the Lord not to keep silence in the day of Jacobs trouble if a necessary word seasonably spoken may become any way instrumental unto the breaking forth of light in these days of darkness and gloominess days of clouds and thick darkness And seeing God doth not altogether hide from seeing eyes and hearing ears and understanding hearts what he is about to do The wonderful and unwonted daily occurrences do seemingly declare That the Lord of hosts is doing his work his strange work and bringing to pass his act his strange act of removing the Diadem and taking off the Crown overturning overturning overturning it that it may be no more in as much as the horrid and grievous sin of Tyranny hath found out the guilty capital Delinquents to allude to that which is prophetically denounced see Ezek. 21. 25 26 27. God thus thundering and speaking as it were from Heaven who can but tremblingly speak If children should hold their peace the stones would immediately cry out Hence the said proposer hath taken upon him also to propound a few words unto your learned and solid wisdoms who are the choice and eminent Commissioners of your General Assembly and to pray you of your gentleness to hear with patience some advertisement for the stirring you up to contribute your best assistance in this perplexed conjuncture of Affairs in our three Nations in helping the Lord against his opposites Right worthy Sirs It manifestly appeareth by the return of the hearty thanks of the Estates of your Parliament for your Testimony against Toleration and likewise their concurrence with it that ye have singular interest in the Estates of Parliament May it please you therefore to improve your interest by suggesting and perswading them that whereas this your Parliament was extraordinarily summoned and the form and frame or materials in great part regulated by such of the Estates and Souldieries who sought the real welfare of your Church and Nation in the extream exigencies thereof without the command or direction of any legal Monarch to give order thereabouts and as indeed your case seemed absolutely to require they would now deeply ponder and bethink themselves of the best expedient for the settlement of Truth and Peace as may tend to the lengthening of your tranquillity in the liberty of true Religion and also Ecclesiastical and Civil Government for the suppressing of Popery Prelacy Heresie Schism and Prophaneness which otherwise will infest your Nation as well as others whether neighbors or more remote If ye as Mordecai sent Queen Esther word do altogether hold your peace at this time Deliverance and Enlargement may come some otherway but ye may not expect the comfort thereof And who knoweth whether your favor in the eyes of the Estates be not for such a time as this Now howbeit the generality of the Reformed Christian World studious of Zions peace are not ignorant of your abundant and excellent sufficiencies in the managing of the weighty concernments of your own Countrey Yet your humble advertiser inquisitive and solicitous of your entire faithful deportment presumeth it will not be vexatious unto you to be put in remembrance of such truth as ye well know and are established in Which remembred and made use of may become serviceable in this time of need Be pleased therefore to take notice and observe these few hints Government being a goodly and honorable Ordinance of God instituted for the Weal of all Nations and humane Societies in the latitude of the fifth Commandment and first of the second Table of the Decalogue yet the constituting and exercising of it for its kinde whether supream or subordinate seemeth in the Scripture language to be an humane Ordinance or Creature even as right reason may dictate and sway any society to choose and comply withal according as divine providence and effectual ordering and permission may be discerned when the state and condition of occurrences requireth a new moulding and fashioning as sometimes it doth see 1 Pet. 2. 13 14. compared with 2 Sam. 5. 1 2 3. 1 Kings 12. 1 15 20 24. Hushai his speech who was a great Counsellor of State seemeth to be a reasonable and just political Maxime viz. Whom the Lord and his people and all the men of Israel chuse to be supream his will I be and with him will I abide see 2 Sam. 16. 18. And to say nothing what humane writings tell us touching political Government in its kindes or species as likewise touching their rules given in the main of them practicable in any kinde of lawful policy whether it be Monarchical Aristocratical Democratical or mixt of these Nor yet to say nothing of Church Government by Presbyteries and Synods in any Common-wealth as being directed unto in the Word of God and is therefore unchangeable de jure in the substantials of it in all ages and times of the Church That which is to be remembred and taken notice of is touching Political Government of Common-wealths which according to the divine story in Scripture written for our learning Rom. 15. 