the State of the Kingdom Decemb. 15. 1642. But after all This What are these People for Number and Resolution that make such a Clutter N. C. Thousands of the Upright of the Land Petition for Peace Pag. 21. Multitudes Dissent and Resolve to Continue so doing Whatever they suffer for it Pa. 20. And to forego the Uâ—…most of their Earthly Concernments rather then to Live and Die in an Open Rebellion to the Commanding Light of God in their Consciences To Ruine Men in their Substantials of BODY and LIFE for Ceremonies is a Severity which ENGLISHMEN will not long time by any means give Countenance unto Pa. 23. To Execute Extremity upon an Intelligent Sober and Peaceable Sort of Men so Numerous among all Ranks may prove Exceeding Difficult unless it be Executed by such Instruments as may strik â—…errour into the whole Nation P. 25. C. Was not Queen Elizabeth told of Thousands and Hundreds of Thousands that sighed for the Holy Discipline And that since neither Parliament nor Convocation-house would take it into Consideration They might blame Themselves if it came in by such Means as would make all their Hearts Ake The Truth will prevail says the Demonstrator in spight of your Teeth and all the Adversaries of it The most Unnatural Caâ—…eless and Horrible Rebellion that This or perhaps any other Age in the World hath been Acquâ—…nted with To borrow the Words of his Late Majesty was Profaced with a Petition in the Name of all the Men Women Children and Servants of Edinburgh against the Service-Book And Another in the Name of the Noblemen Gentry Ministers and Burgesses against the Service-Book and Book of Canons â—…rotesting afterwards that if any Inconvenience should fall out by reason of Pressing those-Innovations it was not to be imputed to Them that sought all Things to be Reformed by Order This Commotion in Scotland led the Way to Our succeeding Broils in England Which were promoted by the like Artifices Great Numbers of his Majesties Subjects Opprest by Fines Imprisonments Stigâ—…atizings and Many Thousands of Tradesmen and Artificers Empoverish't by a Generality and Multiplicity of Vexations Great Numbers of Learned and Pious Ministers Suspended Deprived and Degraded In fine from Pamphlets they advanced to Petitions from Petitions to Tumults and from thence into a Formal State of War N. C. So that from This Agreement in Method You will pretend to Infer a Conformity of Design C. From This Agreement in Method and from the Natural Tendency of This Method I think a Man may honestly Conclude it can be Nothing else and I doubt not but upon a Sober Examination of the Matter I shall find You of the same Opinion The most Sacred of all Bonds is That of Government next to That of Religion and the Reverence which we owe to Humane Authority is Only Inferior to That which we owe to God Himself This being duly Weighed and that the Lesser Obligation must give place to the Greater As for Instance Reason of State to Matter of Religion and Humane Laws to the Law Divine What has any Man more to do for the Embroyling of a Nation but first to Puzzle the Peoples Heads with Doubts and Scruples about their Respective Duties to God and Man and then to Possess them that This or That Political Constitution has no Foundation in the Holy Scriptures To bid Them stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made them Free Galat. 5. 1. And Finally to Engage the Name of God and the Credit of Religion in the Quarrel N. C. And do not you your self believe it better to Obey God then Man C. Yes but I think it best of all to Obey Both To Obey God for Himself in Spirituals and Man for God's sake in Temporals as He is God's Commissioner But tell me Are you not Convinced that the most likely way in the World to stir up Subjects against their Prince is To Proclaim the Iniquity of his Laws and then to Preach Damnation upon Obedience N. C. What if it be Does it follow because Religion may be made a Cloak for a Rebellion That therefore It is never to be Pleaded for a Reformation C. Truly I have seldom known a Conscientioâ—… Reformation accompanied with the Circumstances of Our Case Here is first a Character of the Non-Conformists drawn by their own Hand and set off with such Flourishes of Purity and Perfection as if the Scribes and Pharisees Themselves had sit for their Picture In the Second Place You demand partly a Reformation partly a Toleration And in the Third You assure Us that all England shall be the better for 't Of These Two Points hereafter In the Fourth You enlarge upon your Grievances and instead of applying to the Government on the behalf of the People You are clearly upon the Strein of Appeal to the People from the Rigour of the Government Your Text is Liberty of Conscience But the Stress of your Discourse lies upon the Liberty of the Subject The Decay of Trade Scarcity of Money Fall of Rents The Substantials of BODY and LIFE Imprisonment c. Upon the Whole Your Writings want nothing but Form of a Direct Indictment of King and Parliament for Persecution and Tyranny And would very well bear the Translation of