Magistrate Hence a person that is incapable incompetent for Government cannot be ouned for a Governour But the D. of Y. is such a person not only not qualified as the Word of God requires a Magistrate to be but by the Laws of the Land declared incapable of Rule because he is a Papist a Murderer an Adulterer c. 3. There must be in Moral Power a Lawful Title Investure as is shewed above which if it be wanting the Power is null and the person but a Scenical King like Iohn of Leyden This is essentially necessary to the being of a Magistrate which only properly distinguishes him from a private man for when a person becomes a Magistrate what is the change that is wrought in him what new habit or endewment is produced in him he hath no more natural power than he had before only now he hath the Moral Power right Authority to Rule Legally impowering him to Govern. Let it be Considered what makes a subordinate Magistrate whom we may oune as such It must be only his Commission from a Superior Power otherwise we reject him If one come to us of his oun head taking upon him the style office of a Bailif Sheriff or Judge and command our Persons demand our purses or exact our Oaths we think we may deny him not taking our selves to owe him any subjection not ouning any bond of conscience to him why because he hath no lawful Commission Now if we require this qualification in the subordinate why not in the Supreme Hence that Magistrate that cannot produce his Legal Investure cannot be ouned But the D. of Y. cannot produce his Legal Investure his admission to the Crown upon Oath Compact and with the consent of the subjects according to the Laws of the Land as is shewed above Ergo 4. There must also be the Lawful Use of the Power which must be not only legal for its composure but right for its practice its Course Process in Government must be just Governing according to Law otherwise it is meer Tyranny for what is Government but the subjecting of the Community to the rule of Governours for Peace Orders sake and the security of all their precious Interests and for what end was it ordained and continued among men but that the stronger may not domineer over the weaker And what is Anarchy but the playing the Rex of the Natural power over the Moral Hence that Power which is contrary to Law evil Tyrannical can tye none to subjection But the power of the King abused to the destruction of Laws Religion Liberties giving his power strength unto the beast making war with the Lamb Revel 17. 13 14. is a power contrary to Law evil Tyrannical Ergo it can tye none to subjection wickedness by no imaginable reason can oblige any man. It is Objected by some from Rom. 13. 1. There is no power but of God The Usurping power is a power Therefore it is of God and consequently we owe subjection to it Ans. 1. The Original reading is not Universal but thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for there is no power if not from God which confirms what I plead for that we are not to oune any Authority if it be not Authorized by God. The words are only relative to higher powers in a restricted sense and at most are but indefinite to be determined according to the matter not all power simply but all Lawful power 2. It is a fallacia a dicto secundum quid There is no power but of God that is no Moral Power as Universal negatives use to be understood Heb. 5. 4. no man taketh this honour unto himself but he that is called of God which is clear must not be understood for the negation of the fact as if no man at all doth or ever did take unto himself that honour for Korah did it c. but no man taketh it warrantably with a Moral right and Gods allowance without Gods call So also the universal imperative in that same Text must not be taken absolutely without restriction for if every soul without exception were to be subject there could be none left to be the higher powers but it is understood with restriction to the relation of a subject So here no Power but of God to be understood with restriction to the relation of a Lawful Magistrate It it also to be understood indiscriminately in reference to the diverse species sorts degrees of Lawful Power Supreme subordinate whether to the King as Supreme or to Governours c. as Peter expresses it Or whether they be Christian or Pagan It cannot be meant of all universally that may pretend to power and may attain to prevailing Potency for then by this Text we must subject our selves to the Papacy now intended to be introduced and indeed if we subject our selves to this Papist the next thing he will require will be that 3. To the Minor proposition I Answer The usurping power is a power It is Potentia I grant that it is Potestas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Authority I deny Therefore it is of God by His Providence I concede by His Ordinance I deny Consequently we owe subjection to it I deny We may be subject passively I grant Actively out of conscience I deny But some will Object 2. Though the Power be Usurped and so not Morally Lawful in all these respects yet it may do good its Laws administrations may be good Ans. I grant all is good that ends well and hath a good begining That cannot be good which hath a bad principle bonum ex integra causa Some Government for constitution good may in some acts be bad but a Government for constitution bad cannot for the acts it puts forth be good These good acts may be good for matter but formally they are not good as done by the Usurper They may be comparatively good that is better so then worse but they cannot be absolutely and in a Moral sense good for to make a Politick action good not only the matter must be warrantable but the Call also It may indeed induce subjects to bear improve to the best what cannot be remedied but cannot oblige to oune a Magistratical Relation II. The Nature of the power thus discovered lets us see the Nature of that relative duty which we owe must oune as due to Magistrates and what sort of ouning we must give them which to inquire a litle into will give light to the question All the duty deference the Lord requires of us towards them whom we must oune as Magistrates is comprehended in these two expressions honour required in the fifth Command and subjection required in Rom. 13. 1. c. 1 Pet. 2. 13. c. Whomsoever then we oune as Magistrates we must oune honour subjection as due to them And if so be we cannot upon a consciencious ground give them honour subjection we cannot
adverse party But this distinction will not be a Salvo to the Conscience For the object declared against is either a King or not if he be not then a Declaration of war against him is not to be abjured if he be King then he is either declared against as King qua Rex perse or as an oppressor or an Abuser of his power the first indeed is to be disouned for a King as King or Lawful Magistrate must not be resisted Rom. 13. 2. But the second to declare war against a King as an oppressor and abuser of his power and subverter of the Laws hath been ouned by our Church State many a time and they have opposed declared war as purposedly against him as he did against them and as really formally as he was an oppresâ—or sure he cannot be an oppressor only per accidens nor does he declare war against the subjects only pes accidens However this hath been ouned alwayes by Presbyterians that war may be declared against him who is called King. And therefore to abjure a Declaration in so far as it declares war against the King will condemn not only that Declaration upon the heads wherein its honesty faithfulness chiefly consists but all other most honest honourable Declarations that have been made emitted by our worthy renouned Ancestors and by our Worthies in our oun time who have formally avowedly explicitely or expressly purposedly designedly declared their opposition to Tyranny Tyrants and their Lawful laudable designs to repress depress suppress them by all the wayes means that God Nature and the Laws of Nations allow when they did ipso jure depose exauctorate themselves from all Rule or priviledge or prerogative of Rulers and became no more Gods ministers but Beelzebubs vicegerents and Monsters to be exterminated out of the Society of Mankind The honestest of all our Declarations of defensive war have alwayes run in this strain And others insinuating more preposterous Loayltie have been justly taxed for asserting the Interest of the Tyrant the greatest enemy of the declarers and principal object of the declared war which disingenuous jugling foysting in such flattering falsifying distinctions in the State of the Quarrel hath rationally been thought one of the procuring Causes or Occasions of the discomfiture of our former Appearances for the Work of God Liberties of our Country 3. This must infer an ouning of his Authority as Lawful King when the Declaration disouning him is abjured in so far as it declares war against his Majestie for in this Oath he is styled and asserted to be King and to have the Majestie of a Lawful King and therefore must be ouned as such by all that take it which yet I have proved to be sinful above Head. 2. Against this it hath been quibbled by some that that Declaration does not declare war against the King expresly as King but only against Charles Stewart by them declared to be no King who set forth the Declaration But this will not salve the matter for then 1 It is a subscribing to a lie in abjuring a Declaration in so far as it did declare a thing which it did not if that hold 2 The enemies impose the abjuring disouning of it in so far as it declares war against their King who had none other but Charles Stewart at that time who was the King in their sense and an Oath cannot be taken in any other sense contradictory to the Imposers even though by them allowed without an unjustifiable equivocation 3 Though he had been King and had not committed such acts of Tyranny as might actually denominate him a Tyrant forefeit his Kingship yet to repress his illegal arbitrariness intollerable enormities and to repel his unjust violence and reduce him to good order Subjects at least for their oun defence may declare a war expresly purposedly designedly against their oun acknowledged King This ought not in so far to be disouned For then all our Declarations emitted during the whole time of prosecuting the Reformation in opposition to our King would be disouned And so with one dash unhappily the whole Work of Reformation and the way of carrying it on is hereby tacitely consequentially reflected upon reproached if not disouned 4. It must infer an ouning of the Ecclesiastical Supremacy when it asserts that some do serve the King in Church as well as in State there is no Distinction here but they are said to serve him the same way in both And it is certain they mean so and have expressed so much in their Acts that Church men are as subordinate and the same way subject to the Kings Supremacy as Statsmen are The absurdity blasphemy of which is discovered above 5. This condemns all killing of any that serve the King in Church State Army or Country for a Declaration is abjured in so far as it asserts it Lawful to kill any such And so by this Oath there is an impunity secured for his Idolatrous priests and Murdering varlets that serve him in the Church for his bloody Councellors and Gouned Murderers that serve his Tyrannical designs in the State for his bloody Lictors Executioners the Sword men that serve him in the Army whom he may send when he pleases to murder us and for his bloody Iust-asses Informers Intelligencing Sycophants the Ziphites that serve him in the Country All these must escape bringing to conâ—ign punishment contrary to the 4. Art. of the Solemn League Covenant and shall be confuted Head. 6. Against this it is excepted by the Pleaders for this Oath that it is only a declared abhoring of Murdering principles which no Christian dare refuse And it may be taken in this sense safly that it is to be abjured in so far as it asserts it Lawful to kill all that are to be imployed by his Maj. or any because so imployed in Church State Army or Country Which never any did assert was Law-ful But though Murdering principles are indeed alwayes to be declaredly abhorred and all Refusers of that Oath did both declare so much and abhorred the thoughts of them yet this evasion is naught for 1 The Declaration asserts no such thing neither for that cause nor for any other but expressly makes a distinction between persons under the Epithet of bloody cruel Murderers and these only whom it threateneth to animadvert upon 2 The only reason of their declared intent of prosecuting these whom they threaten to bring to conding punishment was because they were so imployed by the Tyrant in such service as shedding the blood of Innocents Murdering people where they met them And so that 's the very reason for which they deserve to be killed and therefore foolish impertinent and very absurd to be alledged as a qualification of the sense of that impious Oath 5. If we consider the Proclamation enjoining this Oath and narrating and explaining the Occasions
Liberties he giveth us cause enough to resist him with a good conscience The matter standing as it doth we may say they Resist as may be shewed both by Sacred Profane Histories And so they undertooke and stated the war upon the account of Religion Liberty 9. If we but cast an eye over to the Hollanders we will find how much they stand obliged to this practice of Defensive Armes having thereby recovered both Religion Liberty and established themselves into a fiourishing State. We find even in the time of D. de Alva's Persecution they began to defend Haerlem and Valenciennes in Henault and went on till under the conduct of William of Nassaw Prince of Orange they declared the King of Spain to have fallen from the Government of those Countries and so effectually shook off the yoke of Spanish Tyrannie 10. If we go to the French Hugenots we will find many Instances among them and many brave Heroes raised up to maintain the principle and prosecute the practice thereof of older later date The History of the Civil wars of France is stored with their Trophees and the Memories of Condie Coligni will ever be fragrant There were many Resistences there both before since the Parisian Massacre It is sad that the present Protestants there are so far degenerate from the Spirit of their Ancestors 11. The many practices of the Hungarians Resisting the encroachments of the house of Austria prove the same And when Mathias denyed the free exercise of Religion unto the Protestants of Austria they took up Armes in their oun defence and sent a Protestation unto the Estates of Hungarie requiring their Assistence conforme to their League And now this present war there founded upon this plea. 12. The Polonians have often times levied war against their Kings and we are furnished by Clark in his Martyrol with a late Instance of their Resistence against the Soveraign Powers at Lesita in Poland anno 1655. 