Royall off-spring the disturbance of the Peace of Church and State by complaining of their attempts and deeds to the Magistrate leaving them to the justice of the Law and lastly by reovering them by strength of holy arguments as with strong phisick from that infection of their judgment and consciences and their soul poysoning heresies praying continually in the fervency of the spirit for their conversion But before I proceed to the next words Extirpation of Church-Government by Bishops c. I must desire the Reader to reflect back upon what I have already written concerning the Limitations of an Oath briefly thus That no unlawfull Oath bindeth Vide fol. 46. nor must unlawfull means be used for the compassing or effecting any thing in it self lawfull c. Extirpation of Government by Arch-bishops Bishops Covenant their Chancellors c. That is by using all lawfull means warrantable by the law of God and the Kingdome to that end as petitioning the supream Magistrate the King or any other way if any other way can be imagined not I say intrenching upon the law of God For were an abolition hereof absolutely necessary conducing to the generall peace of the Kingdom as it is upon good grounds believed rather altogether distructive thereunto will you buy a temporall peace upon such unequal termes as to hazard your soul eternally unlesse the mercy of God interpose by wilfull perjury in the purchase and gain an eating curse to your Posterity by Sacriledge Besides it is against the Principles of all Governments the Law of God and the Land to enforce an alteration by bloody force as I have already shewed Nay you doe not onely hereby make your selves guilty of perjury treason bloud and sacriledge but you endeavour to compell His Majesty to the breach of His Oath taken at His Coronation wherein He swore to Defend the Bishops their priviledges and Churches under their government Again were the Presbyterian government absolutely good so out of necessity the Episcopal must be removed as it is not yet a bloudy eradication is proculdubio unlawfull for we must not do evill that good may come thereof we must not like mad Mariners desperately steer our course amongst Rocks hoping to arrive at a rich freight lest we shipwrack our selves here and lose the end of our voyage our hopes hereafter therefore let all men take heed of pretending a necessity of keeping this one Article of extirpation because they have so Covenanted unlesse they will make good also a necessity of breaking all Gods Commandements which is an high degree of Blasphemy to maintain for that is impia promissio quae sine scelere impleri non potest nonque obligat no Law obligeth in opposition to the Gods Law if it doth binde it is to a repentance only Therefore Recollect your thoughts now for your owne Experience cannot but acquainte you that a violent deprivation of the Kings Regall power was at first the contrivers designe and now plainly appeareth to be the Result of the Warre on their part and reflect upon the almost six years means made use of or rather sinnes committed to effect the accomplishment thereof as Envy Hatred Malice Hypocrisie publick pretences of Reformation private intentions of Eradication and Deformation revilings of His Majesties Royall Person and Government Scandalizing of the English Nationall Church abominable Lying contempt of Superiors forceing of mens Consciences Disloyalty Perjury Theft Bloodshedding nay all imaginable Sinnes with renewing of old Heresies and raising of all manner of Schismes Now if you love your selves and your soules and would not contract the guilt of all these sinnes upon your owne heads and as it were set your Seal of confirmation and approbation to the Sinnes of others thus heaping up wrath against the day of wrath be perswaded to desert these Plotters and their Designes persist not contrary to Reason and Religion in a rigid and sinfull keeping of that extirpating Article Now seeing the day-star appeareth and every one who formerly were wraped up in the night of mistakes and misapprehensions or blinded with the silken veile of a good Opinion of the Contrivers because outwardly they appeared in Angelicall habits may without spectacles read that their pretences were only to usher in the intention therefore the plea of ignorance and good meaning as formerly can no longer be used but be perswaded to come out from among these progressive ROOTERS lest continuing with them in Sinne you also with them partake of punishment For God is just as well as mercifull Superstition Covenant Heresie Schisme and Profanesse c. For the residue of this second Article having already written something which also may aptly be applyed to these when I handled the word Popery I shall only turne it into a Prayer yet because Schisme is joyned with the rest if it were a time in these sad times to jest I should make it good Rationally that your Contriving Presbyterians have in that Sworn against their owne Practice for although the Protestant Church like the Spouse in the Canticles is black that is not appearing genuina gloria by reason of stormy weather yet still she is Comly still in her doctrine