Book of Martyrs 3. vol. Hom. Church Engl. Artie the practice and precept of Christ himself the examples of the Prophets and Apostles the pattern of all the Martyrs the generally concurring Doctrine of the Catholike Church now in profession continued in the Church of England That active obedience is to be yeelded to the King as supream in omnibus licitis in things lawfull but if God for the punish ment of a Nation should set over us a tyrannicall King secundam voluntaiem pravam non rationem rectam regentem governing by his depraved will against reason and commanding things contrary to the Word of God we must not by force of arms rebel against him but rather then so if not prevailing by Petition unto him or escaping by flight from him patiently submit to the losse of our lives estates agreeing with the ancient Christians that preces lachrymae sunt arma ecclesiae that the pen rather then the sword patience prayers and tears then actively shedding blood best becommeth Christians Herein committing my soul into the hands of my faithfull Creator and mercifull Redeemer Revel 2.10 Mat. 5.10 11 12. 1 Per. 3.14 17. 1 Tim. 2.9 who have pronounced them blessed that suffer for righteousnesse sake and the testimony of a good conscience But I know the Jesuite and others too neer him in opinion though remote from him in name will contract their browes into a frown at this though Christian like asseveration and resolution Homily Chur. Engl. Sacred royall Prerogative of christian Kings printed Anne 1644. interposing many ayery suppositions distinctions and I know not what frivolous questions all which I shall at present forbear to insert much more to answer because they have sufficiently been in the religious and rationall works of many learned Writers both â—ncient and modern refuted and matle to appear but groundlesse quickly vanishing into ayre Beside his royall Majesty since the beginning of this unnaturall War having dommanded nor demanded any thing as in the sequell will appear contrary to established Law nor performed any action which any other Prince as supream might not lawfully have done se sobolem leges Regnaque defendendo It would be a needlesse and a labour in vain in me although in my conscience I approve the same to spend paper in vindication of a Christians passive obedience it being a question not arifing from the past or present practice of our Soveraign Lord the King therefore without all question at present standeth not in need either of mine or any other his Majesties Subjects defence For he hath been and is so far from commanding any unjust things contrary to the Law of God and the Land that he hath patiently suffered reproaches against his royall person deprivation of his noble Consort dispersion of his Princely Son hazard oâ— his own life losse of his Revenues with many thousands of his loyall Subjects nay almost all the comforts which felicitates a mans life vpon earth being at last after all these a restrained prisoner O happy thrice blessed wals conteyning such a King pattern of true Piety president of religious constancy example of an unparalelled Patience O unnaturall men Rebels to the King Reason Religion and Law whose trayterous commands thus turns Princes Pallaces into a royall Prison And all this he undergoeth because he would govern onely by Law and preserve a power in himself whereby he may be enabled to preserve the Law But I proceed passing by the generall power of a King in Divinity and in that respect what he may do and confider him onely as he is King of England in a well setled Government and therefore to this purpose shall lay down some more fundamentall positions and unquestionable truths That our Soveraign Lord CHARLES Vide all Acts of Ravliament confessing the 1. Jac. cap. 1.9 Edw. 4 fol 8 by the grace of God is lawfull King of England and of all other his Majesties Dominions and Countries that he is supream Governour over all persons and in all causes whether Ecolesiastical or Civil That is There is by the Law of the Land established in which he is vertually present no commanding power above him without him much lesse against him nor can ought or must any conjunctim or divisim exercise any governing power within his Majesties Dominions nor must any willingly expresse subjection or obedience to such an unjust and usurped power standing in opposition to his lawfull power That there are regales columnae to support this Monarchicall Fabrick from sinking or suffering any injury from any persons whomsoever as summoning and dismissing of generall Counsels whether Ecclesiastical or Civil making or anulling of Laws that is his affirmative or negative voyce in Parliament without which the Building were rather a painted then substantiall Edifice Secondly making of War or Peace that is disposing of the Militia of arming his Subjects to prevent forraign Invasions or suppresse domestick rebellious Insurrections without which it would also soon fall by seditious and ambitious underminers nor could the King