Discipline must all the Estates within this Realm be Subject as well the Rulers as they that are Ruled 1 Lib. Disc. cap. 7. 22 As the Ministers and others of the Ecclesiastical State are subject to the Magistrate-Civil so ought the Person of the Magistrate be subject to the Kirk Spiritually and in Ecclesiastical Government 2 Lib. Disc. c. 1. 23 As Ministers are Subject to the Judgment and Punishment of the Magistrate in External things if they offend so ought the Magistrates to submit themselves to the Discipline of the Kirk if they transgress in matters of Conscience and Religion Ibid. 24 The National Assemblies of This Country called commonly the General Assemblies ought always to be retained in their own Liberty and have their own place with Power to the Kirk to appoint Times and Places and Convenient for the same And all men as well Magistrates as Inferiors to be subject to the Judgment of the same in Ecclesiastical Causes without any Reclamation or Appellation to any Judge Civil or Ecclesiastical within the Realm 2 Lib. Disc. c. 12. 25 The Princes and Magistrates not being Exemed and these that are Placed in the Ecclesiastical Estate Rightly Ruling Governing God shall be Glorified c. 2 Lib. Disc. c. 13. 26 The Ministers Exerce not the Civil Jurisdiction but teach the Magistrate how it should be Exercised according to the word 27 To Disobey or Resist any that God hath placed in Authority while they pass not over the Bounds of their office we Confess or Affirm to be sin Large Confess Art 15. 28 We Confess and Avow that such as resist the Supream Power doing that thing which appertaineth to his Charge do resist God's Ordinance and therefore cannot be Guiltless Ibid. Art 25. 29 Blasphemy Adultery Murder Perjury and other Crimes Capital worthy of death ought not properly to fâ—…ll under Censure of the Kirk because all such open Transgressors of Gods Law ought to be taken away by the Civil Sword 1 Book of Discip. cap. 7. 30 In the fear of God we signifie unto your Honours that whosoever persuades you that ye may pardon where God Commandeth Death deceives your Souls and provokes you to offend God's Majesty 1 Book of Disc. cap. 9. 31 The Magistrate Commandeth External things for external Peace and Quietness among the Subjects The Minister handleth External things only for Conscience-cause 2 Lib. Disc. cap. 1. 32 If the Offender abide an Assise and by the same be Absolved then may not the Church pronounce Excommunication but justly may exhort the man by whose hand the Blood was shed to enter into Consideration with himself how precious is the Life of man before God and how severely God commandeth Blood howsoever it be shed except it be by the Sword of the Magistrate to be punished And so may Enjoyn unto him such satisfaction to be made publick to the Church as may bear Testification of his obedience and unfeigned Repentance Psalm-Book in the order of Excommunication 33 Wanton and Vain words Uncomly Gestures Negligence in hearing the Preaching or Abstaining from the Lords Table when it is publiquely Ministred suspicion of Avarice or of Pride Superfluity or Riotousness in Chear or Raiment These We say and such others that of the world are not regarded deserve admonition amongst the Members of Christs Body If he continues Stubborn then the Third Sunday ought he to be Charged Publiquely to satisfie the Church for his Offence and Contempt under the pain of Excommunication Psalm Book in the Order of Publique Repentance 34 It is Ordained that every Thursday the Ministers and Elders in their Assembly or Consistory diligently Examine all such faults and suspicions as may be espied not only amongst others but chiefly amongst themselves Psalm-Book Sect. of the weekly Assembly 35 In every Notable Town we Require that one day beside the Sunday be appointed to the Sermon and Prayers which during the time of Sermon must be kept from all Exercise of Labour as well of the Master as the Servant 1 Lib. Disc. cap. 9. of Policy Notes on §. 8. THere can be no better Antidote against the Poyson of a Presbyteriaâ—… Government than the very Orders of their Discipline which are the most Unanswerable Condemnation of the Party You have here a more than Papal Tyranny in the Usurpations of the Kirk over Kings and Princes in the 6 first Clauses Treason it self exempted from the Cognizance of the Civil Power Num. 7. The Kings Supremacy not only disclaimed but the bare acknowledgment of it made Criminal 8 9 All the Governments of the World subjected to the Holy Discipline and Rebellion it self abetted and maintained 10 11 Sovereign Power Vested in the Multitude 12 The Restoring of the King Condemn'd 13 14 And the Objections against it his receiving the Sacrament from a Prelatical hand according to the Order of the Church and the Charging his Father with the Guilt of Bloâ—…d 15 The Taking of the Oâ—…th of Allegiance and the Acceptance of the Kings Indulgence pronounced utterly Unlawful 17 18 19 Conventicle-Preachers Warranted from the Precedent of Christ and his Apostles 20 The Ministers above their Sovereign 21 22 23 24. Princes upon their Good Behaviour and accountable to the Presbytery if they transgress their Bounds 25 26 27 28. The Power of Life and Death taken from the Magistrate 29 3â—… The Minister Usâ—…rps the Civil Power 31 The Presbytery take upon them to punish Malefactors when the Law has acquitted them 32 And call People to account for their very Thoughts Cloaths Gestures nay a suspition is enough to make a body lyable to their Censure 33 They make Two Sabbaâ—…hs in the Week more than God ever Commanded and by the same Authority they may set apaâ—…t all the rest 34. 35. This is enough said to shew the Shameful and Intolerable Rigour of that Government §. 9. Principles and Positions 1 WHEN the Supream Magistrate will not Execute the Judgment of the Lord those who made him Supream Magistrate under God who have under God Sovereign Liberty to dispose of Crowns and Kingdoms are to Execute the Judgment of the Lord when Wicked men make the Law of God of none Effect 1 Sam. 15. 32. so Samuel killed Agâ—…g whom the Lord expresly Commanded to be kill'd because Saul disobey'd the Voice of the Lord. Lex Rex p. 173. 2 Shall it Excuse the States to say We could not judge the Cause of the Poor nor Crush the Priests of Baal and the Idolatrous Mass Prelates because the King forbad us Lex Rex p. 175. 3 The Kings Power is Fiduciary and put in his hand upon Trust and must be Ministerial and borrow'd from those who put him in trust and so his Power must be Less and derived from the Parliament Lex Rex p. 177. 4 The Magistrate hath no Power to suppose things Doubtful and Disputable upon the Practice of any in the Service of God and therefore it cannot be lawful for any to obey him when