and discipline unaltered remaining firme upon its old established foundation notwithstanding the violent Endeavours of their changing times nor was their Presbyterian Government then extant and as yet but an infant for want of the Royall assent being neither able to stand goe or speak they themselves also very well knew what the word Schisme in an Ecclesiasticall sense meaneth how that ille Schismaticus qui a ritu Ecclesiae petulanter ambitionis studio discedit that Separateth himselfe upon a proud Pharisaicall conceit of holinesse from the Communion of the Church in the performance of Religions acts But I passe that by Praying that God the searcher of all hearts would be pleased to root out of all our hearts and mindes the destroying blindnesse of Superstition the spreading Leprosie of Heresie the peace-Eating Gangren of Schisme the tainting Corrupt humours of Profanesse and all other things displeasing unto him and contrary to His word that we enjoy a blessed harmonious consent in Truth and Godlinesse expressing the power thereof in our lives and conversations and that the Lord may be One and his name One in these three Kingdomes We shall with the same sincerity c. 3 Article Covenant Endeavour to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament These are freedome of expressing mens judgements if taken in a comprehensive compleate sense King Lords and Commons power to repeal old and Establish new Lawes to which every Subject is bound to yeild obedience Only thus much let me adde that no Priviledges of one or both Houses can Patronize Treason Murder Vide Lex terrae J. Jenkens or breach of the Peace by their own confession nor is it indeed consonant to reason that they whose first institution was ordained for preservation should themselves practice or
they would follow the often reiterated advice of Reverend Judge Jenkens to restore His Majesty to His Throne and procure a gracious Pardon from Him with an all-burying Act of Oblivion O that men would in this their day perceive those wayes wich do lead to Peace and Truth and walk therein before they be hidden from their eyes And whereas the happinesse of a blessed Peace between these Kingdomes 5. Article Covenant that is by the union of the three Kingdomes under One King professing the truth of Religion governing by His established Law denyed in former times to our Progenitours is by the providence of God granted unto us c. So that now we are no more Aliens nay Neighbours but Brethren not envying one anothers happinesse and prosperity being not infested with offensive or defensive Acts of hostility upon either of our borders but reciprocally endeavouring one anothers peace and welfare mutually joying in the enjoyment of one anothers happinesse Let each of us endeavour that the Kingdomes may remaine in such a firme peace and union that is by our mutuall obedience to our Soveraigne and the Laws of each respective Nation and in brotherly love one towards another Amen O heavenly Father Give us to this end powerfull endeavours to make good our Covenant accordingly And may Justice be done to the wilfull opposers in manner expressed in the precedent Article We shall also according to our places in this common cause of Religion 6. Article Covenant Liberty and peace of the Kingdomes assist and defend by all lawfull meanes all those that enter into this League and Covenant c. nor shall we make defection to the contrary part but shall oppose and hinder That is all such who envying our blessed union thus religiously lawfully cemented shal oppose us and it endeavouring by heretical erroneous divulged positions to dishonour God and robbe him of his glory by seditious doctrines to infuse into the people a disloyal spirit of Treason and Rebellion against the Kings Majesty His heires and successours of disobedience to Him and His lawfull Commands whereby His honour is despised the generall good of the Kingdomes not onely neglected out much endangered all which we shall do as in the sight of God And because these Kingdomes are guilty of many sins against God and his Son Christ Jesus as by our present distractions dangers too manifestly appeareth Let us all pray that the God of heaven and earth would give us his grace of humiliation for our own particular the general sins of this Nation especially that we have not valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel nor received Christ into our hearts conforming our lives and actions to his practice and precept but rather have made use of the liberty and freedome which we had by Christ from the rigorous exaction and condemning power of the Law Gal. 5.13 as an occasion to neglect and altogether to deny our obedience to the Law as the rule of direction Notwithstanding that thou who art truth it self hast told us that the end of thy comming was to fulfill and not to destroy the Law 5 Mat. 17. Neverthelesse we despise it running madly into sin as an horse rusheth into the battaile Let us further pray that God would bestow upon us his grace of assistance whereby we may be enabled to amend our lives to performe all holy actions required by himselfe to himself