Sacred Ordinance who hath given a power and charge to Kings to suppresse all such Ecclesiasticall Tyranny over the soules of his people And whereas they say the Royall Office is the Sacred Ordinance of God we all acknowledge it and that this Ordinance of God comprehends in it not onely the institution of the Superiority of Kings over their people but their Speciall office of Government as it is limited and establishâ—d upon those Laws and Covenants and Conditions agreed upon between the Prince and People These are a Speciall part of thy Divine Ordinance that Kings should governe by a Law as Deut 17. 18 19 20. Pro. 31. 5. and that they should inviolably keep those Oathes and Covenants that they have solemnly made with their people And therefore they which perswade Kings that they are no way bounâ— but have liberty to rule as they list by an independent Prerogative these are they that are traytors both to God and to the King and to the Realme and to the peace and prosperity thereof For the Fourth For Subjects not to beare Armes against their King offensive or defensive upon any pretence whatsoever as being a resiâ—â—ing of the Powers Ordained of God First we hold that no private person ought to take up armes against his Prince but Secondly if a King maintaine a Faction about him which goe about to oppresse â—s whole Kingdome and People in their Lawâ— and Libertiâ—s and most of all in the true Religion so as he will not rule them by the good Laws of the Kindome but seeks to make all his Subjects Slavâ—s by bringing their soules Bodies estates 〈◊〉 a miserable bondage is it not now high time for the whole State either to labour to heale the breach or if necessity when there is no other remedy to stand up is one man to defend themselves and their Countrey untill the Faction shal be 〈◊〉 casheâ—ed and so the King reforme himselfe and renew 〈◊〉 Covenant and 〈◊〉 of the Kingdome to the good and just 〈◊〉 of the People And wheras â—i is point trencheth upon the Scots at this time what doe they stand upon but in the first place to free their Religion from Antichristan usurpaâ—on 〈…〉 * 〈…〉 which otherwise by 〈◊〉 and Tyranny would be brought to 〈◊〉 And for the Fâ—st and last that all Ministers doe declare this Consatution of the power of Kings to the people yearely Ought not Ministers to consider that they are also members of the Common-wealth and live under the Law thereof And being Subjects ought they not to teach the people that they love and hâ—nour the King and chearefully pay all such taxes as by Law are due unto him forasmuch as we all live under a Law And 〈◊〉 the other side ought not all Court-preachers to tell the 〈…〉 christian and Lawlesse Government And this ô Lord we conceive of this first Constitution so farre as we are able to apprehend committing the whole judgement thereof to thy unerâ—ing wisdome The Second is For the better keeping holy the day of his Majesties most happy Inauguration Ah Lord can this be to the honour of our King when the annuall memory of his Inauguration is saine to be forced What Canon or Constitution is for the continuation of the joyfull memory of Queen Elizabeth of ever blessed memory which yet to this day ceaseth not But o that our King would consider that word of thine * Those that honour me I will honour and they 〈…〉 and then they might have spared this Canon for the Kingâ—s day No no if these things be not reformed a ‡ blacke day is hastening on a pace as thou ô Lord hast threatned in thy word for such Sinnes And with thee there is no respect of persons ‡ King Iehâ—jachim lived without being desired and had the 〈◊〉 of an Asse and it was written upon him write this man childlesse A man that â—hâ—ll not presper in the Earth nor should be lamented being dead nor should any of iâ— Seed prosper after him O how terrible art thou ô Lord to proud and obstinate Sinners when not Kings Crowns and Scepters can secure of defend them from thy just hand And how fearefull a judgement is that when thou § powrest contempt upon Princes and weakenesâ— the power of the mighty The Third Canon is For suppressing of the growth of Popery O Lord dost thou not see in this whole long Canon the naked hypocrisie of this Synod clothing it selfe with many same figleaves of pious pretences forsooth for the suppressing of Popery Yea Lord their â—ypocrisie is so palpâ—ble herein that all the world sees that this Constitution was purposely made to blind the eyes of the simple in these stirring times wherin they see their Popish practises to grow into such hatred and detestation with all the Kings good Subjects What other but these practises have been the coâ—les that have kindled the fire in our neighbour to make the greater report but without shot in so hotly assaulting the Tower of Babel because in so doing it may make the world beleeve that contrary to the Doctrine of Canterbury there is no Salvâ—tion for Papists out of the Church of England and then let all Court Papists looke to it and withall the President must 〈◊〉 a great part of his Relation which he hath written in favour of