he so Imposes E. Bagshaw of things Indifferent Part. 2. p. 3. 5 Our Fundamentals were not made by our Representatives but by the People themselves and our Representatives themselves limited by them which it were Good that Parliaments as well as People would observe and be faithful to For no Derivative Power can Null what their Primitive Power hath Established The English-man p. 11. 6 Royal Primogeniture alone without the Peoples consent is no Rightful Title to the Government nor hath the Eldest Son or Heir of the King any Right to the Government by Birth unless the People consent to chuse him thereto Mene-Tekel p. 10. 7 The Parliaments of England and often the People without the Parliament have in their Addresses to the King given him the Title of Lord in a way of Honour and Respect but when he hath refused to perform his Duty to them and endeavoured by his Unlawful Prerogative to abridge them of their Liberties they have made him understand his Relation and by force of Arms Asserted their own Privileges and sometimes compelled the King to Perform his Duty other times Deposed him from the Government as the People of Israel did Rehoboam upon the same account and so have most if not all the Nations in the World done the same Ibid. pag. 36. 8 Rising up against Authority it self the Ordinance of God and Disobeying the Powers therewith vested standing and acting in their Right Line of Subordination is indeed Rebellion and as the sin of Witchcraft but to Resist and Rise up against Persons Abusing Sacred Authority and Rebelling against God the Supream is rather to adhere to God as our Liege Lord and to Vindicate both our selves and his Abused Ordinance from Man's Wickedness and Tyranny Naphtali p. 157. 9 The Power of the King Abused to the Destruction of Laws Religion and Subjects is a Power contrary to Law Evil and Tyrannical and Tyeth no man to subjection Lex Rex p. 261. 10 If we consider the Fountain-Power the King is Subordinate to Parliament and not Co-ordinate for the Constituent is above that which is Constituted Lex Rex p. 377. 11 Whensoever a King or other Supream Authority Creates an Inferiour they Invest it with a Legitimacy of Magistratical Power to punish themselves also in case they prove evil doers yea and to act any other thing requisite for the Praise and Encouragement of the Good Io. Goodwins Right and Might well met 1648. p. 7. 12 The People is not King formally because the People is eminently more than the King for they make David King and Saul King Lex Rex p. 156. 13 The Laws are in the hands of the Parliament to Change or Abrogate as they shall see best for the Common-wealth even to the taking away of Kingship it self when it grows too Masterful and Burdensome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 101. 14 The Parliament sit in that body not as his Subjects but as his Superiors call'd not by him but by the Law not only twice every year but as oft as great affaire require to be his Counsellors and Dictators though he stomack it nor to be Dissolved at his pleasure but when all Grievances be first removed all Petitions heard and answered Ibid. p. 110. 15 Our Covenant was not taken without the Royal Authority of the King though it be Condemn'd by his Personal Command for as long as this Parliament of England continueth the Royal Authority and Power is annexed to it by vertue of that Act of Continuance So that the King of England in his Power may still be at Westminster though King Charles in his Person be at Oxford or elsewhere The Covenanters Catechism 1644. p. 16. 16 If a People that by Oath and Duty are obliged to a Sovereign shall sinfully Dispossess him and contrary to their Covenants chuse and Covenant with another they may be Obliged by their latter Covenants notwithstanding the former Ho. Com. p 188. 17 Though the Perfidious Parliament or rather Mock Parliament have lately betrayed their own Trust and our Liberties making it Treason for us to mention the Cruel Tyranny and Oppression we groan under yet by the Ancient Laws of England this Man that Rules at present is no Rightful King of England but by Oppressing the Nation and Persecuting the Lords People hath loss the Title of a King and the Name of a King doth not agree to him but Tyrant is the Name due to him Mene-Tekel p. 63. 18 Q. Whether the Title of Supream be not rather Nominal than Real Valley of Acbor p. 1. 19 Our War has been proved over and over to Unbiast Consciences to be Just. Caryl to the Commons April 23. 1644. p. 15. 20 If the King raise War against the Parliament upon their Declaration of the Dangers of the Common-wealth in that case people may not only Resist him but also he Ceases to be a King Baxter H. Common-wealth Thes. 368. 21 It is our Duty to yield to this Authority all Active and Chearful Obedience in the Lord even for Conscience sake Ibid. 22 A Refusal to be subject to this Authority under the pretence of Upholding the Title of any One upon Earth is a Refusal to Acquiesce in the Wise and Righteous pleasure of God Ienkins Petition Printed Oct. 15. 