according to his revealed will all our duties towards Men according to their severall degrees and places Honour and obedience to the King as Supreame to whom they primarily belong to all subordinate Magistrates as rivelets streaming from him the Spring Forgiving all our enemies persecutors and slanderers praying God who hath the hearts of all men at command winding them which way he please as he doth the Rivers of water to pardon their sins and turne their hearts and cause us to live in love peace and charity one with another Thus let us shew an example of a reall reformation that the Lord may turne away his wrath and heavy indignation and restore truth and peace to these Churches and Kingdoms which God out of his infinite mercy grant Amen Amen To draw to a conclusion I shall by way of a briefe recollection propound some few questions to my poor deceived Country-men which their owne knowledge can answer Had the irregular faction of the two Houses intended as they only pretended a reformation of some errours which perhaps like Cobwebs in an uninhabited house were growne through too much security a crime incident to an uninterrupted peace in Kingdomes they might have been swep't downe with the milde beesome of Instruction and care taken to prevent the like for future and needed not to have pull'd downe the building to take them away Did ever His Majesty in all His transaction by His Messages and Declarations since these unhappy times propose any new thing for the inlargement of His owne Prerogative or derogatory to the Law of the Land and more particularly that part thereof which concerneth the Subjects Liberty Did the King Patronize any Instruments who ranne formerly beyond the just bounds of the Law from condigne punishment Did He ever practice Popery truely so called or propose any thing that to the most jealous and suspicious thoughts might in after-times have occasioned the introduction thereof Or did he ever administer the least ground to fear his recidivation from the Protestant Religion but rather hath evidenced the contrary by His Practice Proclamations Declarations and Commands Did not His Majesty ever first send Messages of Peace and reconciliation Vid. all His Messages Col. Parl. Ordin Wooing His Subjects to the enjoyment of their owne Tranquility and happinesse On the contrary have not the irregular faction of the two Houses notwithstanding their pretences of Religion and Law subverted the ancient Law and Liberty of our Nation and defamed the Religion established abrogating its formes of Worship This will appear if you consider That in all their addresses though pretending Peace they never endeavoured a reconciliation between His Majesty and themselves in such a manner whereby a mutuall satisfaction and security might have been given and received as it is requisite between two differing parties but they must have all giving His Majesty no satisction at all Did they ever command the practice of the Religion and formes of worship established notwithstanding their pretended maintenance thereof or did they ever so much as consult about preservation thereof but on the contrary have suffered heresies Schismaticall opinions openly to be Preached and Printed contrary to the same Government Did not His Majesty yeild to the setling of the Presbyterian Government for three years in a Legall manner as flowing from the power of the Crowne But this would not satisfie They like strange gamesters fling at all they must have totaliter totum Therefore consider hereof you have againe the result of the designe Epitomized Nolunt hunc
then to pardon and forgive injuries when it is in his power to be revenged Thus let us win all unto us and being won lock their affections and judgements by such Christian-like examples and like true followers of Christ pray for all men first for our Soveraigne Lord King Charls to this purpose O Thou Lord of Hosts pitch thou thy tent hourely round about Him be a shield to defend Him from all violent attempts against His Royall Person from cunning insinuations against His Honour Crowne and Dignity be thou good God His comforter in this His day of Tribulation permit not the waters of affliction to overwhelme His soul with sadnesse but continually supply Him with patience proportionable to His sufferings hasten hasten good Father His deliverance Restore Him unto His Regall Power and just Rights settle Him settle Him fast in His Throne place the Crown upon His head and suffer it not by the hands of Treason or Rebellion to be shaked or removed from Him or any of His Royall off-spring untill Shiloh come Blesse His Majesties Royall Consort our most gracious Queen Mary cause Her with Mary in the Gospel to choose that better part which never can be taken from Her Blesse protect and defend our Noble Prince Charls with the rest of His Majesties Princely Progeny Blesse these Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland and all degrees of men therein from the highest to the lowest Forgive the iniquity of the people turne us O Lord from our sins and we shall be turned take away the heavy judgement of the sword from us Restore our Peace