Patriarchs the other Providential acquired by the Disposal of the Divine Providence Upon the Patriarchal they build a Jus Divinum for an Absolute Irresistible Monarchy making and calling all other Forms of Government Degenerate Forms But for a Foundation for this having no Evidence of any Positive Law of God they are forced to have recourse to the Law of Nature and because from thence they could only prove a Potestas Patria they would confound that and Potestas Regia and that Potestas Patria is in a sort potestas Regia we must believe upon their Authority Which is right like deceitfull Builders to build upon a false or uncertain Foundation But had it bin in truth as they would have us believe that Potestas Patria was after a sort Regia and so the Patriarchs were indeed Monarchs which they were not though they were indeed more viz. Lords and Proprietors yet because the Brother hath not by any Law of Nature any such Power or Authority over his Brethren as the Father hath over his Children the Monarchy after the death of the Patriarch if he hath divers Children doth necessarily by the Law of Nature resolve it self into an Aristocracy and that again after a Generation or two into a Democracy as the ultimate result of Nature where it resteth as having attained its greatest Perfection under the Theocracy of the supreme Monarch of the World and from whence no Monarchy can ever proceed but either by the express Appointment of God or by Agreement Consent or Act of the People or by Violence which may acquire a Possession indeed but never any Right jure naturali And a meer Violence without Right may by the Law of Nature be removed by Force whenever sufficient can be raised to do it So that for any King to disown any Title by Consent of the People unless he claim by express Appointment of Almighty God is a Disclaimer of the best Title he hath and a kind or degree of Abdication And consequently all who do so are Usurpers and Tyrants and may justly be deposed whenever the People pleases and can do it Besides since there is no Prince in the World who can claim by this Patriarchal Right or is possessed of any such Government what is to call all other forms degenerate Forms but to affront all the Governments now in the World The other Pillar or Principle of Providential Right which is settled Ch. 28. and the Canon following is this That when Subjects shake off their Obedience to their Soveraigns and set up a Form of Government after their own Humours or Kings through Ambition and Malice invade their Neighbours they do wickedly And that the Offences of such Rebels or Oppressing Kings are not mitigated by the Providence of God in using them But when any such New Forms of Government begun by Rebellion are after throughly settled the Authority in them is of God and all who live within the Territories of such New Governments are bound to be subject to Gods Authority which is there executed and may not rebell against the same They are their own words as the Book is printed But here it was they were at a stand at this Ch. and Canon The King in his Letter before mentioned calls it a Thorny Business It seems he had led if not drove them into a Labyrinth out of which neither he nor they knew how to extricate themselves So hard it is when Men leave honest plain and simple Truth to fix upon Pinciples for a chosen Conclusion and to form any Pillars which can support a false and deceitful Building The King had done beforore what he could in his slye way quasi aliud agens He had often told his Mind concerning Jus Regium in subditos as in May last they are his Words in the Letter in the Star-Chamber upon the Occasion of Hales's Pamphlet And Mr. Solicitor saith he hath sufficiently express'd my own thoughts concerning the Nature of Kingship in general and concerning the Nature of it ut in mea persona And yet after all it seems he was at a loss about it and therefore saith They are Edg'd tools or rather like that Weapon that 's said to cut with one Edge and cure with the other and hids them meddle no more in it till He gives them His Orders by Mr. Solicitor What His Orders were we know not yet but whatever they were we may perceive them all here plainly intangled confounded and inconsistent with themselves and their Principal Design and so as to establish and confirm what they designed to subvert and abolish that is The Peoples Rights and Interest in Government and that Jure Divino as plainly as any Right of Monarchs and to subvert what they designed to build or fortifie viz. an essential Absoluteness and Irresistibility of Monarchy Jure Divino For 1. They had been imposing upon the S. Scriptures and straining it in the 27. Chapters and as many Canons preceding to extort from it some appearance of a Divine Prescript or Appointment of such an Absolute Irresistible Patriarchal Monarchy as the only approved Form of Goverment and for their own Hierarchy subject to it and this under pretence of setting out the Deity Dignity Almighty Power and Universal Government of our Saviour Christ Which how near of kin it is to the Romish Antichristian Imposture and how gross an Act of Spiritual Fornication between them and what an illegitimate and spurions brood was like to be generated by it I leave to such Readers as have their Senses exercised to judge 2. But how to derive this Patriarchal Right to all Sovereign Princes now was such a Difficulty as put them to a loss By Hereditary Succession they could not for none can now prove himself Heir by Descent to any of the Patriarchs nor can any now prove a Divine Nomination or Appointment of himself or any Ancestor to whom he can prove himself Heir by Descent or any Grant from any such Patriarch or Prince And to derive any Right from a deliberate and well considered Agreement of a Free People was contrary to the Design and they had already resolved and decreed Can. 2. with no little Sophistry That if any man affirm any such thing of a Civil Power and Authority in or derived from the People whom they please not to name without some additional Title of Disorderly Multitude or Factious Popularity he doth greatly erre 3. And therefore having taken all that pains to lead People into a perswasion that such an Absolute Irresistible Monarchy is Jure Divino for an Expedient to supply that Defect and derive this to all Sovereign Princes now Jure Divino only without admitting any Right derived from the People they contrive this Artifice to frame this other Pillar only of the wicked Acts of Usurpers and Rebels as if no others but such were the Authors and Founders of All Governments now in being and the Providence of God interposing and overruling these wicked Acts to
decree that the Order of Kings is of Divine Right the Ordinance of God founded in the prime Laws of Nature and clearly established by express Texts of Scripture That a Supream Power is given to this Order by God himself to command all and punish with the Temporal Sword all stubborn and wicked doers That the care of God's Church is committed to Kings in Scripture and her Government belongs in chief to Kings That the Power to call and dissolve Councils is the true Right of all Christian Kings That to avow in any of their Realms any Independant Coactive Power either Papal or Popular is to undermine their Regal Office That for Subjects to bear Arms against their King upon any pretence whatsoever is at least to resist the Powers which are ordained of God That Tribute Custom c. and all manner of support and supply is due to Kings from their Subjects by the Law of God Nature and Nations c. And they ordain this to be read by every Parson c. every quarter of the Year under pain of suspension and that no Ecclesiastical or Academical Person shall maintain or abett any Position in opposition or Impeachment of any part thereof under pain of Excommunication Now if this be true which they have decreed then have all Kings the same Power jure divino which cannot be restrain'd by any humane Constitution then are all those Constitutions of Government whereby a limited Power only is given to the King though settled by solemn Agreement and mutual Oaths for Observation and Performance thereof all void as to any Limitations as derogatory to the Law of God and the King may and must use his Power which he hath jure divino and then are all those who insist upon any Right by any such Laws which is inconsistent with that Plenitude of Royal Power jure divino factious and seditious and to be punished with the Temporal Sword as stubborn and wicked doers But if all Forms of Government when throughly settled have Gods Authority and the Powers that be in each be ordained of God if Publick Pacts and Agreements by which Governments are usually constituted and ratified are to be observed inviolably jure naturali and if Solemn Oaths by which Pacts and Agreements are usually confirmed and made as Sacred and Inviolable as may be are to be observed most religiously and jure divino then is their Doctrine false factious and seditious and tending to the Subversion or Disturbance of most Kingdoms in this Part of the World and of our own in particular and was therefore justly condemned by the next Parliament then is the Church of England in Convocation and her Doctrine no less fallible than the Church of Rome and then was that Faction the great Occasion of our late Civil Wars by misleading the Consciences of the King and of a great part of the People of great Abuses by Declarations and Clauses inconsistent with the Constitution of our Government obtruded into divers Acts of Parliament and of many illegal Arbitrary Acts in the Reigns since is still the occasion of our Civil Dissentions and Unsettlement and of much of our Disappointments under the present Government at this day and will continue so to be till either some good Counsel and Resolution put an end to it or it produce another Civil War For while Princes and some part of the People shall be perswaded upon pretended Principles of Religion that the Regal Power is Jure Divino above all Humane Laws and the rest know that it anciently