their being led on by the Instigation of the Devil Not having the Fear of the Lord before their Eyes If You can defend this manner of Proceeding pray do it N. C. What can be of greater Concernment to Governours then to Discern and Consider the State of their People as it is indeed And Why may it not be Minded of Subjects and spoken of without any Hint or Thought of â—…ebellion Pag. 27. C. But What can be of greater Mischief to Governours then under Colour of Remonstrating to Them the State of their People at the Same time to disaffect the People by an Odious Accompt of the Errors Misfortunes and Calamities of the Government Governours are not to be told their Faults in the Market-Place Neither are Ministers of the Gospel by your own Rules to be admitted for Privy-Counsellors This is spoken as to the Good Office of your Information As to the Intention of it I am not so bold as to Judge your Thoughts But if You had any Drift at all in it and Consider'd what You did I do not see how You can acquit your self of Evil Meaning Suppose the Whole Invective True And that you suffer for Righteousness to make the Fairest of it What Effect do you expect these Discourses may have upon the People and Waat upon the Magistrate Will not every Man conclude that the English are the Wretched'st Slaves upon the Face of the Earth Neither Liberty of Religion nor of Person for any Man that makes a Conscience of his Ways The Whole Nation Groaning under Beggery and Bondage Now see What Effects these Impressions may reasonably produce and Those Effects are aâ—… reasonably to be taken for the
Convention Look now a little into the Scotch Affairs and observe the Growth of the Non-Conformists Demands from one thing to another till in the End by virtue of what the King Granted them they possest themselves of all the Rest. In their Tumults says his Majesty they complein'd only of the Service Book In their Petition exhibited to the Counsel they complein'd of the Service-Book and Canons In their Covenant they complein of and Abjure the Five Articles of Perth although Establish't first by a General Assembly and Then by Parliament After This they complein of the High Commission And Then of Prelates Sitting in Civil Judicatories Hereupon His Majesty Commissions Marquis Hamilton with full Power and Authority to Conclude and Determine all such Things as should be found for the Good Quietness and Peace of that Kingdom Directing him also to take the mildest Course that might be for the Calming of those Commotions And what Effect had this Peaceable Inclination of His Majesty upon the Covenanters but to blow them up into more Seditious and bolder Practises against the King's Authority and the Publique Peace They pursue their Demands and Clamour for a Free General Assembly and a Parliament His Majesty gives them all their Askings Indicts a Free General Assembly and a Parliament Dischâ—…rges the Service-Book the Canons High-Commission The urâ—…ing of the Five Articles of Perth Commands the Subscribing of the Confession of Faith and the Band thereto annexed in the very Form which they pretended to Impose And offers them an Act of Indemnity for what was past In all which Condescentions the King's Patience and Mercy only served to heighten and confirm those Men in their Undertaking and to expose his Royal Dignity to Contempt In the conclusion the King had so far gratified their Importunities that they had nothing left to Quarrel upon but His Majesties refusal to Abolish Episcopacy and to admit the Authority of their Lay-Elders From hence they brake out into open Rebellion and when the King had them directly at his Mercy upon the Interview of the two Armies near Berwick such was his Tenderness that upon their Supplication for a Treaty he Trusted them again and Concluded a Pacification whereof the Covenanters observ'd not so much as One Article Upon his Return to London His Majesty as is elswhere observed passes the Triennial Bill Abolishes the Star-Chamber and High Commission Court Passes an Act for the Continuance of the Parliament Not to insist upon the several other Concessions concerning Ship-money Forests and Stannary Courts Tunnage and Poundage Knighthood c. Now in Requital of these Benefits the Faction Claps up and Prosecutes his Majesties Friends Prefers and Enlarges his Enemies Rewards the Scots Entertains their Commissioners Votes Them their Dear Brethren for Invading Us Calls in all Books and Proclamations against them They take away the Bishops Votes Impose a Protestation upon the People Take away the Earl of Strafford's Life Charge Twelve of the Bishops with Treason Declare the King's Proclamations to be False Scandalous and Illegal Keep his Majesty out of his own Towns and Seize his Arms and Ammunition They present Him with Nineteen Propositions for the Resignation of his Royal Authority They Vote a General and Raise an Army against him They Usurp the Power of the Militia and give the King Battel Levy Moneys and Declare the Queen Guilty of Treason After all These Usurpations upon the Civil Power They are put to 't to