a_o speech_n deliver_v at_o the_o visitation_n of_o down_n and_o conner_n hold_v in_o lisnegarvy_n the_o 26_o the_o of_o september_n 1638._o wherein_o for_o the_o convince_a of_o the_o nonconformist_n there_o be_v a_o full_a confutation_n of_o the_o covenant_n late_o swear_v and_o subscribe_v by_o many_o in_o scotland_n publish_a by_o authority_n my_o son_n fear_v the_o lord_n and_o the_o king_n and_o meddle_v not_o with_o they_o that_o be_v seditious_a proverb_n 24.21_o for_o rebellion_n be_v as_o the_o sin_n of_o witchcraft_n 1_o sam._n 15.23_o london_n print_v by_o john_n raworth_n for_o george_n thomason_n and_o octavian_n pullen_n and_o be_v to_o be_v sell_v at_o the_o rose_n in_o st._n paul_n churchyard_n 1639._o after_o the_o name_n of_o the_o clergy_n be_v call_v the_o visitor_n speak_v in_o this_o manner_n and_o now_o my_o brethren_n of_o the_o clergy_n and_o all_o you_o gentleman_n of_o the_o laity_n i_o entreat_v your_o attention_n while_o i_o shall_v express_v myself_o in_o 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the_o same_o place_n of_o government_n until_o danaeus_n set_v he_o beside_o the_o cushion_n and_o procure_v the_o presidency_n to_o go_v by_o turn_n in_o the_o next_o place_n from_o dislike_n they_o proceed_v to_o contempt_n of_o episcopal_a government_n and_o this_o if_o you_o will_v believe_v st._n cyprian_a have_v be_v the_o very_a beginning_n of_o all_o heresy_n and_o schism_n rogarionum_fw-la ad_fw-la rogarionum_fw-la initia_fw-la haereticorum_fw-la say_v he_o &_o ortus_fw-la schismaticorum_fw-la haec_fw-la sunt_fw-la ut_fw-la praepositum_fw-la superbo_fw-la tumore_fw-la contemnant_fw-la and_o again_o vnde_fw-la schismata_fw-la &_o â—aereses_n ortae_fw-la sunt_fw-la nisi_fw-la â—um_fw-la episcopus_fw-la qui_fw-la unus_fw-la est_fw-la &_o ecclesiae_fw-la praeest_fw-la pupianum_fw-la ad_fw-la pupianum_fw-la superbâ_fw-la quorundam_fw-la presumptione_n contemnâ—tur_fw-la &_o homo_fw-la digâ—atâ—â—ne_fw-la dei_fw-la â—ororatus_fw-la ab_fw-la indâ—gnis_fw-la hominibus_fw-la 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king_n command_v the_o city_n of_o edenburrough_n according_a to_o the_o ancient_a custom_n to_o entertain_v he_o with_o a_o banquet_n this_o charge_n be_v give_v on_o the_o saturday_n and_o the_o banquet_n to_o be_v on_o the_o monday_n and_o upon_o sunday_n morning_n some_o of_o the_o factious_a minister_n hear_v of_o it_o to_o cross_v his_o majefty_n design_n proclaim_v a_o public_a fast_o to_o be_v keep_v on_o that_o day_n and_o because_o that_o the_o nobility_n the_o king_n servant_n the_o provost_z and_o chief_a citizen_n of_o edenburrough_n do_v by_o the_o king_n direction_n attend_v the_o ambassador_n they_o proceed_v against_o they_o almost_o unto_o the_o sentence_n of_o excommunication_n afterward_o when_o his_o majesty_n be_v take_v prisoner_n at_o reuthen_n by_o some_o of_o his_o treacherous_a subject_n intendig_fw-ge thereby_o to_o force_v his_o majesty_n to_o their_o own_o end_n his_o majesty_n be_v happy_o deliver_v do_v with_o the_o consent_n of_o his_o three_o estate_n in_o parliament_n declare_v
so_o much_o as_o mention_v if_o any_o man_n shall_v say_v that_o episcopacy_n be_v include_v under_o the_o pope_n wicked_a hierarchy_n which_o there_o be_v deny_v he_o will_v prove_v himself_o ridiculous_a for_o it_o be_v well_o know_v unto_o all_o that_o ever_o look_v into_o the_o ecclesiastical_a history_n that_o the_o church_n be_v govern_v by_o bishop_n 600_o year_n before_o the_o pope_n wicked_a hierarchy_n begin_v and_o as_o that_o government_n be_v not_o abjure_v so_o neither_o be_v it_o any_o innovation_n at_o all_o for_o it_o be_v evident_a that_o in_o the_o year_n 81._o they_o have_v bishop_n and_o it_o be_v yet_o to_o be_v see_v registrate_n in_o the_o book_n of_o council_n and_o subscribe_v by_o the_o commissioner_n for_o the_o