renew and continue our Plenty comfort us according to the dayes wherein thou hast afflicted us according to the years that we have seen evil Take away all bitternesse of spirit revenge hatred and give us unity brotherly love and concord Blesse the famuos City of London grant the Inhabitants a serious consideration of their former wayes repentance and pardon for all their offences turne them turne them O Lord into thy paths Let thy word be a Light unto their feet and thy testimonies a guide unto their step Restore unto them their ancient Government and to that end give them Governours Magistrates and all other Officers according to thy own will Religious not Rebellious faithfull not factious carefull to discharge that trust which God and His Scared Majesty shal intrust them with propounding thy Law for their imitation the knowne Laws of the Land for their direction studying onely the glory of thee our God the Honour of our Royall Soveraigne and His Posterity The peace and plenty wealth and weale prosperity and happinesse of all their fellow Citizens from the greatest to the least and meanest Preserve them and the whole City from the boundlesse rage of devouring fire from Plague pestilentiall diseases fâ—mine defend it from the ravenous violence of maliciously ambitious men from being tyrannized over oppressed by the insulting sword let not O let not the wealth and glory thereof nor any of the Inhabitants be exposed a prey to the unsatiable fury of avaricious revengefull blood-thirsty men purge it from all heresie schisme profanenesse and whatsoever is contrary to thy word and Commandments and to this purpose bestow upon them faithful dispensers of thy Word feeing their flocks with wholsome food not leading them unto Rockie Mountaines to famish nor leaving them amongst Wolves killing heresies to be destroyed not giving the children of thy family either for fear or hope stones instead of bread Serpents in place of Fishes not Preaching themselves but the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in truth and sincerity O Let not my Lord be angry and I will speak but this once Be thou O Almighty Omnipotent God a strong tower of defence to all the particular Citizens Members of that Honourable Corporation with all the rest of the people within His Majesties Realms and Dominions high and low rich and poor young and old even from our Soveraigne Lord the King to the tender infant newly stept into the world out of the darke prison of the wombe and together with them all others belonging to His Royall * Eng. Scot. Irel. Family and household wheresoever dispersed Take thou every one of them into thy all-securing protection give them blessings proportionable to their severall degrees conditions and necessities showre downe thy blessings upon all men from one end of the earth to the other Let the sun-shine of thy Gospel breake forth in all dark corners of the world dispelling the black clouds of Judaisme Turcisme Paganisme and all other Errours whatsoever Accomplish the number of thy Elect and then come Lord Jesus come quickly Grant these Petitions O thou Father of all mercies and God of all consolations for the sake of thy Son our Saviour to whom with thee and thy holy Spirit be ascribed all Honour and Glory now and for evermore Amen Amen Amen Soli Deo gloria Si quid novisti rectius istis Imperti si non his utere mecuâ—â— FINIS
THE LOYALL COVENANTER OR Peace Truth revived BEING Certaine seasonable Considerations presented to the whole Kingdome in generall But more particularly intended for that Famous and Honourable City of London and therein in a more peculiar manner all those Citizens As also All other Persons wheresoever who have taken the Solemn LEAGUE and COVENANT Printed in the Yeare 1648. To all true-hearted Englishmen of what degree or qualitie soever especially to each particular Citizen of London Courteous and friendly Reader FOr so my believing charitie perswadeth me to style you although my mean and inconsiderable deserts cannot hope to lay claim to the title As it is a certaine truth for our comfort that man's passive extremitie is Gods active opportunitie deliverance then stepping in when in our apprehensions were are past hopes of being delivered so it is as necessary a truth to be practised that when Kingdomes Cities Families or friends are most passive under the extremitie of accumulative miseries threatning ruine and desolation then to be most active in our assistanceâ— counsell and to our power deliverance Such like thoughts as these possessing me in these unhappiest of unhappy times wherein a generally-feared destruction hangeth over our heads like a sharp pointed sword only by a small thread perswaded me with the poore widow my abilities not being able to bestow more to cast in this my following mite and if it shall though in it selfe worthlesse prove by the concurring operation of Gods Spirit upon the hearts of men in the least manner instrumentally contributary to the reformation of some information of others and a desired restoration of the whole Kingdome in generall the City of London in particular where I received my first