their life their King being safe they are all at unity So long as their King is well they follow their worke but being lost they leave and loath their Honey-combes and when their King waxes old and cannot flye they carry him on their wings and if he dye they dye with him as some write f Hieron epâ—st ad Rusticam Behold how nature hath stamped obedience by instinct to Bees to be subject to a superiour in their kinde g Pet. Chry. in Policrat lib. 7. how much more should Nature Reason and Grace stampe obedience in the heart of Christians knowing that without a Kingly Government Kingdomes are thraldomes h Aug de civit dei lib. 4 c. 4. Take away Iustice and what are Kingdomes but Dens of Theeves Take away obedience to Government and that were to make earth and hell all one but onely in name There is not wanting divine Precepts or divine Patterns to allure loyall obedience take two in stead of many the first and best of all our Saviour Christ i Matth. 3.17 in whom God is well pleased and the second David k 1 Sam. 13.14 a man after Gods owne heart Our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ yet God and man in the dayes of his flesh disdained not to obey such as were in authority l Matth. 22.21 commanding to give unto Caesar that which is Caesars and paying m Matth. 17.27 tribute to Caesar for himselfe and and Peter by the hands of Peter though Peters supposed Successors and they that pretend to Peters inspiration will pay none And though our Saviour Christ received manifold injuries and indignities from unjust and faithless Governours yet he never moved rebellion or resistance but digested all with patience and obedience knowing that the powers that be are ordained of God telling Pilate that unjust Iudge that his power was given him from above for the rule is given of the Lord and the power of the most high And by mee Kings raigne saith hee that had the wisdome of God given unto him Prov. 8 15. And saith another Pisâ—â—t anal in Mâ—â— 22 2â— God is to be obeyed for himself being cheif Lord the Magistrate is to bee obeyed for God as being Gods Minister or deputy So that the pattern of Christs obedience to temporall powers must bee the platforme of instruction in the duty of obedience 2. Davids obedience to King Saul is very commendable and remarkable Saul was a a A Tyrant by abuse of power not by usurpation Tyrant and sought without cause or colour to kill David yet David often hazarded his life and limbs against Sauls enemies the Philistins evermore testifying his prompt obedience and service to his Soveraign and when this K. Saul like that other b Acts 9.1 Saul breathing out threatnings and slaughter against David followed him to the wildernesse of Engedi where David used pia fallacia hid himselfe in a c 1 Sam. 24.4 Cave and had opportunity to cut off Sauls head as well as the lappe d 5 of his garment or if he were timerous to dip his hand in blood as once Gregory e Greg. lib 7. epist. 1. willed Sabinian to tell the Empeâ—or exciting him against the Lombards I feare God and am afraid to have any hand in blood if David I say had such a qualm of fear come over his heart lo the f 1 Sam. 24 8. hands of his servants ready to have done it and scarce could be kept from it only David doth terrifie them from doing it g 7 The Lord keep me from doing that thing unto my Master the Lords Anointed Dum timuit olâ—um servavit inimicum as excellently h Lib 2. advers parmenianum Optatus in fearing the anointing he preserved his enemy In a word David might have killed Saul sleeping or if he would not himselfe do it i 8 Abishai offered his service I pray thee let me smite him once with a spear to the earth and I will smite him no more but still see how obedience holds his hands and moves his tongue Destroy * 9 him not fâ—r who can lay his hand on the Lords anointed and be guiltlesse And afterward Saul being slaine and a certaine Amalekite hoping to have bin a happy Post in telling k 2 Sam. 1.4 David Saul is dead and shewing David that hee hasted l 10 Sauls death though m 1 Sam. 31.4 Saul himselfe had acted the Prologue of his own death this made the Epilogue of his life and brought the Crown in his hand a tempting baite to get praise or pardon yet all in vain how wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy the anointed of the Lord sâ—iâ—h n 2 Sam. 1 14 15. David and commands his servant to give him legem talionis to kill this King-killer though by consent and intreaty Sic pereant qui moliri talia pergunt Good God thou King of Kings so let them perish Who ' gainst thy Charles such bloody deeds do cherish And now what doe all these particulars summed up together inferre but this Ecce o