without this power be able to defend himself from wrong or his Subjects from oppression Thirdly creating and disposing of Magistrates power over life and death highest and last appeal without which his title of Supremacy would be a title of supream mockery the stile of * School boys know that Rex is but a derivative of Rego which signifies to Govern King a meer contradiction nay if he had not these additionals whereby he is onely abled Regis agere partem he were rather Rex titularis quà m realis and if so rather regulatus and therefore in the best sense but a supream Subject then Rex regens by vertue of his supream power governing his Subjects were he deprived of these necessary adjuncts to a regall power he then may as his Majesty hath well observed himself be waited upon bare-headed have his hand kissed His Answer to the nineteen Proposition Anno 1â—â—â— his Authority declared by his Subjects have Swords and Maces carried before him and please himself with the sight of a Crown and Scepter but as to true and reall power he should remain but the out side picture and sign of a King Now that all these with many more attributes of power requisite for a King to have do appertain by the established Law of this Land to our Soveraign Lord King CHARLES his Heirs and Successors I will not trouble the margin with quotations from the Fountain Lex terrae A. 1647. a principio ad siuem Remonst Feb. 21. 1647. alibique scriptis to make good but refer the Reader to those pure streams flowing from thence those brief Collections of that Reverend Lawyer Judge Jenkins who therein Atlas like hath supported the true fundamentall Lawes of England and like a faithfull Expositor given the most religious rationall and lawfull practiced sense of them But for the cleering hereof I shall propound some queries to all rationall men which will the
Presbytery considered as is administred by preaching and Lay Elders joyntly with equal voice and power in the several Judicatorics of their Parochial Sessions of their Classical or greater Consistories of their P. ovincial Synods and National Assemblies Page 3. Now by this if I mistake not you may perceive that they both agree in ipso regimine Ecclesiastico in the Government it self considered as itteferreth to the Church that is all Members therein that are to be governed though not in the manner number or qualification of the persons governing both parties confessing that the power of Ordination and of Judicature so far forth as the keys left by Christ in his Church do extend is of Divine Institution and that this power must be excecised or administred in his Church by some so that I say the difference is whether the exercise or ministration of that power be restrained to certain choice men or indifferently left to all Presbyters and their assisting Lay Elders For none will accuse themselves guilty of so much ignorance and folly as to affirm that the decent Ceremonies and innocent Vestments of the Church as Cross in Baptism Surpless Cope the like were practised imposed as essential and inseparably necessary adjuncts to the Government it self All which rather then contention for them should have extended to blood might nay would have been by the condescention of His Majesty quietly layd aside needing not the peremptormeis of the sword to silence them I. Under episcopal there is in every Parish a preaching Minister with Churchwardens and in some Deacons or Curates by these offenders are noted and admonished and the offences presented to the Ecclesiastical Courts or Consistories where they may be heard and censured the Minister having power in some cases of notorious scandal to restrain from the Communion untill the offence may be heard and judged in the Court and the party so offending by the censure of the Church brought to give publike satisfiction II. Under Episcopal in every diocess there are several divisions the lesser and the greater these being called Deanties there is Arch-Deconries in those the Arch-Presbyters in these the Arch-Deacons have power to call the Parochial Ministers together to enquire of doctrine and manners and see to the red ressing of smaller abuses In the Mother City is the Bishop residing with his Presbyters having the power of Ordination of judging and determining of all matter of doctrine or seandal reserevd to his hearing by his Arch-Deacons and of rejudging what was judged amiss by them This he doth either in his Consistory which he holdeth in his City assisted by his Presbyters or in his Vsitiations going through his diocess and causing his Clergy personally to appear or in his diocesan Synod which is made up of the City Presbyters Dean and Chapter the Arch-Deacons and other choice Presbyters under the presidency of the Bishop III. Under Episcopal Government are held Provincial Synods consisting of all the Bishops Deans Arch-Deacons and of certain choice Presbyters from every diocess within the Province these have power to order all matters concerning the whole Province to hear