birth and being to their ancient honour and former truth and peace return your thankes to the Lord of heaven and earth the fountaine of all Meroies and pray for the Eternall happinesse of Your reall friend Country-man and fellow Citizen Rexophilus Londinatus Christianus Protestans Maii prim 1648. Ne inutilis olim vixisse videar 25 Proverbs 11. A word spoken in season is like apples of Gold in pictures of Silver 122 Psalme 8. For my brethren and companions sakes will I now say peace bee within thy walls WHen the Hebrew-tongued bells sadly invite the Charitable assistance of others to a pacification of that rebellious Element Fire Hebrew Letters must bee read backward A Custome in England to ring bels backward when houses are on fire destructively active beyond its legall bounds and a reduction of it to its proper center and due obedience who will not unlesse some whose preventing care is little about their own and carefull pitty lesse imployed about others ruines willingly contribute their quenching paines Nay who except others as miserably destitute of honesty as wealth whose strangely malicious mindes repine at the fruitfull industry smiling prosperity of others and whose irregular expectations hope to supply the defect of their own wealth and boy up their almost irrecoverably sunk estates by a generally concurring destruction will not subscribe to a voluntary demolition of their proper and more peculiar buildings only to anticipate the devastation of others by that mercilesse raging tyrant When the angry windes begin to vent their spleen and the passive surges which not long before were united into one only unsurrowed face like slaves forced to a degeneration are compelled by those powerfully Commanding Masters into high swelling frowns and deep-furrowed wrinkles thereby menacing ruine to all floating travellers in that uncertain watery region Will not then all obliged and resolved guides Vela moderantes pâ—r aequoris undas unlesse some who with too much ease can change ingagements of publike preservation into permissive iâ— not active resolutions of desolation or others whose winding limbs embarqued on gainfull private hopes or aguish losing feats can comply with every rouling wave thereby in vain expecting in a Fly-boat of neutralitie to swim safely to a self-securing shore will not all except such consult a prevention of such a universally-threaten'd destruction My dearest Country-men England hoc momento temporis O that Fame could give my Pen the lye â—â—ut alas alas experience already hath and still doth afford us too too certain grounds evidencing its truth is at this very day become a sad paralell of these preceding lines England not long since famous abroad happy at home even beyond si foelicitatem novorit desire of additionall happinesse for its united domestick structures I mean its Monarchicall government compacted into so sweetly agreeing * King Lords and Commons in Parliament disproportionâ—d proportion that setting aside those Concomitantes Regnorum devastatores those destroyers of men and Kingdomes Ambition Envy and Sedition which blind the judgements sight enforcing it to a partiall if not an envious construction of the best things the most prying eye could not discern the * Poorest men humblest stone remedilesly press'd by an oppressing * Rich persons Superiour or highest advanced pinacle proudly scorning inferiour subjected materialls without a check from the master builder I mean the established law whose enlivener fonsquerigo is our Soveraigne Lord King Charles c. Sine quo nulla nova fuit est Angliâ lexque erit This England quis non talia scribendo lachrymarum flumina mittet Jeremiah 9. chap. 1. v. who can forbeare wishing with the Prophet That his head were full of water and his eyes a fountain of tears to weep for his Native Country by the beginning Sparcks of an unfortunate Northern fire-brand strange it is that so cold and almost benumming a climate should yield such nimbly-devouring fire intermixing in its consuming progresse with unnaturally connaturalizing materialls by degrees grown almost into one entire flame This winged Vessell truly styled Europ's Soveraigne whose swelling sayles not long since were filled even to envy and admiration of all round about her by long continuing uninterrupted succesfull gales At last by the enforcement of rigid necessitie justly steering its powerfully commanding course for its command proceeded from a * Commission from his Majestie Just power neere the * Scotland ☽ alidonian waters met with some surly opposing gusts high-working ambitious and rebellious waves which not wanting a concurring assistance and incouragement from other mutinous spirits strange it is that children of the same wombe should rend the very bowels of their naturall parent upon the unreasonable invitation of aliens accompanying the same Fleet with this Royall Pilot denyed to strike sayle or expresse obedience to his lawfull commands Which strange and unnaturall opposition increasing like snow roul'd from place to place even to a monstrous heap by the senslesly assisting and furiously active hands of such persons was soon howsoever dissolved by the favourable breath and gracious condescentions beyond expectation of the Royall CoÌ„mander himself as it seemed having a brest more affected with the losse of any under his command however in their obedience repugnant although I cannot