1651. 23 The King must Command not only according to God's but Man's Laws And if he do not so Command the Resistance is not a Resistance of Power but Will. Bridges to the Commons Feb. 7. 1642. Pref. 24 Let not the Sons of Belial say there is no Law now let them not be as when there was no King in Israel every man doing that which was right in his own eyes let them know that the Kingly Power Resides in the High Court of Parliament Pickering No. 27. 1649. Epist. Ded. 25 Subjects do promise Obedience that the Magistrate might help them which if he do not they are discharg'd of their Obedience Goodman p. 190. 26 Judges ought by the Law of God to Summon Princes before them for their Crimes and to proceed against them as against all other Offenders Obedience p. 111. 27 Scotland fought for themselves and their own safety and whatever Law will Warrant Nations now to joyn together against the Turk will Warrant Scotland their joyning with England against their Common-Enemy Apologet. Relat. p. 138. 28 A War raised by the Parliament against the Common Enemy in defence of the Kings Honour the safety of the People and the Purity of Religion cannot be Condemned as Unjust and Illegal Apol. Rel. p. 142. 29 It was the common practice of the Parliaments of Scotland and Lex currit cum Praxi to rise in Arms against their Kings when they turned Tyrants Ibid. 143. 30 It is lawful for the Inferiour and Subordinate Magistrates to defend the Church and Common-wealth when the Supream Magistrate degenerates and falleth into Tyranny or Idolatry for Kings are subject to their Common-wealths Canterburies Doom p. 290. c. 31 The Parliament have declar'd
the Supream Power to be in themselves Exclusively without a King or House of Lords And they are the Powers that now are as hath been cleared Saunders Mar. 23. 1650. p. 24. 32 It is altogether Lawful for the Parliament to take up Arms for the Defence of the Liberty or any other Imaginable Cause against any Party Countenanced by the Kings Presence against his Laws Baylyes Review p. 83. 33 The Votes Orders and Ordinances of the Lords and Commons in Parliament even without or against the Kings Personal Command are to be obey'd and observ'd Câ—…oftons fastening of St. Peters Fetters p. 118. 34 A Reformation is setled by Highest Authority in despight of Papists Prelate Pope or Devil Staunton to the Commons April 24. 1644. p. 24. 35 Is it so high a Crime for the Great Council of the Nation to determine things necessary for the safety of King and Kingdom without consent of his Majesty when it cannot be obtained Newcomen to the Commons Nov. 5. 1642. p. 48. 36 You are Ambassadors of the Greatest King The Great things of Heaven and Earth are committed to your care the Glory of Iehovah the Gospel of Christ the Welfare of Churches the Good of Kingdoms and in some respect of the whole Christian world is in your hands Greenhil to the Commons April 26. 1643. p. 45. 37 There is no danger in Resisting Acts of Tyranny for Tyrants exercising Tyranny are no Terror to Evil doers Apol. Rel. 154. 38 The Authority and Gods Ordinance can never do wrong but the Corrupt Person placed in Authority may offend so that the King as King is one thing and the King acting Tyranny is another thing Knox Hist. Li. 2. p. 141. Notes on §. 9. THE King render'd Accountable to his Subjects Num. 1 2. His Power Fiduciary and not to be obey'd in doubtful Cases 3 4 The People the Fountain of Power 5 6. And may Depose their Sovereign if he fails in his Duty 7 The Abuse of his Power is the forfeiture of it 8 9. His Parliament is above him 10 11. And so are the People 12. The Parliament are his Superiors and may Depose him 13 14. The Kings Power at Westminster though his Person may be at Oxford 15 The People may discharge themselves of their Allegiance 16 The Crown forfeitable and fâ—…rfeited 17 Supremacy only a Complement 18 The late War justifi'd and the Resistance Lawful 19 20. Cromwel to be Obey'd for Conscienoe sake 21 22. Resistance allowable 23 The Parliament are Supream and the Subjects Obedience Conditional 24 25. Princes Punishable as well as others 26 The Scottish Invasion defended 27 28. And the taking up of Arms against Tyrants 29 Kings subject to their States 30 The Commons and the Parliament-War defended 31 32 33 34 35 36. Tyranny is not Gods Ordinance 37 38. Let the Reader judge now what any man can design that exposes and supports these Positions but the Ruin of the Government §. 10. Tumults Encouraged And chiefly by the Able Holy Faithful Laborious and Truly-Peaceable Preachers of the Gospel Petition for Peace P. 4. 1 IT is not unknown nor unobserved by the Wise that the Ministers have been very serviceable to the Civil State and to the Military too Not only by their Supplications to God for good success in all their Undertakings and their happy Proceedings in all their Warlike Marches and Motions as at the Removal of the Ark Num. 10. 35. Rise up Lord and let thine Enemies be scatter'd Let them that hate thee flee before thee But 2 By their Informations and 3 Solicitations of the People to Engage both their Estates and Persons in the Case of God and their Country Iohn Ley's Examination of the New Quere 1646. Epis. Ded. to the Lord Mayor 2 And we do not Repent of any part of our Pains or Pressures or Perils so long as we may be Serviceable to so good a Cause and to such Good and Gracious Masters as under Christ they The Parliament have hitherto approved themselves towards us And I hope we may without Boasting say by way of Apology that we have not been altogether their unprofitable Servants in respect 1 of our Interest in and 2 Endeavours with the People without whom the Greatest Kings are rather Cyphers than Figures and destitute both of Honour and Safety Prov. 14. 