time_n how_o that_o but_o a_o little_a time_n before_o the_o publish_n of_o that_o confession_n declaration_n king_n declaration_n the_o general_a assembly_n do_v agree_v with_o his_o majesty_n regent_n in_o his_o minority_n that_o the_o estate_n 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jurisdiction_n and_o perceive_v withal_o that_o their_o new_a erect_a government_n be_v the_o mother_n of_o all_o faction_n confusion_n and_o rebellion_n and_o that_o it_o tend_v to_o anabaptisme_n and_o popularity_n and_o to_o the_o overthrow_n of_o his_o state_n crown_n and_o kingdom_n 1584._o he_o call_v a_o parliament_n and_o by_o the_o consent_n of_o all_o his_o state_n he_o overthrow_v their_o presbytry_n and_o restore_v again_o the_o bishop_n to_o their_o place_n but_o indeed_o at_o that_o time_n the_o son_n of_o zerviah_n be_v too_o strong_a for_o he_o that_o he_o can_v never_o invest_v the_o bishop_n with_o their_o full_a power_n and_o authority_n until_o that_o happy_a time_n that_o his_o majesty_n come_v unto_o the_o crown_n of_o england_n and_o then_o not_o long_o after_o by_o a_o free_a general_n assembly_n hold_v at_o glasgow_n he_o do_v not_o erect_v but_o ratify_v and_o confirm_v the_o estate_n of_o bishop_n the_o act_n of_o which_o assembly_n be_v immediate_o after_o 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popish_a rite_n but_o such_o as_o be_v observe_v in_o the_o church_n since_o the_o day_n of_o the_o apostle_n as_o may_v appear_v by_o that_o bitter_a contention_n between_o the_o eastern_a and_o western_a church_n about_o the_o observation_n of_o easter_n and_o as_o for_o the_o other_o three_o article_n for_o private_a baptism_n the_o communion_n of_o the_o sick_a and_o confirmation_n of_o child_n there_o be_v no_o man_n in_o his_o right_a wit_n who_o will_v not_o acknowledge_v that_o they_o be_v in_o use_v many_o hundred_o year_n before_o popery_n be_v hatch_v and_o be_v in_o themselves_o thing_n not_o only_o lawful_a and_o expedient_a but_o in_o some_o case_n necessary_a but_o yet_o they_o will_v say_v that_o these_o thing_n be_v abjure_v in_o general_a term_n when_o they_o swear_v to_o continue_v in_o the_o obedience_n of_o the_o doctrine_n and_o discipline_n of_o that_o kirk_n for_o answer_v whereunto_o i_o shall_v desire_v you_o to_o consider_v first_o that_o they_o say_v not_o they_o will_v continue_v in_o the_o present_a discipline_n of_o this_o kirk_n as_o these_o new_a man_n do_v interpret_v it_o but_o indefinite_o that_o they_o will_v continue_v in_o the_o discipline_n of_o this_o kirk_n second_o albeit_o they_o have_v say_v so_o yet_o by_o the_o discipline_n we_o must_v understand_v that_o discipline_n which_o be_v establish_v by_o authority_n and_o law_n and_o not_o that_o which_o be_v violent_o bring_v in_o by_o some_o factious_a minister_n and_o their_o adherent_n now_o i_o have_v show_v that_o episcopal_a government_n be_v ratify_v and_o confirm_v by_o divers_a act_n of_o parliament_n but_o never_o dissolve_v by_o any_o and_o that_o their_o presbyterial_a government_n be_v put_v down_o by_o act_n of_o parliament_n but_o never_o establish_v by_o any_o three_o say_v that_o by_o discipline_n we_o shall_v yield_v to_o understand_v that_o discipline_n which_o then_o be_v use_v though_o bring_v in_o by_o private_a authority_n yet_o certain_o it_o be_v 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as_o ceremony_n such_o as_o man_n have_v devise_v be_v but_o temporal_a so_o may_v and_o ought_v they_o to_o be_v change_v when_o they_o rather_o suffer_v superstition_n then_o that_o they_o edify_v the_o church_n use_v the_o same_o so_o that_o by_o these_o man_n interpretation_n here_o be_v confession_n against_o confession_n the_o positive_a confession_n declare_v matter_n of_o policy_n and_o order_n to_o be_v alterable_a and_o such_o as_o upon_o occasion_n both_o