swallowed up by Justification as if because Christ dyed to save Sinners we must therefore wilfully sinne if we will be saved you have many running so farre from the Papists meritorious hope of gaining heaven by good Workes that they expect in haste to post thither by a barren Faith arguing nay esteeming good Workes as altogether unnecessary whenas indeed they must both be concomitants for such a Faith without Workes will prove but a lame Sacrifice and Workes without Faith will be but a blinde Offering never finde the way to heaven You may see London an envyed City declined in the affections of all abroad By assessements Contributions Exwise c. because they were blinded in their affections by these deceivers at home who by degrees have eaten out the very heart of her Hononr Wealth and Reputation You have seen many of her Citizens tossed too and fro with every winde of Doctrine steering their course with the current of each prevailing Faction rather yeelding to a destruction then endeavouring a preservation of the Cities honour and wealth You have seen her well proportioned and admirable Government dashed in pieces the wisdom of some of her wise men degenerated into a self-contriving Interest and Advantage neglecting the Cities good in generall You have seen her grand Counsell turned into a Counsell of War combining with the unruly Sword to disturb nay to destroy the Inhabitants with her civill Government many sacrificing their fellow-Citizens to the disposall of domineering Faction spirits who eat the bread of extortion Prov. 4.17 and drink the wine of violence You have seen the Cities peace formerly even to the envy of their Neighbours dwelling onely within her walls whilest blood want and poverty ran like a devouring Lyon up and down each Country interrupted by those who had most reason to preserve it in peace You have seen Sword-men strangers unto you if you confider your selves as Citizens of that famous Metropolis by some stiled your servants because entertained and paid you but howsoever I say not servants to the City but more truely servants to the factious vipers within the City even glorying in dying the stones of your streets with your own childrens blood Nay consider I appeal to the whole City what practicall Law have you almost left now in use but the Law of imprisonment whereby some men first being made pretendly guilty of that old ayery bugbear crime ill affoction or if you will that beldam fault malignancy that is that will not swim in the same current of such hainous sins with the faction are to use their own word secured or others by reason of their long continuing distractions being disabled so fully and speedily to satisfie some griping Creditors their debts are the sooner hastened by additionall necessity want and grief to a satisfaction of the last debt they owe to nature in a loathsom prison Or else that in it self excellent but as it is now used bloody lettered Law for suppressing and punishing pretended mutinies which only like a Gyant standeth armed at the door that so each successive Faction may the more freely ruine within in the mean time denying the entrance either of justice mercy peace or truth You have long since seen the Pulpit from whence nothing but the sincerity of truth religious admonitions holy advice perswasively tending to the practice of godlinesse and true righteousnesse should issue forth turned into a sophisticall Desk to distract the brains of men with strange distinctions of Government new fangled Doctrines perswading their Auditors persons and Estates to an assisting compliance in the late Wars You have heard bitter expressions there against the established Government of the Kingdom some envying like mad more more then rationall men much lesse Christians against Episcopacy as Antichristian and the book of Common Prayer as unlawfull and erronious their best arguments being but invective railings although one hath stood the shock unmoved of the most frery opponents and the other a perfect pattern of true Piety both of them receiving approbation and applause from all other Protestant Churches beyond the Seas being onely disgraced and defamed though without just cause at home by children of her owne womb You have heard the Ceremonies of the Church stiled limbs of Antichtist and others perswaded that they were imposed on tender consciences as necessaries whenas indeed their own consciences could not but inform them the contrary and that they were onely ordained for order and decency sake Besides His Majesties Anlwer to the Kingdoms Remonstrance Decemb. 