28 1 To Inform their Iudgments and 2 to Enflame their Zeal and 3 to oblige their Consciences and 4 to Fasten their Affections in Loyalty and Fidelity to those worthy Patriots whom they have in their Choice and Votes of Election entrusted with the Religion the Lives and Estates of themselves and their Posterity Hyde p. 80. Sect. 22. 3 After-Ages will Abominate their Baseness and Villanies that have lifted up their hands against the Parliament But the Fsthers the Mordecais the Religious Patriots that have acted in this Sphear the brave Soldiers whose Lives were not dear unto them the FAITHFUL MINISTERS the Horse-men and the Chariots of Israel they shall be had in Everlasting Remembrance Heyrick to the Commons May. 27. 1646. p. 16. 4 You are required to Commend to God in your Prayers the Lord General the whole Army employ'd in the Parliaments Service as also in your Sermons effectually to stir up the People to appear in Person and to joyn with the Army to stand up for our Religion and Liberties as is desired and expected by the Army and the Committee for the Militia in this City Penningtons Order to the London Ministers Ap. 1643. 5 The work of Reformation still goes on There we do get ground as to Perfect a Protestation into a Covenant to ripen an Impeachment into a Root and Branch And in a word to settle an Assembly of Divines as a General Refiners fire to try all Metals of the Church Bond. to the Commons March 27. 1644. p. 56. 6 The Assembly Petition'd both Houses for a Fast and the removing of Blind Guides and Scandalous Ministers destroying all Monuments of Idolatry and Superstition the Executing of Justice upon all Delinquents according to the Solemn and Religious Vow and Protestation for that purpose that so God who is now by the Sword avenging the Quarrel of his Covenant beholding the Integrity and Zeal of the Two Houses might turn from the fierceness of his wrath hear their Prayers go forth with their Armies and perfect the work of Reformation c. Ex. Col. July 19. 1643. p. 242. 7 I must truly tell ye that before these Late Wars it pleas'd the Lord to call me by his Grace through the work of the Ministry and afterwards keeping a day of Humiliation in Fasting and Prayer with Mr. Simeon Ash Mr. Love Mr. Woodcock and other Ministers in Laurence-Lane they did so clearly state the Cause of the Parliament that I was fully convinc'd in my own Conscience of the Justness of the War and thereupon Engaged in the Parliaments Service which as I did and do believe was the Cause of the Lord. I ventur'd my Life
Dissenters Sayings The Second Part. Published in their own Words FOR THE INFORMATION Of the People And DEDICATED to the GRAND-JURY of LONDON August 29. 1681. By Roger L'Estrange LONDON Printed for Ioanna Brome at the Gun at the West-end of St. Pauls Church-yard 1681. To his Unknown Friends the GRAND-JURY for LONDON August 29. 1681 viz. Will. Whitehill Fore-man Henry Strode Ioas Bateman Tho. Shepherd Ralph Cooke Joseph Caril Valentine Adams Joseph Bowles Anthony Sâ—…oman Andrew Boult Theophilus Hawson Maurice King Jâ—… Bâ—…ll John Cutloâ—…e John Cowley Jonathan Leigh William Pendlebury Daniel Mercer Gentlemen THE Kindness you have already shew'd to the Observator I cannot but in Common Honesty take as done to my self and I dare here assure ye that what Obligations soever you shall hereafter lay upon L'Estrange shall be acknowledg'd by the Observator You were pleased on Wednesday the 31. of August last at Justice-Hall in the Old-Baily to Present Nathaniel Thompson Benjamin Took and Joanna Brome for Maliciously Printing and Publishing or causing to be Printed or Publish'd three Scandalous and Seditious Papers and Libels Entitled 1. The Loyal Protestant and True Domestick Intelligence 2. Heraclitus and 3. The Observator tending to the Advancement and Introduction of Popery and to the Suppression and Extirpation of the True Protestant Religion within his Majesties Realms and Dominions And this Terrible Presentment was Usher'd into the World with this Preface We the Grand-Jury Sworn to Enquire of Offences committed within the City of London do upon our Oaths Present c. Now there are Three Quaeres Gentlemen which if I durst be so bold I would presume to offer ye upon this Prologue First Being Sworn to Enquire Have you Impartially Enquir'd or not 2ly If ye have Enquir'd Are these Three Pamphlets all the Enormities that you have Discover'd upon that Enquiry 3ly What 's become of all the Rest for you are as well Sworn to Present as to Enquire These are Quaeres that I have sometimes formerly mov'd and the Answer was That these Three Papers were thrown in your Porridg-dish Now if ye stumbled upon 'em by Chance where 's your Enquiry upon Oath Or if ye found any thing else what 's become of your Oath of Presentment If ye had but taken me to your Assistance I 'de have carry'd 〈◊〉 where you should have 〈…〉 and Sedition Pulpits Cabals and Coffee-houses of the same Cloth and colour I 'de have brought ye acquainted with the Voxes Vindications and the Black-Box men A New Set of Jack Straws Waâ—… Tylers But where 's Old Walworth with his Dagger I 'de have shew'd ye Twenty New Schemes of Christianity as well as of Policy the Doctrine of the Insufficiency of Christs Death and Passion of Deposing Kings of Placing the Fountain of Power in the People Scripture-Proofs for speaking Evil of Dignities And in one word the Scenes dispos'd and the Stage fitted for the Second Part of the Tragedy of Muncer and the Curtain ready to be drawn I could have gotten ye a Key to the Soul-Saving-State-Confounding-Sheriffs Case and let ye into the Mystery of that Incomprehensible Dispensation It is a great Blessing to a Government for men upon their Oaths in the Administration of Publique Duties to be Nicely and Casuistically Instructed in the Bounds and Measures of Swearing And this is a Piece that cuts out Perjury from Damnation to a hairs breadth and will bring ye a True-Protestant Conscience within the very