unto the King as supreme c. Now what is this but to advance the Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ The honour and happinesse of the King that is Covenant honour him as a King of England by a cheerfull obedience unto his Lawes in which consists his greatest happinesse honour him by your assistance as Subjects supporting and sustaining him by your supplies according to his important occasions calling for the same For as Christ advised his Apostles to expresse their affections by keeping of his Commandements if you love me saith he keep my Commandements as if he should have said if you love me you will keep my Commandements and if you doe keep my Commandements you then evidence that you love me so in this respect obedience to and assistance of His Majestie are but expressions of honour if you honour the King you will obey and assist him if you obey and assist him you make it appeare to the world that you do really honour him And Royall Posterity that is Covenant what Honour and Rights were justly due to the Father render to his Children deprive not them of any part of their inheritance their regall honour and power The publike liberty safety and peace of the Kingdome Covenant That must needs imply the * Magna Charta Law for by that we are distinguished from slaves and in that we have security and safety with peace the fruit of the observation of the Law Wherein every ones private condition is included Covenant That is Prince as well as people O Lord blesse the Kings Majesty and royall Posterity restore our Lawes to their vigor and this poore Kingdome to a lasting peace Calling to mind the conspiracies and practices of the enemies of God Covenant against the true Religion and professors thereof That is against the doctrinall part of our Religion Vide the qualification of an oath behind expressed in the 39. Articles of the Church of England for common reason and your Protestation affirmeth it necessarily meant of our Religion established and against the maintainers thereof Covenant Calling to mind the treacherous and bloody plots against the Law of the Kingdome that is plots by such waies and meanes as the deplorable estate of Ireland long since was a sad witnesse of whose rebellious and trayterors courses against His Majesties Royall Person Crowne of England and Ireland sufficiently then spake their intentions to subvert both Religion and Law Covenant We have now at last for preservation of our selves and Religion from utter ruine and destruction That againe I say according to reason must have a respect to a Religion and Law that is established for it is improper and absurd to say much more vaine to sweare that I will preserve that from ruine and destruction which is not in being ruine presupposing somthing that is to be destroyed and preservation somthing that otherwise will be ruined Thus you have the ground of this Covenant without mentall reservation and equivocation which if the contrivers had any as since it appears they had non ad vos pertinet it savoureth too much of the Jesuite ipsi viderint let them look to it it concerneth not you to whom I write according to the literall and Gramaticall sense and consonant to the Rules of Religion Reason and Law explained I proceed to the Covenant it selfe wherein I shall observe the same religious rationall and lawfull method i Art Covenant That we shall sincerely really and constantly through the grace of God endeavour in our severall places and callings That is according to the station wherein God hath placed us the King in his regall Power Magistrates as derivatives from him in their places Ministers in theirs private subordinate persons according to their severall degrees in theirs none exceeding the rules proper to their peculiar Vocation where by the way take notice that although Superiours may and often do at one and the self-same time performe both their owne duties and also actions proper to Inferiours yet it is unlawfull for Inferiours to take upon them without lawfull Commission the duty of Superiours Lay private men must not inâ—ermeddle with what concerneth the proper duty of a Minister nor must Divines wilfully intrench upon the bounds of the Civill Magistrates nor they upon the Royall Fuction of the King for this were to authorize confusion whereas God is the God of Order Covenant Endeavour * That clause must be implied though not inserted Besides it is also confessed as needfull in the exhortation for taking the Covenant Ordered by the House of Commons Die Veneris Feb. 1643. Covenant so far as lawfully I may the preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine That is if their Reformed Religion be not contrary to the Word of God this I adde because few in England know what it is in its Doctrinall part but by an implicite faith and I adde it the rather because the practice of the prevailing party there since these stormes first begun so contrary to professions may occasion suspition of their doctrines sincere truth witnesse their Declarations and therein Protestations to maintaine the Kings Rights c. contradicted by assisting endeavours to deprive him of his Rights In worship discipline and government That is that Government which was established and so remained at the compiling of the Covenant grant it the Presbyterian by the lawfull and supreme power of that Kingdome