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A88972	An answer by letter to a worthy gentleman who desired of a divine some reasons by which it might appeare how inconsistent presbyteriall government is with monarchy. In which the platforme of that government is briefly delineated, with the tenents and suitable practices thereof. And withall it is demonstrated, that it is inconsistent with any government whatsoever; is full of faction, sedition and treason; an enemy to all peace, domesticall, neighbourly, brotherly, &c. against soveraigne authority, authority of all iudges, and iudicatories, entrenching upon all so farre, as there can be no liberty of person, trade, commerce or propriety, but at their pleasure who bear sway therein.	Maxwell, John, 1590?-1647.	1644 (1644)	Wing M1377; Thomason E53_13; ESTC R20000	49,076	82

AN ANSWER BY LETTER TO A WORTHY GENTLEMAN Who desired of a Divine some reasons by which it might appeare how Inconsistent PRESBYTERIALL GOVERNMENT IS WITH MONARCHY In which the Platforme of that Government is briefly delineated with the tenents and suitable practises thereof And withall it is demonstrated that it is inconsistent with any government whatsoever is full of Faction Sedition and Treason an enemy to all Peace Domesticall Neighbourly Brotherly c. against Soveraigne authority authority of all Iudges and Iudicatories entrenching upon all so farre as there can be no liberty of Person Trade Commerce or Propriety but at their pleasure who bear sway therein Printed Anno 1644. Sir YEsterday you desired me to give you some proofes by which it may appeare how inconsistent Presbyteriall Government is with Monarchie You were pleased to tell me that some good and worthy men doe desire to be satisfied in this point It seemeth these men doe not think that Presbyteriall Government is destructive of the true necessary and perpetuall Government of the Church which is Episcopacie instituted by Christ propagated by his Apostles and continued by uninterrupted Practice above 1500 yeares in the Church and to this day retained in the greatest part of the Christian world We deceive our selves to promise or expect to King or Kingdome Prince or Subject Peace and safety or deliverance from our troubles and distresses if we subordinate Fundamentalls in Religion necessary truths of faith worship and government to our publique or private civill good Nor am I able to expresse how high an Impietie it is at this time when God's hand is out against us justly for our sinnes to be so disposed and fixed upon a resolution that to redeem externall Peace we will embrace any Government of the Church provided it be consistent with Monarchy and will not scruple not onely to shake off the true and necessary government instituted by our Lord but by Law endeavor by highest authority to condemne it as Antichristian If this be not to frame mischiefe by a Law I know not what is If this provoke not more wrath more vengeance make not the Land spew us all out I am infinitely deceived We may promise to our selves that by such a course we may say like to the man in the Gospell Soule take thy rest for many dayes but it feareth me the successe and event shall be much like to his case Sir I pray you consider what Peace hath King or Kingdome enjoyed here or in Ireland since Episcopacy in Scotland by Law was damned and the Presbyterian Anarchie the Seminarie of all fude Faction and Rebellion as will appeare by what ensueth by Law and Supreme authority established I cannot dissemble but to a man of your worth and Integritie I must unfold my selfe I admire to see too too many amongst us here where is great plenty of able Gentlemen of excellent learning worth wit and all other perfections endowments as in any Nation besides to be so prepared that they are too too inclinable if not actually resolved to admit and authorize in this Kingdom and Church what they know not and to forsake that happy Native proper government of the Church the sweet fruits of which they have reaped so many yeares to the admiration if not envy of other Kingdomes States and Churches This is Samaritan-like to worship that we know not Or Athenian-like to consecrate an Altar and to sacrifice to an unknowne God Your worth and noble favours oblige me so much to you that I cannot chuse but obey your command And for your satisfaction I present you with a short view as in a Mappe of Presbyteriall Government give you a little touch of their Maximes and suitable Practices and that with as much truth and honesty as your goodnesse expects from me By which it will be more then apparent that Presbyterie as it is at this day somewhere within His Majesties Dominions is not onely inconsistent but also destructive of Monarchie And where it obtaineth it disturbeth the quiet and peace publique and private of King and Kingdome This is that you desire and to satisfie you to this I confine my selfe This Presbyteriall government within it's verge hath foure Iudicatories 