13. The Danes Swedes have not been wanting for their parts in taking course with their Christierns Kings of that name whom they resisted punished And generally wherever the Reformation was received we find this principle espoused and the practice of it prosecuted Nay there hath been no Nation in the world but it will be found they have either resisted or killed Tyrants 14. The most Deserving Celebrated Monarchs in the world have espoused the quarrel of oppressed Subjects Not only such as Tamerlanc whose observable Saying is noted when he advanced against Bajazet I go sayes he to chastise his Tyrannie and to deliver the afflicted people And Philip Lewis of France who assisted the Barons of England against King Iohn And Charles the Great who upon this ground undertook a war against the Lombards in Italie But even Constantine the Great hath it recorded for his honour that he employed his power force against Lâ—cinius upon no other Motive but because he banished tortur'd destroyed those Christians in his Dominions that would not abandon their Religion And Q. Elizabeth is commended for assisting the Dutch to maintain their Religion by force when they could not enjoy it by favour And King Iames the 6. gave publick aid to the Protestants in Germany Bohemia against the Emperour Against whom also Gustavus Adolphus marched that he might deliver the oppressed Cities from the bondage that Ferdinand had brought them into Yea King Charles the first this mans Father pretended at least to help the Protestants in France at Ree and Rochel And though he himself was avowedly Resisted by the Parliaments of both Ringdoms yet he was forced to Declare in his Acts of Oblivion Pacification The Scots late taking up Armes against him in defence of their Religion Laws Priviledges to be no Treason nor Rebellion See Apol. Relat. Sect. 11. pag. 149. And thô the late Charles the Second condemned all the Risings of the people of Scotland for defence of Religion Liberty and their lives priviledges which his oun Tyrannie forced them into yet he justified the present Revolt of Heathens Mahumetan Subjects from the young King of Bantam in Iava Major in the East Indies who when he got the Government in his hands by his Fathers Resignation killed his subjects and caused them to be killed without any cause which was the reason of their revolt ftom him and defending the Father against the son This defensive war of these Subjects was justied by the said Charles in his sending Amunition c. for their relief These and many moe Instances that might be adduced are sufficient evidences of the Righteousness and Reason of such Resistences when the Greatest of Princes have undertakent he Patrocinie of them III. From Scripture-Proofs I shall but briefly gather some of the many that might be pressed which being put together to me seem impregnable I shall reduce them to these heads 1. I shall aduce some practices of the Lords people frequently reiterated never condemned alwayes approven confirming this Point 2. Some severe Reprehensions for their omission of this duty in the season thereof 3. Some promises both of Spiriting for the duty and of Countenancing it when undertaken 4. Some precepts commanding such Atchievments 5. Some prayers supplicating for them All which put together will make a strong Argument First For practices of this kind there is nothing more common in Scripture Historie 1. I shall begin at the first war that is recorded in the World wherein some loss fell to the Godly at first but afterwards by the virtue valour of their Brethren they were vindicated and the victory recovered with honour Lot his family living in Sodom was taken Prisoner by Chedarlaomer and his Confederates Gen. 14. 12. but Abraham hearing of it armed his trained servants and pursued them to Dan and rescued him vers 14-16 thereby justifying that Rebellion of the Cities of the plain by taking part vindicating the Rebells Hence he that may rescue subjects from the violence of any Tyrannizing Domination by armes may also rise with these subjects to oppose that violence But here is an example of that in Abraham Ergo 2. After the Lords people were possessed of Canaan and forgetting the Lord did enter into affinity with these interdicted Nations some of them were left to prove Israel that the Generations of the Children of Israel might know to teach them war. Iudg. 3. 1 2. And when they did evil in the sight of the Lord He sold them into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim King of Mesopotamia whom they served and were subject to eight years ver 8. but when they cried unto the Lord their Rebellion shaking off that yoke was successful under the Conduct of Othniel ver 10. And after a relapse unto the like defection they became subject to Eglon King of Moab whom they served eighteen years vers 14. but attempting the same remedy by armes under the Conduct of Ehud they recovered their Liberty And after his
vvasted vvounded rent almost ruined but still vvrestling vvitnessing Remnant of Professors Confessors of Christ there vvho though they have not only had their soulls exceedingly filled vvith the scorning of those that are at ease vvith the contempt of the proud but their bodies also killed all day long and counted as sheep for the slaughter have yet through grace endeavoured to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the vvord of their Testimony have not loved their lives dear unto the death have continued to this day contending both against Professed Enemies also declining friends sustaining from both the utmost of rage reproach And since that litle book gives an account vvhat their Contenâ—ings have been against their backdravving brethren on the right left hand I shall spare labour to offer a discussion of them only endeavour to make it not difficult to decide determine on vvhose side Truth lies by vvhat is here hinted I shall conclude vvith advertising the Reader of one thing further that as this Reproached people for vvhose Testimony I am pleading is novv the only party that is persecuted in Scotland some fevv excepted vvho are exempted from the pretended favour of the current Indemnities their persecution still continues notvvithstanding of the impudent as wel as insnaring Declarations of Universal Liberty to all Dissenters vvhich they look upon as their honour happiness to be thought incapable of Tyrannical Antichristian favours So their past present oppressions sufferings are only here in general agregated described as to their kinds vindicated as to their causes the particular deduction of their number vveight measure of their names that have been martyred murdered both by formality of Lavv vvithout all formality of Lavv by Sea Land City Countrey on Scaffolds in the fields of the manner of their sufferings of the forme of their Trialls Testimonies being intended shortly if the Lord vvill to be emitted published in a book by it self vvhich vvil discover to the vvorld as rare instances of the injustice illegality inhumanity of the Scotish Inquisition of the innocency zeal ingenuity patience of the vvitnesses of Christ as readily can be instanced in these latter ages Only here is a taste till more come vvhich if the Lord shall bless for its designed end the Glory of God the vindication of Truth the information satisfaction of all Serious Sympathisers vvith Zions sorrovves the Conviction or Confutation of Reproachers so far at least as to make them surcease from their invidious charges of things vvhereof the innocency is here vindicated I have obtained all my design shall desire to give the Lord the praise To fill up the vacancy of this page it will not be unprofitable for the Reader to cast his eye upon these Sentences of Great Authors which relate to some heads of the following discourse Erasm. Ut Atagen aliás vocalis captus obiuutescit ita quibusdam servitus adimit vocem qui liberi loquuntur libere Nazianzen Melius est pro pietate dissidium quam concordia fucata Bernard Si autem de veritate sumitur scandalum utilius est ut scandalum oriatur quam veritas relinquatur Bracton Rex est qui bene regit Tyramius qui populum opprimit Cicero Amittit is omne imperii jus qui eâ— imperio Rempublicam oppugnat Aristot. Qui legi paret is Deo legi paret qui Regi homini belluae Sweton Sub paena perjurii non tenentur fidem fervare Regi degeneri Ambros. Qui non repellit a socio injuriam si potest tam est in vitio quam ille qui facit Chamier At Cives omnes jus habent insurgendi contra Tyrannos qui vi aperta regna occupant Barclai Contra Monarchom Tyrannos ut hostes publicos non solum ab universo populo sed à singulis etiam impeti caedique jure optimo posse tota Antiquitas censuit AN Historical Representation OF THE TESTIMONIES OF THE Church of Scotland With the true state of the same in all the Periods thereof WITH A Vindication of the present Testimonie THe Church of Christ in the impression of all that have the least spark of the dayes Spirit is now brought to such a doleful dreadful Case Crisis that if it may not be reckoned The killing of the Witnesses yet all that have or desire the knowledge of the times will judge it no impeachment to the Prophecie to say it is either very like or near unto it When now the Devil is come down in great wrath as knowing his time is but short and therefore exerting all the energy of the venom violence Craft Cruelty of the Dragon And Antichrist alias Pope his Captain General is now universally prevailing and plying all his hellish Engines to batter down bury under the rubbish of Everlasting Darkness what is left to be destroyed of the work of Reformation And the Crowned heads or horns of the Beast the Tyrants alias Kings of Europe his Council of War are advancing their Prerogatives upon the ruines of the Nations Churches Priviledges to such a pitch of Absoluteness improving imploying their power for promoving their Masters the Devil Antichrists Interests to whom they have gifted the Churches mancipated their own and sacrificed the Nations Interest and that with such combination of Counsels Countenance of providential success that all the Powers of Hell the Principalities of Earth the Providence of Heaven overruling all things for the accomplishment or the Divine purpose purchase prediction seem to conspire to produce that prodigious Period and ultimus Conatus of the Churches Enemie And the commencement is so far advanced that now in all the Churches of Europe either the Witnesses of Christ are a killing or the witness for Christ is in a great measure killed either the followers of the Lamb who are calâ—ed chosen faithful are killed for their Testimony or fainting in their Zeal and falling from their first Love they are cooled or cajoled from their Testimony Some are indulging themselves in their ease settleing on their Lees sleeping in a stupid security And while the Lord is roaring from above His their Enemies raging about them designing to raze them after they have ruined their Neighbours they are rotting away under the destructive Distempers of detestable Neutrality loathsom lulâ—warmness declining decaying in Corruptions defections divisions distractions confusions so judicially infatuated with darkness delusions that they forget forgo the necessary Testimony of the day Others again outwearied with the length weight of the Tryal under the tentation of Antichrists formidable strength on the one hand a deceitful prospect of an insnaring Liberty on the other are overcome either to be hectored or flattered from their Testimony And so in these Churches comprehending all that are free from Persecution at this
are The Adversaries then when constrained by diversions of the times troubles or when their designes were not ripe pretended more moderation aversation from severity but no sooner got they opportunity which always they sought but so soon they renewed the Battel against Jesus Christ so now when they had seven abominations in their hearts many cursed designes in their heads they always spoke fairest so now when they had a mind to execute their cruelty they would resolve befor-hand whom to pitch upon before conviction so now And when so resolved the least pretence of a fault obnoxious to their wicked Law would serve their design so now They used then to forge Articles falsly misrepresent their answers declarations of their principles so now Yet on the other hand if now poor sufferers should glory in that they are counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ as they did then If now they should suffer with as great cheerfullnesse for the smallest points as for the greatest heads as they did then who endured the flames as gallantly for eating a Goose upon Friday as others did for the Doctrin of Justification or Purgatory or Indulgences or worshipping of Images Saints If now they should speak for every truth in question with all simplicity plainness without reserves or shifts declining a Testimony as they did If they should supersede from all applications to their Enemies for savour not medle with either petitioning or bonding with them as they did nay not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection Then they might expect the severe Censure of ignorant precise fools as the most part who suffer now are counted III. That they stood aloof from every appearance of a base Complyance with them not so much as to give them an interpretative sign of it which in their meaning might be thought a recantation though abstractly consideredit might be capable of a more favourable construction As the required burning of their Bill was which might have been thought a condemning of their accusations but because that was not their Adversaries sense of it they durst not do it Not like many now a dayes who will not be solicitous to consult that Neither would they take any of their Oaths nor pay any of their Eccllesiastical Exactions as we find in the Articles brought in against the Lollards of Kyle Knox Hist. of Reform These things are easily complyed with now and such as will suffer upon such things are condemned IV. That while the Love of God and his blessed Truth and the precepts promise presence of our Lord Jesus Christ did enable them into all patience with joy in a passive Testimony being by the call of a clear 8 necessary providence sent sett forth to behis witnesses they did not indeed endeavour any resistence yet we find they never resigned nor abandoned that first most just priviledge of resistence nay nor bringing publick beasts of prey to condigne punishment in an extraordinary way of vindictive Justice for the Murder of the Saints As upon the Murder of Mr. George Wishchard was done with Cardinal Beaton who was slain in the tower of St. Andrews by Iames Melvin who perceiving his consorts in the interprise moved with passion withdrew them said this work judgment of God although it be secret ought to be done with greater gravity And presenting the point of the sword to the Cardinal said Repent thee of thy former wicked life but especially of the shedding of the blood of that notable instrument of God Mr. George Wishchard which albeit the flame of fire consumed before men yet it cryes for vengeance upon theâ— we from God are sent to revenge it for here before my God I protest that neither the hatred of thy person the love of thy riches nor the fear of any trouble thow couldst have dâ—me to me in particular moved or moveth me to strike thee but only because thow hast been remainest an obstinate Enemy against Christ Iesus His holy Gospel Of which fact the famous faithful Historian Mr Knox speaks very honorably and was so far from condemning it that while after the slaughter they kept out the Castle he with other Godly men went to them stayed with them till they were together caryed captives to Frâ—nce Yet now such a fact committed upon such another bloody treacherous Beast the Cardinal Prelat of Scotland eight years agone is generally condemned as horrid Murther V. However tho in this dark Period there be no noted instances of these witnesses resisting the Superior powers for reasons above hinted yet in this Period we find many instances of noble vertuous Patriots their not only resisting but also revenging to the utmost of severity rigorous raging Tyrants As may be seen in Histories For before the corruption of Antichrist came to its hight we find Ferchardus I. the 52. K. was drawen to judgment against his will great crimes were layd to his charge among others the Pelagian heresie contempt of Baptisme for which he was cast into Prison where he killed himself anno 636. Eugenius 8. the 62. King degenerating into wickednesse rejecting the Admonitious of his friends especially of the Ministers was killed in a convention of his nobles with the consent of all anno 765. Donaldus 7. was imprisoned where he killed himself anno 859. Ethus surnamed Alipes the 72. King was apprehended his wicked life layd out befor the people then compelled to resigne the Government dyed in Prison anno 875. Afterwards when the Government was transmitted to the Stewarts Iames the 2. the 103. King who killed William E. of Douglas in the Castle of Sterling most treacherously after he had pretended a civil treatment was publickly defyed by the Earles friends who took the Kings publick writ subscription made to the said Earle tyed it to a horse tail dragging it through the streets when they came to the Mercat place they Proclaimed both King Nobles perjured Covenant-breakers And thereafter when E. Iames his Brother was desired to submit he answered he would never put himself in their reverence who had no regard to shame nor to the lawes of God or man and who had so perfidiously treacherously killed his Brother his Cousins Iames 3. the 104. King for his Treachery Tyranny was opposed purswed by armes by his oun subjects who finding himself under disadvantages sent to the rebells as he thought them called them an offer of peace received this answer that seeing the King did nothing honestly a certain war seemed better to them then a peace not to be trusted that there was no other hope of agreement but one that he should quite the Government otherwise it was to no purpose to trouble themselves with treaties Thereafter in a battel he was slain at Bannockburn by Gray Ker Borthwick Iames the 4. the 105. King was