hath been and to this day is very different all over the World in all Kingdoms according to their several Constitutions in some more absolute as the Eastern and the Roman Emperors in others very little as divers of the Northern and particularly the German from whom the English descended who acted in Council Authoritate suadendi magis quam Jubendi Potestate and that by the English Constitution it is limited and confined to the observance of Law in all parts of it this must be a perpetual Cause or Occasion of Dissensions which are apt to break out at last into Wars But if the Occasions of that Error being observed it be well considered that the Power of the Jewish Kings the Roman Emperors or any other is no Rule for the measure of our Government where the greatest Power of all is manifestly not in the King but remaining in the whole Body of King Lords and Commons That Expressions in some Acts of Parliament Articles of Religion or Canons used and intended meerly in Opposition to Papal Pretences ought not captiously to be extended to what was not intended or in question contrary to manifest Truth That Expressions in the Homilies out of Zeal against Conspiracies and Rebellions of Papists are of no Authority in Questions or Controversies of State nor Deerees of Universities when to serve a Faction or please those from whom they expect Preferment and That Ambition Self-interest and Flattery the usual Attendants of Princes Courts are always the promoters of such Pretences the Faction will soon be deserted by all honest men and then may we hope for a Happy Settlement which is the Design of this Paper and the sincere Desire of it's Author FINIS
his so easie access to the Crown of England And it no less filled the Hearts of others with Hopes and Expectations some of Honours some of Places and Estates and some of both which his Prodigality of both yet more inlarged and Emulation raised to the highest degree These Emulations were partly National between the Scotch and English and partly among the English themselves and those of two sorts such as at the Court sought Preferment in the State and such as sought either Preferment in the Church or Favour in Church matters So that he was addressed to and courted by all Parties for his Favour in an extraordinary manner and by most in the usual methods of Courtship viz. Magnifying his Wisdom and his State and Power beyond Truth and Modesty insinuating into him all the Prejudice that might be against those who were looked upon as Rivals and recommending their own specious Services by misrepresenting the Modesty of others for want of affection And so gross notorious and impudent were the Acts of this Courtship as provoked the House of Commons in the very first Parliament to make a Declaration of their Grief to find his Majesty to the extream prejudice of his Subjects of England so greatly wronged by Misinformation and among other things concerning the Rights and Liberties of his Subjects of England and the Priviledges of Parliament which they there assert but belong not to this place to be here recited Among the Competitors for his Favour were many serious religious people who sought his Favour only for the Reformation of some things in the Church which were thought not so throughly reformed as was to be wished And for that purpose prepared a Petition which was subscribed by many hundred hands They had encouraged themselves upon the Favour the King had formerly shewed them in writing to the Queen on their behalf and they had had an Agent with him immediately upon the Queens death to whom without doubt he gave a fair and smooth Answer But some of the Bishops were not behind hand with them in Scotland and soon outwent them in the Success of their Courtship and his Favour after he came into England He had conceived a Prejudice against a Scotch Presbytery before This Bancroft and some other hot men took advantage of both to heighten the prejudice against all who desired any thing of a Reformation here and to insinuate themselves into his Favour And when he found himself received and securely settled in the Throne beyond his Expectation he soon discover'd his Inclinations and more particularly in his Proclamation 24 Oct. 1603. Concerning such as seek Reformation in Church matters Which stopp'd the Petition for some time and in the Conference at Hampton-Court 14 Jan. which whether appointed at the instance of any others or at the Kings own pleasure is uncertain but served as appears by the Relation principally for the King to express his Favour to the Bishops and Conforming party and his Prejudice against the rest and for them to express their Respects to him as some of them did by speaking to him upon the knee viz. Whitgift and Bancroft and applauding what he said as undoubtedly spoken by the special assistance of Gods Spirit and for mutual Courtship and Indearments between them But though they were never so well assured of the Kings Favour yet were they fearful of the Parliament which had often in the Queens Time been upon