1641. if any one seemed offensive to tender consciences his Majesty long before the Sword was unsheathed graciously promised an exemption from observance of them and therefore needed not to have been made Arguments perswading to blood You have seen learned Divines Doctor Featly that brazen wall of our Religion who unrazed hath maintained his hold retorting the Jesuites arrowes into their own brests with shamefull wounds Doctor Holsworth a lively pattern of Piety with many other religious and learned Divines imprisoned and disgraced And my dear Country-men ad quem finem haec omnia to what end think you did all these things tend Prâ—y consider you may see the result of all quickly in what concerneth you to whom I write I meane you misled instruments for I intend not as I have already written the contrivers hereof no further then as I am a Christian to pray for their repentance conversion and forgivenesse You have been pleased like children in lieu of things substantiall with toyes as pulling down of Mâ—y-poles destruction of senselesse stony crosses Reformation of Tavern signs by fantasticall cringers inserted instead of Angels pictured I think least the sight of such shadowes should put the misled people in minde of those reall Augels in heaven and thereby fright or invire them into a too soon repentance You have had as fruits of your endeavoured Reformation ignorant painted glasse windowes broken the Communion table removed the Font locally changed though as by Baptisme we are visibly initiated into the Christian Congregation it more significantly became the entrance into then the body of the materiall Church yet neither of them so absolutely and meerly necessary as to counterpoize blood Heu pro quantillo pacem perdidimus You have had a new Directory a piece made like wax apted for any impression easily squeezed into any form by active brains You have had a Catechisme in a large Character the issue of above six yeers labour which ever since King Edward the sixt's dayes you might have furnished your selves with in a smaller print at an easie rate And to knit all these together you have the Presbyterian Government practized in place and opposition to the Episcopall and what have you purchased by this onely an intermixture of Lay-men with the Clergy as afterward I shall plainly make appear for the managing of Ecclesiasticall affairs both concerning Doctrine and Discipline Heu pro quà m parvis tantum sanguinis effudimus
Thus much I write God the searcher of all hearts is my witnesse not to revile any Divines of the Presbyterian Party whom I honour as Ambassadours from Heaven when they dispense the truth of of God's Word but they must give me leave to acquaint them that unlesse they can shew any better grounds then I have hitherto read or heard from any of them since these unnaturall Wars for the making good the lawfulnesse of introducing this their meer alteration of Government by blood contrary to the Kings consent and the warrant of the Law of the Land and having not the least ground for it in the Word of God No ertours formerly in Government being unreformed by his Majesty no lawfull means by a Synoy legally called and elected for redresse of what possibly could be found either unnecessary or burdensome in the Church to really tender consciences being by him also denied the Poynt of Government being then onely and still is the difference between his Majesty and the two Houses Therefore although the Protestants and they mutually agree in the fundamentals ef faith and many other necessary truthes yet I say I cannot but certifie them that neither my self not any Protestant of ENGLAND have reason to beleeve that they have kept so close to the rule of God's Word Reason and the Law as they should have done Malachi 2.7 or perhaps may prend Therefore If they have any Arguments now in this juncture of time besides that of meerly ignorant persons professions of their good intentioÌ„s good meaning which they know will not excuse a toto though in some things in may a tanto It being a common excuse of many in these times though they still persist in their irregularly first begun courses they may perform a Christian like and wise duty to themselves for their owne vindication and to others for their information to divulge them to the world or if they cannot produce any that then they would be perswaded even for Christ Jesus sake the Bishop of our soules to returne and doe their first workes least God come against them and us and remove our Candlestick out of its place But I proceed Because the introduction of the Presbyterian government in the Church and a proportionable alteration of the Civill Government in the State is by some Ministers of that Party cryed up as the unum necessarium tending to their preintended Reformation and the fulfilling of their solemne League and Covenant I shall endeavour although the Designers intents probably were to lock fast the Common Peoples Consciences thereby unto them to make good according to the rule of Reason Religion and Law that nothing lesse is comprehended and contained therein so that none stand ingaged unlesse they wilfully will persist in sin by their further assistance to endeavour a compleating of their Innovasion To this purpose I shall desire all a little to reflect backe upon what I have already premised how that seeing the irregular faction of the two Houses alwayes applyed themselves to the Common People as