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A82213 A declaration of the Presbiterians; concerning His Maiesties Royal Person, and the government of the Church of England. With several propositions touching the Solemn League and Covenant, and the setting up of Bishops. 1600 (1600) Wing D739; Thomason E1040_9; ESTC R207899 2,056 8

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A DECLARATION OF THE Presbiterians Concerning His Maiesties Royal Person And the Government of the CHURCH of ENGLAND WITH Several Propositions touching the Solemn League and Covenant and the setting up of Bishops LONDON Printed for T. Dacres 1660. A DECLARATION OF THE Presbyterians CONCERNING His Majesties Royal Person and the Government of the Church of ENGLAND WHereas there hath arose several Disputes touching the great and weighty Concern of the Discipline of the Church of England upon the sence and solution of the Solemn League and Covenant so far as it relates to the Government of the Church by Episcopacie And whereas the sence and very Letter of the Covenant is clear against the unjust and Anti-christian frame of Government so are they not against the absolute extirpation of Prelacie but it is the abuse not the thing the adjuncts hot the subiect the defects and excesses not its Fabrick is covenanted against but that they are willing to become instrumental to cement the sad differences in the Church desiring all such who have adhered thereto to produce those clear pregnant and constant beams of right reason and true Religion which shineth in the brightness and stability of Divine and humane Laws which may be the Pillars of this truth firm supports of duty sure bounds of obedience and safe repose of Conscience in this point greatly darkned by the many disputes of Bishops and ●resbyters Papists and Protestants nay by the possitive assertions of both Papists and Protestant Divines and determinations of Schoolmen who have concluded Bishops and Presbyters to be Ministers ejusdem ordinis equal in Office and Authority and in this very case of Government And we doubt not but all on the contrary shall finde every conscientious Covenanter enjoy the comfort of his accomplished Oath when ●n his place he hath seasonably advised humbly petitioned and lawful●y endeavoured to remove Englands old Hierachy and to restore such an Episcopacy to be exercised by the Officers of the Church in common and good order as is nearest the Scripture primitive practice and perswasion of sober grave pious and learned men such as was the late Primate of Armah but if either his most sacred Majesty or any other in Authority fail in the exercise of their capacity to effect the ends of the Covenant we hope it shall be no offence to mourn for their iniquity and the iniquity of the Land nor will it be inconsistent to that humble submission a●●ive or p●ssive we confe●s we all owe unto his most sacred Majesty what ever shall be the establishment in the Church though never so corrupt yet whilest consistent with Salvation though it may occasion to my suffering and a suspence of my Ministry by Gods grace it shall not effect in me or such on whom I have an influence Schism from the Church or resistance of his Majesties just Right and Authority for whom as we have not suffered the l●ast so if God should so farre leave him which God forbid we are ready by him to suffer the utmost in adherence to the Solemn League and Covenant until it be discovered a band of iniquity a snare and gin for Schism and Sedition to act by to the dishonour of God and reproach of reformed Religion Yet we cannot but most heartily pray for the honest and ingenuous reformation of Episcopacy beyond the former defective or excessive constitution or execution of it which I doubt not will satisfie the expectations of all that Covenanted We confess every consciencious Covenanter oweth his Justice and Duty 1. To God to approve love desire and use what is good not being within his own power and excluded by his Oath or Covenant may and must are things very indifferent 2. To obey the King as chief Governour of Church and State enjoyning things lawful and honest so not covenanted against though not the very best 3. To pitty the Bishops and Fathers of the Church who have been there too injurious or injuriously used and pull down all proud Prelates and paternal Authority over Presbyters which abuse their Brethren and debase their Ministry because in a Black Coat 4. To encourage Ministers and endeavour the rescue of them from dividing Factions and popular insolencies which have befallen them for want of the King and Ecclesiastical Order but may be enjoyed without a Bishop advanced in power above his Brethren 5. Love to the Church in indeavouring its unity peace and prosperity in the ruine of Prelacy and Establishmens of an Episcopacy and over-sight duly constituted and carefully executed 6. Care to his own soul inward and eternall peace not to be couzened by glones courted by Rhetorical flourishes no●●udgelled out of his Covenant by most bitter sufferings but to ●leave unto it with care constancy and diligence and take heed of all sophistical solutions and subtle reconciliations which endeavour to baffle the Covenant and break in pieces the very power of Religious Bonds And we can not but further declare That Covenant-breaking is so direful a God-provoking sinne that we tremble to think of Englands least tendency to it whatever men fancie to themselves of the Covenant being the Rock of his late Majesties shipwrack it is visible that the violation of it hath been the destruction of our late Usurpers who laid it aside that they might leap into the Chair of State and it cannot be denied to have been the chiefe and onely means of his Majesties most just and honourable Restitution and an adherencie to it We doubt not will prove the establishment of his Royall Throne And to the end that the Cause of the Covenant may be pleaded We desire it may be weighed in the ballance of Reason and Religion whilest we are resolved to approve our selves no lesse zealous in the Religious than he hath appeared in the Political or Civil part of the Solemn League and Covenant and make it his care to giue God the things that are Gods as Caesar the things that are Caesars And so God save the KING FINIS