4. hath been variously changeable in various ages and periods of times viz. From Adam to Moses it was in one kinde even by Patriarks from Moses to Samuel it was in other kindes even by Moses Joshua Elders Heads of Tribes and Judges from Samuel until the Captivities of Israel and Iudah it was again in other kindes even by Kings variously promoted unto the Government by Gods designe viz. Either elected by the people or by descent approved amongst the people or by conquests from the return of the Jewish captivity until new Testament times it was yet in other kindes even by Princes Governors Captains or Roman Deputies and the same judicial penal Laws of divine institution and enacting did equally and respectively serve in one kinde of Government as well as another for the preservation of life livelihood and liberty in a due way of administration So that such passages of Scripture well observed and remembred it may seem That our Lord Christ is no more a friend to Monarchical Government then to Aristocratical or Democratical or mixt of any of these Moreover let it also be remembred That after the return from the captivity when preceding Monarchy had ceased and yet Jacobs Prophetical prediction failed not Gen. 49. 10. and the Government was changed through divine dispensation of times and seasons which the Father hath put in his own power yet such after Government did flourish and prosper greatly And although the external pomp and splendor of the Common-wealth was not in all things so illustrious as formerly at some times by how much a deficiency was of some special means and accommodations as had been for the structure of Solomons Temple and magnificent Kingly Palaces c. Yet the latter condition both of the Temple re-edified and Common-wealths posture wanted not altogether their glory and encouragements yea and in that which was most considerable even spiritual dignity and welfare it had the
A RELIGIOUS SCRUTINY CONCERNING Unequall Marriage To be represented To the Generall Assembly of the Kirk of SCOTLAND Together with a POSTSCRIPT to the Commissioners of the KIRK Whereunto is subjoyned AN APPENDIX Humbly tendred to the Parliament of ENGLAND In reference to the late Transactions of State And now lastly is added A Faithfull and Conscientious Account FOR Subscribing the Engagement By Thomas Paget Minister of the VVord in SHREWSBURY Jer. 6. 16. Thus saith the Lord Stand ye in the wayes and see and ask for the old paths which is the good way and walk therein and ye shall find rest for your souls John 8. 31 32. Then said jesus to those Disciples which believed on him If ye continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed and ye shall know the truth and the truth shalt make you free London Printed by John Macock and are to be sold in Popes-head Alley 1650. To the Reader THis last addition mentioned in the title of these following discourses should have come forth eight moneths since but many occasions intervening and among them the Author observing that many learned discourses were about that time published by others on the same argument he thought the world would have lesse need of his but finding since that time besides the perswasion of such as had viewed it to whose judgement he owed much many notable things come to passe in the event of affairs in a manner then foretold to those of that faction pretended to be the old Presbyterian to whom the advertisement agreeing with the scope of the book was particularly directed and many dangerous conjunctions since discovered which were then foreseen when they seemed to be most conceal'd repented him not that it was defer'd till now having more hope that after so many means of conviction they might be now found the willinger to open their ears to that evidence of truth which is laid before them inducing them with the same solidity and clearnesse of Reason to submit to the Engagement as he had done before in exhorting them to a peaceable compliance with the present Government though then for some private Reasons under the assumed name of THEOPHILUS PHILOPATRIUS And thus much was thought good to be prefixt to the former advertisement which now follows By the same friend to pure Religion and his Native Countrey An Advertisement by way of Preface to the Neophyte Presbyterian Ministers of England and Ireland THe reverend Author of these several Discourses following though a stranger to me appears throughout the whole Treatise to be of that judgment in Church-Discipline which is called Presbyterian but far different from some opinions which so many of those who in these days assume that name have under that pretext lately broached among us with such disturbance of the Peace and Civil Magistracy of the Land His yeers likewise intimated in a passage of his Book with other Arguments give us to