smell of Fire and Brimstone and yet carry him off again as whole as a Fish into his ready way to the Land of Promise Now here would have been Enormitywork e'en as much as ye could have turn'd you 〈◊〉 to But what 's all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Dick Janeway's Paper says that First He hath Wickedly and Maliciously Endeavour'd to Sow Dissention and Discord amongst Protestants thereby to render them an easier prey unto their Common Enemies the Papists Pray Gentlemen d' ye call this the Presentment of a Grand Jury or a Final Verdict upon the Merits of the Cause to say First that a Man has done such a thing and then to Pronounce that he did it with such an intention or to such an end But now to the Article So far has the Observator been from Labouring Dissention and Discord that no man has more declar'd himself against it or taken more pains to lay open the Moral Impossibility of Peace in the State according to this Constitution without a strict Uniformity in the Church But if you would have fix'd your Presentment aright upon this Head you should have presented the Enemy in the Parable that Sow'd the Tares And if you will but look into the Third Section of this Book for your better satisfaction you will find that the Dissention and Discord that you talk of was Sow'd Forty years ago and that what we see now is only an After crop The Second Point is Countenancing and Abetting the Villanous Contrivances of the Popish Conspirators who have endeavoured to cast Fictitious Plots upon Protestants thereby to make way for their own Hellish Plot to take effect That is to say The Observator is in the Popish Plot. Why do ye not inform against him to the King and Council then and say Where and When and How and What Why do ye not Name the Contrivances and say who are the Conspirators Or what if ye should set forth your Grievances in a Protestant Mercury or get little Hancock to open your Case in one of his News-Letters He 'l do 't for Pence a piece and that 's just Eighteen pence for his Reward I do assure ye Gentlemen I am in no other Contrivance then to do the Part of an English Protestant a Loyal Subject and an Honest man towards the Upholding of the Government and I was once within a Trifle of a Halter for being in that Popish Conspiracy as they call'd it once before with the Late King And if the same Word and the same Humour be now taken up again I am in just such another Plot. The Third Charge is the Vilifying and bringing into the Disesteem of his Majesty and the whole Nation the Commons of England when Assembled in Parliament by Arraigning and Impudently Condemning their Proceedings You forget my Masters that Impudence is the Surname of the Greatest Phanatique in the Three Kingdoms and that the Epithete Villanous fits him too as if it had been made for him Therefore for the future I would advise ye to put your Slanders 〈◊〉 better language And now to the Accusation The Observator does first defie ye to shew One Line in all his Writings that will bear the sence you have Impos'd upon 't And 2dly The late Long Parliament which the Fanatiques have Loaden with so many Reproaches had at least as many Good Patriots Protestants and Subjects in it as any Parliament since Nay there is One of your Number at least who has said Positively that L'Estrange is a Papist which is as False
Abihu and Saul will intermeddle with Gods Warrant as she Q. Eliz. hath done with matters of Religion with God's matters she must think it no Injury to be Disobey'd Soldier of Berwick Cited by the Author of an Answer to a Factious Libel Entitled An Abstract of several Acts of Parliament c. 2 Kings no less then the Rest must obey and yield to the Just Authority of the Ecclesiastical Magistrates Ecclesiastical Discip. P. 142. 3 The Consistory may and ought to admonish the Magistrate which is negligent in Punishing Vice Danaeus Par. 2. Isag. li. 2. Cap. 62. And also may upon Knowledge of the Cause taken Excommunicate even the Chief Magistrate unto the which he ought to submit himself Ibid. ca. 67. 4 Princes must remember to subject themselves to the Church and to submit their Scepters to throw down their Crowns before the Church yea to Lick the dust of the Feet of the Church T. Cartwright P. 645. 5 Every Eldership is the Tribunal Seat of Christ. Beza de Presb. P. 124. 6 The Holy Discipline ought to be set up and All Princes to submit themselves under the Yoke of it What Prince King or Emperour shall Disanul the same he is to be reputed Gods Enemy and to be held unworthy to Reign above his People Knox Exhort to Eng. P. 91. c. 7 Our Church-History tells that Mr. Andrew Melvin that Faithful and Zealous Servant of Christ would not answer before the King and the Council for his Alledged Treasonable Discourse in a Sermon until he had first given in a Plain and Formal Protestation and the like was done by Worthy Mr. David Blake upon the like occasion and the Protestation was Approved and Signed by a good Part of the Church of Scotland 1596. Hist. Indul. P. 14. 8 The Irreligiousness Antichristianism and Exorbitancy of this Explicatory and as to some things Ampliatory Act and Assertion of the Kings Supremacy in Church-Affairs of Nov. 16. 1669 this Supra-Papal Supremacy Hist. Indul. P. 27. 9 The Accepters of the Indulgence are Chargeable with High Treason against the King of Kings our Lord Iesus Christ. Hist. Indul. p. 86. 10 Christ breaks and moulds Commonwealths at his Pleasure He hath not spoke much in his Word how long they shall last or what he intends to do with them Only this That all Kings and Kingdoms that make War against the Church shall be broken a pieces and that in the end All the Kingdoms of the World shall be the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Saints and they shall reign over them Marshal to the Commons June 15. 1643. p. 47. 