now for refusing such compelled imposed Devotion to pray or praise for the King poor people are much condemned I know it is alleadged that these faithful sufferers in those days were not so strict as they are now in submitting to unjust Sentences and obeying keeping their Confinements I shall grant there was much of this and much might be tollerate in their circumstances when the Court procedure against them was not so illegal their Authority was not so Tyrannical nor so necessary to be disouned and they were so stated that they were afrayed to take guilt upon them in making their escapes whereas it is not so with us Yet we find very faithful men broke their Confinements As Mr Iohn Murray confined about Dumfreis perceiving there was no end of the Bishops malice and that he would be in no worse case than he was he resolved without Licence either of King or Council to transport himself So did also Mr Robert Bruce III. For resistence of Superior Powers we have in this Period first the practice of some Noblemen an Ruthven anno 1582. who took the King and seised on that Arrant Traitor Enemy to the Church Countrey the Earle of Arran declaring to the world the Causes of it the Kings Correspondence with Papists his usurping the Supremacy over the Church and oppressing the Ministers all by means of his wicked Councellors whom therefore they removed from him The King himself emitted a Declaration allowing this deed The General Assembly approved of it and perswaded to a Concurrence with it and nothing was wanting to ratifie it as a most Lawfull laudable action At length the Fox escapes changes all and retracts his former Declaration The Lords again rallie and interprise the taking of the Castle of Stirling and gain it but afterward surrender it after which the Earle of Gowrie is executed and Ministers are commanded to retract the Approbation of Ruthven business but they refused and many were forced to flee to England and the Lords were banished But in the year 1585. they return with more success and take the Castle of Stirling The cowardly King does again acknowledge justify their Enterprise that they needed no Apology of words Weapons had spoken well enough and gotten them audience to clear their own Cause but his after carriage declared him as crafty false as he was cowardly fearful Again we have the advice of the General Assembly for resisting when the Ministers were troubled upon Mr Blacks bussiness and there was an intention to pull them out of their Pulpits They advised them to stand to the discharge of their Calling if their flocks would save them from violence and yet this violence was expected from the King and his Emissaries As to that point then there can be no dispute IV. There was litle occasion for the Question about the Kings Authority in this Period but generally all acknowledged it because they were not sensible of his usurpation and his cowardice made him incapable of attempting any thing that might raise commotions in civil things Yet we remark that whatsoever Authority he usurped beyond his sphere that was disouned declined by all the Faithful as the Supremacy Next that they resented represented very harshly any aspiring to Absoluteness as Mr Andrew Melvin could give it no better name nor intertain no better notion of it then to terme it The bloodie Guillie as he inveighs against it in the Assembly 1582. And next in this same Period we have a very good description of that Authority which the King himself allowes not to be ouned which out of a Kings mouth abundantly justifies the disouning of the present Tyrannie This same King Iames in a speech to the Parliament in the year 1609. sayth A King degenerateth into a Tyrant when he leaveth to rule by 〈◊〉 much more when he beginneth to invade his Subjects Persons Rights Liberties to set up an Arbitrary Power impose unlawful taxes raise forces make War upon his Subjects to pillage plunder wast and spoil his Kingdoms PERIOD V. Containing the Testimony for the last Reformation from Prelacy in all its steps from the year 1638 to 1660. THe following Period from the year 1638. to 1660 continues advances the Testimony to the greatest hight of Purity Power that either this Church or any other did ever arrive unto with a Gradation Succession Complication of wonders of Divine Wisdom Power Justice Mercy signally singularly ouning sealing it to the Confusion of His Enemies Comfort of His People Conviction of Indifferent Neutrals and Consternation of All. Now after a long winter and night of Deadness Darkness the sun returns with an amiable approach of Light Life now the winter was past the rain was over gone the flowers appear on the earth and the time of singing of birds is come and the voice of the turtle is heard in our Land. Now the second time the Testimony comes to be managed in an Active manner as before it was Passive As the one hath been alwayes observed to follow interchangably upon the other especially in Scotland and the Last alwayes the Greatest which gives ground to hope though it be now our turn to suffer that when the summer comes again after this winter and the day after this night the next Active Testimony shall be more notable than any that went before The matter of the Testimony was the same as before for the Concerns of Christs Kingly Prerogative but with some more increase as to its opposites for these grew successively in every Period the Last alwayes including all that went before The first Period had Gentilisme principally to deal with the second Poperie The third Poperie Tyrannie the fourth Prelacy Supremacy this fifth hath all together and Sectarianisme also to contend against The former had alwayes the opposites on one hand but this hath them in extremes on both hands both fighting against one another and both fighting together against the Church of Scotland and she against both till at length one of her opposites prevailed viz. the Secterian Party and that prevailing brought in the other to wit the Malignant which now domineers over all together Wherefore because this Period is in it self of so great importance the Revolutions therein emergent so eminent the Reformation therein prosecuted wanting litle of its perfect Complement the Deformation succeeding in its Deviation from the Pattern being so destructive to the end it may be seen from whence we have fallen and whether or not the present reproached Sufferers have lost or left their ground we must give a short deduction of the Rise Progress End of the Contendings of that Period In the midst of the forementioned Miseries Mischiefs that the pride of Prelacy and Tyrannical Supremacy had multiplied beyond measure upon this Church Nation and at the hight of all their haughtiness when they were setting up their Dagon and erecting Altars for him
advanced that the Government of the Church by Congregational Elderships Classical Presbyteries Provincial National Assemblies is aggreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westmnster and voted concâ—uded in both houses of Parliament After this the Malignants in England being crushed in all their Projects the King renders himself to the Scots in New castle by whom because by Covenant they were not obliged to defend him but only in defence of Religion Liberty which he had been destroying and they defending because in this war he did directly oppose oppugne these conditions under which they were only to defend him and therefore they had all alongst carried towards him as an enemy as he to them And because by the same Covenant they were obliged to discover render to condign punishment all Malignants Incendaries of whom he was the chief and to reâ—ain the Peace Union of the Kingdoms which could not be retained in maintaining their destroyer And to assist mutually all entered into that Covenant which he was fighting against he was delivered up into the English and kept under restraint in the Isle of Wight untill he received his just demerit for all his oppressions Murders Treachery Tyranny being condemned execute Ianuar. 30. anno 1648 9 Which fact though it was protested against both before after by the Assembly of the Church of Scotland out of zeal against the Sectarians the executioners of that extraordinary Act of Justice yet it was more sor the manner than for the matter and more for the motives ends of it than for the grounds of it that they opposed themselves to it and resented it For they acknowledged remonstrated to himself the Truth of all these things upon which that sentence execution of Justice was founded And when a wicked Association Unlawful Engagment was on foot to rescue him they opposed it with all their might Shewing in their Answers to the Estates that year 1648. and Declarations Remonstrances the sinfullness destructiveness of that Engagment that it was a breach of the Commandments of God of all the Articles of the Covenant Declaring withal they would never consent to the Kings Restitution to the exercise of his Power without previous assurance by solemn Oath under his hand seal for settling of Religion according to the Covenant By which it appears they were not so stupidly Loyal as some would make them Yet indeed it cannot be past without regrate that there was too much of this plague of the Kings-evil even among good men which from that time forth hath so infected the heads hearts of this Generation that it hath almost quite extinct all Loyaltie to Christ and all zeal for Religion Liberty Then it began to infuse diffuse its Contagion when after the death of Charles the first in the year 1649. they began after all that they had smarted for their trusting these treacherous Tyrants and after that Grace had been shewed them from the Lord their God by breaking these mens yokes from from off their necks and puting them again into a Capacity to act for the good of Religion their oun safety and the peace safety of the Kingdom to think of joining once more with the people of these abominations and taking into their bosoms these Serpents which had formerly stung them almost to death Hinc ilâ—â— lachrimae en origo Scaturigo nostrae defectionis There was indeed at that time a Party faithful for God who considering the many breaches of the Solemn League Covenant and Particularly by the late Engagment against England did so travel that they procured the Covenant to be renewed with the Solemn Acknowledgment of sins Engagment to duties which was Universally subscribed sworn through all the Land wherein also they regrete this tampering with Malignants And therefore the Lord did mightily save defend them from all their Adversaries subdued them at Stirling and in the North. They did also give warning concerning the young King that notwithstanding of the Lords hand against his Father yet he hearkens unto the Counsells of these who were Authors of these Miseries to his Father by which it hath come to pass that he hath hitherto refused to grant the just necessary desires of the Church Kingdom for securing of Religion Liberty And it is much to be feared that these wicked Counsellers may so far prevail upon him as to ingage him in a war for overturning the Work of God and bearing doun all those in the three Kingdoms that adhere therto Which if he shall do cannot but bring great wrath from the Lord upon himself throne and must be the cause of many new great Miseries Calamities to these Lands And in the same warning by many weighty reasons they prove that he is not to be admitted to the exercise of his power without security for Religion Liberty And when the bringing home of the King came to be voted in the Assembly there was one faithful witness Mr Adam Kae Minister in Galaway protested against it fore shewing fore telling what mischeef misery he would bring with him when he should come These things might have had some weight to demur the Nation from medling with that perfidious Traitor But all this serves only to aggravate the sin shame of that distraction which hath procured all this destruction under which the Land mourns to this day That notwithstanding of all these Convictions warnings yea and discoveries of his Malignancy Treachery inclinations to Tyranny They sent Commissioners and concluded at Treaty with him at Breda During which Treaty the Commissions which he had sent to that bloody villain Montrose his Cut throat Complices to raise an Armie wast invade the Countrey with fire sword the second time were brought to the Committee of Estates discovering what sort of King they were treating with Whereupon after serious Consulting not only together but with the Lord And after many debates what to do in such a doubtfull case wherein all was in danger the Estates concluded to break off the Treaty and recall their Commissioners To which intent they sent an Express with Letters to Breda which by providence falling into the hands of Libberton a true Libertine false betrayer of his trust Country was by him without the knowledge of the other Commissioners delivered unto the King who consulting the Contents of the Packet with his Jesuitical Hypocritical Cabal found it his interest to play the fox being disappointed at that time to play the Tyger and dissemble with God man. And so sending for the Commissioners he made a flattering speech to them shewing that novv after serious deliberation he vvas resolved to comply vvith all their Proposals Where upon the poor cheated Commissioners dispatch the post back with Letters full of praise joy for the satisfaction they had received The Estates perceiving themselves
Witnesses did gradually ascend to the pitch it is novv arrived at I. These Enemies of God having once got footing again with the favour and the fawnings of the foolish Nation went on fervently to further and promote their wicked design and meeting with no opposition at first did encourage themelves to begin boldly Wherefore hearing of some Ministers peaceably Assembled to draw up a Monitory Letter to the King minding him of his Covenant Engagments promises which was though weak yet the first witness warning against that Heaven-daring wickedness then begun they cruelly incarcerate them Having hereby much daunted the Ministry from their duty in that day for fear of the like unusual outragious usage The Parliament conveens Ianuar. 1. 