believe him more then ordinarily versed both in the writings of the good old Non-Conformists of this Nation and the acquaintance and familiarity of many grave and worthy Ministers whose faith and constancy endured the tryals of long persecutions and exiles under the raign of the two last Kings Whereby the world may know besides what hath been lately shewn in several other Treatises and chiefly from Histories of the Scotish Reformation penned by the most eminent of the Presbyterians and principal managers of those Affairs that these subscribers in London of the Representation Vindication c. against the tryal of the late King c. and their copartners in subscriptions on the same accompt in Lancashire Essex or any other County of England with the Presbytery of Belfast in Ireland as many of them at least whose countenance of names have not been made use of without their knowledg are not as they profess to be the followers of those sincere and pious men of this or other Reformed Protestant Countreys whose doctrine and holy life in the midst of all kinde of sufferings unto which they were then exposed hath yet left a Religious memory of a sweet smelling savor behinde them Which Contratenor of these mens appears not onely in those assumed Vindications with their other slightings of the present Authority and defaming the higher powers placed over them in the manage of their trust and these Representations attended in odium tertii by an unnatural coition in so palpable steps with the tumultuous spirits of their old and by themselves declared inveterate enemies of that part of their old and once owned friends which is now become unto them a principal abomination by reason of those their late avowed and pursued principles most inconsistent with their interest and of the rude multitude of whose crying one day Hosannah and by and by Crucifie they need not more experience They all this while not foreseeing how naturally these courses do tend to settle on their own heads by their own hands those very evils whereof they are most afraid But also that they may be sure to keep distance from their most faithful and inwardly approved friends their countermining is yet more evident a new opportunity to shew themselves arising in their tenacious adhering to set days of Humiliation in opposition to occasional wherein the opinion and practice of the Reformed Churches and especially of the Church of Scotland with whom they most plead to have uniformity is cleerly no less against them of the which such of them as have either been conversant in their Writings about their Discipline against the Prelatical or have had the opportunity of any free discourse with their Commissioners in the Assembly at Westminster or elsewhere cannot possibly have any colour to plead ignorance Into both of which so opposite aspects that they did not upon their own principles chuse to fall but were indeed by emergence of occurrences surprizing them driven is very apparent by that ready Testimony which the most forward of them at first were observed to give besides former expressions that way looking to the very Remonstrance of the Army in what concerned even the calling of the King to account and afterwards so perfectly falling out with it by reason of the maner of doing viz. The suspension of some Members of Parliament c. The which maner notwithstanding made voyd does sweep along with it whereof they cannot be ignorant the Alpha and Omega of their friends transactions for the re-establishent and preservation of Presbytery c. in Scotland against the Prelatical inundations they having in the beginning of these conflicts no Parliament till their sword fencing their other addresses begot both it and their assembly and that Parliament in a few successions degenerating these again with their own sword assisted with the followers of their copy in this Land having altogether overturned that line and cut out a new Parliament in affect of another Constitution of Members and 〈◊〉 passed sentence of Non-Communion in an Admonition upon the acquiescers
a Bill of divorcement for the putting away of the wife notwithstanding the marriage was lawfully made and continued until such occasion see Matth. 19. 9. IX And lastly the Question is not whether in all ages and times recorded in the Scriptures the Rulers commissioned to execute justice and judgment on notorious offendors have fully approved their integrity and faithfulness in acting in the specified case as had been meet 1. Forasmuch as the sacred Records in matters of fact are many times silent lest they should be too voluminous and because also that which is recorded is enough for the guiding of beleevers in steering of their course see John 21. 25. and Chap. 20. 30 31. 2. And forasmuch as sometimes the Rulers who ought to have been vigorously active against miscarriage of any herein have been themselves delinquent and so the edg of Iustice hath been thereby blunted see Solomon Nehe 13. 