Iohn 1.47 Behold a true Israelite in whom is no guile behold a good subject indeed in whom is no treason behold a man after Gods owne heart who from his soule hateth and abhorreth the very name and thought of Rebellion his heart p 1 Sam. 24 6. smiting of him but for cutting of the lap of Saules garment after whose heart then those men are who now a dayes cut off from a David all Regall ornaments devest him of all ensignes of Royall Majesty and cloath him with nothing but the foule garments of reproach and slander I leave to all the world to judge How unlike are the wayes of this sonne of God to those who would bee thought the sonnes of God in these dayes Popish Iesuits of the Sea of Rome and oh wonder those Lord and Commons who call themselves the Parliament of England David labours to speake his mind to Saul these labour to hinder David to speake his mind to them David manifested himself upon all occasions obedient and loyall to his Soveraigne though wicked that so evinced thereby hee might become good these upon all opportunities declare their disobedience and disloyalty to their Soveraigne though good and to colour their Rebellions would fame make the people beleeve that he is wicked and should be if they could make him so either by flattery or force David desired nothing more than to come to a q 1 Sâ—â— 24 9. 26.14 Personall Treaty that so the truth might appear and the innocent be acquitted These abhor the thought of a Personall Treaty and Vote it treason for any man to speak from or to him least their ambitious villanies should be detected and our poore oppressed Kings wronged innocence manifested and honour vindicated Lastly David in all his consultations and actions did endeavour to evidence himselfe faithfull
tidings wee should not doe well should wee hold our peace the very stones in the streets will reprove us and the timber out of the wall upbraid our silence by their acclamations exciting our dull affections to shoute for joy and pray God save King Charles CHAP. IV. ANd truly there are five things to name no more which all good subjects owe unto their Soveraigne â—â—is Prayer 2 Obedience 3. Honour 4. Service 5. Tribute And if any Subject deny any one of these the King may take him by the throat and say a Matth. 18.28 Solve quod debes Pay that thou owest 1. First is Prayer to pray for the Kings preservation on earth and salvation in Heaven The heathen Chaldeans may learn Christians this lesson who cryed to their King b Dan. 3.9 Nebuchadrezar O King live for ever As King c 1 Kin. 8.34.36 Solomon prayed for his people so ought his people to pray for him s ying of their Lord the King as King David speakes of the Lord of Israel Blessed d Psal 106.48 be the Lord God of Jsrael for ever and ever and let all the people say Amen saying to the King as Amasa and his company said to David e 1 Chron. 12.18 Thine are we O David and with thee O son of Ishai peace peace be unto thee and peace be unto thy helpers and the Lord thy God in his good time be thy helper That tongue that will not pray for his Majesties present liberty from prison and honourable re-establishment in his lawfull Throne and Kingdome and for the future Peace Prosperity and preservation of so vertuous a Prince and their anointed Soveraigne is such a tongue as the Apostle Iames f Iam. 3.6 speakes of fire and a world of wickednesse and is set on fire of hell for saith Austin the just man never ceases to pray unlesse he cease to be just much lesse should he cease to poure forth fervent and faithfull supplications for the King that under him wee may lead a peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty Such ungodly and undutifull subjects as will not unloose the strings of their tongues to pray for the safety and felicity of the King we wish that they were like the men at the river Ganges who it wee credit the report of Strabe have no tongues g Mâ—â—â—â— 2â— better is it to enter into the kingdome of Heaven losing a member then having such an ungodly member to be cast into hell fiâ—â— But herein many times the tongue is mâ—re officiâ—us then the heart with tongue they cry Hosanna h but in heart like Iewes wish crucifige with a verbâ—â— service many abound crying and â—ringing vivat Rex but withall store it hoc Parliamentum and that will never make a good prayer A King had need call to his subjects as God to his servants i 〈◊〉 2â— â—â— give me thy heart the world is full of faire tongues but false hearts none but the great searcher of the heart hath a window in the heart to see who honour with lippes and their hearts farre from him So that Kings had need examine their subjects as k 〈◊〉 2â— â—5 Christ did Peter