1661. without so much as a Protestation for Religion Liberty given in to them And there in the first place they frame take the Oath of Supremacy Exauctorating Christ and investing His usurping Enemy with the spoils of his robbed Prerogative acknowledging the King only supreme Governour over all persons in all Causes and that his power Iurisdiction must not be declined Whereby under all persons all Causeâ— All Church Officers in their most properly Ecclesiastick Affairs Concerns of Christ are comprehended And if the King shall take upon him to judge their Doctrine Worship Discipline or Government he must not be declined as an incompetent Judge Which did at once enervate all the Testimony of the 4th Period above declared and laid the foundation for all this Babel they have built since and of all this war that hath been waged against the Son of God and did introduce all this Tyrannie absolute power which hath been since carried to its Complement and made the Kings Throne the foundation of all the succeeding perjurie Apostasie Yet though then our Synods Presbytries were not discharged but might have had access in some Concurrence to witness against this horrid Invasion upon Christs Prerogative and the Churches Priviledge no joint Testimony was given against it except that some were found witnessing against it in their singular Capacity by themselves As faithful Mr Iames Guthrie for declining this usurped Authority in prejudice of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus suffered death and got the Martyrs Crown upon his head And some others for refusing that Oath arbitrarly imposed were Banished or Confined when they had gained this Bulwark of Christs Kingdom Then they waxed more insolent and set up their Ensigns for signs and broke doun the carved Work of Reformation with axes hammers In this Parliament 1661. They past an Act Rescissorie whereby they annulled declared void the National Covenant the Solemn League Covenant Presbytrial Government and all Lawes made in favours of the Work of Reformation since the year 1633. O horrid wickedness both in its nature so attrocious to condemn rescind what God did so signally seal as His oun Work to the conviction of the world and for which He will rescind the Rescinders and overturn these Overturners of His Work and make the curse of that broken Covenant bind them to the punishment vvhom its bond could not oblige to the duty Covenanted And in its design end so base detestable for nothing but to flatter the King in making way for Prelacy Tyranny Popery and to indulge the licenciousness of some debauched Nobles who could not endure the yoke of Christs Government and to suppress Religion Righteousness under the ruines of that Reformation But O holy astonishing Justice thus to recompense our way upon our own head to suffer this work cause to be ruined under our unhappy hands who suffered this Destroyer to come in before it was so effectually secured as it should not have been in the power of his hand whatever had been in his heart swelled with enmity against Christ to have razed ruined that Work as now most wickedly he did and drew in so many into the guilt of the same deed that almost the whole Land not only consented unto it but applauded it by approving countenancing another wicked Act framed at the same time by that same perfidious Parliament for an Anniversary Thanksgiving commemorating every 29. of May that Blasphemy against the Spirit Work of God and celebrating that unhappy Restauration of the Rescinder of the Reformation which had not only the concurrence of the universality of the Nation But alas for shame that it should be told in Gath c even of some Ministers who afterwards accepted the Indulgence one of which a Pillar among them was seen scandalously dancing about the bonefires And others who should have alarmed the whole Nation quasi pro aris focis to rise for Religion Liberty to resist such wickedness did wink at it O how Righteous is the Lord now in turning our Harps into mourning Though alas we will not suffer our selves to this day to see the shining Righteousness of this Retribution And though we be scourged with Scorpions brayed in a Mortar our madness our folly in these irreligious frolicks is not yet acknowledged let be lamented Yet albeit neither in this day when the Covenant was not only broken but Cassed declared of no obligation nor afterward when it was burnt for which Turks Pagans would have been ashamed afraid at such a terrible sight and for which the Lords Anger is burning against these bold burners and against them who suffered it and did not witness against it was there any publick Testimony by protestation or Remonstrance or an publick witness though the Lord had some then and some who came out afterward with the Trumpet at their mouth whose heart then sorrowed at the sight And some suffered for the sense they shewed of that Anniversary abomination for not keeping which they lost both Church Liberty It s true the ordinary Meetings of Presbytries Synods were about that time discharged to make way for the exercise of the new power conferred on the four Prelats who were at Court reordained Consecrated thereby renouncing their former Title to the Ministry But this could not give a discharge from a Necessary Testimony then called for from faithful Watchmen However the Reformation being thus rescinded razed and the House of the Lord pulled doun then they begin to build their Babel In the Parliament anno 1662. by their first Act they restore reestablish Prelacy upon such a foundation as they might by the same Law bring in Poperie which was then designed and so settled its Harbinger Diocesan Erastiar Prelacy by fuller Enlargment of the Supremacy The very Act beginneth thus For as much as the ordering disposal of the external Government of the Church doth properly belong to his Maj. as an Inherent right of the Croun by virtue of his Royal Prerogative Supremacy in Causes Ecclesiastick what ever shall be determined by his Maj. with advice of the Arch Bishops and such of the
have acquired do seek the praise of Justice by injury of Liberality by robbery So he can make some shew of a Civil mind but so much the less assurance gives he of it that it is manifest he intends not thereby the subjects good but the greater security of his oun lusts and stability of empire over posterity having some what Mitigated the peoples hatred which when he hath done he will turn back again to his old manners for the fruit which is to follow may easily be known both by the seed and by the sower thereof An exact Copy of this we have seen within these tuo years as oft before in the rule of the other Brother After God hath been robbed of His prerogatives the Church of her Priviledges the State of its Lawes the Subjects of their Libertie property he is now affecting the praise captating the Applause of tenderness to conscience and Love of Peace by offering now Liberty after all his Cruelties wherein all the thinking part of men do discern he is prosecuting that hellish Project introducing Popery slaverie and overturning Religion Law Liberty 3. Regium imperium secundum Naturam est Tyrannicum contra Regium Liberi inter Liberos est Principatus Tyrannus domini in servas c. Tyranny is against Nature and a Masterly Principality over slaves Can he be called a father who accounts his subjects slaves or a Shepherd who does not feed but devours his flock or a Pilot who doth allwise study to make shipwrack of the goods and strikes a leak in the very ship where he sails what is he then that bears Command not for the peoples advantage but studies only himself who leadeth his subjects into manifest snares he shall not verily be accounted by me either Commander Emperour or Governour King Iames the 6 th also in a speech to the Parliament anno 1609. makes this one Character of a Tyrant when he begins to invade his subjects rights Liberties And if this be true then we have not had a King these many years the foregoing deduction will demonstrate what a slavery we have been under 4. Quid qui non de virtute certet câ—m bonis c. What is he then who doth not contend for vertue with the good but to exceed the most flagitious in vices If yow see then any usurping the Royal name and not excelling in any virtue but striving to exceed all in baseness not tendering his subjects good with native affection but pressing them with proud domination esteeming the people committed to his trust not for their safegaurd but for his oun gain will yow imagine this man is truly a King albeit he vapours with a numerous Lieveguard and makes an ostentation of gorgeous Pomp The learned Althusius likewise in his Politicks cap. 38. Num. 15. as He is cited by Ius Populi chap. 16. Pag. 347. makes this one Character of a Tyrant that liveing in Luxury whoredome greed idleness he neglecteth or is unfit for his office How these suite our times we need not express what effrontry of impudence is it for such monsters to pretend to rule by virtue of any Authority derived from God who pollute the world with their Adulteries Incests and Live in open defyance of all the Lawes of the universal King with whom to exceed in all villanies is the way to purchase the Countenance of the Court and to aspire to preferment No Heliogabulus c. could ever come up the length in wickedness that our Rulers have professed 5. Omnium vim Legum in se transferre c. He can transfer unto himself the strength of all Lawes and abrogate them when he pleases King Iames the 6. in that fore-cited speech saith a King degenerateth into a Tyrant when he leaveth to rule by Law. Althusius also loc cit saith there is one kind of Tyranny which consisteth in violating changing or removing of fundamental Lawes specially such as concern Religion such saith he Philip the King of Spain who contrare to the fundamental Belgick Lawes did erect an administration of Justice by force of armes and such was Charles the 9 th of France that thought to overturn the Salicque Law. All that knoweth what hath been done in Britain these 27 years can attest our Lawes have been subverted the Reformation of Religion overturned and all our best Lawes rescinded and now the Penal Statuts against Papists disabled stopped without against Law. 6. Ad suum eum unius nutum omnia c. He can revoke all things to his nod at his pleasure This is also one part of King Iames the 6 his Character of a Tyrant when he sets upon arbitrary power And of Althusius loc cit when he makes use of an absolute Power and so breaks all bonds for the good of humane Society We allow a King an absolute power taken in a good sense that is he is not subaltern nor subordinate to any other Prince but supreme in his oun dominions or if by absolute be meant Perfect he is most absolute that governs best according to the word of God. But if it be to be Legibus solutus loosed from all Lawes we thinke it blasphemy to ascribe it to any Creature Where was there ever such an arbitrary absolute power arrogated by any Mortal as hath been claimed by our Rulers these years past especially by the present Usurper who in this Liberty of conscience now granted to Scotland assumes to himself an absolute power which all are to obey without reserve which carries the subjects slavery many stages beyond what ever the Grand Seigneur did attempt 7. Tyranno ad cives opprumendos c. For by a Tyrant strangers are imployed to oppress the subjects They place the establishment of ther Authority in the peoples weakness and think that a Kingdom is not a Procuration concredited to them by God but rather a prey fallen into their hands Such are not joined to us by any Civil bond or any bond of humanity but should be accounted the most Capital enemies of God and of all men King Iames ub supra sayes he is a Tyrant that imposes un Lawful Taxes raises forces makes war upon his subjects to Pillage Plnnder wast spoil his Kingdoms Althusins ubi supra makes a Tyrant who by immoderate exactions and the like exhausts the subjects and cites Scripture Ier. 22. 13. 14. Ezek. 34. 1 King. 12. 19. Psal. 14. 4. It is a famous saying of Bracton He is no longer King then dum bene regit while he rules well but a Tyrant when-soever he oppresseth the people that are trusted to his Care Government And Cicero sayes amittitis omne exceritus imperit jiu qui eo imperio exercitâ— Rempublicans oppugnat He loseth all legal power in over an Army or Empire who by that Government army does obstruct the wel-fare of that republick What oppressions exactions by armed force our Nation hath been wasted with in part is
discovered above 8. Althusius in the place above quoted makes this an other mark when he keepeth not his faith promise but despiseth his very oath made unto the people What shall we say of him then who not only brake but burnt and made it Criminal to assert the obligation of the most solemnly transacted Covenant with God and with the people that ever was entered into who yet upon these termes of keeping that Covenant only was admitted to the Government And what shall we say of his Brother succeeding who disdains all bonds whose professed principle is as a Papist to keep no faith to Hereticks 9. In the same place he makes this on Character a Tyrants is he who takes away from one or moe members of the common wealth the free exercise of the Orthodox Religion And the Grave Author of the Impartial inquiry into the administration of affairs in England doeth assert pag. 3 4. whensoever a Prince becomes depraved to that degree of wickedness as to apply employ his power Interest to debauch withdraw his subjects from their fealty obedience to God or sets himself to extirpate that Religion which the Lord hath revealed appointed to be the rule of our living the means of our happiness he doth ipso facto depose himself and instead of being ouned any longer for a King ought to be treated as a Rebel Traiter against the Supreme Universal Soveraign This is the perfect Protracture of our Princes the former of which declared an open war against Religion all that professed it and the Latter did begin to prosecute it with the same cruelty of persecution and yet continues without relenting against us though to others he tolerates it under the Notion of a Crime to be for the present dispensed with until he accomplish his design 10. Ibid. he tells us that for corrupting of youth he erecteth stage plages Whore-houses other Play-houses and suffers the Colledges other Seminaries of Learning to be corrupted There was never more of this in any age than in the conduct of our Court which like another Sodom profess it to be their design to debauch mankind in to all villanies and to poison the fountains of all learning virtue by intruding the basest of men into the place of teachers both in Church University and precluding all access to honest men 11. Further he sayes he is a Tyrant who doth not defend his subjects from injuries when he may but suffereth them to be oppressed and what if he oppress them himself It was one of the Lawes of Edward the Confessor Quod si Rex desit officio nomen Regis in eo non constabit If the King fail in the discharge of his Trust office he no longer deserves nor ought to enjoy that name What name do they deserve then who not only fail in the duty of defending their subjects but send out their Lictors bloody Executioners to oppress them neither will suffer them to defend themselves But Althusius makes a distinct Character of this 12. Then in fine he must certainly be a Tyrant who will not suffer the people by themselves nor by their Representatives to maintain their oun rights neither by Law nor force for sayeth my Author Forecited he is a Tyrant who hindereth the free suffrages of members of Parliament so that they dare not speak what they would And chiefly he who takes away from the people all power to resist his Tyranny as Armes strengths chief men whom therefore though innocent he hateth afflicteth persecuteth exhausts their goods livelyhoods without right or reason All know that our blades have been all alongs enemies to Parliaments and when their Interest forced to call them what means were used always to pacque prelimit them and over-aw them and how men who have faithfully discharged their trust in them have been prosecuted with the hight of envy fury and many murthered thereupon And how all the armed force of the Kingdoms have been inhanced into their hand and the people kept so under foot that they have been rendered incapable either to defend their oun from intestine Usurpers or forreign Invaders All that is said amounts to this that when ever men in power do evert subvert all the ends of Government and intrude themselves upon it and abuse it to the hurt of the Common wealth and the destruction of that for which Government was appointed They are then Tyrants and cease to be Magistrates To this purpose I shall here append the words of that forecited Ingenious Author of the Impartial Enquirie Pap. 13. 14. There can be nothing more evident from the light of reason as well as Scripture than that all Magistracy is appointed for the benefite of mankind and the common good of Societies God never gave any one power to reign over others for their destruction unless by His providence where He had devoted a people for their sins to ruine but on whomsoever He confers Authority over Cities or Nations it is with this Conditional Proviso Limitation that they are to Promote their Prosperity good and to study their defence Protection All Princes are thus far Pactional And whosoever refuseth to perform this fundamental condition he degrades deposes himself nor is it rebellion in any to resist him whensoever Princes ceases to be for the common good they answer not the end they were instituted unto and cease to be what they were chosen for 6. It will not be denyed but when the Case is so circumstantiate that it would require the arbitration of judgment to determine whether the King be a Tyrant or not that then people are not to disoune him for if it be a question whether the people be really robbed of their rights Liberties and that the King might pretend as much reason to complain of the people their doing indignity to his Soveraignty as they might of his Tyranny Then it were hard for them to assume so for the umpirage of their oun Cause as to make themselves absolute judges of it and forth with to reject his Authority upon these debateable grounds But the Case is not so with us no Place being left for doubt or debate but that our fundamental rights Liberties Civil Religious are overturned and an absolute Tyranny exactly Characterized as above is established on the ruines thereof Hence we have not disouned the pretended Authority because we judged it was Tyrannical but because it was really so Our discretive judgment in the case was not our rule but it was our understanding of the rule by which only we could be regulated and not by the understanding of another which cannot be better nor so good of our grievances which certainly we may be supposed to understand best our selves and yet they are such as are understood every where To the question then who shall be Judge between these Usurping Tyrannizing Rulers us we answer