Bills against Pluralities and for Reformation of other matters which though the Archbishop by the Queens means had prevailed to have stopped yet was he so concerned that he wished he might not live to see another Parliament And this disposed Them not only by way of Complement as a means to recommend themselves to the King but in good earnest for their own Interest being well assured of his Favour to magnifie the Kings Authority and set it as high as might be even without the concurrence of the Parliament and to derogate as much as they durst from their Authority And this again so much the more disposed the King to favour Them not politickly in apperance only but in good earnest as the most apt Instruments he could have for his Designs which appear by many plain instances to have been from his first coming in to set up himself by his Arts and Kingcraft above all Law and for that end to confirm and enlarge the Authority of the Bishops and Clergy which depended upon him for their Preferment as much as might be to make them the more capable to serve his turn And these are the true Principles which have produced and raised this Faction to what it is For upon these Principles were things managed by a secret Correspondence between him and some leading men of the Clergy Accordingly in the next Convocation after they had provided in the first Cannon for asserting his Supremacy according to the Law of the Land against all forreign Jurisdiction in the next Canon they set it up paramount the Law and without the Parliament to be the same Authority in Causes Ecclesiastical that the godly Kings had among the Jews and Christian Emperours in the Primitive Church and might with as much reason have asserted as much concerning his Authority in Civil matters if they durst for both depend upon the same Principles but that both he and they knew very well would never have passed without being taken notice of and question'd in Parliament And therefore there was another Project to help that out carried on with great Artifice and Secrecy in the same Convocation which at last hath appeared in print published by the late Archbishop under the Title of Bishop Overals Convocation Book though he was no Bishop in seven years after it pass'd the Convocation The chief purpose of which is pretended to be to imitate the Scriptures in setting out and describing the Dignity of our Saviour Christ by his Almighty Power and Vniversal Government of all the World as they say in the beginning But they tell us not what Occasion they had to do this in so solemn a manner The King in his Letter lately published to good Dr. Abbot who probably was not acquainted with the Intreigue tells them You know all of you as I think that my Reason of calling you together was to give your Judgments How far a Christian and a Protestant King may concur to assist his Neighbours to shake off their Obedience to their own Soveraign upon the account of Oppression Tyranny or what else you like to name it Nor does there appear any just Occasion for this For if it be well considered it was not War but a Treaty of Peace between the Hollanders and Spain which was then under consideration Nor does the Form of the Book suit with a meer Resolution of such a Doubt For it is one thing to give a Judgment or Opinion of a Case of Conscience and another to make Canons and Decrees Nor lastly is the matter of it proportionable only
to such an Occasion And therefore if the Matter and Form of the Book be well considered there will appear great reason to believe that these were meer Pretences to cover some other Design and that the true Design of the Book was only or principally to assert That an Absolute Irresistible and Unaccountable Monarchy without consent of the People is Jure Divine Gods Ordinance Originally descending from him and depending upon him and that all others are degenerate Forms of Government and to assert a like Jus Divinum for their own Ecclesiastical Government and withall to prejudice vilifie and decry all Claim of any Right in the Government or of Liberties by the People with the reproachful Terms and under the Notion of Factious Popularity which are plainly known to have been the Kings own Sentiments by whose special License and Authority they did sit and consult And this is so plain and visible in the Book that the Learned Dr. Sherlock makes no Scruple to speak it out plainly that The princpal Design of it is to assert the Irresistible Authority of Sovereign Princes which was as much of it as his Subject led him to speak of otherwise I doubt not but had he had occasion he could and would have said as much of the other part of the Design viz. the Ecclesiastical Government And if this was indeed the Design it was in my apprehension especially as it was managed in that clandestine and covert way and with such a Form of Authority not only unjust but vile and dishonourable unbefitting the Majesty of a King or the dignity of a Convocation of Clergy-men and a great abuse of Religion to prostitute the Reputation of so