bring the Cause of Religion once again upon the Stage They enter into a Covenant and call in the Scots again They Abolish the Common-Prayer secure the Person of the King Share the Revenues of the Church and Crown They Sequester Banish and Imprison his Majesties Adherents and in the Conclusion Sell Depose and Murder their Soveraign This was the Fruit of that Pious and Unfortunate Prince his Clemency and Indulgence Now to bring the Instance home to the present Times What could be more Pious Gracious or Obliging then His Majesties Declaration concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs in Favour of the Non-Conformists All that was possible for the King to do in Consistence with Conscience Honour and the Peace of his Dominions His Majesty has therein given them a frank Assurance of with their Lives and Estates over and above in the Act of Oblivion And are they one jote the Quieter for all This No but the Worse for no sooner was the King's Tenderness in That Particular made Publique but the Generality even of those that had lately Entred into a Regular and Dutiful Compliance with the Orders of the Church started into a new Revolt which proves sufficiently the Benefit and Necessity of a strict Rule and the hazzard of a Toleration For rather then abide the Penalty of the Act they could Conform but upon the least Glimpse of a Dispensation they Relâ—…pse into a Schism Neither do I find that they were less Troublesom before the Act of Uniformity when they Preach'd at Randome then they have been since Nor to say the Truth that they have much more Cause of Compleint Now then they had Then For what are they the worse for a Penalty that is never Executed But if you will have a True Measure of their Moderation and Good Nature I pray'e take notice of their Proceedings upon His Majesties Commission for the Review of the Book of Common-Prayer We will appoint says His Majesty in his Declaration concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs an Equal Number of Learned Divines of Both Perswasions to Review the same and to make such ALTERATIONS as shall be thought most NECESSARY So that the Alterations were to be agreed upon by BOTH PARTIES and found likewise to be NECESSARY Now instead of Alterations joyntly agreed upon They Publish a Complete Liturgy of their own indeed a New Directory but under the Title of The REFORMATION of the Liturgie which in all their Books signifies ABOLITION Give me the favour next to observe upon some of their NECESSARY Alterations They have turn'd WEDDED Wife into MARRIED DOEST THOU Believe into DO YOU Believe All this I STEDFASTLY Believe into All this I UNFEIGNEDLY Believe These are some of the Important Scruples that are cast into the Balance against the Unity of the Church and the Peace of the Kingdom What is This but to make Sport with Authority and Conscience Laws must be Suspended Princes Vilified and Importun'd because forsooth the Godly Party may not be Govern'd by Laws of their own making Nay by Words of their own chusing too So that we are like to have a Schism for Syllables as well as for Ceremonies For what is the Difference betwixt WEDDED and MARRIED but that the One wears the Stamp of the Law-Makers and the Other of the Law-Menders Is it not now evident that they are the worse for good usage And that they have ever been so You see the Effects of keeping to a Rule in Queen Elizabeth and King Iames And we have since felt to our Cost
the Effects of a Relaxation which abundantly satisfies me That UNIFORMITY is the true Interest of This Government and not TOLERATION N. C. Uniformity is the Interest of This Kingdom as it is of any other where there is any fair Possibility of Procuring it But the Principles of Dissent have taken such Root in this Land that you may as well think of Depopulating the Nation as of Uniting it upon the Points in Question C. But I am otherwise perswaded and that the Party of Non-Conformists is not so considerable as you make it SECT XVIII The Party of Scrupulous and Conscientious Non-Conformists is neither NUMEROUS nor DANGEROUS C. I Am apt to believe that Party is not so Numerous as you represent it for many Reasons First I take English Mens Consciences and their Neighbours to be much of a Make And I do not find the Subject of Our Controversie to be made Matter of Conscience by any other sort of Christians whatsoever out of his Majesties Dominions N. C. 