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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A90814	The paper called the Agreement of the people taken into consideration, and the lawfulness of subscription to it examined, and resolved in the negative, by the ministers of Christ in the province of Lancaster. Published by them especially for the satisfaction of the conscience, and guiding of the practise of our entirely honored and beloved, the people of our several churches, committed to our charge; and for the general good of this Church & nation.	Heyrick, Richard, 1600-1667.	1649 (1649)	Wing P279; Thomason E546_27; ESTC R203122	28,425	38

Kingdom in the most equal and hopeful way for common Right Freedom and Safety as in this Agreement i Page 32. This Agreement then perswades the people to cast off or depose the present Government to turn themselves into an Anarchy or jumbled multitude to become a people without distinction or order to run themselves into that confusion which the Jews were brought unto by the Babylonian Captivity to be as the fishes of the sea as the creeping things that have no ruler over them k Habak 1.14 and so fit for nothing but to be angled by them that desire to fish in troubled waters for so it follows in the Text they take up all of them with the angle they catch them in their net and gather them in their drags l Verse 15. as though we were a colony or company of men swarmed or broken out from some other Nation and newly landed in this Island free and ready to elect and set up a frame of a Common-wealth such as we should like best Unto all this we say 1. We are constituted Kingdom a setled State and under a lawful Government which is very ancient fully understood both by Magistrates and People and deeply rooted in mens affections both by long habituated exercise and the well-approved benefices of it 2. The Government we are under is good wholesom equitable for the Constitution of it fitly ballanced and proportioned being reduced to the golden-mean lying between Monarchical Tyranny and Popular Anarchy it hath had the general sufferage to be one of the moderatest and best tempered Governments in Europe 3. The form of Government which we have are bound to own and continue under not only by the single tye of the duty of Subjects but by sacred obligation of Oaths Vows and Covenants into which we have been called be called by lawful authority prescribing or propounding them to us as namely 1. The Oath of Allegiance in which the Subject solemnly sweareth in these words I shall bear faith and true allegiance to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors and him and them will defend to the uttermost of my power against all conspiracies and attempts whatsoever which shall be made against his or their persons their Crown or Dignity 2. The Oath of the Kings Supremacy wherein are these words I do promise that from henceforth I shall bear faith and true allegiance to the Kings Highness his Heirs and lawful Successors and to my power shall assist and defend all Jurisdictions Priviledges Preeminencies and Authorities granted or belonging to the Kings Highness his Heirs and Successors or united to the imperial Crown of this Realm 3. The Vow and and Protestation of 5 May 1641. in which who so entreth into it bindeth himself thus I do in the presence of Almighty God promise vow and protest to maintain and defend as far as lawfully I may with my life power and estate according to the duty of my Allegiance his Majesties Royal Person Honor and Estate as also the Power and Priviledges of Parliament the lawful Rights and Liberties of the Subject c. 4. And lastly The Solemn League and Covenant wherein we with hands lifted up to the most high God to swear thus We shall with the same sincerity reallity and constancy in our several Vocations endeavor with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliament and the Liberties of the Kingdom and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties Person and Authority in the Preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms that the world may bear witness with our Consciences of our Loyalty and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majesties just power or greatness And it deserves to be remembred that the Parliament at their entring into the Vow and Protestation did it upon and apprehension that our Government was in danger of undermining and laid down their sense thereof as one special ground of making the same m In the Preamble and finding also that there have been having just cause to suspect that there still are even during the sitting in Parliament endeavors to subvert the fundamental Laws of England and Ireland and to introduce the exercise of an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government by most pernicious and wicked councels practises plots and conspiracies c. and both entered and led the people into it expresly for the prevention of such a design adding to the tye of civil duty the religious bond of this Vow and Protestation for the firmer obliging of our allegiance to the Government And in the instructions for the taking of the Solemn