11 What was our Posture and Practice after we had so stupidly stood by till we saw the whole work overturn'd without offering to Interpose effectually to prevent its ruine or to fall with it Hist. of Indulgence Pref. 1678. Speaking of the Action of Bothwell-Bridge 12 The Father having given to Christ all Power both in Heaven and in Earth and the Rule and Regiment of this Kingdom he hath Committed to Monarchies Aristocracies or Democracies as the several Combinations and Associations of the People shall between themselves think good to Elect and Erect God leaves People to their own Liberty in this Case Case on Isaiah 43. 4. p. 26. 13 They were carrying on a Malignant Interest to wit The Establishing the King in the Exercise of his Power in Scotland and the Re-investing him with the Government in England when he had not yet Abandoned his Former Enmity to the Work and People of God and the securing of Power in their own hands under him Gillespies Useful Case of Conscience p. 66. 14 There was a sin in the Peoples Joyning because few or none of those who did Joyn did give any Testimony against the Magistrates Employing of the Malignant Party Ibid. 15 After the Treaty was brought to some close the King did before his coming to Sea Receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper from one of the Prelatical Chaplains and according to the Service-Book c. notwithstanding the Commissioners of the Kirk did represent the Evil thereof to him Gillespies Useful Case of Conscience Discuss'd p. 56. Another Exception That the King did not think his Father Guilty of Blood Ibid. 16 Was there not Cause to Scruple at the taking of this Oath of Allegeance which would have Imported 1. A Condemning of the Convention of Estates in Scotland 1643. 2. A Condemning of the Parliaments An. 1640. 41. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. As also the Committees and Parliaments thereafter An. 1649. 1650. 1651. 3. A Condemning of all the Acts made by These Parliaments 4. A Condemning of all the Meetings Councils and Conventions of the Subjects at the beginning of the Late work of Reformation 5. A Condemning of the League and Covenant 6. A Condemning of Scotlands Joyning with and Helping of England in the day of their streight 7. A Condemning of the Renewing of the National Covenant 1638. 1639. 8. A Condemning of the General Assembly 1638. and several others thereafter 9. A Condemning of Scotlands Rising in Arms in their own Defence against the Popish Prelatical and Malignant Party 10. A Condemning of their seizing upon Forts and Castles in their own Defence An Apolâ—…getical Relation of the Sufferings of the Scotch Ministers 1665. p. 127. 128. 17 We ought to consider the Conditions of the Kings Letter of Indulgence to the Kirk Iune 7. 1669. what is accounted living Peaceably and Orderly by such as propose this Qualification And that sure to speak it in the smoothest of Terâ—…s is a Negative Compliance with all their Tyranny Oppression of Church and Country Blood-shed Overturning of the Work of God Establishing Iniquity by Law Perjury Apostacy Re-establishing of Perjur'd Prelates and Abjured Prelacy Hist. of Indulg p. 7. 18 We Remarque further that the Letter saith that none of these Ministers have any Seditious Discourses or Expressions in Pulpit or Elsewhere And what is understood here by Seditious Discourses or Expressions we cannot be Ignorant But now what Conscientious Ministers can either Tacitly promise such a thing or upon the Highest Peril forbear to Utter such Discourses Or who can think that any such thing can be yielded unto who considereth what God requireth of Ministers in Reference to a Corrupted and Apostatized state And what the weight of the Blood of Souls is Hist. Indul. p. 11. 19 The Unparallel'd Perfidy and Breach of Covenant The most Abominable Irreligious Inhumane and Tyrannical Acts made for Establishing of this Wicked Course of Defection Hist. Indul. p. 12. 20 Christ and his Apostles were the Greatest of Conventicle Preachers and almost Preached no other way wanting always the Authority of the Supream Magistrate and yet not waiting upon their Indulgence Hist. Indul. p. 17. 21 They have power to Abrogate and Abolish all Statues and Ordinances concerning Ecclesiastical matters that are found Noysom and Unprofitable and agree not with the time or are abused by the People 2 Book of Discipline cap. 7. To
so many Consecrated Murders which are only wrapt up in Scripture Phrases as the Execution of Judgment Justice running down like a stream c. And the Wickedness looks then as if it were Hallow'd which is no more in short then playing the Devil in Gods name and dedicating the Oblation of Humane Sacrifices to the Everliving God as to an Insensible Idol But to what end serves Argument in the face of so many Pregnant and Undeniable Proofs It is true or not that what I have here recited is an Authentique Evidence both for the Words and for the Authors of them And if the matter of Fact be honestly reported let but any man consider if we follow these Guides whither they 'l carry us at last and how great a scandal 't is to Christianity to suffer such Hearts and Hands as these to serve at the Altar §. 13. The Murder of the King Encourag'd 1 THOSE mine Enemies which would not that I should Reign over them bring hither and slay them before me Let me see them Executed KINGS Rulers People Conspiring Rebellion against the Lord and against his Christ. Maynard to the Commons Octob. 28. 1646. p. 15. 2 Let us he Active against the KINGS and Prince of the Earth those Claws of the cruel Beast Feak at Black Friers Sept. 1â—… 1653. 3 The Quarrel is not now with us only de Terminis Laâ—…tibus touching Bounds or Land-marks touching Privileges and Liberties but whether Christ shall Reign over us or we shall basely yâ—…ld our Necks under the Yoke of Anti-Christ Pet. Smith May 2â—… 1644. p. 42. 