untill that government shall be altered by virtue of the self-same power Against our common enemies That is Covenant all who by unlawfull meanes contrary to the Word of God the Lawes and customes of that Nation and the consent of his Royall Majesty shall indeavour an inforced alteration thereof And here by the way as well for vindication of my self and many others in England as also seeing they esteem the Presbyterian Government there so rich a purchased jewell for their future security I shall add thus much that since they enjoyed that government so confirmed as they have by the Royall assâ—nt we never would have disturbed them in their desired possession of their Church-government as they have visited for I love mildnesse in expressions in what concerneth my Countries interest us by oaths and armes for an extirpation of Episcopacy and for the future shall never intermeddle contrary to Reason Religion or Law Covenant The reformation of religion in the Kingdome of England and Ireland c. in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches As for the doctrine of the Church of England expressed in the * The doctrine of the Protestant Church in Ireland agreeable to them 39. Articles being grounded on a sure foundation the holy Scriptures which are onely able to make us wise unto salvation hath even to this very day by the assistance protection and efficaciously working of
this day so appearing Whereas if these men pre-intended not these things but had really intended Peace or resented the then bleeding condition and ruining Kingdome of England they would not surely have stood upon such unnecessary punctilioes not any way absolutely availeable to the generall good of the Nation though absolutely necessary Rights belonging to his Majesty with which he could neither in Honour Justice or Conscience voluntarily part O Lord forgive them forgive them such their unreasonable and unseasonable Demands and lay not to their charge those severall bloudy issues which since that time have gush'd out in many places of this Kingdome Amen Againe let us take notice of the further progresse for nemo repente fit turpissimus of these destructive Engeneers Hath not his Majestie resigned all his regall Power since that unto the two Houses during his life being onely desirous that his royall Children may receive no prejudice by his too gracious condiscentions freely offering a generall Pardon and an Act of Oblivion to every one Yet this will not satisfie them they must have him forfeit his Honour and Reason by acknowledging himselfe the Fountaine and originall cause of their unnaturally shedding of his Subjects blood strange action that the gulty Offenders must be justified and the Offended guiltlesse desired unjustly to condemne themselves and wound his Conscience by pulling upon himselfe and Posterity that eating sinne of Sacriledge by assenting unto an utter Extirpation of Episcopall government and a devastation of the Churches patrimony contrary to his Oath taken at his Coronation Thus still you see the Designe of these Rooters at first was to alter the Government of this Kingdome and to that end have to deprive his Majestie of his regall Power Fo. 20 34 30 33. which since hath been openly avowed in their Declaration concerning the Scots Papers 13. Mar. 1647. But peradventure some will say that they are zealous supporters of the Subjects Liberties and quellers of wicked actions as Swearing immoderate drinking breaking of the Sabboth and the like To which I returne an answer in generall that nothing can be more desired either for the suppressing or punishing of all sinfull words and deeds and all such viciously guilty Persons or conducing to the liberty of the Subjuct if men desire onely to enjoy liberty under a Law and not live as libertines without a Government than what was established and confirmed by Act of Parliament before ever they exposed their grand Remonstrance that seede Plott of to the view of the World Decemb. 1641 witnesse that Declaration it selfe which recounteth severall Acts of favour condescended unto by his Majestie for the Subjects benefit which with that lasting Bulwarke of preventing or remedying Errours the Trienniall Parliament were enough to satisfie any but seditious and ambitiously aspiring thoughts To make this appeare It is worthy observation that after the issuing out of that Remonstrance not one Proposition was ever tendered to his Majestie really tending to the generall good and liberty of every Subject but whatsoever were presented unto him under the title of Propositions contained nothing but Demands in ordine ad Causam in order to this Designe of alteration and change of Government Now at this very day as every one not prepossessed with prejudice cannot but grant the visible purchase of Hypocrisie Perjury blood and oppression an ill foundation and the worst lime to erect a building with and which most commonly is followed with succeeding heavy judgements Micah 3.9 10 11 12. From which good Lord deliver us To this purpose further you have already seene Ordinances framed Oathes contrived for the Eradication of Episcopall government and least it should by degrees like a Flower pressed downe by the violence of a falling showre rise againe in future times when more favourable sunny dayes appear they have exposed to Sale its Lands the Churches