League and Covenant throughout the Kingdom Art 10. there is an Exhortation ordered to be made to all sorts of persons to take it as that which they judg not only lawful but all things considered exceeding expedient and necessary for all that wish well to Religion the King and Kingdom to joyn in From these three Considerations as Premises we infer First There 's no place need or occasion for such an attempt 〈◊〉 is the abolishing of the old and rearing a new model of Government 1. Say that some invested with the Government have been faulty that 's no ground for changing the Government if it be we may run through all forms of policy and stay in none but still be changing for men will still be found failing our Government being lawful and good our course is as to this case to pray that our Magistrates may be good as we are required by the Apostle (n) 1 Tim. 2 1.2 for unless it please God to give us just and godly Magistrates the best Constitution will nothing avail us and if that were obtained that which we have would serve our turn 2. Say that such deep wounds have been given lately to our Government in the persons of those in which it was inherent as that the influence of it into the body politique may be for a time suspended yet we cannot think that the Kingdom it self is thereby beheaded of its Government if that Maxime we have often heard of The King never dyes be true and that Act for the continuance of the Parliament till it dissolve it self be still a Law we cannot but conceive we have a Government actually invested and however it is who can deny but still there is an obligation and right in us to the Government And as it is a far easier way to restore the former Government to its natural course then to remove it and settle another so we beleeve if we of this Nation shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord he will raise it up again We observe if we understand the Remonstrance of his Excellency c. of Novemb. 20. and the Declaration of Novemb. 30. and the humble Answer of January 3. and the Petition before this Agreement that the late proceedings against those in the seat of Authority were asserted and put on as necessary

THE PAPER Called the AGREEMENT of the PEOPLE taken into CONSIDERATION AND The Lawfulness of Subscription to it Examined and Resolved in the Negative by the Ministers of Christ in the PROVINCE of LANCASTER Published by them especially for the satisfaction of the Conscience and guiding of the practise of our entirely honored and beloved the People of our several Churches committed to our Charge and for the general good of this Church Nation LONDON Printed for LUKE FAWNE and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the Parrot in Pauls Church-yard 1649. The paper called the Agreement of the People taken into Consideration and the lawfulness of Subscription to it examined and resolved in the negative by the Ministers of Christ in the Province of LANCASTER THis Agreement being drawn up in the name of the People of England and by the Title of the Book being tendered to the Consideration of the People as also by a Declaration bearing the name of his Excellency THOMAS Lord FAIRFAX and his general Councel of Officers annexed to it it is said to be tendered to the People of England and the said Declaration desiring that all good people of England Will cordially embrace it and by Subscription declare their Concurrence and accord thereto when it shall be tendered to them as is directed therein And it being of universal Concernment taking in and desposing of all publique Affairs not onely of the Civil State but of Religion We the Ministers of Christ in the Province of Lancaster who have constantly and cordially adhered to the Cause of King and Parliament both in the first and second War and have opposed according to our places and Callings the late Scottish Engagement by which many of us have been Sufferers and having been called thereunto by the Authority of Parliament have not only taken but press'd upon our people both the Vow and Protestation to 5 May 1641. and the Solemn League and Covenant in the latter of which we have bound our selves Art 6. in the Cause therein Covenanted all the days of our lives zealously and constantly to continue against all Opposition and to promote the same according to our power against all Lets and Impediments whatsoever and what we are not able our selves to suppress or overcome to reveal and make known that it may be timely prevented or removed And Art 4. That we shall also with all faithfulness endeavor the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evil Instruments by hindering the Reformation of Religion dividing the King from his People or one of the Kingdoms from another or making any faction or parties amongst the People contrary to this League and Covenant do hold our selves bound our common interest and relations our special vocations and our aforesaid Engagements being considered not only deliberately to weigh and resolve with our selves and one another what to do in reference to this Agreement but publiquely to make known our apprehensions concerning it for the resolution of those