26. Iehoram 2 Chron. 21. 6. 3. Yea and forasmuch as pious and reforming Princes have yet some of them been too remiss in zealous executing according to Law as they ought to have done even as the Scripture sheweth in the example of gracious and worthy Iehoshaphat 2 Chron. 20. 33. and of the zealous and constantly upright-hearted King Asa 2 Chron. 15. 17. In their not taking away of the high places It is the Annotation in the Margent of the Bible Printed at Edinburg by Andrew Hart 1610. much approved in Scotland on 2 Chro. 15. 16. touching King Asa his deposing his mother Maachah from her regency because she had made an Idol in a Grove That therein he shewed he lacked zeal for she ought to have died both by the Covenant as vers 13. and by the Law of God but he gave place to foolish pity and would seem also after a sort to satisfie the Law Concerning the which Annotation the propounder of this Question heard it reported about fourty yeers agone from authentick witnesses that King Iames was so offended thereat that he for that Note sake would not permit thenceforth any Bibles in English to be Reprinted with any Annotations whatsoever neither of the new Translation nor of the former old Translations Which by the way may advertise the learned and forward attesting Brethren of the Ministery both in Scotland and in London and some other Provinces of the English Nation that it need not seem strange if there be a paucity of presidents in the Scriptures or modern Protestant writings about penal executions on superlative persons especially as matters have stood under Monarchy When yet notwithstanding there is sure and sufficient rule and example in the Word of God either directly expressed or by just consequence to be deduced from the latitude of Commandments and Scripture Historical which may satisfie Conscience and also oblige and encourage unto the due execution of Iustice so that the Question is as it is stated Whether commissioned Rulers supreme or subordinate ought not formerly and consequently Whether they ought not still even in these gospel-Gospel-days according to occasion see to legal execution in the matter in hand or any other Motives inducing unto the representing of the Question arguing the importance and expediency of it I. TExts of Scripture expresly 1. Requiring and commanding professors of the true Religion that when they shall make use of their liberty or necessity to marry to be sure that they do marry onely in the Lord see 1 Cor. 7. 39. 2. Prohibiting and forbidding people in Covenant with God to make any marriages with daughters who are strangers to the Covenant of God see Deut. 7. 3. 2 Cor. 6. 14. 3. Complaining of convincing and reprehending such mixture in marriages see Ezra 9. 2. Nehe. 13. 23 24 25 28 Mal. 2. 11. 4. Threatning and denouncing punishment to be executed in such case of unlawful marriages whoever the offenders are see Mal. 2. 12. 5. Informing of the approved course of faithful and religious Rulers in the separating and putting away such idolatrous wives and such as were born of them to be done according to the Law see Ezra 10. 2 3 c. 6. Declaring and shewing Gods proceedings in judgment against the old world by the deluge for sin in this kinde see Gen. 6. 2 3 c. II. Divine forceable Reasons made use of in the holy Scriptures against such mixt prophane marriages taken from the 1. Inequality of their being yoked together in conjugal society see 2 Cor. 6. 14 15 16. compared with Deut. 22. 10. 2. Extream danger of the not attaining of an holy seed in mixt marriage which yet ought to be seriously looked after as that which God seeketh and mindeth see Mal. 2. 15. But in all appearance is likely to be frustrated hereby see Ezra 9. 2. Nehe. 13. 23 24. Inasmuch as children are most apt to be swayed according to their mothers principles see 2 Chron. 22. 3 4. 3. Dangerous ensnaring the husbands in the sin of the Wives foreseen and warned against by the Lord himself see Deut. 7. 4. and envinced by woful event see 1 King 11. 1 2 4. Nehem. 13. 26. whence also ensueth an hinderance or disturbance of religious family duties of prayer 1 Pet. 3. 7. and consequently a drawing down the wrath of God on them Jerem. 10. 25. III. Evident testimonies of ancient and modern Theologues in their approved Orthodox writings occasionally treating hereabouts viz. 1. Old Tertullian one of the most learned Latine Fathers in whose writings Cyprian the Father and Martyr delighted to exercise himself every day Lib. 2. ad uxor cap. 3. He asserteth That beleevers marrying with Gentiles or Pagans are guilty of whoredom and that they ought not to be communicated withal This Book of his is approved by Abr. Scultetus who was an eminent professor at Heydelburg in his Medul Patr. 2. Peter Martyr a most pious learned and much renowned professor heretofore at Oxford and elsewhere in the reign of King Edward the sixth and very much endeared to most Orthodox Protestants of the Reformed Religion in his Commentar on 1 King 3. 