appeals from every Diocess to re-judg what is done amis that could not be well determined in a Diâ—cesan Synod IIII. Under Episcopal Government are also held National Councels consisting of the like Members as do the Provincial these are of greatest authority they examine and judg any thing done amiss any in Province they consider and determine matters of Doctrine and Discipline inorder to the whole Nationall Church Under the Presbyterian Government there is in every Parish a Minister with a competent number of Lay Elders and Deacons according to the largeness of the Parish These make the Parochial Session and have power to censure scandalous livers contentious persons and the like to enjoyn publke penance and impose upon the penitent before he be received into the Church a fine to be imployed on pious uses Under the Presbyterian in every County there are also several divisions or Classes containing such a number of Parochiall Ministers who have their set meetings for conference and in the City or more eminent Town is the great Presbyterian Consistory commonly called the Presbytery made up of all the Parochiall Ministers within its precincts and of Lay Elders from each Parish one in this is the power of Ordination of censuring crimes of the higher strain with the greater Excommunication of hearing appeals from the Parochial Sessions and rejudging what was there judged amiss Under the Presbyterian also are held Provincial Synods made up of Commissioners that is certain preaching and Lay Elders from every Individual Presbytery or Presbyterian Consistory within the Province These judg and determine matters pertaining to the whole Province Also all difficult cases that could not well be determined within the Presbytery they receive appeals also from the Presbyyters and examine what was there thought to be done amiss Under the Presbyterian likewise are held National Assemblies consisting of Commissioners from all the Presbyteries in the Kingdom each of them sending two preaching and one Lay Eider also from every Burrough one and he a Lay man and from every University one and for the most part a Ley man too In these is the supream and finall determination of all complaints and controversies and unto the decrees that issue thence all must obey under pain of Excommunication Now these premises impartially considered which of these two Governments have the more effectual means to procure the end of Church Government the preservation of truth and peace the suppression of Heresie and Schism let any rational unbyass'd-minded man judg For my part I ingenuously confess that it is contrary to common reason in my upprehension that Lay-men from whose education no knowledg extraordinary beyond their trades and such like affairs can be expected although it is true that many are furnished with knowing parts yet as true that the most in a Nation are altogether defective therein can be as ficinstruments for such kind of imployments as grave and learned Divines whose only business it is to tread the path of all arts both humane and divine so that if this continue in England what I once read alledged against the Papal Consistory that they did potius numer are suffragia quam argumenta pondâ—rare number rather their Votes then weigh the solidity of their Arguments will I fear be our deserved censure From which justly meriting accusation Good Lord deliver this Nation Again consider further Bishops assume not the exercise of any power within any Princes Dominions or use it over his subjects but by permission and authority from him and that according to just Laws and Rules made by soveraign Authority for the manner of external Ministration thereof so that when the Episcopal power cometh to the holding of Courts and calling Assemblies it wholy depends on the soveraign power 25 Hen. 8.19 without whose Assent signified by his writ they cannot assemble for
the making of Canons and Constitutions nor publish and put in ure any of them being made Now Presbyterians take upon them to set up their Discipline in a Kingdom therein indeed shaking hands with Jesuited Papists maugre all opposition It is true for external peace sake they hold it fit to crave leave first and beg the assistance of the Civil Power but if denyed will proceed without it assembling together and making their own Laws without regulations from the Civil Power for the manner and form of exercising their Discipline allowing only the Prince Potestatem Cumulativam as they speak a power to add more strength and vigour not Privativam to interpose or hinder their assemblies or decrees And in this respect it were to be wished that England had never proved exemplary as now in these latter times it doth by such kind of proceedings The fountain from whence hath issued too ny bloody streams And here it will not be amiss to present the Reader with the grounds and reasons enforcing his Majesty with his loyal Subjects assistance to defensive Arms and in that a Declaration of my own in particular and many