4 The King is fallen from Faith in thee and become an Enemy to thy Church Is it not He that has Sinned and done Evil indeed but as for these Sheep what have they done Let thy hand we pray thee O Lord our God be on him and on his Fathers House but not on thy People that they shall be Plagu'd A Lecturer in South-hampton Aug. 1643. 5 Nothing has so much deceived the world as the Name of KING which is the ground of all Mischiefs in the Church of Christ. Corbâ—… a Lecturer in Glocester-shire Iuly 1644. 6 O Lord if thou wilt not Eless us with a King Bless us without one â—…arkin a Lecturer in Greenwich Iune 31. 1â—…44 7 Neither let your eyes spare though there are Great ones that are Guilty The Highest Court may reach the Highest Persons Causes and not Persons are to be heard in your Parliament Heyrick to the Commons May 27. 1646. p. 23. 8 God will make the Sons of Princes bow down unto ye The Greatest that have Afflicted ye and Despised ye shall lye at your feet Id. p. 31. 9 If the KING be a Murderer Adulterer or an Idolater he shall suffer according to Gods Law not as a King but as an Offender Knox Hist. 392. 10 When Great Delinquents go unpunished Divine Providence is brought to the Bar and question'd Greenhill to the Commons April 26. 1643. p. 34. 11 This Arrow Prayer will find a Joynt in Ahabs Armour 1 King 22. 34. Draw this Arrow as Iehu did against Iehoram with your full strength and doubt not but it will in Gods time smite our Romish Iehoram at the heart 2 King 9. 24. and sink him in his Chariot and Chair of Pride Green to the Commons April 24. 1644. pag. 17. 12 Oh Right Honourable take Glorious Resolutions to your selves though your Fathers may stand before you and your Brethren and Friends press about you though your Mother should hang on you I mean the nearest Relations throw down the one and break through the other and trample upon the third that your souls may cleave to the ways of God to the ways of Justice and Righteousness You know the Rule is Fiat Iustitia Ruat Mundus Brooks to the Commons Decemb. 26. 1648. p. 15. Ah Right Honourable As you would not have your Services thrown as dung in your Faces look that Justice and Judgment run down as a mighty stream Ibid. p. 19. Right Honourable Guilty Persons that be by you sinfully acquitted their Sin God will charge upon your account And therefore as you would not have the Guilt of other mens sins upon you hold on in the way of well doing Let Justice and Judgment run down as mighty streams Ibid. p. 18. 13 Phinehas is the Man that Executes Judgment a Man unthought of for such a Service Hence observe that when God hath work to do he can find our Work-men A Phinehas with Zeal in his heart and a Iavelin in his hand to thrust through the Proudest Zimries and Cosbies the most daring Sinners Staunton to the Commons Octob. 30. 1644. p. 9. 14 When Esther was advanc'd she would not lose her opportunities she will in to the King although contrary to a Law She will have the Liberty of her People and Hamans head off and venture her Life to accomplish it If I Perish I Perish Iosiah Hezekiah took their opportunities and made a thorough Reformation in Iudah You know what great things Elijah did Inspiciente Reluctante Rege Greenhill to the Commons April 26. 1643. p. 48. 15 When the Kings of the Earth have given their Power to the Beast these Choice Soldiers will be so faithful to the King of Kings as to oppose the Beast though Armed with King-like Power Cheynel to the Commons May 31. 1643 p. 10. 16 You see the Faithful People make no scruple at all of Fighting against the Beast though their Enemies were like enough to say that by Fighting against the Beast they did Rebel against their own Kings Id. Ibid. 17 Others say Rebellion against the King is the cause of Judgment upon the Nation but rather the not Timous Rising to help the Lord and his oppressed People against the Mighty is the cause Rutherford to the Lords June 25. 1645. p. 44. Notes on §. 13. WE have now brought ye step by step from the Blind and Pretext of a Reformation to the Highest pitch of Wickedness and the Train was both laid and fir'd in the Pulpit Undutiful thoughts bring forth Seditious words and those Seditious words are naturally follow'd with Violent and Treasonous actions and when People come once to be Plung'd into a Rebellion all other sins even of the highest magnitude flow like streams into that Ocean till at last mens Consciences grow Câ—…llous and Obdurate as under a Iudicial Reprobation It could never be else if it may be said without offence to Charity that so many of the Principal and known Actors in the late Execrable Tragedy should now wipe their mouths after it and fall so comfortably to the old work again without any sort of Reluctancy or Remorse But it will be said perhaps that it was not so much a thirst after the Blood of their Sovereign that pusht them forward to these Extremities but that they were forc'd upon desperate Courses by their Interest and Despairs This would be a sorry excuse God knows for Committing
one of the most Diabolical and Flagitious Villanies imaginable Even allowing that they had no other way left them for their security But alas you will find in the Next and Last Section this Plea remov'd where ye shall see the same Persons that here cry'd Crucifie him Crucifie him Triumphing and only for the Malice sake Exulting in the Contemplation of that Hideous Murder §. 14. The Kings Murder Iustifi'd 1 IT is now high time after so long an Interruption of Enemies for the Parliament and Army concurrently to appear to do their duty not only by Executing Justice upon the Person of the King and his Adherents but also in New Modelling and settling such a Frame and Fundamental Constitution of Government in the Kingdom as God shall put into their hearts to be most Convenient and Useful for the welfare and safety of the People Little Benjamin Licensed by Gilb. Mabbot p. 11. 