thrice dost thou love me The world hath bred so many protestors of the Romish and so many professors of the Sectaries doctrine of devillish equivocation and Parliamentiz'd creatures profound in the art of dissâ—mulation that many men are like Godâ— in Sands in dubio pelagi terâ—â—ve doubtfull whether to belong to sea or land tempoâ—â—â—ers or neuters like the l Râ—â— 3.15 Church of Laodicea neither hot â—â—r cold either Prince or Pope Parliament or Levellers please them Monarchy Aristocracy Democracy yea Anâ—â—chy all alike to them As for Religion Protestanisme â—opâ—ry Put iâ—aâ—â—sme Anabaptisme Turkisme Heathenisme Atheisme oâ— whâ—tever the grand Councell shall countenaâ—ce is equally received by them These like the Camelâ—on assume any shape fashionable to the time to whom yet I doubt not but God will one day say Because ye are luke-warm professâ—â—s neither hot nor cold I will spue ye out of my moâ—th Rev 3.16 Such as these study Machiavell more then the Gospel m Mâ—â—◠〈…〉 c. 3. â—ashion themselves to the favourâ—ble fortune of the time and thinke themselves happy as n Maâ—◠〈…〉 he counts those Princes happy whose counsels are successively correspondent to the condition of the times The prayers of such temporizers whose tongues may flame but their hearts are as cold as a stone are abhominable in the sight of God Esto religiosu in Deum quiâ—â—ir ilâ—um Imperatoriâ—sse propitium saith Tertullian n Tâ—â—t Aâ—oc c. 34. The Lord is far off the wicked but hee neareth the prayers of the righteous saith o 〈◊〉 v. 15. â—â— Salâ—mâ—n God will not beâ—â—e the prayers of these Church-neaâ—ers yea Chuâ—â—h-haters nâ— more then the idolatrâ—â—us Iâ—wes p Ezech. 8.18 Thâ—ugh they cry in any eares with a loud voice yet will not I heare them And therefore that we may performe our first bounden duty unto the King acceptable to the King of Kings in making hearty and humble prayers for the freedome restauration protection and preservatiâ—n of his Majesty let all the people in his Realm from â—igh to low from great to small doe this comfortable and Christian service fervently feelingly and â—aithfully unto the Lord night and day crying and craving God save the King The Lord hath commanded this duty to pray not onâ—â—r good Kings but even for bad Kings When Paul gave that Apostolicall counsell 1 Timothy 2.1 2. to pray for for Kings Caligula Claudius or Nero most bloody Pagan Emperours then raigned q Baruc. 1. â—â—â— Ier. 29.7 So Abraham prayed for K. Abâ—mâ—lech Gen. 20.27 So â—â—ob Hâ—ssâ—d Kinâ— Pharoah Gen. 47.10 Pray for the life of Nebuchadnezar King of Babylon and for the life of Balthasar his sonne that their dayes might bee on earth as the dayes of heaven So the Lord commanded the Iewes to pray for the peace of the City of Babylon where Nebuchadnezar raigned If then the Lord charg and command to pray for such Governours as were Pagans Persecutors Idolaters Infidels how devoutely and deeply are all loyall subjects â—ound to pray and to praise God for the blessed government of Zealous and Christian Kings Especially how more ought we to pray for so religious and gracious a King and to beseech God with prostrate soules to visit and set him at liberty now after the time he hath afflicted him and permitted his restraint and comfort him with joy and gladnesse for the yeares wherein hee hath suffered adversity and for the future to defend him and his from all the treacherous traines and rebellious plots whether of forraine foes or home hatcht parricides whether corner creeping Iesuits of the Romish party or house-preaching Iudasses of Schismaticall faction To deliver from and strengthen him against whom let us we doe implore the hand of heaven to Sentinell ovâ—â— him
who are full of such fraud believe them as the People of Rome beleeved Carbon make a Covenant never to believe them hereafter They are like to Polypus have various shapes changing themselves into Angels of Light but malus ubi se bonum simulat tunc est pessimus a bad man when he counterfetteth to be good is worst August in Psal 63. Simulata sanctitas duplex est iniquitas counterfeit holinesse being a two-fold wickednesse of which whether they who call themselves a Parliament bee not guilty I leave it to all who have eyes in their heads to judge But be they what they will Let every good Christian and Loyall Subject according to his place performe faithfull hearty and trusty Service to our dread Sveraigne and though the wicked labour to darken with a Cloud of slander our faire and faithfull Service yet at last that Eclipse of envy will vanish of it selfe and our own innocency and fidelity will animate us like that Roman Marius who being accused