1. A Parochiall Session 2. A Presbyteriall Consistorie 3. A Provinciall Synod 4. A Generall Assembly The Parochiall Session moveth in the lowest Sphere The Generall Assembly is the Primum mobile the highest Orbe which carrieth all with it's motion although the rest have their proper and specifick motions The other two are in the middle and interjected Orbes I shall begin at the lowest Iudicatorie and so shall orderly ascend to the Supreams Of the Parochiall Session EVery Parish hath one or more Ministers If more all of them are equall in all honour and jurisdiction onely the Senior hath the precedencie To the Minister or Ministers of each Parish to make up a Session in which is fixed the Parochiall Iurisdiction a competent number of Lay-Elders whom they call presbyteri non docentes and Deacons proportionable to the precinct and extent of the Parish are conjoyned which associate body thus compacted is the Spirituall-Parochiall-Sanhedrim This Session sits once a week or oftner pro re natâ In which all Parochiall cases which concerne externall order and censure are determined and ordered If there be but one Minister in the Parish he is constant Moderator If there be more they moderate by turnes either weekly or monthly as they agree Whatsoever thing is ordered determined or decreed is done by the joynt-consents of the Minister Lay-Elders and Deacons or by the plurality of voyces The Minister who is the Moderator hath no casting no Negative Voyce The power of all Iurisdiction is radically and equally in all for binding for loosing for all censures Ecclesiasticall for orders which concerne externall order and worship So the Power of the Keyes is as much in the Lay-Elders and Deacons as in the Minister or Ministers What sacrilegious intrusion upon sacred Orders this is I need not informe one of your understanding To make this frame good they maintaine that Iure divino there be foure orders of Ecclesiasticall offices allow me to speake in this Epistle all along their dialect or persons 1. Preaching-Elders whom they call Ministers 2. Doctors these are professors in the Chaire such as are in Vniversities 3. Lay or ruling-Elders who now have vocem deliberativam decisivam in rebus fidei Cultûs politiae and in foro exteriori Ecclesiae in censuris Ecclesiasticis are as much interessed and authorized as Preaching-Elders 4. Deacons who have trust of the meanes and monies destinated for pious and charitable uses This is very considerable too that although they hold these foure orders and offices necessary for the Government of Christ's Church de Iure divino by divine Right and Institution yet neither the Parochiall Conclave nor any Presbyteriall Consistory except it be where the

order to Prorogate it to another and longer day which was accordingly done by publike Proclamation authorized by His Honourable Privy Councell of that Kingdom Notwithstanding all which some Thirteen or Fourteen Godly zealous brethren must needs meet at Aberdine at the day appoynted for the Assembly They established and formalized the Iudicatorie by constituting a Moderator a Clerk and other essentiall Members of the Court The Lords of Councell understanding this contempt sent a Gentleman of good qualitie and place with an Herault at Armes to discharge and dissolve the Holy meeting The Commissioner and Herault were entertained with as much respect as before they had given reverence to the Proclamation issued out by the Soveraigne authoritie of the King with the advice of His Honourable Privy-Councell The Holy Fathers in the great Sanhedrim protested and professed that in Conscience and Duty to Almighty God they were bound to preserve the Churches right and could not would not give way to that power the King Sacrilegiously usurped which properly and natively belonged to the Church virtuall the Assembly They kept and continued the Assembly some dayes and finding that no more of the holy Brotherhood came to joyne with them they dissolved and to preserve the holy right of the Church appoynted the time and place of meeting for the next Assembly The King hearing this gave order to His Privy-Councell to cite convent them before them and to punish this High contempt The more zealous Champions of the Lord of Hostes appeared and with an undaunted courage gave in to the Lords of Councell a Protestation a Declinator from the Kings Councell and appealed to the next Generall Assembly as the sole and competent judge in this case and cause The Kings Atturney or Advocate by order from the Councell-Table was ordained to pursue them criminally before the Lord Iustice Generall and that upon the Act of Parliament mentioned before Anno 1584. upon which Order the one halfe confessed their fault and easily made their Peace and obtained pardon The zelots were convicted of Treason ad Terrorem exemplum more then for any other end or respect and only banished the Kingdom Of whom the most part thereafter upon their confession and submission were pardoned came home