thousand English Protestant Judgments more whose pens tongues and hands only endeavored a restoration of his Royal Majesty to his just regal honor and authority Themselves and their fellow-subjects unto their due liberties both Parliamentary and private The preservation of the Protestant Religion in the Doctrine and Profession of the Church of England against all Papists and Sectaries The maintenance of the Government of the Church of England as it standeth still by Law established until the Law of the Land shall make alteration thereof not so peremptorily maintaining the continuance of Episcopal Government as to enforce the remaining of its general practice in England by force of Arms in opposition and against his Majesties suppose that the King could or would dispence with his Coronation Oath will and consent to that purpose cheerfully and voluntarily ratified not by the pressing violence of almost unavoydable necessity or tyrannizing power of the prevailing Sword but freely confirmed and declared by Act of Parliament although peradventure they may mourn the alteration and abrogation of so ancient and apostolical a Government But because my Judgment pleadeth for Episcopacy and it hath been an argument much urged against the Bishops and in them the Government it self defamed That formerly they silenced severall godly Ministers prohibiting them and others the exercise of holy duties because they did only exercise duties that were holy I shal write my thoughts freely herein For far be it from me to speak against or any to forbid the Exercise of holy duties as hearing praying reading living strictly Endeavouring to have a Conscience void of offence towards God and towards Men No no the practice of them in sincerity is the high way to Heaven for without holinesse none shall see God but in the mean time take heed what you hear beware of swallowing poyson wrapped up in Leaves of gold take heed of these who have a forme of Godlinesse a forme in Practice onely that under pretence of long Prayers and outside piety devour Widdows houses that deny the truth of the word of God the holy Scriptures by their false Doctrines seducing many into erronious Opinions the parents of worse succeeding actions For my part if any did so forbid performance of holy duties as I am altogether ignorant of any such nor can easily be induced to believe it howsoever were I assured of its truth I would not minima defendere peccata plead an excuse for them But if then they did as I believe they did onely by suspensions endeavour to prevent the sowing of the seeds of sedition schisme and heresie or the growth thereof to any strength either in publick or in private as it was there and is the duty of all Ecclesiasticall Governours they did no more then what the law of God and the land gave them a warrant for therefore let every one as well take heed of calling good evill as tearming evill to be good for in all probability had such preventing-remedies as these been timely applied when sedition schisme and heresie first opened their black mouths we never had arrived at this high degree as at this present we are of variety of Errours and pernicious destructive Opinions O Lord have mercy upon us But grant that some of them stretched the exercise of power beyond its lawfull bounds and in that respect were guilty deserving punishment What is the fault of one or more Bishops to the Government it self could not the errours of particular persons be reformed or punished but by an extirpation of the whole Government durus est hic sermo it is hard indeed if God for the sin of two Adam and Eve nay of many thousands more should have therefore denied mercy and reconciliation to all mankind How everlastingly unhappy would the residue of the world have been Deliver us good God from the cruell dealings of men and if affliction must be our portion let us fall into thy hands O Lord for thy mercy endureth for ever As for the remaining clauses in the first Article viz. Of bringing the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the nearest uniformity c. these things considered That the Discipline of the Church of God is most Consonant to the word of God Covenant approved of and desired by forraigne Divines and therefore the best reformed not intrenching with the Papists upon the Civill power nor with them denying the Kings supremacy in causes Ecclesiasticall agreeing best with Monarchy confirmed by the Law of the Land Other Churches therefore according to the rule of reason and religion within His Majesties Dominions should rather conform to ours then the uniformity of ours in Religion Government and Worship admit a change or be transformed into any other form To this purpose O Lord inspire the universal Church with the spirit of truth unity and concord and grant that all that do Confesse thy holy name may live in peace and godly love one with another Amen That we shall in like manner Covenant This limitation is approved by the Parliament as behind fol. 53. that is in a