'T is well we have Good Authority to the Contrary The Preface to the Directory assures us that The Liturgy used in the Church of England hath proved an Offence not only to the Godly at Home but also to the Reformed Churches Abroad And Smectymnuus tells the Parliament Pag. 10. that there is such a vast difference between It and the Liturgies of all other Reformed Churches as that it keeps them at a Distance from us C. We 'l talk of That anon and in the mean time with your good leave pursue what we have now before us Another thing that peswades me the Conscientious number of Dissenters cannot be very great is This. The Law has made an Ample Provision for their Relief Leaving every Houshold with Four more at Liberty to Worship according to their own way So that the Laity has no Pretense of Compleint Especially those that plead for the Ordination of their own Ministers and maintein that Seven Persons make a Full Ministerial and Completely Organiz'd Church A Man might make an Exception to your Accompt too upon the score of Old Reckonings for you have ever had the faculty of Multiplication Your Thousands at Hampton-Court came to a matter of Nine and Forty And we remember very well your old way of Personating Petitions from Multitudes of the Godly and Well-affected in both City and Country when effectually the poor Innocent Papers never Travell'd farther then from the Close Committee to the Lobby N. C. If you will not Credit Report believe your Eyes Do you not find our Meetings Thronged and many of your Churches Empty C. Somewhat of Both I must Confess but yet I am likewise inform'd that you shew divers of these Meetings as Peters did his Rings and Bodkins at several Places several times over and over to make a Noise ond increase the Reputation of your Party To contract the Discourse There is a loud Clamour and the Ministers make it And These too that stickle in the Cause none of the most Conscientious neither unless they have a Gospel we never heard of to Iustifie Disobedience in Themselves the Provoking of it in Others The Disturbing of the Publique Peace and the Sowing of Dissention betwixt Prince and People Which is manifestly the Scope of their Writings and Designs N. C. That Undertaking goes somewhat too far to pronounce upon their Designs Do you pretend to know their Hearts then C. Yes and with very good Authority If a Man may be allow'd to judge what Reasonable Men aim at from deliberate Words and Actions that lead naturally to such and such Certain Ends. And this Humour I tell ye of Aspersing the Government and Teizing the Multitude runs through all their Papers I durst appeal to your own Soul Whether you your self can Imagine that a Twentieth Part of the present Plaintiffs in Matter of Conscience are truly acted and possest with that Scrupulosity they pretend to Alas Alas You talk of Conscience 'T is not what every Man Thinks or Says that is presently Conscience We are impos'd upon by Phansie Artifice or Delusion Some Deceive Themselves and Others Cousen Us. In one Word Whatsoever is not of Conscience in this Medly is Faction And undoubtedly the Conscientious Party has but a slender share in the Mixture As That Party is not Numerous so neither is it Dangerous upon a Principle of Honesty and Religion No Man of Conscience can either desire to Embroyl the Kingdom or expect to be the Better for 't But still have a care how ye take every thing for Gold that Glisters Conscience was the Subject of the last Quarrel Religion the Pretext Popery the Bug-bear And the Issue of it was Dreadful Consider with your selves You have many of the same Persons to lead you on And They have the very same Matter too to work upon You meant no hurt to the last King you say And yet you ruin'd him You may perchance Intend as little Harm to This and yet do him as much And what amends is it when the Government is laid again in Dust and Desolation to cry You were Overseen If you had thought it should ever have come to This you would have cut off your Hands or Tongues and I know not what Look Back and Tremble at the Course you are now upon for you are Questionless in the very Track of the late Rebellion And one may without Breach of Charity conclude that No Man that was an Active Instrument in the last War can acquit himself of a most Prodigious Impiety and Ingratitude in reviving and prosecuting the same Interest and Method now against the SON by which he notoriously contributed toward the Death of the FATHER SECT XIX The Non-Conformists Appeal from the Government and Discipline of the Church of England to the Judgment and Practise of the Reformed Churches BEYOND THE SEAS Examined and Submitted to Censure C. IT is observable that throughout the whole Quarrel against the Orders and Government of the Church of England the Non-Conformists still fly for Countenance to the Iudgment of the Reformed Churches Abroad And so likewise in the Question of Toleration they Insist much upon the Practise and Tenderness of Other Churches As if the Ecclesiastical State of This Kingdom were as Singular for Tyranny and Corruption as in Truth the Litigants Themselves are for Contumacy and Disobedience In the Answer of the Two Houses to the Scots Declaration 164â—… This Government by Arch-Bishops Bishops c. is Declared to be Evil justly Offensive and Burdensom to the Kingdom a great Impediment to the Reformation and Growth of Religion and Resolved it is that it shall be taken away With a Regard to the Introducing of another Government more apt to procure an Union with the Church of Scotland and OTHER REFORMED CHURCHES ABROAD And the Ministers in the Petition for Peace sing the same Note too If Men say they must be cast out of the Church and Ministry because they are not wiser then the Pastors of