lived and enjoyed their own or at least as good if not better Benefices Sir are these things consistent with Monarchie or the obedience is due to Soveraignty and its Highest Courts So absolute and uncontroleable is this High Celestiall Court that it commandeth Conscience and Soule disposeth of body and estate in the poynt of Religion that if you conforme not in all neither Soule nor Body nor Estate can be in Peace nay no toleration can be allowed where this soveraignty domineereth And to make this power of the larger extent it is certain their faith and things necessary to Salvation are of greater latitude then that of the Councell of Trent If any doth not after a little time granted for information conforme and subscribe to their confession of Faith which is more in negatives and destructives then affirmatives and positives their rule of government their manner of Worship and what else in their opinion is necessary to Salvation and in this I am sure they are more rigorous then ever God or Catholike Church was for if you dissent but from them in a Theologicall tenet it is Heresie you are forthwith excommunicated and given over to the Divell after which upon the remonstrance of a Commissioner from the Presbyterie to the Civill Iudge there is a warrant from Supream authority given out to command you to conforme this is different from the Writ De excommunicato capiendo or then within few dayes to be put to the horne that is outlawed Vpon disobedience the tender conscience not conforming the outlawed's estate moveable Chattells we call it become proper to the King God knoweth little of this benefit commeth to the King's Thesaurer but a Donater to the escheit which ordinarily is the Convicted's mortall Enemy for a little composition hath the right made over and hath the benefit of the escheit If within yeare and day he give not obedience and conformity His whole Revenues and Rents of immoveable goods forfeit to the King during his life time Some Enemy of His or Favourite of the Thesaurer's obtaineth the King's Right and the King hath little or nothing of it Here you have him stript of all his Estate moveable immoveable Yet here is not an end but still upon Remonstrance of the Presbyteries or Church's Commissioner another writ goeth out which they call Letters of Caption that is if I mistake not the tant'amount of the writ de Excommunicato capiendo which is directed to all Sheriffes Stuards Provosts Bailies c. to seize secure his Person wheresoever it may be apprehended and to commit him to close Prison as a Rebell If he skulk and hide himselfe then upon the same Remonstrance goeth out a writ which there they call Letters of Intercommuning I know no thing in the Law like this the intent is that none of the Kings Subjects commune or conferre with him coram or personally or by Letter or interposed Person keep intelligence or correspondence with him otherwise the intercommuner is to be judged and reputed to be a Rebell of the same guiltinesse You will be pleased to remember this when the Church requireth all these of the civill Magistrate so they are pleased to terme Soveraignty he is bound to grant them Now Sir I pray you consider if this is not in many respects worse then the Inquisition when an opinion in a Theologicall tenet different from the assured faith of those Gamaliels may bring a man unto all those troubles Onely to make amendes for this remember this authoritative way preserveth a Church from Haeresie Error Superstition and Schisme There is another practice of the power of this Court that for the glory of God the honour of the King the good and preservation of Church and Religion it may assume to it selfe to be Iudge of what is Treason what is not who are fit Councellors for a King who not Practice is the most sure infallible and clear proofe and demonstration of power I will give you one in the case of Treason that none dare to say it is a Lye and which can be made good by the authentick and publique Records of Parliament and Councell of Scotland and their owne Noble acts of generall Assembly When King Iames about the age of Iosias when in holy writ it is recorded of him that he began to seeke the Lord with all his heart had taken the Government of the Kingdome in his owne hand and did Reigne and Rule with such prudence incomparable admirable that none could justly except against Him or His Government yet such was the restlesse ambition of some who could not with patience endure the trust of others especially of that Noble worthy Esme Duke of Lennox His Majesties nearest Kinsman