was not an Usurper over Iudea which not obscurely is insinuated by Paul himself who asserts that both his person his Cause Criminal of which he was accused it was not an Ecclesiastical Cause so no advantage hence for the Supremacy appertained to Cesars Tribunal and that not only in fact but of right Act. 25. 10. I stand at Cesars judgment seat where I ought to be judged We cannot say this of any tribunal senced in the name of them that Tyrannize over us 5. I will not stand neither upon the Names Titles of Kings c. to be given to Tyrants Usurpers in speaking to them or of them by way of appellation or compellation for we find even Tyrants are called by these names in Scripture being Kings de fact◠though not dejure and indeed not impertinently Kings Tyrants for the most part are reciprocal termes But in no case can we give them any Names or Titles which may signify our love to them whom the Lord hates or 〈◊〉 hate the Lord 2 Chron. 19. 2. or which may flatter them which Elihu durst not give for fear his Maker should take him away Iob. 32. 22. or which may be taken for honouring of them for that is not due to the vile◠of men when exalted never so high Psal. 12. ult a vile person must be contemned in our eyes Psal. 15. 4. Nor which may any way import or infer an ouning of a Magistratical relation between them us or any Covenant transaction or Confederacy with them which in no termes with them as such we will say or oune Isa. 8. 12. Hence many sufferers upon this head so bear to give them their Titles 8. It will be yeelded very readily by us that a Magistrate is not to be disouned meerly for his differing in Religion from us yea though he were a Heathen We do not disoune our pretended Rulers meerly upon that account but chearfully do grant subscribe to that Truth in our Confession of faith chap. 23. § 4. That Infidelity or difference in Religion doth not make void the Magistrates just Legal Authority nor free the people from their due obedience to him On which our Adversaries have insulted as if our Principles Practices were therby disproved But it is easy to answer 1. let the words be considered and we are confident that no sober man will think the acknowledgment of just legal Authority due obedience a rational ground to infer that Tyranny is thereby either allowed or priviledged Napth Pag. 60. Prior Edition 2. Though Infidelity or difference of Religion does not make void Authority where it is Lawfully invested yet it may incapacitate a person and Lawfully seclude him from Authority both by the word of God which expressly forbids to set a Stranger over us who is not our brother Deut. 17. 15. Which includes as well a stranger of a strange Religion as one of a strange Countrey and by the Lawes of the Land which do incapitate a Papist of all Authority Supreme or subordinate And so if this Iames the 7 2 had been King before he was a Roman Catholick if we had no more to object we should not have quarrelled his succession 3. We both give grant all that is in the Confession viz. Dominium non fundari in gratia that Dominion is not founded on Grace Yet this remains evident that a Prince who not only is of another religion but an avowed enemy to overturner of the Religion established by Law and intending endeavouring to introduce a false heretical blasphemous Idolatrous religion can claim no just legal Authority but in this case the people may very Lawfully decline his pretended Authority Nay they are betrayers of their Countrey Posterity if they give not a timeous effectual Check to his Usurpings and make him sensible that he hath no such Authority Can we imagine that men in the whole of that blessed work so remarkably led of God being convocate by a Parliament of the wisest worthyest men that ever was in England whom they did encourage by writing preaching every way to stand fast in their opposition to the then King displaying a banner for his prerogative a court dream against Religion Liberty should be so far left as to drop that as a principle part of our Religion which would sacrifice Religion it self to the lust of a raging Tyrant Must we beleeve that a Religion-destroying Tyrant is a righteous Ruler And must we onne him to be a Nursing father to the Church Shall we conclude that the common bounds Limits whereby the Almighty hath bounded Limited Mankind are removed by an Article of our confession of faith which hereby is turned into a Court creed Then welcome Hobs de Cive with all the rest of Pluto's train who would bable us into a belief that the world is to be governed according to the pleasure of wicked Tyrants I would fain hope at length the world would be awakened out of such ridiculous dreams be ashamed any more to oune such fooleries And it may be our two Royal Brothers have contributed more to cure men of this Moral madness than any who went before them And this is the only advantage I know that the Nations hath reaped by their reign 9. Though we deny that Conquest can give a just Title to a Croun yet we grant in some cases though in the begining it was unjust yet by the peoples after consent it may be turned into a just Title It is undenyable when there is just ground of the war if a Prince subdue a whole Land who have justly forfeited their Liberties when by his grace he preserves them he may make use of their right now forefeited and they may resign their Liberty to the Conqueror and consent that he be their King upon fair Legal not Tyrannical conditions And even when the war is not just but successful on the invading Conquerours side this may be an inducement to the Conquered if they be indeed free and uningaged to any other to a submission dedition delivery up of themselves to be the subjects of the victor and to take him for their Soveraign as it is like the case was with the Jewes in Cesars time whose Government was translated by dedition to the Roman power in the translation when a doing there was a fault but after it was done it ceased though the begining was wrong there was a post-fact which made it right and could not be dissolved without an unjust disturbance of publick order Whence besides what is said above in answer to that much insisted Instance of Christs paying tribute and Commanding it to be paid to Cesar the difficulty of that instance may be clearly solved That Tribute which he paid Math. 17. 24. c. and that about the payment whereof He was questioned Math. 22. 21. seem to be two different Tributes Many think very probably they were
may lead a quiet peaceable life in all godlyness honesty 1 Tim. 2. 2. And they must needs be a blessing because to have no Ruler is a Miserie for when Israel had no King every man did that which was right in his oun eyes Iudg. 17. 6. and the Lord threatens it ar a Curse to take away the stay the staff the mighty man and the man of war the Iudge the Prophet c. Isai. 3. 1 2 c. and that the Children of Israel shall abide many dayes without a King and without a Prince Hos. 2. 4. But on the other hand Tyrants Usurpers are alwayes a Curse and given as such It is threatened among the Curses of the Covenant that the stranger shall get up above Israel very high and that they shall serve their enemies which the Lord shall send against them and He shall put a yoke of iron upon their neck until He hath destroyed them Deut. 28. 43 48. As a roaring lyon and a ranging bear so is a wicked Ruler over the poor people Prov. 28. 15. and therefore when the wicked beareth rule the people mourn Prov. 29. 2. The Lord threatens it as a Curse that he will give Children to be their Princes and babes shall rule over them Isai. 3. 4. and if unqualified Rulers be a curse much more Tyrants They are the rod of His anger and the staff in their hand is His indignation His axe saw rod Isai. 10. 5 15. It is one thing to call a man Gods instrument His rod axe sword or hammer another thing to call him Gods Minister there is a wide difference betwixt the instruments of Gods Providence and the Ministers of His Ordinance those fulfill His Purposes only these do His precepts Such Kings are given in the Lords anger Hos. 13. 11. therefore they cannot be ouned to be Ministers of God for good 6. He beareth not the sword in vain for he is the Minister of God a revenger to execute wrath upon â—im that doeth evil vers 4. The Apostle doth not say he that beareth the sword is the Ruler but he is the Ruler that beareth the sword This is not every sword for there is the sword of an enemy the sword of a robber the sword of a common traveller but this as a faculty of Political rule Authoritative judgement It is not said he takes the sword as the Lord expresses the Usurpation of that power Math. 26. 52. but he beareth the sword hath it delivered him into his hand by God by Gods warrant allowance not in vain to no end or without reason or without a Commission as Pareus upon the place expones it He is a revenger to execute wrath not by private revenge for that is condemned Paulo ante Rom. 12. 19. not by providential recompense for when a private person so revengeth it is the providential repayment of God but as Gods Mâ—nister by Him Authorized commissionated warranted to this work Now this cannot agree with a Tyrant or Usurper whose sword only legitimates his scepter and not his scepter his sword who takes the sword rather then bears it uses it without reason or warrant from God in the execution of his lustful rage upon him that doth well and hath no right to it from God. Hence he that beareth the sword no other way but as it may be said of a Murderer cannot be a Magistrate bearing the sword But a Tyrant Usurper beareth the sword no other way but as it may be said of a Murderer Ergo So much for the Characters of a Magistrate which are every way inapplicable to Tyrants Usurpers and as inapplicable to this of ours as to any in the world 2. If we consider the Scripture Resemblanceâ— importing the duty of Magistrates and the Contrary Comparisons holding forth the sin vileness villany of Tyrants Usurpers we may infer that we cannot oune the last to be the first First from the benefite they bring to the Common wealth Magistrates are styled 1. Saviours as Othniel the son of Kenaz is called Iudg. 3. 9. and Iehoâ—haz in his younger years 2. King. 13. 5. and all good Judges Magistrates Neh. 9. 27. But Tyrants Usurpers cannot be such for they are destroyers whom the Lord promises to make go forth from His people Isa. 49. 17. The Chaldeaâ— Tyrant is called the destroyer of the Gentiles Ier. 4. 7. and the destroyer of the Lords heritage Ier. 50. 11. wherefore they can no more be ouned to be Magistrates than Abaddon or Apollyon can be ouned to be a Saviour 2. From their Paterâ—al love to the people they are styled fathers and therefore to be honoured according to the fifth Command So Deborah was raised up a Mother in Israel Iudg. 5. 7. Kings are nursing fathers by office Isai. 49. 23. But that Tyrants cannot be such I have proved already for they can no more be accounted fathers than he that abuseth or forceth our mother 3. From the Protection shelter that people find under their Conduct they are called Shields Psal. 47. Ult. The Princes of the people the Shields of the earth belong unto God. But Tyrants cannot be such because they are the subverters of the earth 4. From the Comfort that attends them they are resembled to the morning light fruitful shours of rain 2 Sam. 23. 4. They waited for me as for the rain saith Iob. 29. 23. But Tyrants cannot be resembled to these but rather to darkness and to the blast of the terrible ones Isai. 25. 4. as a storm against the wall If darkness cannot be ouned to be light then cannot Tyrants be ouned to be Magistrats 5. From their Pastoral Care Conduct and duty they are feeders The Judges of Israel are commanded to feed the Lords people 1 Chron. 17. 6. David was brought to feed Jacob His people and Israel His Inheritance Psal. 78. 71. But Tyrants are wolves not Shepherds 6. By office they are physicians or healers Isai. 3. 7. That Tyrants cannot be such is proven above Secondly on the other hand the vileness villany violence of Tyrants Usurpers are held forth by fit resemblances being Compared to these unclean creatures 1. Tyrants are wicked Dogs as they who compass about Christ Psal. 22. 16 20. Saul is called Dog there and in that Golden Psalm Psal. 59. 4. Saul his Complices watching the house to kill David make a noyse like a dog go round about the City 2. They are pushing Bulls Psal. 22. 12. and crushing Kain of Bashan that oppress the poor Amos. 4. 1. they have need then to have their horns cut sâ—ort 3. They are roaring Lyons that are wicked Rulers over the poor People Prov. 28. 15. Zeph. 3. 3. So Paul calls Nero the Lyon out of whose mouth he was delivered 2 Tim. 4. 17. 4. They are ranging bears Prov. 28. 15. So the Persian Monarch is emblemized Dan. 7. 5 5. They are Leviathan the peercing
shall be found to conduce for so good ends Which are the Words of the National Covenant clearly condemning Oaths Bonds given to Malignants which are divisive of them that adhere to and Unitive with them that oppose the Covenant and impeditive of resolutions to prosecute the ends thereof So in the Solemn League Covenant Art. 4. We are obliged to oppose all such as make any faction or parties amongst the people contrary to this League Covenant but by these Oaths Bonds such factions are made c. And by Art. 6. we are obliged to assist defend all those that enter into this Covenant contradicted by all the later Oaths Bonds and not to suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination to be divided from this blessed union whether to make defection to the contrary part or to give our selves to a detestable indifferency c. Which we do when we divide our selves from these that refuse these Oaths and makes defection unto the party that impose them And in the Solemn Acknowledgment of sins Engagment to duties We are sworn § 6. to be so far from conniving at complying with or countenancing of Malignancy Injustice c. that we shall not only avoid discountenance these things c. but take an effectual course to punish suppress these evils All which we counteract contradict when we take any of these Oaths or Bonds In the Second place by a Particular induction of the several kinds of these Oaths Bonds the iniquity of each of them will appear and the Complex iniquity of the smoothest of them the Oath of Abjuration compared with every one of them will be manifest And consequently the honesty innocency of Sufferers for Refusing them will be discovered I. The first in order which was a Copy to all the rest was the Declaration ordained to be subscribed by all in publick Charge office or Trust within the Kingdom Wherein they do affirme declare they judge it unlawful to Subjects upon pretence of Reformation or any other pretence whatsoever to enter into Leagues Covenants or take up armes against the King and that all these Gatherings petitions protestations that were used for carrying on of the late troubles were unlawful seditious And particularly that these Oaths the National Covenant and the Salemn League Covenant were and are in themselves unlawful Oaths Here is a Confederacy required against the Lord at which the Heavens might stand astonished an unparalelled breach of the Third Command Which could no more be taken in Truth Righteousness than an Oath renouncing the Bible but it hath this advantage of the rest that it is some what plain And the iniquity legible on its front 1. That it is a renouncing of Solemn Sacred Covenants perpetually binding to Moral indispensable duties the wickedness whereof is evident from what is said above 2. It makes perjurie of the deepest dye the necessary sine qua non qualification of all in publick Office who cannot be presumed capable of administrating Justice when they have avowed themselves perjured perfidious and not to be admitted among heathens let be Christians nor trusted in a matter of ten shillings money according to the Laws of Scotland 3. It renounces the whole Work of Reformation and the way of Carrying it on as a Pretence and trouble unlawful seditious Which if it be a Trouble then the Peace they have taken in renouncing it must be such a Peace as is the plague of God upon the heart filling it with senslessness stupidity in His just Judgement because of the palpable breach of Covenant or such a Peace as is very consistent with the Curse vengeance of God pursuing the quarrel of a broken Covenant 4. It condemns the taking up armes against the King which shall be proven to be duty Head 5. Besides that hereby the most innocent means of seeking the redress of Grievances that Religion Risings Law practice of all Nations allowes is condemned Yet in effect for as monstrous as this Oath is the Complexe of its iniquity is couched in the Oath of Abjuration in which many of these Methods of Combinations Risings Declarations of war against the King and Protestations against his Tyranny which were used in the late Troubles for carrying on the Reformation are abjured in that a Declaration is renounced in so far as it Declares war against the King and asserts it Lawful to kill them that serve him Which yet in many cases in the Covenanted Reformation here renounced were acknowledged practised as Lawful besides that it hath many other breaches of Covenant in it as will be shewed II. The next Net they contrived to catch Consciences was the Oath of Allegiance Supremacy Wherein they that took it for testification of their faithful obedience to their most gracious redoubted Soveraign Charles King of Great Britain do affirme testifie Declare that they acknowledg their said Soveraign only supreme Governour of this Kingdom over all persons in all Causes And that no forreign Prince hath any jurisdiction power or superiority over the same and therefore do utterly renounce all forreign power and shall at their utmost power defend assist maintain his Majs jurisdiction foresaid and never decline his power The iniquity of this Oath is very vast and various 1. It is a Covenant of Allegiance with a King turned Tyrant and enemy to Religion Subverter of the Reformation and overturner of our Laws Liberties and therefore demonstrate to be sinful both from the first General Argument against Oaths and from Head. 2. 