that may be in doubt about it and t●●t those that are for it may have our Reasons why we dissent from it and we humbly and dearly entreat our highly honored and beloved Country-men and Brethren of this Kingdom into whose hand this our paper may come as well the Composers and Publishers of the Agreement as those to whom it is directed and intended to be offered for their Subscription more especially the Inhabitants of this County unto whom we stand in a more intimate relation both as living among and having the spiritual Charge respectively of them candidly to take and interpret and conscientiously to perpend this our maturely conceived and setled Judgment This Draught called the Agreement of the People being a Platform of State-Government calculated for this Nation and so more immediately of a Political or Civil Consideration Our undertaking is not to survey or give our Verdict on every thing it holds forth divisively or by distinct Sections no● yee shall we examine any thing in it Politically or by the rule of State-M●●i●s or the Laws of the Realm we remit that work to the learned State-men and Lawyers of the Land * Ashursts Reasons c. and Mr Prynnes Speech But we shall 〈◊〉 it as Christians and Ministers enquiring and determining according to our Talent how it may stand or disagree with the dictates of Conscience regulated by the Word of God And in doing this our method will be 1. To give an account of our Conceptions upon the whole plot or frame taken together 2. To speak distinctly and particularly to the Ninth Section which concerneth Religion whereupon we shall be the rather particular because it is both more proper to our profession and more pressing to our souls For the first The project of this Agreement is to place a power in the People to alter when they will the Government of the Kingdom to abrogate the present and to erect a new form of Policy and to be Lords paramount or transcendental Moderators over those to whom the Government is committed assuming to deliver them their Authority to give them Laws to disanul the Laws they make to consine their Legislative power and to oppose them by force of Arms when they see good and to move them now to exert the said power This may appear by the whole tenor of the Agreement and namely in that it represents the People ordering the present Parliament to dissolve a Pag. 8 partic 1. appointing new Representatives of a new proportion and Constitution both in regard of places and persons electing and of the manner times and other circumstances of Election b Pag 8 partic 2. c. which are to have the supream trust in order to the preservation and government of the whole and their power is to extend without the consent or concurrence of any other person or persons to the erecting and abolishing of Courts of Justice and publique Offices and to the enacting altering repealing and declaring of Laws and the highest and final Judgment concerning all natural or civil things c Pa. 24. part 8 limiting the said Representatives from having power in many things d Pa. 24. partic 8. c. directing and restraining them in matter of Religion e Pa. 26. par 9 and repealing all Laws Ordinances and Statutes contrary to the Liberty in Religion which they provide f Pa. 27 part 4 reserving in themselves or any of them power to resist them by force of Arms in some cases g P. 27. part 10 And that such a fundamental change was in the Intentions of the Compilers is evident by the Declaration following it which saith it contains the best and most hopeful Foundations for the Peace and future well-Government Government of this Nation h Page 30. and in it they disclaim to middle in any thing save the Fundamental setling of that power to wit the Law-giving or Judicial power over the

and Safery but let us ask what equity there is in a liberty to iniquity In a liberty to dishonor and injure the Name Truth and Ordinances of God to infect and destroy the Church of Christ and the souls of men What freedom is it wander and run a whoring from God to be led captive by ignorance error and unrighteousness And what safety is there to open the fold for grievous wolves to enter in and devour the flock to give way to the poysonous and eating gangrene of damnable heresie to spread without any corrasive And was it noted of Israel Judg. 5.8 They chose new gods then was War in the gates In the last we come to lay down Arguments or Reasons some of many that might be insisted on against the relaxation or setting free of men to Atheism and the full liberty and protection granted to false Doctrines and Religions by this Agreement in this Section 1. If the Scriptures may be our rule and judg in this matter and to those that admit of their binding authority and decision we only address our selves the sinfulness of such a Toleration and maintenance of erroneous and irreligious ways wil clearly appear 1. By testimonies our of the Old Testament wherein there is more found for our direction because as we apprehend it the Governors of Israel to whom the Oracles of God were then committed had in this case received the knowledg and worship of the true God 1. By the Commandments which the Lord gave for the suppression of Idolatry and the punishing of Idolaters Blaspemers and Sabbath-breakers Deut. 7.5.12.2 3.13.1 2. to the end 17.2 3 4 5. Jud. 2.2 Exod. 22.20.31.14 Lev. 24.13 14 15 16. Exod. 32. 