venerable Authority to abuse People out of their Right nay to enchant them as it were to venture their Lives and Fortunes against their own Right and Interest as it did by degrees at last make them do besides many other Mischiefs it hath produced and principally upon the Authors as is very usual by the Just Judgments of the Righteous God But all this I will endeavour to make plain and manifest as briefly as I can in the several Particulars following 1. That King James 1. notwithstanding his many Professions and solemn Protestations to govern according to Law did from the very beginning of his Reign study and employ all his King-craft to make himself Absolute and get all into his own Power This is so well known that I need only mention some of his Artifices and Attempts to that purpose with References to Evidences and Testimonies thereof As 1. Upon the Parliament it self 1. To restrain the Freedom of Elections of Knights and Burgesses and the Returns of Members for divers Corporations as may be perceived by his Proclamation 1 Jan. 1 Jac. 2. To draw the Determination of such Elections into the Chancery before an Officer of his own as may be seen in the Case of Sir Fr. Goodwyn 1 Jac. lately published in Lex Parliamentaria 3. To restrain their Freedom of Debates which was complained of in Parliament with the two preceding 1 Jac. and afterward occasioned that Remonstrance 24. May 8 Jac. and at last produced that free and generous Protestation concerning their Rights in print in Wilson p. 188. and Rushworth p. 53. To which others might be added which made the Parliament tell him that in the first Parliament of his Reign the Priviledges of their House and therein the Liberties and Stability of the whole Kingdom had been more universally and dangerously impugned than ever since the beginning of Parliaments c. V. Journal An. 1. 2. To make his Proclamations pass for Laws or Edicts as they have since done in France of which he published no less than Seventy in the first Year of his Reign and many every year after till they were printed all together in a Volume in the form of Acts of Parliament and Books were written for their Authority and that the Parliament took notice and complained of it And then he began to cover it as well as he could by another Proclamation 24 Sept. 8 Jac. 3. To impose Taxes without consent of Parliament as appears by the Remonstrance 24 May 1610. printed with a learned and necessary Argument concerning that matter and the Benevolence notwithstanding extorted Anno 1614. v. Wilson p. 78. 4. To set up Extrajudicial Opinions of Judges for Laws vide the Apol. 1. Jac. and to impose upon the Judges to give Judgments in favour of Prerogative contrary to the Laws and their own Oaths as may be seen in Franklins Annals Anno 1616. 14 Jac. which compared with that noble Case of Cavendish in Anderson 1 Rep. 152. in the Queens time the different behaviour of them two and their Judges will appear very remarkable 5. To tune the Pulpits as some pretend that Queen Elizabeth used to phrase it and set the Clergy on work by Preaching Writing and Discourses to promote his Designs by pretence of Scripture and Religion and to make good by colour of Divinity what could not be done by Law and seek Principles for a chosen Conclusion which is the matter now in hand And therefore The Second particular is That there was at that time a Party of the Clergy who besides a Court Faction struck in joyned and held a secret Correspondence with him for the promoting of these matters This might be observed in divers Instances precedent to his first Parliament but the Complaints of the House of Commons the very first Sessions of some of the Higher Clergy writing a Book against them even the Parliament sitting and the Inferiour Clergy inveighing against them in Pulpits yea publishing Protestations tending to the Impeachment of their most ancient and undoubted Rights as may be seen in the Journal is sufficient evidence of it self and yet will receive farther Confirmation from what follows The third is That this Work was an Arcanum Imperii and managed and transacted in a secret mysterious and disguised manner between them This we may see plainly by what They pretend to be Their chief Purpose and He to be His Reason of calling them together that they did agree in this that each Party did use Colours and Pretences but as it usually falls out in secret Conspiracies that all Circumstances are not provided for so in this their Disagreement in the Particular discovers that both were but Pretence This may further be perceived by the Kings Letter to good Dr. Abbot published in the Observator For why should he write of that matter to Good Dr. Abbot rather than to Trusty Dr. Bancroft who was President of the Upper House of Convocation for the Province of Canterbury or to Thornborough Bishop of Bristoll who was one of that Convocation and besides was thought sit to be made President for the Province of York or to Learned Dr. Overall who was the person employed to draw up the Book and was besides Prolocutor of the Lower House Nay why was it written at all Had the King