2. It cannot be taken in Truth Righteousness or Iudgement beause the words are general very comprehensive and ambiguous capable of diverse senses when he is affirmed to be supreme over all Persons and in all Causes and to be assistest maintained in that jurisdiction Who can be sure in swearing such an Oath but that he may thereby wrong others wrong Parliaments in their Priviledges wrong the Church in her Liberties and which is worse wrong the Lord Jesus Christ who is Supreme alone in some Causes Can an Oath be taken in Truth Righteousness to assist him in all encroachments upon Causes that are not subordinate to him and in invading all those Priviledges of Subjects which are Natural Civil Moral Religious for if he be supreme in all Causes then all these depend upon him be subordinate to him And can it be taken in Iudgement and with a clear mind when it may be debated doubted as it is by some whether the obligation of it is to be considered as circumstantiate specificate to the present Object of it supposing him a Tyrant or in a more abstract notion as it might be tendered in the sense of its first Authors as it was taken in King Iames the 6. his dayes And as they plead for taking the English Oath of Allegiance as it was accepted by the
half Civil half Ecclesiastick which have no Warrand in the Word 3 By this many palpable intollerable encroachments made upon the Liberties priviledges of the Church of Christ are yeelded unto as that there must be no Church Judicatories or Assemblies without the Magistrates consent but that the power of convocating indicting Assemblies do belong only to him and the power of delegating constituting the members thereof that he may dissolve them when he pleases that his presence or his Commissioners is necessary unto each Nationall Assembly that Ministers have no proper decisive suffrage in Synods but only of advice that the Church Judicatories be prelimited and nothing musâ— be treated there which may be interpreted grating upon the prerogative nor any thing whatsoever but what he shall allow approve without which it can have no force nor validity yea by this a door should be opened unto the utter destruction overthrow of all Church Judicatories seeing he is made the fountain of all Church power 4 By this the Magistrate is made a Church member as he is a Magistrate and so all Magistrats as such are Church members even heathens And yet 5 By this he is exempted from subjection to the Ministry because they are made accountable to him in their administrations and in the discharge of their function are under him as Supreme Yea 6 By this the Magistrate is made a Church Officer having the disposal of the Churches Government And not only so but 7 By this he is made a Church Officer of the highest degree being supreme in all Causes to whom Ministers in the discharge of their Ministrie are subordinate And so 8 By this the Church of the new Testament is made imperfect so long as she wanted a Christian Magistrate wanting hereby a Chief Officer yea and the Apostles did amiss in robbing the Magistrate of his power 9 By this the Magistrate might exerce all Acts of jurisdiction immediately by himself seeing he can do it as supreme by his Commissioners in Ecclesiastick affairs 10 Finally By this Oath the King is made the head of the Church being supreme over all persons in all Causes unto whom all Appeals references must ultimately be reduced even from Church Judicatories Those things are only here touched they are more apodeictically confirmed above and may be seen made out at large in Apol. Relat. Sect. 12. But I proceed 6. It is contrary unto the Solemn League Covenant into whose place after it was broken burnt buryed rescinded since they have remitted the subjects allegiance by annulling the Bond of it they substitute surrogate this in its place And therefore none can comply with the surrogation of the second except he consent to the abrogation of the first Oath All the Allegiance we can oune according to the Covenant stands perpetually expressly thus qualified viz. in defence of Religon Liberty according to our first second Covenants and in its oun nature must be indispensably thus restricted Therefore to renew the same or take an Oath of Allegiance simply purposely omitting the former restriction when the powers are in manifest Rebellion against the Lord is in effect a disouning of that limitation and of the Soveraign prerogative of the Great God which is thereby reserved and as much as to say whatever Authority command us to do we shall not only stupidly endure it but actively concur with assist in all this Tyranny See Naph Prior edit Pag. 177. 178. Vindicated at length by Ius Populi chap. 11. By all this the iniquity of the Scots Oath of Allegiance Supremacy may appear and also that of the English Oath of Allegiance even abstract from the Supremacy is in some measure discovered though it is not my purpose particularly to speak to that yet this I will say that they that plead for its precision from the Supremacy annexed seem not to consider the full import of its terms for under the dignities superiorities Authorities there engaged to be upheld the Ecclesiastical Supremacy must be included for that is declared to be one of the dignities of the Crown there as well as here and hither it was brought from thence And therefore those Scots men that took that Oath there and plead that though the Oath of Allegiance in Scotland be a sin yet it is duty to take the Oath in England seem to me to be in a great deceit for the object is the same the subject is the same the duty expected required engaged into is the same and every thing equal in both Yet all this iniquity here Couched is some way Comprehended in implyed by the Oath of Abjuration for the Civil part is imported in abjuring a Declaration for its declaring war against the King Where it is clear he is ouned as King and all part with them that declare war against him being renounced it is evident the Abjurers must take part with him in that war and so assist defend him for being subjects they must not be neutral therefore if they be not against him they must be for him and so under the bond of allegiance to him The Ecclesiastical Supremacy is inferred from that expression of it where some are said to serve him in Church as well as in State which implies an Ecclesiastical subordination to him as Supreme over the Church III. The Tenor of some other Bonds was more smooth subtil as that of the Bond of Peace several times renewed imposed and under several forms but alwayes after one strain engaging to Live Peaceably Whereby many were caught cheated with the seeming saiâ—ness of these general terms but others discerning their faâ—laciousness refused and suffered for it This in the General is capable of a good sense for no Christian will refuse â—o Live Peaceably but will endeavour if it be possible as much as lieth in them to Live Peaceably with all men Rom. 12. 18. that is so far to follow Peace with all men as may consist with the pursuit of holiness 〈◊〉 12. 14. But if we more narrowly consider such Bonds we shall find them Bonds of iniquity for 1. They are Covenants of Peace or Confederacies with Gods enemies whom we should count our enemies and hate them because they hate Him Psal. 139. 21. It is more suitable to answer as Iehu did to Ioram 2 King. 9. 22. What Peace so long as the whoredomes of thy Mother Iezebel and her witchcrafts are so many than to engage to be at Peace with those who are carrying on Babylons Interest the Mother of harlots witchcrafts 2. This cannot be taken in Truth Iudgement Righteousness because of the fallacy ambiguity of the terms for there are diverse sorts of Peace Peaceableness some kind is duty some never It must then be rightly qualified for we can profess pursue no Peace of Confederacy with the enemies of God not consistent with the fear of the Lord otherwise
shall possess And in the 16. Art. of the Kirk Christ is the only Head of the same Kirk And yet in the Test the King is affirmed to be the only supreme in all causes Ecclesiastical 2 In the 14. Art. among good works are reckoned these to obey Superior powers and their charges not repugning to the Commandment of God to save the lives of Innocents to repress Tyranny to defend the oppressed And among evil works these are qualified to resist any that God hath placed in Authority while they pass not over the bounds of their Office And Art. 24. it is confessed that such as resist the supreme power doing that which pertains to his charge do resist Gods Ordinance while the Princes Rulers vigilantly travel in the execution of their Office. And yet in the Test true Allegiance is engaged into without any such limitations And it is affirmed to be unlawful upon any pretence whatsoever to convocate c. or to take up Armes against the King. 3 In the 14. Art. Evil works are affirmed to be not only those that expressly are done against Gods Commandment but those also that in matters of Religion Worshipping of God have no other assurance but the invention opinion of men And Art. 18. among the Notes of the true Church Ecclesiastical Discipline uprightly ministred as Gods Word prescribes whereby vice is repressed and virtue nourished is one In Art. 20. the voice of God and constitution of men are opposed And yet in the Test they swear never to endeavour any change or alteration in the Government of the Church as it is now established whereof many things must be altered yea the whole forme frame of it if these propositions be true as they are 4 In the Test they swear never to consent to any change or alteration contrary to that confession and that all principles practices contrary thereto are Popish fanatical for so they divide them into one of these disjunctively then must all the following principles in their Test be renounced as such seeing they are contrary to that confession in some propositions or Articles And that the Government established by that confession was Presbyterian and this established by the Test is Episcopal 2. It comprehends all the former Oaths Bonds which are cleared above to be sinful Yet for as wicked as it is it must be some way homologated by the Oath of Abjuration excepting the contradiction that is in it Seeing all these oppositions against the King sworn aginst in the Test are abjured renounced in that Oath of Abjuration in renouncing all Declarations of war against the King for if any war can be undertaken against him all these Kinds of opposition must be allowed that are in the Test sworn against VIII In the last place I shall come to consider more particularly the Oath of Abjuration it self for refusing of which the sufferings were more severe being extended even to death or banishment though the words be more smooth than in any of the former which are these I do abjure renounce disoune a late pretended Declaration affixed on several Merâ—at Crosses c. in so far as it declares War against the King and assert it Lawful to kill any that serve his Maj. in Church State Army or Country That the taking of this Oath is a step of Complyance dishonourable to God derogatory to the dayes Testimony contradictory to the many reiterated Confessions of Christs Worthy though poor despised Witnesses sealed by their blood bonds banishments encouraging gratifying to the Enemies of God hardening to backsliding Brethren offensive to the Generation of the Righteous stumbling to all leaving a stain sting upon the Conscience of the Subscriber I shall endeavour to make out by these Considerations 1. Considering the party who imposed it it must be looked upon as a Confederacy with them being tendered upon all the Subjects as a Test of their incorporating themselves with and declaring themselves for their head and syding with them him in this their Contest Contention with a poor Remnant of the Lords people persecuted murdered by them for Truth Conscience sake who issued forth that Declaration against them here abjured Therefore let the party be considered imposing the Oath with such rigour and prosecuting the Refusers with ravenous rage murdering torturing all who did not comply with them declaring a Ware more formally explicitely against Christ as King and all that will dare to assert their Allegiance to Him under an open displayed banner of defyance of Him His than ever Mortals durst espouse avouch The head of that Treacherous Truculent faction both he who was first declared against in that Declaration and he who hath by bloody treacherous Usurpation succeeded to him being such a Monster for Murder Mischief Tyranny Oppression Perfidy that among all the Nimrods Nero's that past ages can recount we cannot find a paralel by all Law Divine humane incapable of Government or any Trust or so much as Protection or any Priviledge but to be pursued by all as a Common enemy to mankind And his Underlings Agents Complices devoted to his lust serving his wicked designs in their respective offices places of trust under him which by his nomination sole appointment they have been erected to established in with the stain indelible Character of perjurie the only qualification of their being capable of any advancement occupying by usurpation intrusion violence the publick places of judicatories and carrying all so insolently arbitrarly and with an effrontry of wickedness despight of all Reason Religion or Justice that they cannot but be looked upon as the most pestilent pestiferous Plague that ever pestered a People The taking then of this Oath by them projected as a Pest to infect Consciences with and pervert them to wicked Truth-deserting Law-perverting Loyaltie and imposed as a Test of Complyance with them and coming off from that litle flock whom they design to devour destinate to destruction must be in their oun esteem as well as of the Generation of the Righteous to their satisfaction and the others sorrow a real incorporating with them an ouning of their usurped power as Judges to administer Oaths giving them all obedience they required for the time to their Authority and all the security they demanded for the Subscribers Loyaltie an approving of all their Proceedings in that matter and transacting tampering bargaining with these Sons of Belial out of fear whereby a right is purchased to that common badge of their ouned professed friends who upon taking that Oath had from them a priviledge allowance to travel traffique where and how they will through the Country denyed to all other that wanted that Badge I mean the Pass or Testificate they got from them thereupon which was the Mark of that secular beast of Tyrannie no less pernicious to