is their constant Catholicke tenet that if the King Queene Regent or Protector or whosoever he or she is in whose Person Soveraignty is fixed or in whose Person it is representatively fixed onely by a fiduciary trust during the non-age of the Prince or Princesse will not submit himselfe to this holy Scepter will not according to it's prescript reforme Religion preserve it in it's integrity any man or men are bound to doe it at their direction I spare Martin Junior's faith in this that there is no authority above the Brotherhood No Magistrate saith he Thes 17. 18. 22. may lawfully may me or deforme the body of Christ which is the Church no lawfull Church Government is changeable at the pleasure of the Magistrate of necessity all Christian Magistrates are bound to receive this government Nor will I insist upon Vigginton's assertion That what the Holy Brotherhood cannot obtaine by suite and dispute the People must bring it to passe You desire the tenets and practices of the Church of Scotland onely The Scot's maintaine that if the King or Queene will not reforme Religion they may take upon them by violence and power to reforme it This they have learned of their grand-father Knox as you may read in an Epistle of his written from Deepe Anno. 1557. and in Knox Histor. pag. 213. what is lawfull for Reformation is lawfull for preservation of Religion 1. And here they begin with the Nobles and determine right downe Noble men ought to Reforme Religion if the King will not Knox app. 25. againe that God hath appointed the Nobility to bridle the inordinate appetites of Princes and in so doing they cannot be accused as resisters of authority Knox Hist. 343. and that it is their duty to represse the rage and insolency of Princes Knox app. 33. 2. In the second place if the Nobles will not doe the People and Commonaltie may reforme Religion at the order and direction of the Brotherhood Knox to the Commonalty fol. 49. 50. The Commonaltie by their power may bridle the cruell beasts They meane Priests and Prelates Knox to the Commonalty fol. 55. The Commonalty may lawfully require of their Soveraigne to have true Preachers and if he be negligent they may themselves provide them maintaine them defend them against all that doe persecute them and may detaine the profits of the Church livings from the other sort That is to say Priests Papists Prelates and Malignants Knox to the Commonalty fol. 55. 3. In the third place if they come to the happinesse to have Nobles and Commons obedient to their commandements for reformation or preservation of true Religion which must be so as they fansie I am deceived if they allow not more violence and esteeme it more piety zeale and justice Their tenets are The Commonalty concurring with the Nobles may compell the Bishops to cease from their tyranny Knox to the Commonalty fol. 47. againe The Nobility and Comminalty ought to reforme Religion and in that case may remove from honours and may punish such as God hath condemned Deut. 13. Of what estate condition or honour soever Knox app. fol. 28. 30. 4. In the fourth place if the Nobles will not joyne with the People or Commonalty in the reformation or preservation of true Religion at the direction of the Ministery the inferior Magistrates may and should doe it Knox Hist. p. 217. 5. In the fifth place before so good a worke be not done if Nobles or the whole or greatest part of the Commonalty will not be obedient assisting and ayding to so good a work Every individuall man and person is bound to advance this good work to kill Papist Priest Prelate Malignant nay a King if He stand out an Enemy to God and Christ and cannot otherwise be reclaimed or removed nor by suite or dispute gained to the right way I dare say their doctrine leads to this see Knox app. fol. 30. where roundly he saith The punishment of s●ch crimes as touch the Majesty of God doth not appertaine to Kings and chiefe Rulers onely but also to the whole body of the People and to every member of the same to revenge the injury done against God Againe see him fol. 35. The People are bound by oath to God to revenge to the utmost of their power the injury done against God's Majestie To this purpose they alleadge the examples of Phineas who in his zeale killed the adulterers of Ehud who in the same zeale killed Eglon in his private Chamber remember he was a King Of Iael who killed Sisera of Matathias who in zeale killed a Iew for committing of Idolatry and who in the same zeale at the same time killed the King's Commissioner Sir put these things together and see where this Soveraigne supreame Ecclesiasticall Iudicatory hath such dominion and power over mens consciences that being directed by their Ministerie they are bound to doe to the utmost of their power for reformation and preservation of Religion what sacred Person of any King can be secured what man offending against the Majesty of God which is as they fansie many times may not be taken away by one like to a Ravilliack what Commissioner or Counsellor of the King but in doing his best service to his Maister he may be stoned like to Adoram and all this goe in popular esteeme currant for good service and extraordinary zeale to God and his cause 6. In the sixth place upon those grounds Covenants and Confederacies come in to strengthen all to joyne purses persons wit and strength contra omnes mortales Regiâ Majestate non exceptâ against