by the Senate of Treason in a passion teares his Garments and in sight of them all shews them his wounds received in the service and defence of the Emperor and his Countrey saying Quid opus est verbis ubi vulnera clamant What need of words our wounds declare our bloud was shed for his well-fare Faithfull service is laudable before men and acceptable before God it may bee by the wicked sometimes blamed but it cannot be shamed though it be not alwayes rewarded on earth it shall be sure to finde rewards in Heaven yea vertue is a reward to it selfe bonorum laborum gloriosus fructus the service of the * Ecclus 35.7 righteous is accepted and the remembrance thereof shall never be forgotten CHAP. VIII THe fifth duty of Subjects to be duely and truely payed and performed to their sacred and dread Soveraigns is Tribute which is as Vlpian saith Nervus reip The strong sinew of the Common-wealth without which King nor Kingdome cannot stand And therefore our Saviour first by a Christ paid Tribute to Tyberius Caesar Matth. 17.27 president paid Tribute yea rather than it should be unpaid he wrought a miracle and also by precept resolving the Disciples of the Pharisees demanding whether it was lawfull to give Tribute unto Caesar or no told them peremptorily b Mat. 22 21. that they must give unto Caesar that which was Caesars Piscator saith upon that place Tribute Honour and Obedience is to bee given to the Magistrate in all things not repugnant to the word of GOD for this cause saith c Rom. 13 4 6. Saint Paul ye pay Tribute because the King is the Minister of God d Theoph. in Lucam c. 20. The money which thou hast thou hast from him and therefore not give but pay not a gift but a debt which all subjects owe to him Beucer saith We doe not give but pay that which of duty wee owe Tributes Subsidies Taxes c. are not gifts but debts which of necessity they must and ought to pay e Verbo redden de significat dibitum quod inexcusabile subditis imâ—â—situm est Theoâ—â—i in 13 Rom. v. 7. Hiperius saith This doe the Scriptures allow of writing there of the payment of Tributes this doe the Civill Lawes with the common consent of all Nations accept and approve The same f Hip. in Rom 13 Hiperius saith the law and right of paying Tribute among all Nations hath ever been accustomed And therefore g In Rom. 13 6. Calvin writes wel that Tributes and Taxes are the lawfull revenewes of Princes h Calv. in instit lib. 4 c. 20. This duty of paying Tribute Subsides Taxes c. by the subjects to the Soveraigne is by the law of God and lawes of men and common customes of most nations commanded and approved and that for four principall causes First to mainetaine that royall estate which God hath given to Kings the glorious patterns of Kings magnificence may be fully seen in royall Solomon Look but upon his Throne 2 Chr. 9.17 and you may judge of all the rest of his royalty 2dly to defend the Common-wealth both from forraign invasions and home-bred rebellions which requires a great Treasury A great Bird had need of a great neast That high Head which cares for all the politicke body and night and day studyes to preserve their welfare must participate of their wealth without which the publike peace and security cannot be effected for it is Status insolidus qui caret solidis Thirdly to contestate and acknowledge their homage and subjection to their Soveraigne for say the Canonists i Extra de exactâ— cens c. 1. quaest 8. can Tributum To pay Tribute is to bee subject to the Emperour and a signe of servitude confessing all duty and loyalty to be due to their Soveraigne who hath power to command them their * Nehem. 9.37 goods * Nehem. 9.37 lands and lives for the service of the Kings and countries preservation Looke upon the Israelites when King Saul was dead comming to elect and anoynt David in Hebron to be King over Israel * 1 Câ—ro 11.1 Behold we are thy bones and thy flesh meaning as take it that their lives and all were at his service and commandement for Tribute is not only of money but sudor sanguis populi The sweat and blood of the people if such need require to defend their King and Countrey is a Tribute due from them willing and ready to adventure their lives and lâ—mbs to give repulse and resistance to forraigne or domesticall violence Fourthly to testifie their gratefull affections to their gracious Priâ—ces in thankefullnesse for the great benefits by their prudent provident and politicke Government reaped and received So David in lamenting Sauls death remembers the benefits his subjects received by him in his life time k 2 Sam. 1.14 Yee daughters of Israel weepe for Saul which cloathed you in scarlet with pleasures and