lawfull manner according to the word of God endevour the extirpation of Popery that is their tenents of transubstantiation worshipping of Images praying to Saints Preaching good works as meritorious to everlasting life and salvation that Kings for diverse respects may be Deposed by the people that then Subjects Oaths of Alleagiance may be dispensed with King James Apol. Oath Alleg. with their deniall of the Kings Supremacy in all Canses as well Ecclesiasticall and Civill and the like Endeavour extirpation of these by execution of good Laws already established against their Errours and Professours thereof by that meanes preventing their further growth hindring their seducing of ignorant and unwary people and in case of Conspiracy and Treason against the Kings Majesty His Queen or
but confesse that many of that Nation were and by their loyall words and deeds then did expresse themselves themselves repugnant to such a repugnancy than with the losse of part of his Commanding power Soon after which these two unequall opposites met in mutuall embraces and a pacification and because their reciprocall agreement was confirmed by the agreeing suffrages of the supreamest Court I will here Jilentium tenere restrain my pen from being further inquisitive Whether or no it was an act lawfull and that warranted also by religion reason and law in them not only to deny obedience unto but oppose the commands of their lawfull for now my expressions shall be plain to the apprehensions of every one and Native Soveraigne or Whether it were not an action absolutely necessary in their Prince both in respect of religions reasons lawes and his honours vindication to demand a reason thereof and that not proving satisfactory to oppose such an opposition However I shall be bold to adde thus much that if amidst the troubled waters of another Nation England then labouring with the almost unavoydable effects of a long continuing peace a supine securitie with its adjuncts as erroneous practices oversights miscarriages in some particular Ministers of State as what Nation can plead a totall freedom from some intervening corruptions and Justice-perverting instruments If by the additionalaggravations of these Errours and mistakes by the Ambition faction of some who the better to facilitate a progresse in their own designes loudly spake to the undistinguishing multitude that such deviations from particular lawes were but intentions but upon what rationall ground I know not of subverting the whole frame of the Law If such like stormes in England proved furthering instruments to purchase them a Calme and a Serene Kingdome If they beyond a probability of former hopes in this very opportunitie of opportunitie obtained their owne desires from the unparalell'd favour of their Soveraigne It were to be wished that they then had rather remained satisfied with the possession of so much happinesse returning to God the fountain of all blessings thankfulnesse for so great a mercy studying expressive gratitude by obedientiall and loyall actions to their Prince for such gracious manifestations than like phanatick people who havving miraculously quenched fire begun in their own houses and thereby prevented a menaced ruine Not satisfied therewith as if the misery of others could adde perpetuitie to their procured happinesse cast fire-balls so long into their Neighbours dwellings untill in it its furiously-devouring race it returne where it first began Which if God for ingratitude and other concomitant sins as he is just without respect of persons should in the revolution of future time permit what mercy although his mercy is above his justice can they with confidence hope from him who with so much neglect I had almost written impudence have slighted his favours Or what pittying assistance can they expect others should shew unto them who never supposed themselves comentedly happy in their own particular interests untill they had endeavoured nay effected the generall unhappiness of others Deus necessitatis causam talis avertat oro O Lord prevent the occasion of such a necessitous assistance Further all things considered rather than expose themselves to future hazards it might have been and still may be a consideration worthy their thoughts a little pravidere Whether or no in after ages when hot fiery disputing passions shall be lull'd a sleep when mens imbittered spirits shall by well poyzed impartiall judgements be stopp'd from irregular verball excursions when private interests shall freely and unanimously resolve themselves into the generally reall good of the pul like Whether or no then their Successours reflecting upon such past actions and their Circumstantiall means also made use of probably may not both in their private discourses esteeme and in publike generall Counsells censure their favours Examples to this effect our Nation hath many and it is believed theirs is not without some few presidents or if they wil reformation or rather alteration in government Now freely theirs