Papists especially 〈◊〉 silly and ignorant to whom he grants Salvation in their Râ—â—igion he must also retract his Saying that the Church of England and of Rome are one and the same Church and hold one Faith and Religion undifferent he must also 〈◊〉 that wherein he assemeth with his Iesuite * that none â—â—ght to come to the English Church then and there in that manner to worship God that is resolved of the truth of the Roman Church or to the like effect and the Relator himself holds the truth of the Roman Church for he affirmeth it to be a true Church With many other new leaves which he must turne over upon this suddaine motion of suppressing the growth of Popery which if cordiall they should first have rid all Churches from Images Crucifixes 〈◊〉 Altars and the like least in bringing Papists to Church they should but change their Latine Popery into English Popery And now ô Lord we beseech thee to judge of the hypocrisie of this selfe-styled Sacred Synod which under a pretence of suppressing the growth of Popery doe indeed supplant the true Faith and Religion amongst us that so instead thereof they may at length as fast as they can set Idolatry up in her throne and full 〈◊〉 For besides all this that is said have they not set out many notorious Popish Books as that called the Femall Glory which makes the blessed Virgin to be a Goddesse to be adored and called upon or prayed unto the whole Booke being a very packe of Idolatry throughout and set out in English and allowed by one of the Prime Prelates Chapleins So
also a Booke of one Shelford Priest whose 5 Treatises are notorious grosse popery with many other of the same branne or meale which have been published by Authority and never any of them yet called in And some that have been called in as Cozens Orisons and Salis his Devotions and others yet go currant up and down and are in every Papists pocket Now if these holy men of this Sacred Synod had intended indeed to suppresse the growth of Popery they should have caused heaps of bonefires to be made of the Bookes in Smithfield But in all things touching this point how ridiculously and palpably they have discovered their hypocrisie especially the President and Father of the Synod doe thou ô Lord judge The Fourth Canon is Against Socinianisme Behold here Lord another devise to set simples a wondering what this Monster Sociâ—â—isine should be which most men in England never so much as once heard named before and which England I hopeâ— is free enough from unlesse a certaine neighbour to it which they call â—rminianisâ—ne doe not hale it in as it hath done many other Heresiâ—s For as for the Remonsirants or Aâ—minians they professe society and communion with the Socimans rather then with the Orthodox Protestants whom they call Caâ—vinists Yea and in sundry of their Heresies they border neare upon them as maintaining Iustification by works and that we are not bound to beleeve that we shall rise againe with these our bodies glorified and the like So as doth not the Synod mistake the name Should they not have said against Arminianisme Or perhaps they name the Damnable and Cursed Heresie of Socinianisme both because they would make the people beleeve it is that which hath so much been cryed downe by Preachers under the Name of Arminianisme and yet they will save Arminianisme harmelesse to which they have been so much beholden and also because Arminianisme doth in many things Symbolize with Sccinianisme under which it may the more easily lye hid But for Arminianisine sake the President hath in a Declaration in the Kings Name before the 39 Articles made the Articles touching Grace Election Predestination c. to speake aswell in favour of it as of the truth it selfe Or would they prevent the contagion of Socinianisme as also of Arminianisme Call in those Orders which restraine young students in the Vniversitie for reading our Protestant Authors The Fifth Canon Against Sectaries In this Canon they name Seperatists whom especially they meane as indeavouring as they say the subversion of the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England on these they lay load in good earnest indeed and on all those that shall print or publish Bookes especially against the Discipline and Government of the Church of England This is indeed their faire Goddesse Diana of which these Craftsmen who get their great Incomes by her are so jealous and doe so furiously thunder against the opposites And surely ô Lord if thou dost not at this time helpe they poore people who cannot with a good Conscience if but rightly informed hold communion with these men in their Discipline and under their Government must needs goe to wracke and be utterly spoyled they and theirs The Sixt Canon An Oath injoyn'd for the preventing of all Innovations in Doctrine and Government Ah Lord here is the filling up of the measure of all iniquity 〈…〉 ol all cruelty and tyranny When they have brought their plots to passe when established and setled their Innovations both in Doctrine and Government then these hypocrites come with 〈…〉 for the