hanged ornaments of gold upon your apparel So l Lament 4.20 Jeremiah oâ— the good King Iosiah lamenting his death The breath of our nostrels the Anoynted of the Lord was taken in their nets of whom we said under his shadow wee shall be preserved among the Heathen A good King brings many blessings and benefits unto his people and therefore when such as are in authority be righteous the people rejoyce saith m Prov. 29.2 Solomon n 4. A King by judgement maintaines the country By a man of understanding and knowledge a Realme endureth long saith the same o Prov. 28.2 Solomon yea as wise Plato wel said Beatas fore resp cum ant Philosophentur reges aut regnent Philosophi When as Kings were Philosophers or Philosophers Kings then such Common-wealths should be happy And indeed all earthly happinesse which is derived to the members proceeds from the Head next under God the primary Author of all good things by whose direction discretion
circumspection care counsell and continuall vigilancy they are preserved in peace and prosper in plenty and whether we did not enjoy all blessings which Subjects could hope for under His Majesties reign before this Parliament set themselves to pull him downe I leave all English men that are not prepossessed with prejudice to Monarchy and partiality to a side to judge what a condition we have been since in too sad experience can testifie Oh then my deare Countrey-men let no Theudas herein deceive you or any Iudas of Galile who in the dayes of the Tribute drew away much people as a Acts 5.37 Gamaliel speaks delude you for hee perished and all that obeyed him and as our Saviour said of them so I may say of this Nation in this matter except ye repent of this sinne you shall all likewise perish b Aug. in lib. iâ— Rom proposit 7 2 Augustine saith If any one thinke Imposts Tribute and Honour ought not to bee paid to the King hee falls into a great errour c B Aretii Com. in 13 Rom. v 7. Aretius saith We owe them by right if we doe not pay them we offend against the rule of Iustice Nay to pay them is necessary for all as the same Aretius there unlesse they would be deprived of their Fortunes Wealth and Wellfare Therefore pay it truely and doe it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men not grudgingly as if compelled by necessity but cheerefully and voluntarily in humble testimony of your hearty fidelity love and loyalty But to them that challenge immunity from the performance of these publique Debts of Tributary duties to their Liege Lords and Kings I may say as Dioclesian to the Philosopher Thy Profession differs from thy Petition thy Profession teaches thee to give Caesar his due and not to robbe him of his right Bishop Latimer calls such Theeves that rob the King of his due debt Subsidies Tribute or Taxes Rather imitate that d Ambros con ra Auxâ—◠〈◊〉 quaest 1. Can si tribistum Ambrose the famous Bishop of Millan who teacheth thee a better Lesson If the Emperour demand Tribute wee doe not deny it the fields of our Church shall pay Tribute If the Emperor demand the fields hee hath power to challenge them let him take them I neither give them nor deny them in no case arguing obedience in ordinary or extraordinary exactions agreeing fully with Luther e Luth. in Matt 22.21 If thy substance body or life should be taken from thee by the Magistrate thou maist say thus I doe willingly yeeld them unto you and acknowledge you for ruler over mee I will obey you but whether you use your Power and Authoritie well or ill see you to that For Kings must one day give account of all their workes to the King of Kings and if they have abused their Power by Tyranny Cruelty or any bad Government an hard judgement f Wisd 6.5.8 shall such have that beare such Rule for then abides the sorer Triall as the Sonne of Wisedome speaks The power is from God the abuse of it from themselves and they will finde it when God and it calls them to reckon The Chain of gold is not made the worse because an Harlot weares it about her neck it is g Luth. in Mat 2â— 21 Luthers comparison in this case so still Kings must be obeyed for Conscience sake if not commanding contrarie to Gods Commandements Let us with these follow the steppes of faithfull Fabricius of whose fidelity Pyrrhus boldly speakes Difficilius Fabricius a legalitate quà m sol a suo cursu verti possit Let the Sunne first turne from her Course than we from the course of Loyall Obedience and Allegiance alwayes remembring that Christian saying of that martyr h Ignarepiâ—â—â— 2. d Magnâ—sianos a Ignatius No man ever lived unpunished which lifted up himselfe against his betters superiours his Princes disobedience brings Infamy disgrace death