by the voluntary and graciously Confirming grant of his Majesty to bee but the enforced issue of griping necessitie and the purchase of a menacing brandished Sword and because so enforced resolve them as Null and therefore for the Prevention hereof that in the judicious ballances of after times they may not to their lasting dishonour be found too light It had been and as yet may be a well becomming policie in them to be fruitfull in succeeding actions of loyall thankfulnesse Estote prudentes praestat esse Promethium quam Epimethium Too late penitentiall experience is but a sadning mistris Therefore to this purpose before the houre glafle of such an opportunity is irrecoverably past and its sands quite spont It were a seasonable wish that they would take into their serious ednsiderations even their own loving Compellation and title of Brethren and indeed wee are no lesse having one politicall Father the King who is amborum pater regnorum to whom we owe obedience by the law of God and the lands which being undoubtedly true That they would make good that title by affectionate fraternall actions expressing themselves brethren Affectione reali activaque non titulari solummodoque professione That their deeds speaking the language of enemies like Cain's dealing with Abel may no longer contradict their tongues expression Ceremoniously if not treacherously tearming us brethren that they Sub specie fraterni nominis as hitherto wee have imd grounds to fuspect may with more facilitie deceive the credulous and the racher now because it is murmured abroad that Finglands presant misories by their â—ighting and Covenanting assistance have received much addition It concerneth them non verba solummodo sed facta dicere for non prosunt verba quum coniraria facto videmus Therefore it were to bee desired that they would obey the command of Christ to differ no longer nor fall into new fractions or further factions because we are brethren And to this purpose it is expected as well for their own vindication I mean not the whole Nation for many thousands have made good their constant loyalty to their King really not verbally but all such in that Nation whose consciences cannot but whisper themselves necessarily concerned in such a vindication as requested for their Brethrens assistance that they would really and positively not with intermixed uncertain distinctions doubtfull expressions ambiguous tearms which like wax from the Seal may be apted to any construction thereby owning the Jesuit whom they seem so much to detest for their Parent but on the contrary that plene planeque sine equivocatione without mental reservation or premised evasion declare and because mera declaratio sine actu inutilis â—â—iosa words in such a case are ayery nothings accordingly to act for the restoration of our Protestant Religion to its generally practicall purity unity and uniformity his royall Majesty their and
our dread Soveraign now horresco scribere a restrained Prisoner to his royall Prerogative and Rights by the Law of the Land justly and undoubtedly manifested to be his his Subjects singulatim and their fellow Subjects to their ancient Liberties Proprieties and Immunities by the same Law really theirs and in the conjunction of such loyall affections and really performed actions the three Kingdoms to an entire Peace and undeniable Truth according to the truest construction of their own solemn League and Covenant which being by their contributed assistance forwarded to a perfect consummation we shall return thanks to God for his exceeding bountifull expressions of such a mercy and gratification to them as Instruments conducing thereunto hoping that we shall not need to put them in mind that our hopes onely are that such kind of auxiliary affections will proceed meerly out of loyall affections to his Majesty and love to us their Brethren and not from an intent commandingly to incorporate themselves into Englands Priviledges Freedoms Honours and Wealth therefore at present shall have no occasion to acquaint them that Englands birth-right will not be sold upon unequall terms to this purpose O thou God of all Spirits grant to them and us thy assisting grace that we may obey thee O Lord who art the King of heaven and earth in all things for thy own sake according to thine own rule and King Charles our Soveraign thy substitute upon earth for thy sake that so all of us guided by one Law of truth thy will reveiled in thy Word governed by him our King according to the truth of Law established and all our multiplied sinnes against thee being pardoned treason and rebellion against his Majesty buried in an unrepealable Act of oblivion we may for the future live in piety and godlinesse towards thee our God in obedience and loyalty to his Majesty in unity peace and concord like Brethren one among another Amem Amen Amen But I return to England which still remaineth passive under a tyrannically wasting fire and like a Ship still tossed to and fro by raging tempestuous windes