preventing of all Innovations in Doctrine and Government This for the Title of the Canon And that they may exalt their hypocrisie to the height that it may appeare to all men they further say This Present Synod being desirous to declare their sincerity and Constancâ— in the profession of the Doctrine and 〈…〉 in the Church of England and to secure all then against any suspicion of â—â—volt to Popery or any other Superstition Decrâ—es c. Now Lord can the hypocrisie of Rome it selfe in that Mystery of Iniquity packed up in the Councel of Trent surpasse this notorious hypocrisie of our English Prelates in this their Synod The vaile of their soule hypocriste is the pretence of Sincerity and Constancie in the profession of the Doctrine and Disâ—â—â—ine already established they have now already established a new Doctrine and Discipline in the Church of England and so they are desirous to declare their Sincerity and Constancie in the profession of the same O holy Lord who is able to deale with these impious hypocrites but thy selfe alone And now that they have â—â—tained their ends in a good measure for they do not meane to stay here till they have finished the Tower of Babel to its full height by degrees after a while they doe this to secure all men against any Suspicion of revolt to Popery or any other Superstition For when the Revolt to Popery and the Superstitions thereof is now in a good measure already made then would they have all men to be secure against any revolt to Popery But what need men to feare when the danger is already past and without remedie They have set up their Altars they gently intreat adoration thereunto and that by the same arguments that Papists use to colour over such Idolatry till they have learneâ— in fuller termes to expresse themselves with a We will and Command they have set up their Images and Crucifixes in Chappels and Cathedralls and that over the Altar for all other Churches to conforme thereunto they have published Bookes in English full of most grosse Romish Idolatry and Supersâ—tion they have cryed down the due Sanctification of the Christian sabbath-Sabbath-day and have layd open the sâ—â—dgâ—tes to all proâ—anesse to breake in by publike â—â—â—spensation of profane Sports and Pastimes that so they make the Lords day the 〈◊〉 day and to make way for such profane Sports they have universally forbid all preaching in the â—â—â—ernoones upon thy Holy Day they have made thy holy Commandment for the keeping and Sanctifying of thy Day of none effect and that not onely by their profane practises but professedly by their Book 's published by Authority they have by Edicts made the Articles of Râ—â—â—â—gion of the Church of England concerning Grace to be of none authority they have set forth * Books wherein they professe that the Church of England and of Rome the whore of Babylon are one and the Same Church professing one and the same Faith and Religion and goe about to Father the Antichristian Iurisdictâ—â—â—n and Government of Prelates upon the Divin â—â—â—ution and upon the practise of thy holy Apostles and doe cry down the Authority of thy Sacred word as an insufficient witnesse to prove it selfe the word of â—od and as a dead and dumbe judge and insufficient to determine doubt and Controversies in points of Faith and so doe set up 〈◊〉 Authority above the Scripture they have
cast out all or most of those godly and painfull Minoâ—â—ers of thy word which were as so 〈◊〉 lights and pillars in the house of our God because they stood in the gappe and in the way of these men to hinder their wicked attempts in overthrowing of all true Religoon and if any good Ministers be yet left that have escaped their fingers here is a hellish plot will hurle them all out at a clappe these with many other their Innâ— vations they having now brought to passe now now would they have all men to be secure against any revolt to Popery Now they declare their constancie and Sincerity in the Doctrine and Discipline established And hereupon they proceed to their Synodicall Decree saying This present Synod decrees that all Archbishops and Bishops and all other Priests and Deacons in places exempt or not exempt shall take an 〈◊〉 against all Innâ—vations of Doctrine or Discipline And the 〈◊〉 I A. B. doe sweare that I doe approve the Doctrine and Discipline or Government established in the Church of England as containing all things necessary to Salvation And that I will not indeavour by my selfe or any other directly or indirectly to bring in mâ— Popish Doctrine contrary to that which is so established Nor will I ever give my assent to alter the Government of this Church by Archbishops Bishops Deanes and Archdeacons c. as it stands now established and as by right it ought to stand nor yet ever to Subject it to the usurpation and Superstitions of the Sea of Rome c. And if any shall refuse to take this Oath after the first moneth he shal be suspended from his Ministry after the second moneth from his Ministry and Benefice and after the third moneth deprived of all his Ecclesiasticall promotions