patrimony You have seen the Presbyterian Government also digested into Ordinances the preaching of it into approbation the practice of it in severall Churcher in London and other adjacent parts the peoples obedience pressed thereunto by Divines of the present Synod You have seen the civill Government also changed Ordinances of one or both houses supplying the place of Acts of Parliament without the Royall assent Demands of a totall resignation of his Majesties regall Power and because not in every respect condescended unto as what father will be so unjust to his Posterity though he may be uncharitable to himself as to deprive them of their Inheritance contrary to the Law of Nature Religion and Law the King therefore detained a Prisoner Tantumne potest suadere malorum religio Thus you may see the Designers riding triumphantly in the bloody Chariot of their compassed Ends Revelling it at the Helmes of the Church and State whilest their Royall injured Master is forced to a sad Cabbin under decks O that my abused Country-Men would seriously consider of the Premises and that they would at length desert these Impostors who by their glorious pretences of Reformation have deceived them into a Ruining assistance of themselves and others not thinking it a shame to confesse an errour and return when their Judgements are informed that their former Judgements and practises have been erronious Againe you have seene the meanes used by them to effect their ends by Perjury infringing their Oathes of Alleagiance Supremacy and their owne famed Protestation by the effusion of Blood And here I cannot choose but adde my feares that some tall and gloriously spreading Cedars of Church and State have rather beene hewen downe because they hindered the Prospect of others or prejudiced the rising growth of some Neighbour shrubs than fallen because rotten uselesse or cumbersome to the grounds which if true as some in the world best know we had all need to pray that the Lord would even in the blood of Christ Jesus wash this Nation especially from such kinde of blood-guiltinesse You may read the sad effects of these Designes A wronged King in distresse A discontented Nobilitie A disconsolate and dispersed Gentry A disgraced disparaged and defamed Orthodox Cleargy A murmuring and repining Communalty An impoverished Countrey A selfe-dishonouring Nation Division Ambition Sedition and Security the forerunners of a generall ruine and desolation Helpe O Lord least we perish And it be said of us What is become of that glory of Nations England formerly feared and beloved by all yet not for feare expressing love to any least what was omce spoken of Troy be affirmed true of our Kingdome Jam seges est ubi Anglia fuit You may every where see God dishonoured the Church of God unfrequented Schismes and Prophanenesse every where abounded and Heresies of all sorts even to the denying of the Deity of Christ the holy Scriptures the immortality of the soule and all these if not publiquely maintained yet connived at by those who pretend otherwise you may see all Religion contracted into tongue discourse Sanctification swallowed up by
Gods Spirit in the hearts of many glorious pillars of our Church reverend Bishops and other pious and learned Divines stood like a rock unshaken their tongues preaching their pens maintaining their bloods confirming the irresistable prevailing truth thereof against Turke Jew Jesuite and all other hereticall and schismaticall opponents whatsoever Thus much I am confident all neighbouring Protestant Churches will condescend unto therefore I shall proceed Covenant In Doctrine and Worship That is all erroneous tenents and practices whether Papisticall Schismaticall or others of those qui ambulant post spiritum suum against whom the Prophet denounceth a woe Ezek. 13.3 who being departed from the * 1 Tim. 4.1 faith which they once professed are guided by the spirit of error leading silly women and unstable mindes captive by the whistling of every breath of their windy doctrine being clad in sheeps cloathing Mat. 7.15 but inwardly ravenous Wolves Examples of which nature too too many offer them themselves in these unhappy times wherein almost all things are countenanced or at least connived at as lawful but lawful things therefore let us pray That the God of Peace and Truth would bring into the way of Truth and Peace all such as have erred and been deceived by seditious Schismatical guids and erronious directions and prosper thou oh Lord all their endeavours tending to such a Reformation Amen Discipline Government according to the Word of God Covenant and the best Reformed Churches Now the question will be which cometh nearest to the Word of God That Episcopacy claimeth the nearest alliance truly entituling it self to be of Apostolical Institution is a truth that hath been made good in all ages That for 1500 years continuance of Christianity there is no example of the Church Governed otherwise An Argument sufficient to suspect Novelties in opposition unto it That it hath been approved of by most of the Protestant Divines beyond the Seas Vide Ecclesiast Historiâ—â— who are rather induced by necessity to the practise of Presbytery there wanting means to maintain or abilities lawfully to compass Episcopal Government them wills and desires to enjoy the same A strong Argument perswading that