King and Bishop Prince and Prelate to the defence of the good cause with a combination every one to be ayding assisting and maintaining one another in so good a cause 7. In the last place commeth their Orders for reformation or preservation and that by themselves and the collective body or any associates whatsoever without respect reverence or obedience to the Soveraign authority of the Prince The practice is cleerly seen in Mr Knox his proceedings for after that by his Letter which we mentioned before written to Scotland Anno 1557. from Deepe and otherwise he had infused the above named principles into many an oath of confederacy was taken amongst them and subscription under their hands to some agreement This gave life to that tumultuary reformation much strength being added to it by the concurrence of the Sacrilegious hoping thus to swallow up the Church revenews which is more then certain was against Knox his mind and the first reformers As we deplore great losses the Church had by this reformation and doe thank God heartily for his admirable bounty and mercy in the good of truth we got by it yet we will never wrong Reformed Religion so much as to account of that as an orderly reformation we deny not but it was attended with much Sedition Faction and Rebellion Anno 1558. without the

the first place to intimate to the King the desire and demands of the Assembly and to see all due civill Sanction and confirmation given to it the King His Councell His Parliament can change nothing of their sacred decrees without their consent What ever new occurrence is in Church or State pro re natâ these Commissioners are to give order and to see ne quid detrimenti Ecolesia capiat It is true their orders bind only in the interim betwixt the two Assemblies and the next plenarie Generall Assembly may derogare abrogare obrogare c yet give me leave to tell you truth these great Delegates with their power have so much influence upon the next Generall Assembly that their {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} precognitions and predeterminations are formally and Legally enacted Nor is this to be wondred at for the Achitophels and Ioabs of Church and Kingdom the best head peeces of greatest depth Preaching and Ruling Elders are in this Iunto Heere are all disturbing Seditions and treasonable courses hatched and conceived whether it be Treason against the King Sedition in State or Kingdom the change of Court the removing of Courtiers from the King the surrounding of him with others c. The next Assemblie ownes all their courses decrees them under pretence of Piety Reformation of abuses removing of Malignants from the King and from His Counsell from being Iudges in the supreamest Iudicatories of the Kingdom c. By this means at pleasure when and where they will they procure Parliaments to work for their own private ends To facilitate the work order is given to all Presbyteries to command all the Ministers to Preach to their flocks to make and keep Fasts for the danger the Church is in that the King is inclinable nay inclining to Popery that there are none in trust or power by Him in Court Councell Exchequer or Session but such as are Popish or Popishly affected and such they must be if they once determine it And woefull experience hath confirmed it that worthie Innocent and deserving men have suffered and the King hath been forced to abandon His best servants This close Committee hath all these prerogatives 1. During the interim betwixt two Assemblies they had trust to see that all the Orders and Decrees of the grand Consistory should be put in execution 2. Next upon any exigent intervening they have the power by their influence upon all the Presbyteriesin the Kingdom to make them goe which way they thought fit for their own ends both to make the Ministers Preach their sense and to work with all the people to believe the posture of affaires in Church and State were as they informed and represented them 3. Thirdly here were all things prepared for the next great meeting of the Generall Assembly By these means things projected were effected This way the Queen Regent was put from Her Regencie This way Queen Mary was expulsed Scotland This way King Iames His captivity at Ruthen was found to be good service This way that Noble Duke of Lennox Esme was made a Papist and the King forced to abandon him and he to depart the Kingdom in Winter being sick and shortly after dyed in France By this means if I be not deceived was that infamous day the 17. of December anno 1596. atro signanda lapillo renowned for a most horrid insurrection in Edenburgh against King Iames and His prime Counsellors I begge leave to give you a short account of it King Iames whilest He was King of Scotland by all forraigne Kings Princes and States was admired for His extraordinary Royall endowments Ambassadors from many beyond Seas at the same time and almost constantly were with Him The smallnesse of the Patrimony of that Crowne was