1. disputing De dispari conjugio propoundeth sundry Arguments against mixt marriages quoteth some of the Fathers as being of his minde even Ierome Augustine c. and answereth sundry Objections yea and albeit he hath somewhat in the close of his discourse to allay extream severity yet it may appear the Question being rightly stated that none of his allayes do infringe the Arguments 3. That famous and worthy Minister of Christ in the University of Cambridg Master William Perkins in his Warning against the Idolatry of the last times asserteth That the marriages of the Israelites with Idolaters mentioned Ezra 10. 3. were indeed voyd and no marriages He alleageth two Reasons thereof the latter whereof is In that they were not onely idolaters but also inticers to idolatry God by express Commandment did simply forbid the Jews to marry with them unless they did repent and change their Religion And in regard of this Commandment
to Law in the case of divers of the people of Israel returned from the Babylonish captivity who had transgressed abominably in making mixt marriages and who therefore as the case required did institute Reformation and accordingly did reform This appeareth Ezra 9. 10. throughout and more particularly Chap. 10. 3 16. Hereunto also the Apostolical allusion in the business in hand doth notably serve for illustration See Gal. 4. 30. Cast out the bond-woman and her son c. Such was the known famous case in some sort infamous of King Henry the eighth of England who in an Oration to his Subjects gave them to understand That the Lady Mary his daughter was not reputed his lawful daughter nor his Queen Katherine her mother his lawful wife but their pretended conjugal society had been most detestable adultery as he had been informed by divers learned Clerks Whereupon afterwards the marriage was declared and made voyd See 2. Vol. of the Book of Martyrs pag. 327. Edit 1641. Thus it is manifest that some pretended conjugal society and fruit of it may be separated and cast out II. It is to be observed that the God of Heaven and Earth doth really distinguish and put difference betwixt person and person and requireth likewise that his people should do so too in their walking and conversing with humane society according to occasion in such Scriptural notions and expressions as following are specified and instanced for better discerning herein viz. 1. The seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent Gen. 3. 15. 2. The sons of God and the daughters of men Gen. 6. 2 4. 3. Noah his family and the old world of the ungodly 2 Pet. 2. 5. 4. The tents of Shem Canaan his servant Gen. 9. 27. 5. Circumcised persons and uncircumcised ones Gen. 17. 13 14. 6. Children of the free-woman and of the bond-woman Gal. 4. 31. 7. Israelites and Gentiles Exod. 19. 5 6. 8. Precious ones and vile persons Jere. 15. 19. 9. Jews and adversaries of Judah Ezra 4. 1 2 3. 10. Righteous and the wicked Mal. 3. 18. 11. Children of God and children of the devil 1 John 3 10. 12. Regenerate and unregenerate John 3. 3 c. 13. Spiritual man and natural man 1 Cor. 2. 14 15. 14. Beleevers and unbeleevers 2 Cor. 6. 14. 15. Christians and Antichrists Acts 11. 26. 1 John 2. 18. 16. Within the Church and without 1 Cor. 5. 12. Acts 2. 47. 17. One inwardly in the heart and one outwardly Rom. 2. 28 29. 18. Quickned and dead Ephes. 2. 5. 19. Children of the light or day and of darkness or the night 1 Thes. 5. 5. 20. Baptized and unbaptized Luke 3. 7. and 7. 30 c. Hence it may be discerned how marriages may be made in the Lord. III. The Question is not propounded touching a separating of the marriages of such persons who were married when both of them were idolatrous but after the marriage one of them through the dispensation of the Gospel becometh a convert to the true Religion Neither is it touching the casting out of their children sith such their condition and such state of their children likewise is cleerly and punctually spoken unto and determined by the Apostle Paul in the case of desertion or non-desertion according as occasion may offer See 1 Cor. 7. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16. The case of Galeacius Caracciolus Marquess of Vico declared in his life translated into English by W. Cr. cap. 25. is a singular instance in the specified occasion IV. Neither is the Question about the abrogating of the marriage of such a professor of the true Religion who in a due way doth espouse himself unto such a woman whose parents and progenitors are grosly idolatrous and she her self was lately such but she is now converted and embraceth the true Religion before the marriage be made For there are approved presidents in the Word of God of the lawfulness of such their matrimony See Ruth 4. 13. compare chap. 1. 