our Church is the best Reformed is also an apparent truth That in all disputes especially this latter Doctor Hall against 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11 SMECTYMNVVS Since the War of the reverend and learned Remonstrancer against that odd Combination of * Letters Episcopacy hath stood the field triumphing in Reason and Religion which have only perswaded my judgment to an inclination thereunto and an approbation thereof and I presume any one not obstinately prejudicate in their judgments will soon be satisfied thereof and agree with me herein by the perusal of that learned Bishops writings or by any whose learning and judgments are able to inform them therein But to write truth whether Episcopacy or Presbytery come nearest to the Word of God never was nor at present is the dispute between His Majesty and the two Houses but quis regnabit Where the supream power in Causes Ecclesiasticall and Civil shall practically remain for the future either in Prince or people Nor indeed was it the end that these Covenant-Contrivers did aim at Witness their second Article wherein before tryal and examination whereby truth or falshood is made evident they contrary to reason pass sentence of condemnation upon it therein positively swearing without respect of persons a strange expression whereas the King is the first moving wheel of a new Law to extirpate the Government it self that indeed being a Marble pillar which first must be removed by them before they can introduce their bloody-colour'd post of Presbytery endeavouring in that Article to ingage the common peoples Consciences though I shall by and by make good that no mans Conscience is thereby ingaged to assist them I mean the Plotters to attain that which they had a pre-resolution to effect si non Precibus tunc vi armisque Since that plainly appearing as I have already shewed However that my deceived Countrymen may see how they have been abused into a belief of enjoying I know not how much happiness under the term of Reformation in Church now generally re-baptized Presbytery I shall present to your veiw a short Paralel collected out of the writings of a pious learned and conscientious Divine of these two Governments Episcopal and Presbyterian Doctor Fearne For as for that illegitimate thing that new-born brat Independency it hath such variety of shapes and each of them also so monstrous that I shall not need to meddle with it at all being Confident that it will soon be hissed out of the Kingdom by a Universal Consent or like Jonah's gourd vanish away unthought of in a moment And here I cannot but insert my admiration to perceive so many men still so firmly in their affections and Judgments adhering to the present conclusive determinations of that changeable-coloured thing nay that word Parliament when as it is that which hath so much abused even these first affecting persons the City of London in general their mis-lead supporters Witness in particular the present continuing imprisonment of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and that strange and uncivil expulsion out of the Leiutenan cy of the Tower that deserving Gentleman Col. Francis West without the least pretended cause even in the very middest of his expressed courtesies and feasting favours cofenr'd upon their great Don and his followers although he formerly was chosen by the general Vote nay acclamation of the whole City approved of by themselves and indeed beloved by all Only to make way for that unflâ—dg'd Titmouse of Manhood and Wit that Imp of Independency Tichbourn fitter by far mimically again in his Fathers Chamber to act a wanton girles part in a Commedy then to have so great a part of trust and commanding power as he now hath conferred upon him Oh Lord open the eyes of poor deceived England especially the City of London and suffer them no longer to walk in darkness and in the shadow of a senceless stupidity thus like blind men groping for the path of peace and truth even at noon day But I proceed to the Paralel of these Ecclesiastical Governments And in the first place take their definitions in general Episcopacy in it self considered is a prelacy or superiority of one above all the Presbyters within such a precinct or diocess which one is appointed to have care of all the Churches within that compass and furnished with Power and Authority for Ordination and Jurisdiction that Authority not being Arbitrary but bounded by Laws and administred or exercised with advice and assistance of certâ—in choyce Presbyters to the intent that all Churches or Congregations under him may be provided of able Pastors and that both these inferior Pastors and people may perform the duties required of them Pressbytery is such a form of Church-Government Doctor Fearn in his book of Episcopacy Presbytery considered as
and Constitutions nor publish and put in uâ—e 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 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 Covenant That the Discipline of the Church of God is most Consonant to the word of God 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 Covenant This limitation is approved by the Parliament as behind fol. 53. That we shall in like manner 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 Causes 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 Royall off-spring