not able to maintain that Royall deportment He kept Besides being too too Royally liberall and magnificent His coffers were empty and at this time scarce was His Majesty able to maintain the necessary charge of His house in that measure which was suitable to so Royall a King To rectify this the King with the advice of his Counsell entrusted with all his Rents Revenues and casualties Eight prime men of good worth and integritie Officers of State Counsellors and Iudges This was done that all might be rightly regulated and before all things His Tables at Court kept like a Kings that forraign Ambassadors might not espy any want which might derogate from the Honour of King and Kingdome The ordinary Tables of the Court were regulated the Courtiers daily allowance was retrenched which they could not away with They and other discontented persons did reproachfully call these men The Octavians They who grumbled at this and would right themselves to gain their intendment hit upon the ordinary and safest way that was to beginne with the Church They informe the forraign Ambassadors did work upon the King to turn Papist it was like they would prevaile for these Octavians were all such in their hearts and dissembled only in professing to keep a communion with the Protestant Church if those were not removed from the King and good men put about him Religion Kingdom and all were undone When this had been often informed and suggested early in the morning on the 17th day of December three of the Kings Domestick Servants came to M. Walter Balcanqual's house The Ministery of Edenburgh and others Commissioners of the generall Assembly with some of the best Christians of Edenburgh are sent for they meet there The Kings Servants informe that all was undone if they did not in time and speedily prevent for the Marquesse of Huntlie this was the late Marquesse who came occasionally the night before to Court and it is true he was Popish but God knowes he was free of what he was charged with say they was with the King till twelve a clock at night in his Bed-chamber yester-night it is resolved upon to re-erect Popery and so many of your best Citizens and Christians are to be seized upon some to be sent to Blacknes some to Innernes some to Dunbritton c. The case was apprehended in that zeale which became the cause The resolution taken was that M. Walter Baelcanquall being to Preach that very day in the Chancell of Saint Giles Church which they call the little Church after Sermon and Prayer done he should desire all good Brethren and Christians to meet immediatly forthwith there for the good of Church and Religion Noblemen Gentlemen Preachers Burgesses all who affected the good cause did meet M. Robert Bruce was appointed by common consent Moderator It is laid open in what case Church and Religion State and Kingdome are the urgent instant necessity is made to appeare The result of the determination was that presently they goe to Armes and by holy force to pull from the King's side those Popish Octavians That a Letter be written to Iohn L●●d Marquesse of Hamilton to come to Edenburgh to be Captaine of the Congregation and in

regard the King had made defection from the true Religion He being the nearest of the blood should come and take the Government upon him I know the just Copy of this Letter is extant to this day They runne to Armes the word is The Sword of the Lord and Gideon The good King was in the place of Iustice the prime of the Octavians with him hearing something of the uproare and tumult by a secret passage he and some other goe up to the Exchequer house overhead A great Lord was head of the Congregation he and some others came Commissioners to the King were admitted demanded those ●●tavians to justice The King askes this Lord how durst he against His authority His Lawes His Proclamation keep unlawfull meetings at Edenburgh for the King before had discharged the meeting of those Commissioners of Assemblie or any other meeting whatsoever without his Royall warrand The Lord with courage in zeale to a good cause told the King that he should see ere long they durst to doe more The Lord or some other taketh hold of one of the Octavians Gowne who was President of Session but he pulleth his Gowne out of his hand and conveyeth himselfe downe to the house where the Lords did sit in judgement In fine the King and Lords were forced to shun the danger of this tumultuarie insurrection to close up the doores and some to stand with their swords drawne if any should offer violence to break up the doores Some good Subjects especially Alexander Home of Northborvick for the time Provost of Edenburgh and Roger Mackmath whom King Iames ordinarily called His Bailie with others well disposed and Loyally affected Subjects and namely the Hammer-men rise up in Armes for the King who partly by smooth words and partly by threats husht and housed the Factious and Seditious The King came out of the place of Iudicatorie and on foot attended with