whatsoever and execution of his function which he holds in the Church of England And so this Oath extends to all Graduates in Divinity Masters of Graduates or licensed practitioners in Law and Physicke all Registers Actuaries Proctors Schoolmasters all that enter into the Ministry or into a Benefice c. Thus Lord it is not suffiâ—â—â— for these men to alter both the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England as aforesaid and to make the Discipline and Government of Prelates more Antichristian then it was before by adding a new claime of Divine Authority to their Antichristian Iurisaâ—ction blasphemoully fatheriâ—g it upon thee but they must have all this Sealed with an Oath of all such Persons as aforesaid that so by so many conduâ—â— pipes the whole Land may be poysoned and at once universally enthralled under a most miserable bondage And now subscription which were too much and against all Law and Conscience is not sufficient For all Ministers and others of any degree forementioned must sweare to the ratifying of the 〈◊〉 of the Articles of Religion as aforesaid to the setting up and bowing to Altars with all the other Ceremonies and Innovations about them to the maintaining of an Anti christian Tyranny exercised by the Prelates under the name of Christ and his Apostles and so in Summe they must become Sworne vassals to these Tyrants and Sworne Enemies to thy Majesty and Kingly Soveraignty to thy word and Scepter to their owne Salvation and the Salvation of thy people and so proclaime themselves to all the world the most base and vile Slaves that ever the earth bred Yea the most of them such especially as know anything and this time of light admits of no plea for ignorance in any man must of necessity if at all they take this Oath Sweare against their own Consciences and so in no small degree sin against the Holy Ghost whereby their Sin becomes unpardonable when once their Conscience is â—eared to impenitencie and their selfe-damnation sealed up to destruction Besides all this if they looke upon temporall respects are they sure the King of this Land will be alwayes of the mind to maintain and continue such an Hierarchie What if God should be pleased in mercy to hiâ—Church to open the eyes of the King to let him see now he and his State is abused by this Generation of Prelates so as to â—â—ot them out Againe though the Office oâ—Kings be â—â—mortall yet their persons are not another King may succeed that is of another mâ—â—d And above all this we beleeve ô Lord that the intolerable outrages and high flown presumptions of these Prelates against thee and thy Church and against the whole State of the Land are most certaine cleare and immediate forerunners of their most fearefull ruine And therefore let thy feare ô Lord be upon all thy Ministers and People of the Land at this time and let thy grace be sufficient for them to arme them with a holy courage zeale magnanimity undaunted constant resâ—â—tion to stand out in a Christian defiance against this most damnable and desperate Oath least the taking of it bring certaine wrath upon the takers as the making and imposing of it shall certainly bring upon the makers and imposers of it to their utter destruction But alas ô Lord have not these Prelates already made way for an unwerâ—all admittance of this their Cursed Oath For where is fearce one good Minister left of a true bred masculine Spirit whom these men have not rid out of the way And those that be left are they not for the most part such as either preferre the fleshpots of Aegypt before Canaan Or such as have already deâ—â—led their Consciences with abâ—sing their Ministry to the publick obeying of wicked Commands of these their great Masters as in the publick reading the Booke of profane Sports on the Lords day forbearing to preach in the Afternoones admitting of Altars in their Churches and perhaps bowing unto them not 〈◊〉 to preach freely the Doctrines of Grace to the strengthening of the faith of Gods people and inflaming their love towards God as the 17th Article saith and to the confounding of the enemies of Grace and that cursed Faction that now raigneth So as Ministers having universally defiled their Consciences and abased their Ministry in these things for such as refused are already cast out are already prepared and sitted to doe any other baseâ— service that these their Masters shall command their Conscience being by this time made wide enough to swallow downe this monstrous and damnable Oath which could not possibly have been forged in any other Shop but in hell it selfe not by any other workmen but by Devils themselves in the likenesse of men But ô Lord thou who * onely art able to keep 〈◊〉 thine from saking and to â—â—reserve them faultlesse before the presence of thy glory with joy who * wilt keep him in perfect peace whose â—â—nd is stayd on thee because he trusteth in thee if thou hast a remnant left which have not received the marke of the Beast but have kept their garments pure or if any who through feare or humane frailty have abased themselves