yea hatred after death that the sorrowfull Sonne may say of his treacherous Sire i Gen. 3â— 30 Yee have troubled me and made me stinke among the Inhabitants of the Land as Iacob said of Simeon and Levi And whether we of this Kingdome have not too just cause to say of those two Brothers in iniquity the factious Party of the Lords and Commons sitting in Parliament you have made us by your proceedings stinke in the Nostrills of all neighbour Nations and rendred us the scorne and contempt of the whole World I leave it to the experience of Travellers To conclude lâ—t us alwayes from the bottome of our hearts 1 Prayer pray so the Kings safety Corporally for his salvation Spiritually and preservation Politically Let us obey him because he is the Lords Anointed 2 Obedience appointed by God to be his Vicegerent representing the person on earth of the King of Kings in heaven 3 Honour Let us honour him not with lips only but with hearts truely because he is the Father of our Countrey the constant Defender of the Faith and so worthy of double Honour 4 Service Let us bee ready to performe at his Command our best Service being his native and naturall Subjects born and bound by Allegiance to all Christian duties of Subjection Let us be willing to pay Tribute 5 Tribute a publike Purse must helpe the publike Peace Multorum manibus grande levatur onus Yea let us pay him his duty Tribute to him for we owe him Tribute Custome to him for we owe him Custome Feare Honour Obedience Service and all other loyall services and performances of Duties belonging to good Subjects in their severall degrees and places humbly to tender them and render them unto our Gracious and high Soveraigne Lord the King whose Sword Crowne Scepter Throne and Person justly requires all these duties the Sword exacts obedience Crown commands honour Scepter service Throne tribute and Person prayer alwayes powring forth to God this Prayer and Petition God save King CHARLES Let us be in Pace Lepores but in Praelio Leones in Peace like Hares timerous to offâ—nd his Majesty in any way of disobedience but like Lions when opportunity shall be offered fight for his freedome and re-establishment in his Throne and Power against all the enemies thereof with unwearied courage undaunted magnanimity joyning with our fighting hands our fervent prayers like faithfull Israelites against all rebelling Amalekites continually let us pray with David Psalme 20.9 Domine salvum fac Regem Lord save the King send him an happy Deliverance out of all his troubles visit him with much comfort now after the time that thou hast afflicted him and the yeares wherein he hath suffered such great adversity Lord keep him as the Apple of thine owne eye and hide him under the shadow of thy wings oh turne not thy face away from thine Anointed but let him be refreshed with the joy of thy Countenance Make his dayes as the dayes of heaven before thee and grant
that his Highnesse and his Princely Posterity may in these Kingdomes reigne so long as the world endureth maugre all thine and his enemies Enlarge and enrich his Royall heart with all Regall gifts and divine graces sutable for his present sad condition and yet high calling save him from the Treachery and tyranny of forraigne enemies and deliver him from the Plots and Projects of his Domesticall Adversaries whom wee beseech thee to cloath with shame and break in peeces like a Potters Vessell Let thy hands oh Lord finde out all that hate him make them like a fiery Oven in the time of thine Anger and destroy them in thy Wrath scatter the devices of those crafty ones and make all their Councells like the Councell of Achitophell foolishnesse confound those Shebaes that stirre up Israel against our David those Shimeis that revile and raile upon our Charles and those Adoniahs that goe about to take the Kingdome from our King yea let all like them perish like them Then will all Loyall Subjects rejoyce when they see the vengeance the stone which is cut without hands breaking all Rebells and Traitors to pieces Dan. 2.34 and making all his foes his footstoole but upon him and his grant that his Crowne may flourish that his seed may possesse the gates of their Enemies and that there may not want one of his Posterity to sit upon his Throne and sway his Scepter till Shilo come in judgment And now let all good Christians and Loyall Subjects say Amen Yea let high and low rich and poore young and old professors of the Gospel be devoted Suppliants to the King of Kings in our Kings behalfe with tongues and hearts praying and saying God save our King God save King Charles Vivat valeat Vincat Gloria Tri-uni Deo in secula Amen Postscript THis