many Nobles Gentlemen and other good Subjects came to His Pallace at Halyrude-house in Peace where immediatly in the afternoon he convened his Privy-Councell and by his Wisdome and Authority so repressed and punished that insolencie that all the time of His Raigne the like Barbarous treacherous course was never attempted I hope you are the more apt to believe this when you remember what a Petition or Declaration was presented to Queen Elizabeth at Green●●ch anno 1582. to remove from her Service and Trust such as they know were not well affected to the Religion and Church Sir I could make it appeare how all Seditions almost and Rebellions in that Kingdom have been set a foot or fomented by this Government Presbyterian How neighbourly Feudes have been encreased and entertained How Moneys collected for the reliefe and support of Geneva were by the chiefe Gamaliels and Presbyters interverted employed to raise and pay Souldiers to ayde and assist the Earle of Bothvell and his complices in Rebellion against the King I feare I have wearied you already the Subject is everlasting and I am weary of it If I should give account of the late practices and tenets of this late Covenant it were possible to let you see that it hath farre exceeded all the mischiefe ever their forefathers did although they tread in the same footsteps The reason why I have spared it is not I feared it I hope to discover it sometime to the World by anatomising it fully Next I hope you have espyed the Noble passages of it and are sufficiently confirmed that nothing can be more destructive of Monarchie and the Peace of any government To shut up all give me leave in the close to give the Articles of their Apostaticall Creed inconsistent with Monarchie which they hold as the twelve Articles of the Apostolicall Symbole I will touch onely the prime of those for for their other Articles they are so many and of so vast an extent abounding in Negatives that as King Iames saith well he that would keep them is not able to keep them in his Braine but must keep them in a Table Booke The Articles of the Dogmaticall Presbyterian Faith inconsistent with Monarchie 1. AS I have said before They Preach and maintaine that the Church is the house of God the civill Policy and Government are onely the hangings 2. Next they beleeve all Ministers are pari consortio honoris potestatis praediti that there must be a parity in the Church Ioyne these two together and you have a faire way for Democracie 3. They vindicate to themselves and their Consistory a soveraigne complete universall independent power in all things spirituall that concerne Salvation they have not onely the directive power but the Legislative also and all temporall things in order to Salvation and Religion come within the verge of their Scepter All soveraigne Power wheresoever you fixe it whether in one as in a Monarchie or in few as in an Aristocracie or in many or all by vicissitudinarie turnes have onely the Executive power to doe as they command and is bound to preserve by it's Power Lawes and Armes their sacred and celestiall Priviledges and Soveraignty 4. Whatsoever Lawes civilly enacted by King or Parliament they conceive to be against the Lawes of the Kingdome of Christ by their native proper intrinsecall right immediately derived from Christ they may repeale and make voyd discharge the Subject to obey them They may decree not onely different Lawes of their owne from the standing Lawes of the Kingdome but contrary contradictory and destructive of them And have withall so much coactive power that if obedience be denyed to the Lawes of this Soveraignty they can destroy the Soules of the Subjects by delivering them over to Satan 5. No Minister Preaching in Pulpit Sedition or Treason or railing at King Councell the prime Iudges is accountable or punishable by King Parliament Councell or any Iudicatory whatsoever But from all he may appeale to the Sanhedrim and Consistorie as the sole and proper competent Iudge 6. What Corroboration or civill Confirmation or Sanction they demand of the King which he is able to doe civilly for they will give him no formall interest in any sacred or religious thing He is bound to Grant it and to obey them as Christ's immediate Vice-gerents otherwise they may Excommunicate him 7. Reformation and preservation of Religion especially to prescribe the way and Orders for Reformation is solely theirs 8. The King is bound to put their Orders in Execution but if neither He nor His Councell nor His Parliament will doe it the Inferiour Iudges the Nobles the Commons nay every individuall man to his utmost power at their direction are bound to doe it 9. That they may without warrant of supreame Authority Assemble where and when they will for God and Christ's cause and for the Liberty and Peace of Subject and Kingdome in ordine ad spiritualia and there they may Covenant together sweare and subscribe for the glory of God the advancement of Religion and conspire and combine