16. 1 Kings 1. 3. compare Psal. 45. 13. V. Nor yet the Question is not instituted with a partial respect and exception of some sorts of persons but it equally and indifferently concerneth any sort and degree of persons whomsoever whether Civil or Ecclesiastical Supreme or Inferior Rich or Poor c. Sith by occasion there is a possibility that any sorts and degrees of persons may be tempted and fall into one miscarriage as well as another as is implyed Gal. 6. 1. Yea and the Scripture instanceth the transgressions in such kinde even of Kings Princes Rulers Priests Levites and People See Nehe. 13. 26. Ezra 9. 1 2. The Scripture giveth instance likewise of course held for redress see Ezra 10. Nehe. 13. VI. Moreover the Question is not whether the professors of the true Religion having transgressed by making mixt marriages may or ought at their own pleasure put away their wives by their own and sole authority and so likewise cast out their children Sith such procedure it may seem if admited of ought to be by the decision and order of such as have calling and authority thereunto As it may appear Ezra 10. 2 3 4. Nehe. 13. 23 24 25. VII Likewise the Question is not touching a making voyd the marriages of the professors of the true Religion who are married to professors of the said true Religion for the substance of it but some difference is in some circumstantial matters and superstructive opinions which do not destroy the foundation and principles of the true Religion Sith such condition of difference in judgment about lesser matters in Religion may be incident unto some members of the true Churches of Christ. See 1 Cor. 3. 3 4 12. Phil. 3. 13. VIII Neither is the Question concerning professors of the true Religion who are charitably and probably reputed to be truely religious having the Spirit of power and of love and of a sound minde but their yoke-fellows professing outwardly onely and having a form of godliness but deny the power of it professing indeed that they know God but in their works deny him whether these should be separated and their children cast out Sith profession denominateth the Religion Howbeit in the seventh and eighth Cases special and uttermost faithful endevor ought to be used by persons of good knowledg to free their yokefellows from the entanglement of erroneous opinions and unchristian conversation and to establish them in the truth if so they may yet be brought to approve themselves as becometh the Gospel of Christ and if God through their due way of instructing them with meekness may peradventure grant them repentance unto life and unto the acknowledging of the truth see 2 Tim. 2. 25 26. Whereas on the other hand in this case God hateth putting away as being a trecherous dealing against ones companion and wife of his Covenant see Mal. 2. 14 15 16. save in the case of whoredom alone for in such case it is lawful to procure
preference and preeminence see Hag. 2. 7 8 9. True it is when strange and sudden changes do happen in the state of Nations it is no great marvel if mens spirits be much moved and greatly troubled If the good and grave Prophet Samuel did mourn for King Saul in such sort as he did and yet God himself did therefore reprove him see 1 Sam. 16. 1. yea when he was rejected from being King for his disobeying God and governing the people unworthily It is the less to be wondred at if the Scots after a succession of 107 Kings a total eclipse ensuing or like to ensue should be exceedingly moved in their mindes But however it may be may not the same reproof and complaint be applyed to them as was to Samuel for his mourning for Saul when now a door of hope as it were in the valley of Achor is opened for the taking away of the offender and troubler of Israel for the better fruition of just freedom Sirs ye are not ignorant what pressures and oppressions have been on your Nation from sundry tyrannical persons from generation to generation whatever garnishing is now adays of pretended glorious Kingly remembrances among you But for brevity sake as the concernments have been latest and therefore more sensibly affecting mention shall be onely made of King Iames and King Charls his son principled by his Father treading in his steps and in some things doing worse then all that were before him as was said of King Ahab see 1 Kings 16. 