Treatise is dedicated to none the discoverer of these truths being unwilling to engage any particular Patron yet desires it may be accepted of all of what degree or rank soever both in Church and State if sound members of our Supreame Head to such I am confident this short tract will be welcome therefore to such it presents it selfe and in the discoverers absence begs their entertainement though there be danger to be found in its company The cause of his discovery of these dangerous though faithfull truths and that so plainly and home is the desire hee hath to undeceive his deceived country men to discharge his duty and to render those who are guilty if they wilfully persist therein inexcusable that when they come before the throne of the King of Kings they may have no plea of ignorance of the greatnesse and damnableness of their sin but that they may know there hath been a Prophet among them The cause of his forbearing his name is his charity to them who are reproved therein that they may not bee deeper engaged in blood and oppression for he too well knowes their common way of refuting such truths imprisonment or death and not either in ability to make good all herein contained or timidity to stand to his principles for should their unsatiable thirst after blood by the diligence of their blood hounds or subtilty of their spies make them so unfortunately succesfull as to discover him you shall find him so resolved as to seale this truth with his life if their fury carry them to that height of tyranny or by what other oppression and cruelty soever they shall use to answer This unanswerable assertion That the resisting much more imprisoning and deposing King CHARLES and disposing of his kingdome without and against him is a sinne not only unlawfull but damnable by the word of God What kind of sin it is by the law of this land Iudge Ienkins plainly tels them in his Remonstrance of the 21 of February 1647. I am confident both that and this shall have one and the same refutation that common way of answering of such assertions set forth in the 7th page of this short tract And truly I shall have no other opinion of them till they answer that Remonstrance and permit him againe to make and publish his Reply but this I beleeve they will with more safety to their hopefull cause and blessed Reformation doe first hang him and then answer him for so they shall save him a labour of a Reply and may come off with credit having as they may then vaunt silenc'd that good old Iudge And what Ingenuous Intelligent breast can entertaine better thoughts of them or hope for other proceedings from them if it seriâ—usly consider those daily Reproachfull Reviling Aspersions by their sawcie Pamphleters cast upon His Sacred Majesty to the alienating of the Affections of His People from him which they permit yea countenance if not themselves Order to bee published so to slander the foot-steps of the Lords Anointed and render him odious in the eyes of his Subjects and yet keep his Majesty in such a condition as not permitted to vindicate himselfe and threaten yea thunder out fire and faggot agaiâ—st all others that shall Write or speake in his Vindication What truely enobled soule and rightly enlightned Christian can mâ—ke any fairer Construction of such unjust practises If th y would have us harbour other Cogitations let them cause 〈◊〉 Overton to bee taken intâ— Custody and recei e conâ—igne â—â—nishment for for him was Prinâ—ed thaâ— foâ—geâ— maliâ—â—â—uâ— venemous * Pâ—â—lisâ—â—â— Maâ—câ— the 〈◊〉 164â— Letter pretended to be sâ—â—t from His Majesty to the Queene but intercepted together with those bâ—tter pâ—ysonous aspersions fixt upon his Majesty by way of certaine Prâ—posalls to the Kingdome All published in a Pamphlet stuft with as much falshood forgerie yea gall and poyson of Aspes as could be spet from the envenomed mouth of the most reviling Shimei or railing Rabshakeh of this Kingdome to the Reproching Slandering and Disgracing of a David and Hezekiah in one good King Charles to whom the Lord of his mercy grant the shield of faith in him and his goodnesse to repell the fiery Darts of such incarnate Devills from whose tongues set on fire of Hell and Pens dipt in the gall of bitternesse yea from the present sad Restraint in which he now is The Lord of Heaven and God of His Consolation and Confidence speedily deliver him Amen Amen doe all the Loyall hearted of Great Britane say and theref re have desired that thâ—â— their Vote bee speedily Printed and Published and Coppies thereof dispersed into all parts of Great Britane for the begetting a right understanding bâ—twixt His Majesty and all His Subjects FJNJS