the world than Poperie hath been to the Church and which was given to all the Takers of that Oath as a Mark of Tessera that they were no enemies to the Government as they call it O base and unworthy Liverie for the suffering Sons of Zion to put on the Signature of the Society of her devourers Hence if Covenants Confederacies declaring we are on their side cannot be made with the Enemies of Religion then this Oath could not be taken Lawfully But the former is proved above Ergo the latter followes This will yet more appear 2. If we consider the Party that set forth that Declaration whom the Proclamation against it represent so odiously invidiously whom the Oath imposed obliges us to condemn being so represented as if they were maintainers of Murdering Principles and perpetators of Assassinating villanies inconsistent with Peace or any good Government and therefore to be exterminated destroyed out of the Land whom therefore they prosecute persecute so cruelly to the effusion of their blood under colour of Law. 1. The takers of this Oath must have formally under their unhappy hand disouned renounced them and all part or interest in them or Society or Sympathie with them who yet are known to be the Suffering people of God more earnestly contending witnessing wrestling for the faith Word of Christs patience and have suffered more for their adherance to the Covenanted Reformation of the Church of Scotland and for their opposition to all its deformations defections than any Party within the Land yet them have they rejected as their Companions though with some of them sometimes they have had sweet Company Communion in the House of God by abjuring condemning their deed which duty necessity drave them to 2. Hereby they have presumptuously taken upon them to pass a Judgement upon the deed of their Brethren before their Murdering Enemies And that not a private discretive Judgement but a publick definitive sentence in their Capacity by the most solemn way of Declaring it that can be by Oath subscription under their hand whereby they have condemned all the Sufferings of their Brethren who sealed their Testimony in opposition to this Complyance with their blood and finished it with honour joy as foolish frivolous profusion of their oun blood Nay as just legally inflicted executed upon them as being Rebells of Murdering Principles practices For this cannot be vindicated from a more than indirect justifying of all the Murdering Severity executed upon them 3. And hereby they have unkindly and unchristianly listed themselves on the other side against them and taken part rather with their enemies than with them for thus they used to plead for t it when they pressed this Oath upon them that scrupled it When any War is declared against the King any of his Maj. Souldiers may question any man whom he is for and if he be not for the King he may act against him as an enemy and if they will not declare for the King and disoune the Rebells they are to be reputed by all as enemies Which whatever weakness be in the arguing plainly discovers that they take the abjuring of that Declaration in that juncture to be a mans Declaring of what side he is for and that he is not for the Emitters of that Declaration but for the King and his party which in the present state of affairs is a most dreadful ouning of Christs Enemy and disouning of His Friends Hence a disouning of the Lords persecuted people and condemning their practice and an ouning of their Persecuters and espousing their side of it is a sinful Confederacy But the taking of this Oath is such as is evident by what is said Ergo it is a sinful Confederacy 3. Considering the Nature Conditions Qualifications of so solemn serious a peice of Gods Worship and way of invocating His Holy Name as an Oath is It will appear that the taking of this imposed Oath of Abjuration was a dreadful heinous breach of the Third Command by taking His Name in vain in the worst sort and so cannot be holden guiltless I prove it thus An Oath which cannot be taken in Truth Judgement Righteousness is a breach of the Third Command But this is an Oath which cannot be taken in Truth Judgement Righteousness Which is evident for 1. It cannot be taken by any Consciencious man in Truth in sincerity of the heart simplicity 〈…〉 mind singleness honesty in the intention not puting any other sense than the imposer hath and which is the clear sense of it sine juramento and extra For if he take it according to their meaning then he should swear it unlawful ever to declare War against the King and consequently never to rise in Armes against him upon any pretence whatsoever for if we may rise in Armes for our oun defence we mak must declare a defensive War. And indeed in themselves as well as in their sense meaning who imposed them these two Oaths never to rise in Armes against the King and this of Abjuration are one and the same Then also should he swear it unlawful at any time upon any occasion or for any Cause to kill any such as serve the King in Church State Army or Country either in Peace or War for that is their thought and sensus vel juramenti ipsius vel extra juramentum And in part for their exemption immunity from all condign punishment this Oath was contrived But in fine how can this Oath be taken in Truth when it is not apparent either that the declaring of a War against the King or killing some for some causes which shall afterwards be made appear to be Lawful that serve him are to be abjured disouned or that the Declaration does assert any such thing And indeed it will be found to be a denying the Truth and a subscribing to a manifest falsehood invoking God to be Witness thereto 2. This Oath cannot be taken in Iudgement that is with knowledge deliberation c. All the terms of it have much obscure ambiguity Declaring a war and killing any who serve the King may be constructed in several senses good bad but here they are indefinitely expressed and universally condemned Particularly that in so far as hath several faces and can never be sworn in Judgement For if it denote a Causality and signify as much as quia or quatenus then all Declarations of war against any that have the name of King whatsoever upon whatsoever grounds and all killing of any serving him though in our oun defence must be universally condemned for a quatenus ad omne valet Consequentia If it import a restriction excluding other things in the Declaration but obliging to abjure only that then it implies also an affirmation that these two things are contained in it which will not appear to the Judgement of them that will seriously ponder
the Declaration it self If again it be a Supposition or Condition and to be interpreted for if so be then all that the Judgement can make of it is that it is uncertain and so the Conscience dare not invoke God as a Witness of that which is uncertain whether it be a Truth or a lie 3. This Oath could not be taken in Righteousness for the matter is not true certainly known Lawful possible weighty necessary useful worthy It is not true that the Declaration imports so far as as it is represented in the Oath of Abjuration Neither is it certainly known but by collating these two together the Contrary will appear Neither is it Lawful if it were true that such assertions were in it to abjure all Declarations of war against the King and to swear it unlawful ever to kill any if he be once in the Kings service in Church State Army or Country Nor is it possible to reduce this Assertory Oath into a promissory one Lawfully as most part of such Oaths may do necessarely imply for when I swear such a thing unlawful it implies my promise by virtue of the same Oath never to practise it But it is not possible as the case stands for a man to bind up himself in every case from all declared war against the King or from killing some imployed in his service what if there be a necessary call to joine in armes with the Lords people for the defence of their Religion lives Liberties against him what if he command a Massacre shall not a man defend himself Nor endeavour to kill none of that murdering Crew because they are in his service Was ever a fool so fettered Nor is it of such weight as to be the occasion of involving the whole Country in perjury or persecution as by that Oath was done Nor was it necessary in this mans time to make all abjure a Declaration out of date when the object of it Charles the Second was dead and no visible party actually in armes to prosecute it Nor was it ever of any use or worth except it were implicitely to gratify their greedy lusting after the blood of Innocents or the blood of silly Souls cheated by their snares by involving them in the same sin of perjury Conscience-debauching false-swearing whereof they themselves are so heinously guilty But let them and such as have taken that Oath and not fled to Christ for a Sanctuary lay to heart the doom of false swearrers the flying roll of the Curse of God shall enter into their house Zech. 5. 4. Love no false Oath for all these are things that I hate saith the Lord Zech. 8. 17. The Lord will be a swift Witness against false swearers Mal. 3. 5. And let them sist their Conscience before the Word and set the Word to the Conscience and these Considerations will have some weight 4. If we consider this Particular Oath it self aud the words of it more narrowlie we shall find a Complication of iniquities in it by examining the sense of them as the Imposers expound them 1. Not only that Declaration but all such in so far as they declare assert such things are here renounced and hereby many honest faithful Declarations are disouned that declare the same things It is indeed pleaded by some that profess to be presbyterians as it was also pretended by some of the pressers of the Oath themselves but in order to pervert cheat the Conscience that here is not required a disouning of the Apologetical Declaration simpliciter but only secundum quid or rather of a pretended one of their supposing in so far as it imports such things But this is frivolous for that pretended one is intended by the Imposers to be the Real Apologetical Declaration which they will have to be disouned and cannot be distinguished from it And though all these Assertions cannot be fastened upon that Apologetical Declaration but it is evident that it is invidiously misrâ—presented yet that same is the pretended one which they require to be abjured in so far as it asserts such things which it does not And if it be secundum quid to be disouned then that must either be secundum that Assertion of killing any c. Which is not to be found in it and so it is not to be disouned at all or it must be secundum the Declaration of war against the King And so that quid or formal reason of disouning it will oblige to disoune all Declarations of war against the King which cannot be disouned Others again Object that it is not required to be disouned formally but only conditionally taking confounding in so far for if so be But to any thinking man it is plain this cannot be a supposition nor yet a simple restriction as they would give it out but an assertion that such things are indeed imported in it for so the Imposers think say And if it might pass current under that notion as a supposition being equivalent to if so be then under that sophistical pretext I might renounce the Covenant or the most indisputed Confession or Declaration that ever was in so far as it contained such things And so this equivocation might elude all Testimonies whatsoever and justify all prevarications 2. This must condemn all defensive wai of subjects against their oppressing Rulers in that a Declaration is abjured in so far as it declares war against the King to press perswade people to which it was usually urged by the Imposers that when a war is declared by Rebells against the King then all the subjects are obliged to disoune the Rebells or else be repute for such themselves And when it was alledged the war was ceased because the Object declared against was ceased Charles the Second being dead otherwise if a man be obliged to give his opinion about a war declared against a King deceased gone then by the same parity of reason he must be obliged to give his opinion of that war of the Lords of the Congregation as they were called against Queen Mary in the begining of the Reformation It was still replyed by them that the Rebellion continued and all were guilty of it that did not abjure that Declaration Whence it is evident they mean that every thing which they call Rebellion must be disouned and consequently all Resistence of Superiors upon any pretence whatsoever as many of their Acts explain it yea and it was plainly told by some of them to some that scrupled to rake the Oath because they said they did not understand it that the meaning was to swear never to rise in armes against the King. Against this it hath been objected by several that this was alwayes denied by Presbyterians that ever they declared war against the King but only for defence of their lives Liberties never agaiâ—st the King expressy purposedly designedly but only against him per accidens when he happened to be the
not Gods Ordinance and there is no hazard of damnation for refusing to obey their unjust commands but rather the hazard of that is in walking willingly after the Commandment when the Statutes of Omri are kept So that what is objected from Eccles. 8. 2-4 I counsell thee to keep the Kings Commandment c. is answered on Head. 2. And is to be unsterstood only of the Lawful commands of Lawful Kings 2. Rebellion is a damnable sin except where the word is taken in a laxe sense as Israel is said to have Rebelled against Rehoboam and Hezekias against Sennacherib which was a good Rebellion and clear duty being taken there for Resistence Revolt In that sense indeed some of our Risings in Armes might be called Rebellions for it is Lawful to Rebel against Tyrants But because the word is usually taken in an evil sense therefore would have been offensive to acknowledge that before the Inquisitors except it had been explained But Rebellion against Lawful Magistrats is a damnable sin exemplarly punished in Korah and his Companâ— who rebelled against Moses and in Shebah and Absalom who rebelled against David for to punish the Just is not good nor to strike Princes for equity Prov. 17. 26. And they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Rom. 13. 2. So that this Objection brought from this place as if the Apostle were commanding there subjection without Resistence to Nero and such Tyrants as it is very impertinent It is fully answered above Head. 2. Here it will be sufficient to reply 1. He is hereby vindicating Christianity from that reproach of casting off or refusing subjection to all Magistrats as if Christian Liberty had destroyed that Relation or that they were not to be subject to Heathen Magistrats Whereupon he binds this duty of subjection to Magistrats for conscience sake in general And it is very considerable what Buchanan sayes in his book de jure regni that Paul did not write to the Kings themselves because they were not Christians and therefore the more might be born with from them tho they should not understand the duty of Magistrats But imagine that there had been some Christian King who had turned Tyrant and Apostate to the Scandal of Religion what would he have written then Sure if he had been like himself he would have denyed that he should be ouned for a King and would have interdicted all Christians Communion with him and that they should account him no King but such as they were to have no fellowship with according to the Law of the Gospel 2. He speaks of Lawful Rulers here not Tyrants but of all such as are defined qualified here being powers ordained of God terrours to evil works Ministers of God for good Yea but says Prelats and their Malignant Adherents these are only Motives of subjection to all powers not qualifications of the powers I answer they are indeed Motives but such as can be extended to none but to these powers that are so qualified 3. He speaks of Lawful powers indefinitely in the plural number not specifying any Kind or degree of them as if only Kings Emperours were here meant It cannot be proven that the power of the sword is only in them Neither was there a plurality of Kings or Emperours at Rome to be subject to if he meant the Roman Emperour he would have designed him in the singular number All the reasons of the Text aggree to inferiour Judges also for they are Ordained of God they are called Rulers in Scripture and Gods Ministers revengers by Office who judge not for man but for the Lord And inferiour Magistrats also are not to be resisted when doing their duty 1 Pet. 2. 