assertours and maintainors of the Law Religion and the Kings just rights towards which the assistance of many have been desired and accordingly veelded they themselves having deserred their own Principles acted in oppofition to the Law and their owne Oathes and Covenant as I have made good they are not in theis owne sence though for my part I deny that they were ever at first in a lawfull sence ingaged to take notice of their Ordinances and Commands But rather to use all possible lawfull meanes for the Restoring of his Majestie to his just Rights The established Religion both in Doctrino and Discipline to its former purity in practice according to Law the Parliament of England to its ancient genuine freedome and regular Priviledges and the reset ling of Peace truth in Church and State And to this effect because some peradventure may apprehend themselves conscienciously ingaged by the solemne League and Covenant to continue their aydes in firmly setling the Presbyterian Government I shall for the removing of such obliging apprehensions passing by the unlawfulnesse of contriving imposing and indeed unwarrantablenesse of entring into it at first in which regard I acknowledge it contrary to the Lawes of the Land and authority of Scriptures give a truely Christian and lawfull construction thereof as it did at first literally and still doth onely appeare to the takers thereof who at first were not Concatenated Designers and therefore for the better clearing of Mens judgements herein shall first propound some necessary Qualifications and Limitations of Promissary Oathes being bold to affirme that if any afterwards shall obstinately persist in remaining Instrumentally Active for this Innovasion that I cannot see how they can free themselves from being wilfully guilty of opposing Reason Religion and Law as also rending in peeces all holy and obligatory Oathes and Covenants That all Promissory lawfull Oaths being religious bonds must be taken in a literall and Gramaticall sense and all lawfull endeavours used for the performance of each clause contained therein as they plainly appear not admitting of alteration afterwards or a contradiction by the mentall Reservations of the Imposers at the time of taking thereof to the judgment and understanding of him that sweareth otherwise a man cannot sweare in Judgement That if any clause shall be inserted into any Oath directly opposite to the Word of God or if any part of an Oath cannot be observed and performed without intrenching upon the breach of Gods Lawes the one ipso fucto is void for Rei illicitae nulla obligatio and the other ingageth to a * Impia pâ—nitenda promissiâ— non perficiâ—â—da repentance only and not to endeavours of performance for per juramentum non tenemur nisi ad bonum legale by Oaths men are bound to nothing but what is lawfull and good either in respect of the end to which Oaths have a respect or meanes conducing to that end therefore in all such kind of Oaths their generall conditions should be inserted however are necessarily implied if I can if it shall please God if lawfully I may for nemo tenetur ad impossibile and wil possimus quod non de Jure possimus both possible and things lawfull must be the substance of Oaths otherwise we cannot sweare in righteousnesse That no particular sentence in a secondary Oath destructive unto or different from any former lawfull ingagement ought to be kept therefore any Oath imposed by the irregular factions of the two Houses must not receive a construction or actions accordingly used in opposition to the Affirmatively and Negatively Genuine and commonly received and practised sense of the former Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy both lawfull in themselves and still according to Law resting established least we adde sinnes of Omission to sinnes of Commission but what is lawfull in any second Oath we must performe what is not we must forbear That in all clauses in Oaths
assistance protection and efficaciously working of 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 In Doctrine and Worship Covenant 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 deceiveâ— 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 Histories who are rather induced by necessity to the practise of Presbytery there wanting means to maintain or abilities lawfully to compass Episcopal Government then 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 Gauses 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 a. Witness their second Article wherein before tryal and examination whereby truth or falshood is made evident they contrary to reason pase 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 armisqne 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 cofent'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 rust and commanding power as he now hath conterred 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 stupidiâ—y 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 Authoiity not being Arbitrary but bounded by Laws and administred or exercised with advice andassistance ofcertain 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