may_v and_o aught_o to_o be_v change_v but_o these_o man_n do_v so_o interpret_v the_o negative_a confession_n and_o covenant_n as_o if_o they_o be_v bind_v by_o a_o oath_n to_o preserve_v the_o same_o order_n that_o be_v use_v in_o the_o year_n 81._o inviolable_o for_o ever_o 2_o such_o a_o interpretation_n be_v against_o all_o right_a reason_n for_o the_o condition_n of_o the_o church_n be_v changeable_a the_o same_o order_n can_v be_v convenient_a for_o she_o at_o all_o time_n as_o the_o same_o policy_n be_v not_o fit_a for_o the_o church_n in_o all_o place_n so_o neither_o for_o one_o and_o the_o same_o church_n at_o all_o time_n 3_o such_o a_o interpretation_n shall_v condemn_v the_o practice_n of_o the_o ancient_a church_n which_o do_v upon_o occasion_n often_o change_v her_o rite_n as_o namely_o dip_v in_o baptism_n which_o she_o change_v from_o once_o into_o thrice_o and_o again_o from_o thrice_o into_o once_o 4_o it_o be_v contrary_a to_o the_o judgement_n of_o all_o divine_n mr._n calvin_n tell_v we_o that_o in_o external_a discipline_n and_o ceremony_n christ_n will_v not_o particular_o prescribe_v what_o we_o shoâ—la_o fellow_n quod_fw-la istud_fw-la pendere_fw-la a_o temporum_fw-la varietate_fw-la pravideret_fw-la and_o again_o he_o say_v that_o sometime_o it_o profit_v and_o be_v expedient_a that_o there_o be_v a_o difference_n in_o these_o thing_n lest_o man_n shall_v think_v that_o religion_n be_v tie_v unto_o outward_a ceremony_n and_o indeed_o to_o make_v the_o rite_n of_o the_o
church_n unchangeable_a be_v to_o confound_v matter_n of_o doctrine_n and_o matter_n of_o discipline_n matter_n of_o faith_n and_o matter_n of_o order_n the_o rule_n therefore_o of_o tertullian_n be_v infallible_a regula_n fidei_fw-la immobilis_fw-la irrefragabilis_fw-la caetera_fw-la disciplinae_fw-la admittunt_fw-la novitatem_fw-la correctionis_fw-la 5_o if_o they_o have_v swear_v as_o these_o man_n will_v have_v it_o to_o maintain_v their_o discipline_n which_o they_o then_o use_v without_o alteration_n or_o addition_n like_o the_o law_n of_o the_o mede_n and_o persian_n then_o have_v they_o ascribe_v unto_o themselves_o a_o absolute_a perfection_n more_o than_o ever_o do_v the_o pharisee_n in_o christ_n day_n or_o the_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d after_o or_o the_o pope_n of_o late_a since_o they_o establish_v their_o own_o infallibility_n sure_o the_o contriver_n of_o the_o first_o confession_n do_v manifest_v a_o great_a deal_n of_o more_o modesty_n in_o their_o preface_n protest_v that_o if_o any_o man_n shall_v note_v in_o this_o our_o confession_n any_o article_n or_o sentence_n repugnant_a to_o god_n holy_a word_n and_o do_v admonish_v of_o the_o same_o in_o write_v we_o by_o god_n grace_n do_v promise_n unto_o he_o satisfaction_n from_o the_o mouth_n of_o god_n that_o be_v from_o his_o holy_a scripture_n or_o else_o reformation_n of_o that_o which_o he_o shall_v prove_v to_o be_v amiss_o and_o be_v these_o man_n become_v wise_a than_o their_o father_n to_o think_v that_o nothing_o which_o they_o do_v can_v be_v amend_v 6_o that_o can_v not_o be_v the_o meaning_n of_o the_o first_o oath_n to_o maintain_v their_o discipline_n in_o all_o point_n without_o alteration_n for_o they_o themselves_o during_o the_o day_n of_o the_o presbytery_n do_v change_v many_o thing_n and_o that_o as_o i_o believe_v without_o violation_n of_o their_o oath_n sometime_o their_o lay-elders_a have_v voice_n in_o the_o presbytery_n afterwards_o the_o minister_n perceive_v 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consistory_n with_o the_o rest_n whether_o their_o roll_a elderman_n be_v ecclesisticall_a person_n or_o layman_n whether_o their_o office_n shall_v be_v only_o annual_a or_o during_o life_n whether_o those_o elder_n shall_v have_v a_o voice_n in_o the_o election_n ordination_n