it 's true Religion by Law established it 's really fundamentall Lawes respecting both Prince and People his just Rights and the Subjects most certain and generally contenting Liberties approaching neer to a dissolutioÌ„ though not a destruction for magna veritas prevalebit the gates of hell shall never be able to prevail against truth being ready to sink into an Aristocraticall boundlesse or Anarchicall bottomles Sea Therefore my dear Country-men that I might not appear like an uncharitable Travellour passing thorow a Town contracted by fire into one flame without observation pitty or according to my present poor ability some assistance or that I may not seem carelesse to sail by a distressed Vessell lost almost in the deep by the violent beatings of seditiously conspiring waves I have here contributed some buckets of water towards the asswaging of this devouring fire sent some affisting necessaries aboard the Kingdoms sinking Ship In doing whereof if my zeal to the Protestant Religion loyalty to my Soveraign love and fidelity to my native Country affection and approbation of the well composed Lawes thereof compassion and pitty to all my misguided misinformed and seduced Country-men shall expose me to censure condemnation nay death it self I am resolved by the help of God in whom alone is my confidence with the Apostle into whatsoever condition I shall be cast therewith to remain content esteeming it dulce decorum pro Religione Rege Patria legibusque Angliae mori Now because it concerneth all who raise buildings not so much to catch the eyes-observance with insubstantiall shadowes as to remain lastingly serviceable to lay a sure foundation least that declining or by opposing force enforced to a removall each particuler superstructure meet with the same ruine and suddenly sinking-fate my intent therefore not being for procuration of popular ayery applause but information and reduction of those into the good old way of the Christian Protestant Religion Reason Law and Loyalty who through ignorance and misinformation have been made pedes instrumentales the feet by which the Machiavilians of these times have walked on towards the end of their designs manus complicantes the hands with which Politicians have framed their Engines for an enforced alteration of Englands government without whose assistaÌ„ce their plots would have proved but like statues without motion or abortive Births dead in the very womb those I mean whose intentions at first never aimed at a totall change of Government by a diminishing though in a petitionary much lesse a bloody compulsive way his Majesties royall Prerogative and just Regall power but having been abused through specious pretences of Reformation have been ignorant instruments of Englands unhappinesse As for the Initiatours Contrivers Plotters of this rooting design who begin at the end thereof and accordingly have in England per fasque nefas endeavoured the attaining their ends levelling all ancient bounds of Regall Prerogative just Parliamentary Priviledges private mens proprieties and liberties digging so deep in quest of the fundamentall Lawes that they have arrived at the Antipodes and yet after six yeers endeavours are as far from finding that fundamentall vein as they were when their bloody designs opened the first vein in the Kingdoms body I cannot expect a smooth face from them expressing favour to these lines or remain satisfied with what is written therefore I shall onely pray for them that the God of heaven would open their eyes causing them to see how with Jeroboam they have not onely sinned themselves but caused many thousands in England to fin and grant them repentance and pardon for all their accumulative offences before they go down to the grave and be seen no more I shall therefore fundamina ponere leaving discourses of the necessity of a Nationall government the antiquity rationality and precedency of Monarchy beyond any other form the comparative excellency of the English Government in respect of others practized and bearing the same title the Presse having been already fruitfull in Writings of that nature lay down some undeniable positions and truths ab omnibnsque concessa First in respect of a Government already lawfully setled Secondly in regard of those ligamenta fidelitatis promissory oaths by which religious engagements we oblige our selves to an acknowledgement of some rights due to the supream Governour by the generally received and practized custome of a Nation as also to maintain such rights against all violent opposition hindering any compelled diminution or alteration of the same by any persons whomsoever Hoping that in the result of all nemo Christianus contra Religionem nemo Angliâ—ina contra leges Angliae nemo sobrius contra rationem nemo fidelis contra Regem nemo Pacificus contra pacem durabilem contendet that all true Protestants rational men faithfull Subjects lovers of their Religion King Country and Peace will condescend to what hereaster they shall find