13. yet all will grant when they go beyond their bounds and turns litle Tyrants they may be with-stood 4. He does not speak of Nero concerning whom it cannot be proven that at this time he had the Soveraign power as the learned Mr Prin shewes Or if he had that he was a Tyrant at this time and if he meant him at all it was only as he was obliged to be de jure not as he was de facto All men know and none condemns the fact of the Senate that resisted Nero at length without transgressing this precept Yea I should rather think the Senate is the power that the Apostle applies this Text to if he applied it to any in particular 5. The subjection here required is the same with the honour in the fifth Command whereof this is an exposition and is opposite to the Contraordinatness here condemned Now subjection takes in all the duties we owe to Magistrates and Resistence all the contraries forbidden but unlimited obedience is not here required so neither unlimited subjection 3. We may allow Passive subjection in some cases even to Tyrants when the Lord layes on that yoke and in effect sayes He will have us to lie under it a while as He Commanded the Jewes to be subject to Nebuchadnezzar of which passage adduced to prove subjection to Tyrants Universally Buchanan ubi supra infers that if all Tyrants be to be subjected to because God by His Prephet Commanded His people to be subject to one Tyrant Then it must be likewise concluded that all Tyrants ought to be killed because Ahabs house was Commanded to be destroyed by Iehu But passive subjection when people are not in capacity to resist is necessary I do not say Passive obedience which is a meer Chimaera invented in the brains of such Sycophants as would make the world slaves to Tyrants Whosoever suffereth if he can shun it is an enemy to his oun being for every natural thing must strive to preserve it self against what annoyeth it and also he sins against the order of God Who in vain hath ordained so many Lawful means for preservation of our being if we must suffer it to be destroyed having power to help it 4. We abhor all war of subjects professedly declared against a Lawful King as such all war against Lawful Authority founded upon or designed for maintaining Principles inconsistent with Government or against Policy Piety Yea all war without Authority Yes when all Authority of Magistrates supreme subordinate is perverted and abused contrary to the ends thereof to the oppressing of the people and overturning of their Laws Liberties people must not suspend their Resistence upon the Concurrence of men of Authority and forbear the Duty in case of necessity because they have noâ— the peers or Primores to lead them for if the ground be Lawful the call clear the necessity cogent the capacity probable they that have the Law of Nature the Law of God and the fundamental Laws of the Land on their side cannot want Authority though they may want Parâ—iaments to espouse their quarrel This is cleared above Head. 2. Yet here I shall adde 1. The people have this priviledge of nature to defend themselves and their Rights Liberties as well as
Peers and had it before they erected and constituted Peers or Primores There is no distinction of quality in interests of Nature though ther be in Civil order but self defence is not an act of Civil order In such Interests people must not depend upon the priority of their superiours nor suspend the duties they owe to themselves and their neighbours upon the manuduction of other mens greatness The Law of Nature allowing self defence or the defence of our Brethren against unjust violence addeth no such restriction that it must only be done by the conduct or concurrence of the Primores or Parliaments 2. The people have as great Interest to defend their Religion as the Peers and more because they have more souls to care for than they who are far fewer And to be violented in their Consciences which are as free to them as to the Peers is as unsupportable to them yea both are equally concerned to maintain Truth and rescue their Brethren suffering for it which are the chief grounds of war and if the ground of the defensive war be the same with them and without them what reason can be given making their Resistence in the one case Lawful and not in the other Both are alike obliged to concur and both are equally obnoxious to Gods threatened Judgments for suffering Religion to be ruined and not relieving rescuing Innocents It will be but a poor excuse for people to plead they had no Peers to head them What if both King Nobles turn enemies to Religion as they are at this day shall people do nothing for the defence of it then Many times the Lord hath begun a Work of Reformation by foolish things and hath made the least of the flock to draw them out Ier. 49. 2. and 50. 45. and did not think fit to begin with Nobles but began it when powers Peers were in opposition to it and when He blessed it so at length as to engage the publick Representatives to oune it what was done by private persons before they never condenmed 3. The people are injured without the Nobles therefore they may resist without them if they be able for there can be no Argument adduced to make it unlawful to resist without them which will not equally make it unlawful to do it with them 4. It s true the Primores are obliged beyond others and have Authority more than others to concur but Separately they cannot act as Representatives judicially They have a Magistratical power but limited to their particular Precincts where they have Interest and cannot extend it beyond these bounds And so if they should concur they are still in the capacity of subjects for out of a Parliamentary Capacity they are not Representatives 5. All the power they can have is Cumulative not Privative for deterior conditio Domini per Procurationem fieri non debet Why then shall the Representatives betraying their Trust wrong the Cause of the people whose Trustees they are Nay if it were not Lawful for people to defend their Religion Lives Liberties without the concurrence of Parliaments then their case should be worse with them than without them for they have done it before they had them and so they had better be without them still 6. People may defend themselves against the Tyranny of a Parliament or Primores or Nobles Ergo they may do it without them for if it be Lawful to resist them its Lawful to wave them when they are in a Conspiracy with the King against them 5. We disallow all war without real indeclinable Necessity and great grievous wrongs sustained and do not maintain it is to be declared or undertaken upon supposed Grounds or pretended Causes And so the Question is impertinently stated by our Adversaries Whether or not it be Lawful for Subjects or a party of them when they think themselves injured or to be in a capacity to Resist or Oppose the Supreme power of a Nation For the Question is not if when they think themselves injured they may Resist but when the injuries are real Neither is it every realitie of injuries will justify their Resistence but when their dearest nearest Liberties are invaded especially when such an invasion is made as threatens inâ—luctable subversion of them Next we do not say that a parties esteeming themselves in a Capacity or their being really in a Capacity doth make Resistence a duty except caeteris Paribus they have a Call as well as a Capacity which requires real Necessity and a right to the action and the things contended for to be real legal Rights really illegally encroached upon their Capacity gives them only a Conveniency to go about the duty that is previously Lawful upon a Moral ground No man needs to say who shall be Judge the Magistrate or people For. 1. All who have eyes in their head may judge whether the sun shine or not and all who have common sense may judge in this case For when it comes to a Necessity of Resistence it is to be supposed that the Grievances complained of and sought to be redressed by armes are not hid but manifest it cannot be so with any party only pretending their suffering wrong 2. There is no need of the formality of a Judge in things evident to Natures eye as Grassant Tyranny undermining overturning Religion Liberty must be Nature in the acts of necessitated Resistence in such a case is Judge party Accuser Witness all Neither is it an act of Judgement for people to defend their oun Defence is no act of jurisdiction but a priviledge of Nature Hence these common sayings vim vi repellere omnia jura permittunt And defendere se est juris Naturae Defensio vitae necessaria est a jure Naturali profluit 3. Be Judge who will the Tyrant cannot be Judge in the case for in these Tyrannical Acts that force the people to that Resistence he cannot be acknowledged as King and therefore no Judge for it s supposed the Judge is absent when he is the party that does the wrong And he that does the wrong as such is inferior to the innocent 4. Let God be Judge and all the World taking cognizance of the evidence of their respective Manifesto's of the State of their Cause 6. We condemn Resing to revenge private injuries whereby the Land may be involved in blood for some petty wrongs done to some persons great or small And abhor revengful Usurping of the Magistrats sword to avenge our selves for personal injuries As Davids killing of Saul would have been 1 Sam. 24. 10 12 13. 1 Sam. 26. 9 10. To Object which in this case were very impertinent for it would have been an act of offence in a remote defence if Saul had been immediatly asaulting him it could not be denied to be Lawful and it would have been an act of private revenge for a personal injurie and a sinful preventing of Gods promise of Davids
Maximus who was come against them with an Army because of their Religion 3. How about the year 342. the Citizens of Alexandria defended Athanasius their Minister against Gregorius the intruded Curate and Syrianus the Emperours Captain who came with great force to put him in 4. How about the year 356. the people of Constantinople did in like manner stand to the defence of Paulus against Constantius the Emperour and killed his Captain Hermogenes And afterwards in great Multitudes they opposed the intrusion of the Heretick Macedonius 5. How when a wicked Edict was sent forth to pull doun the Churches of such as were for the Clause of one Substance the Christians that maintained that Testimony resisted the bands of Souldiers that were procured at the Emperours Command by Macedonius to force the Mantinians to embrace the Arrian Heresie But the Christians at Mantinium kindled with an earnest zeal towards Christian Religion went against the Souldiers with Cheerful minds valiant Courage and made a great slaughter of them 6. How about the year 387. the people of Cesarea did defend Basil their Minister 7. How for fear of the people the Lievtenant of the Emperour Valens durst not execute those 80 Priests who had came to supplicate the Emperour and were commanded to be killed by him 8. How the Inhabitants of Mount Nitria espoused Cyrilâ—s quarrel and assaulted the Lievtenant and forced his Guards to flee 9. How about the year 404. when the Emperour had banished Chrysostome the people flocked together so that the Emperour was necessitated to call him back again from his Exile 10. How the people resisted also the transportation of Ambrose by the command of Valentinian the Emperour And chused rather to lose their lives than to suffer their pastor to be taken away by the Souldiers 11. How the Christians oppressed by Baratanes King of Persia did flee to the Romans to seek their help And Theodosius the Emperour is much praised for the war which he commenced against Chosroes King of Persia upon this inducement that that King sought to ruine exstirpate those Christians in his Dominions that would not renounce the Gospel 3. But when Religion was once imbraced in imbodyed Corporations and established by Law and became a peoples common Interest Liberty in a Capacity to defend it with their lives other Liberties and when it was propagated through the Nations Then the Lord did call for other more Active Testimonies in the preservation defence of it Of which we have many Instances in Histories About the year 894. The Bohemian Christians Resisted Drahomica their Queen who thought to have destroyed them reintroduced Paganisme About the year 1420. they maintained a long defensive war against the Government and the Popes Legats under the managment of their brave Captain Zizca which was further prosecuted after him by the remaining Thaborites And again in this Century anno 1618. They maintained a Defensive war against the Emperour Ferdinand the Second electing and erecting a new King in opposition to him Frederick Palatine of the Rhine in which Cause many received the Crown of Martyrdom and this was also espoused by King Iames the 6. who sent to aid his Son in Law against the Emperour 4. If we look to the Histories of the Waldenses these constant Opposers of Antichrist we will find many Instances of their Resistence About the year 1194. very early while Waldo from whom they had their name was alive they began to defend themselves by Armes after the bloody Edict of Aldephonsus King of Arragon an Edict so like to many of ours emitted this day that as it would seem our Enemies have taken the Copy of it so it were very seemly for the people grieved with such Edicts to imitate the Copy of the Waldenses their practice in opposition to them Anno 1488. they resist by Armes Albert de Capitaneis sent by Pope Innocent the 8. in Pragola Frassaniere and through out Piedmont where for the most part the off-spring of the old Waldenses had their residence where very evidently through many successions of ages they shewed themselves to be the true Successors of their Worthy Progenitors valiant for the Truth That 's a famous Instance of their Resistence in opposing vigorously the Lord of Trinity in that same Piedmont at which time they so solemnly asked their Ministers Whether it were not Lawful to defend themselves against his violence Who answered affirmatively And accordingly they did it with wonderful success at that time and many times thereafter Especially it is notour in the memory of this present age how anno 1655. a vigorous defensive war was prosecuted against the D. Savoy by their Captains Gianavel Iahier c. which was espoused by many Protestant Princes And no further gone than the very last year it is known how they resisted the Armes of the Tyger and the French that helped him and that their Simplicity in trusting Popish promises was their ruine 5. If we look over the Histories of the Albigenses we find many Instances of their Defensive Resisting their Oppressing Superiours About anno 1200. They defended themselves at Beziers and Carcasson against the Popes Legat and his Crossed Souldiers under the Conduct first of the Earle of Beziers and then of the Earle of Foix and Earle Remand of Thoulouse and were helped by the English who then possessed Guienne bordering upon Thoulouse which resistence continued several years Afterwards anno 1226. they maintained a Resistence against the King of France 6. In Spain we find the people of Arragon contesting with Alphonso 3 d. and associating themselves together against him And they tell Pedro 3 d. their King that if he would not contain himself within the limits of the Laws they would pursue him by Armes about anno 1283. As also other Spaniards who rose in Armes several times against Pedro the 1 King of Castile 7. It was this which brought the Cantons of Helvetia into this State of freedom wherein they have continued many years For about the year 1260. they levied war against their oppressing nobles And anno 1308. they joined in Covenant to defend themselves against the house of Austria and anno 1315. they renewed it at Brunna in which at length the rest of the Cantons joined and formed themselves into a Common-wealth 8. If we take a glance of the Germans we will find at the very Commencement of the Reformation as soon as they got the name of Protestants they Resisted the Emperour Charles the fifth The Duke of Saxon the Land Grave of Hesse and the City of Magdâ—burgh with Advice of Lawyers concluded That the Laws of the Empire permitted Resistence of the Emperour in some cases that the times were then so dangerous that the very force of Conscience did lead them to Armes and to make a League to defend themselves though Caesar or any in his name should make war against them for since he attempteth to root out Religion and subvert our