2 Did not this Grand Pretended Father of this Nation destroy a Multitude of his best Children And would he not gladly have Slain all the rest upon further opportunity Was it not high time the Parliament should Execute Judgment upon him Ibid. p. 12. The General and his Councel do and have performed their Duty in all their Proceedings Concurring with the Parliament to Execute Justice upon the Grand Delinquent and also upon some of the Chief of his Wâ—…cked Counsellors and Adherents Ibid. p. 30. 3 Hath not the King been a Corrupt Fountain Poysoning every Stream and Rivulet he had access unto And would he not have done so still if he had not been cut off Aâ—… is not Justice Executed a good means to Establish the Faith of the Land in Rest and Peace with their Lives Estates Laws Liberties and Privileges Anciently and Inherently in themselves Ibid. p. 15. 4 Shall the Parliament of England be now Blam'd for cutting off that 〈◊〉 of Uâ—…pers and Tyrants and Reducing affairs to their first 〈◊〉 and Right Principle Or will the People of England after 〈◊〉 Experiences Center tâ—… Liberties and Freedoms in a Câ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Succession and lose their Common-wealth 〈◊〉 Personal Glory of a Young Pretender The Portraicture 〈◊〉 Kings of England 1650. p. 15. 5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no Power but â—…s of God Is not the Late King with his Heirs and Sâ—… is Dâ—…p â—…ssed by God Saunders aâ—… â—…ter to the Judges March 23. 1â—…50 p. 24. 6 God hath been pleased of late to make a sad Breach among us taking away from us our former Pilot the late Renewâ—…d Protector who when he had fought the Natâ—…ons Battels carried through the Wilderness preserved us from the 〈◊〉 and Fury of our Enemies and brought us within sight of the Premised Land gave up the Ghost laid down his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and his Life together with whose fall the Nation was 〈◊〉 His death covered all the Faces of Sobâ—… and Considerate Persons with Paleness and their Hearts with Sadness as if Peace Prosperity Reformation the Gospel all lay drawing on and would be buried in the same Grave with him But blessed be God therâ—… and her 〈◊〉 placed in his room while he directs the Course let us till the Sails with our Praying Breath Moses it is true is dead but we have a 〈◊〉 succeeding him Let as pray that what thâ—… other happily begâ—…n this may more happily finish and bring the accomplishment of all your right-brâ—…d hopes And what they said to 〈◊〉 let us say unto his Highness According as we hearkâ—… unto Moses in all things so 〈◊〉 we hearken unto thee Only the Lord thy God be with thee â—…s he was with Moses Slater's Protectors Prâ—… or the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by a Praying People Octob. 13. 1658. p. 57 58. 7 For my part I have oppos d the Tyranny 〈◊〉 the King Love 's Speech Sect. 20 I did 't is true 〈◊〉 is my Pâ—…ce aâ—…d Calling the 〈◊〉 of the late Kings and were he alâ—…ve again and should I live longer the Caâ—… being as thâ—… it was I should oppose him longer Englands â—…per Sect. 14. 8 As for the Title of this Prince who would fain be accounted the Right Heir let us but remember from whence he had it and how 't is now tainted Were it never so just the Treason of the Father hath cut off the Son True Port. p. 39. 9 Charles the Father is gone to his own Place and so is Charles the Son likewise he being in his own proper Nation Scotland let us keep him there iâ—… we be wise and intend to be happy let England disdain to be under the Domination of a Foreign Power for the future The True Portraiture p. 42. 10 If the God of Heaven the God of Truth have writ your Names aright with the Beams of the Noon day Sun in the eyes of all the Nations in the world You are the Saviours of the Oppressed the Conquerors of Tyrants and the Breakers of those Clergical Yoaks c. The Beacons Quench'd Dedicated to the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England 1652 11 There are great and mighty works in hand in this Nation Tyrants are Punish'd the Laws of Oppressors are broke Bloody Revengeful People in War disappointed I. O. A Thanksgiving Sermon for the Scots defeat at Worcester Oct. 24. 1651. p. 2. A Monarchy of some hundred years Continuance always affecting and at length wholly degenerated into Tyranny destroy'd pull'd down swallow'd up Ibid. p. 6. 12 If any Persons in the world had cause to sing the Song of Moses and the Lamb we have this day The Bondage prepar'd for us was both in Spirituals and Temporals About a Tyrant full of Revenge and a Discipline full of Persecution hath been our Contest Whether the Yoke of the one or the other should by the Sword and Violence be put upon our Necks and Consciences is our Controversie Ibid. p. 7. 13 He that is Entrusted with the Sword and dares not do Justice on every one that dares do Injustice is affraid of the Creature but makes very bold with the Creator Owen to the Commons Jan. 31. 1648. p. 15. 14 Doubtless never was there any person under Heaven speaking of the late King Sentenced with Death upon more Equitable or Just grounds in respect of Guilt and Demerit Jo. Goodwins Defence of the Sentence passed on the King p. 91. 15 Gods Providences that is his permission of Events and Success are Antecedent Declarations of his Good Will and Approbation A Resusal to be subject to this Authority the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England under the pretence of upholding the Title of any one upon Earth is a Refusal to acquiesce in the Wise and Righteous Pleasure of God such an Opposing of the Government set up by the Sovereign Lord of Heaven and Earth as none can have Peace either in acting in or suffering for W. Ienkins Petition Octob. 1651. 16 If there be any in this Assembly that thinks not this Union a sufficient Retribution and Satisfaction for all his Twentieth part for all his