26 27. Num. 15.35 2. By the approved binding examples of the people of God and of godly Magistrates abolishing and destroying the monuments and means of Idolatry and executing punishments upon Idol-Priests and Worshippers blasphemers of the living God and profaners of the Sabbath and commanding and causing those under their authority to abandon superstition and to embrace the true service of God Gen. 18.19.35.2 3 4. Exod. 32.28.1 King 18.40 2 King 10 11 24.2 Chron. 14.2 3 4 5.15.8 12 13 16.19.4 23.17.29.5 to the end 30.5 6 12.31.1 2 c. 34.3 to 9. vers 32 33.35.2 3 c. Ezra 10.5 7 8. Neh. 13.9 11 17 19. Yea Gentile Princes being convinced of their duty to the true God have straily enjoyned his honor and service and mulcted the contrary Ezra 6.3 to 13.7.13 to 27. Dan. 3.29 3. By condemning and reproving the Toleration of corrupt ways of Religion 1 King 18.21.2 Chron. 20.33 Hos 7.8 4. By predictions and precepts apperataining to the times of the Gospel holding forth the duty of those that are in civil power to promote Religion and to punish the corrupters thereof by that their power Isa 49.29 Zech. 13.3 And whereas some except against the validity of those precepts presidents c. as proper to the Paedagogy of the Law and the Nation of Israel and not binding to us now under the Gospel we say to that 1. Some of those commands and practices were antecedent to the Law given by Moses as that of Abraham commanding his children Gen. 18.19 and his houshold after him to keep the way of the Lord Gen. 35.2 and that of Jacob requiring not only his houshold but all that were with him amongst whom it is supposed were the captive Shechemites taken in the Chapter preceding Divines Annot. in loc by the sons of Iacob who indeed were likeliest to harbor Idols to put away the strange gods that were among them And it is very remarkable that before any Law was given by Moses for the punishing of Blasphemers and Sabbath-breakers yet the people of Israel apprehended and put in ward both the Blasphemer Levit. 24.12 and the Sabbath-breaker Numb 15.34 until the minde of the Lord might be shewed them having so much in them by the light of nature and the rules of the moral Law they were acquainted with that such were to be punished 2. We have no other Institution of Magistracy under the Gospel then that which was before nor find we in the new Testament any abrogation or alteration of what was before time cómitted to the Magistrate but civil authority continues Gods Ordinance by vertue of that appointment from the beginning neither is any thing detracted from his commission that was at first in it 3. No Reason can be assigned why those evils in Religon should be then punished and not now they are no less sins now then they were then they are as dishonorable and hateful to God and as baneful to the souls of men now as they were then The Reasons given for their punishment then as that they are very ensnaring if allowed to be among the servants of God Iud. 2.3 Exod. 34.12 13. that they tended to turn men away from the Lord their God and to thrust them out of his way and that to punish them is to put the evil away from the people and to procure that all Israel may hear and fear and do no more such wickedness Deut. 13.5 11. they are moral and still obtain strength Error and false Religion have not lost their ensnaring nature nor are men now more wise and stedfast in the truth then they have been 4. What is now fundamental to common right liberty and safety was so in those former days and we may not think that the Lord would have given such strict and standing Laws to his people in matters of Religion if liberty therein had been indeed fundamental to common right freedom and safety as this Agreement pretendeth 2. By authorities out of the New Testament 1. The description of the Magistrates power and duty extendeth to the procurement of good and avengement of evil indefinitely without any restriction and there being no limitation of this good and evil in this or any other text we must needs hold to that approved rule of interpreting Scripture which is not to distinguish or limit the sence when the holy Ghost doth not 2. The duty of Christians in relation to their Rulers is to pray for them to wit for their Coversion 1 Tim. 2.1 2 as appears by v. 3 4 that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty A Christian Magistrate then as such and consequently by the power of his Magistracy is to assist and promote not only honesty and justice towards man but godliness and piety towards God 3. Parents and Masters of Families whose power is of the same nature that is civil and external with that of the Magistrate 2 Joh. v. 10. they are enjoyned to exclude and expel out of their houses false Teachers and then by Analogy or proportion the Magistrates are to prosecute such and exterminate them out of their state No Reason can be yeelded why the less extensive and inferior power should be thus tyed and impowered