deprivation_n of_o minister_n and_o in_o wield_v of_o the_o key_n for_o excommunication_n and_o absolution_n by_o all_o which_o it_o be_v more_o than_o manifest_a that_o the_o meaning_n of_o these_o word_n in_o the_o former_a oath_n we_o will_v continue_v in_o the_o obedience_n of_o the_o discipline_n of_o this_o kirk_n be_v not_o that_o they_o will_v observe_v the_o same_o discipline_n then_o use_v in_o all_o particular_n without_o alteration_n or_o addition_n for_o so_o their_o oath_n must_v be_v contrary_a to_o their_o confession_n of_o faith_n contrary_a to_o right_a reason_n to_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o primitive_a church_n to_o the_o opinion_n of_o all_o divine_n yea_o contrary_a to_o their_o own_o practice_n and_o indeed_o such_o a_o oath_n as_o be_v both_o unlawful_a and_o impossible_a to_o be_v observe_v and_o unless_o that_o interpretation_n be_v allow_v they_o that_o oath_n make_v nothing_o either_o against_o episcopacy_n or_o the_o five_o article_n of_o perth_n we_o must_v therefore_o find_v out_o some_o other_o meaning_n of_o these_o word_n of_o the_o covenant_n it_o be_v a_o rule_n in_o the_o civil_a law_n semper_fw-la in_o dubijs_fw-la benigniora_fw-la sunt_fw-la praeferendae_fw-la and_o again_o non_fw-la sunt_fw-la rejiciendae_fw-la leges_fw-la quae_fw-la interpretatione_n aliquâ_fw-la possunt_fw-la convenire_fw-la if_o any_o thing_n fact_n write_v or_o law_n may_v in_o reasonable_a construction_n admit_v two_o interpretation_n the_o best_a and_o mild_a be_v ever_o to_o be_v receive_v but_o the_o word_n in_o the_o former_a oath_n may_v admit_v a_o good_a interpretation_n namely_o they_o do_v swear_v to_o continue_v in_o the_o discipline_n of_o that_o kirk_n in_o 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late_a oath_n be_v substantial_o different_a from_o the_o former_a in_o that_o now_o they_o do_v not_o swear_v with_o the_o king_n but_o against_o he_o it_o contain_v a_o bond_n of_o mutual_a defence_n of_o one_o another_o it_o inable_v subject_n to_o take_v arm_n without_o lawful_a authority_n and_o contain_v such_o a_o interpretation_n of_o the_o old_a covenant_n as_o be_v manifest_o false_a in_o all_o which_o respect_v the_o oath_n be_v unlawful_a but_o yet_o to_o convince_v they_o further_o of_o perjury_n i_o will_v show_v unto_o you_o that_o they_o have_v not_o observe_v any_o of_o these_o condition_n which_o god_n himself_o require_v in_o a_o oath_n in_o the_o four_o of_o jeremy_n and_o second_o verse_n thou_o shall_v swear_v the_o lord_n live_v in_o truth_n in_o judgement_n and_o in_o righteousness_n in_o truth_n and_o therefore_o not_o false_o in_o judgement_n and_o therefore_o not_o rash_o in_o righteousness_n and_o therefore_o not_o lewd_o nor_o to_o a_o bad_a end_n we_o must_v swear_v in_o truth_n and_o not_o false_o for_o the_o lord_n himself_o say_v you_o shall_v not_o swear_v by_o my_o name_n false_o levit._fw-la 19.12_o the_o only_a true_a matter_n of_o a_o oath_n be_v truth_n but_o all_o the_o ground_n of_o this_o last_o oath_n be_v notorious_o false_a as_o namely_o that_o the_o negative_a confession_n be_v the_o nationall_n confession_n of_o the_o church_n of_o scotland_n and_o i_o have_v show_v that_o to_o be_v otherwise_o that_o this_o oath_n be_v the_o very_a same_o that_o king_n james_n and_o his_o family_n do_v swear_v and_o i_o have_v prove_v that_o not_o to_o be_v so_o that_o episcopacy_n and_o the_o five_o article_n of_o perth_n be_v innovation_n abjure_v in_o the_o former_a oath_n and_o i_o have_v manifest_v that_o to_o be_v evident_o false_a final_o that_o what_o they_o do_v be_v to_o avert_v the_o danger_n of_o the_o true_a reform_a religion_n of_o the_o king_n honour_n and_o of_o the_o public_a peace_n of_o the_o kingdom_n when_o 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article_n of_o perths_n assembly_n be_v