30 c. It seemeth therefore it is now high time for you to call to remembrance those former days in which ye endured a great fight of afflictions First through King Iames his tyrannical oppressions who was the notorious Covenant breaker as your frequent sighing and groaning complaints both in publiks and private have spoken in the ears of the Lord and of his people and he who did rend in sunder the Kirk of Scotland as in his nonage in a sullen and peevish fume he rent of his Hanks head even as his Tutor G. Buckanan on that occasion and throughly acquainted with his untoward disposition sagaciously presaged So wilt thou rend the Kirk of Scotland The precious names of Master Andrew Melvin Master David Chalderwood Mr. John Sharp and many many other glorious Confessors together with the infamous Articles enacted at the pretended Assembly at Perth 1618. do give full and pregnant evidence hereunto Besides the havock made of the Ministry of many many hundred Worthies of the Lord in England Secondly through King Charls his oppressing and vexing tyranny who fiercely assayed at the time of his Coronation in Edinburg 1633. the introducing of spiritually poysonous means for prevailing of Hierarchy and superstitious Conformity not so fully taking place there as in England howbeit he was at that time repulsed therein the Parliament at that time suffering aborsion But his expectation being disappointed and many Common-prayer Books and other English superstitious utensils drowned and himself in greater danger of drowning also he returned into England full of rage and fury posting with great hast even in four hours space from Berwick to Newcastle which is fifty long miles where assoon as he came his breathing himself was in breathing out in a cursing way threatning and persecution to the true religious Ministery not onely not conforming to Hierarchy but conforming also if any whit zealous Preachers both in England and Scotland as some of Newcastle being present did with grief of heart report unto their friends Ever after which time he either by open hostility or by subtil undermining imposture pursued that his malicious designe as many woful instances might be mentioned if need required until when there was no remedy the sword of justice drawn out in England for his blood-gueltiness gave a stop to the swift and violent torrent of blood issuing from many many thousands of English Irish and Scots which had cryed in the ears of the Lord of hosts for vengeance And O that your remembring hereof may be more and more effectual unto you for your hearing the rod and who hath appointed it for giving instruction if probably ye may escape the danger of a giantly generation and if after such threatning storms ye may safely arrive in the Harbor of wel-grounded Peace To this end observing the Lords proceedings alluded unto Ezek 21. 25 26. above mentioned compared with Mal. 2. 12. Ye may do well to serve Gods providence in the use of means in becoming followers of our English Parliament and in walking so as ye have them for an ensample who have also had the united Netherlands in casting of the Spanish tyrannical yoke for their example in obtaining freedom A course approved and justified throughout all the Reformed Churches in Europe contributed unto from the first all along by the English to this day in a special maner And as touching the sound mindes of the Orthodox Theologues expressing their sense of Scripture according to Scripture It is presumed that ye do certainly like well what venerable Master Knox and others heretofore and of late of your own Countrey have suggested and published touching the lawful warrantableness of present necessary undertakings besides what forraign Professors of Divlnity have written and commended to the Christian world Let the judgment of judicious and faithful D. Paraeus in stead of many suffice for instance who was a man of God highly reverenced and accepted in the Reformed Churches of Christ and was evidenced as otherwise by his learned and pious Commentaries so by his Letters and advice inserted in the Acts of the Synod of Dort 1618. touching the five controverted Articles debated and determined there however his most approved and learned Exposition on the Epist. to Rom. suffered Martyrdom in England being burnt at London and elsewhere by the tyrannical persecution of King Iames for its opposing tyranny This worthy man in his way of resolving doubts on Rom. 13. touching civil Anthority in a second Proposition there hath five Reasons the last whereof in special from sacred examples and others speaks fully in vindication of our matter in hand whether the Reader is referred to see further Object Buy whereas it is vehemently objected by your Nations Commissioners in their Papers and otherwise represented to our Parliament and likewise it is suggested by your Correspondents of London Province in a little Pamphlet stiled A Vindication of the Ministers of the Gospel in and about London subscribed with divers names as if they had promoted the bringing of the King to justice do they not blush in so speaking The purport whereof is As if an unlawful and unjust course was used for the doing of justice and judgment on the King notwithstanding all the blood guiltiness which by you and them was charged on him and most substantially by witnesses evidenced for the more compleat satisfaction of his Judges which proof also had been publikely managed had he pleased to answer to the Charge And