his own Designs Which is such a piece of shuffling Disingenuity or rather Dishonesty and Impiety as no man of a Christian Spirit will offer to excuse but abominate and detest being built upon a false Supposition contrary to many plain Instances in Aristotle and divers ancient Historians and other Writers of the Original of Governments of which such Learned men as Bancroft and the principal Managers of that Convocation could not be ignorant 4. But in this as such Enterprizes use to prove by the special Judgment of God their Folly and Infatuation appears to be no less than their Disingenuity and Dishonesty For from their Doctrine and Resolutions will these things undenyably follow contrary to their own Design Viz. 1. That God hath not determined by any positive Law or Declaration of his Will in the S. Scripture any one Form of Civil Government for all Nations but left that to the Determination of his Special Providence disposing the Nature and Circumstances and Minds of People and interposing in their Actions and Counsels to constitute one or other as should seem most expedient And 2. That if when any new Form of Government whatever it be is throughly settled the Authority in it is of God and all are bound to be subject to Gods Authority which is there executed then is the Authority which the People either retain in the First Constitution of a Government or recover afterwards when throughly settled whether in the making dispensing with or abrogating Laws inspecting the Government or Correcting the Exorbitances of Princes themselves or whatever else as much of God and Jure Divino as the Authority of any King whatever can be 3. That if this be true in the Case even of such new Governments as began by so unjust and wicked means as Vsurpations and Rebellions as is affirmed and decreed by the Convocation then must it be confessed to be unquestionably true in the case of all such Governments as began without any such wicked or unjust Means and were constituted by a deliberate mutual Agreement of a Free People who being sui juris might and ought jure naturali divino to consider and agree of such a Form of Government as They should judge most expedient for themselves 4. That if a Free People wisely considering the Inconveniences incident to the three simple Forms of Government constitute a Form of Government for themselves so composed as to comprehend whatever is desirable in any of them and to avoid the Inconveniences incident to each as far as their Humane Prudence can discern do this upon great Deliberation and by Publick Pact or Matual Agreement and ratifie the same by Solemn Oath of all Parties Such an Original of Government is according to the Law of Nature being a Necessary Provision upon Principles of Reason and Wisdom for the Common Good without Injury to any hath the Obligation of the Law of Nature being a Publick Pact by mutual and Deliberate Agreement hath also a Divine Obligation by the Solemn Oath of the Parties subjecting all to the Judgment of God in a special manner and may reasonably be believed to have been promoted by the secret Energy or Providence of God who is a Lover of Mankind and alwayes ready to assist them in all Sober Just and Wise Counfels to be his Ordinance and to have his Authority in all respects in a special manner And that the Violation of any part of such a Constitution by whomsoever it is is a Violation of the Ordinance of God and like to provoke his Judgments upon all who shall dare to transgress so many and great Obligations and most severely upon such as shall do it with a high hand let their pretences be what they will 5. If in a Government so constituted it be agreed more particularly that a certain Person being best qualified for that purpose for the necessary Exercise of Government shall be as it were the Principle of motion and for the greater Honour and Majesty of the State shall have the Title of King and be invested with the Ensigns of Majesty the Crown and Scepter by express consent of the People first solemnly asked but first shall take a Solemn Oath at his Coronation to Govern according to the Laws before any Subject shall swear Allegiance to him shall have with those the Jewels and Crown-Lands and Publick Revenue of the Nation but to use for the State and Defence of the Realm not to alienate at his Pleasure In the Administration of Justice all Authority Process Precepts and Writs c. shall be in his Name but so as he may not refuse it to any the designation and authorizing of the Persons of the Judges shall be by him but only with such Powers and for such Judicatures as are constituted by Law and they shall be sworn to Judge and do Justice according to Law shall not obey his Letters or Commands to the contrary and he himself and his Actions in Civil Matters shall be subject unto and bound by their Judgment In Matters of State all shall be by his Authority but by Advice of the Nobility or of a Privy Council of Persons sworn in due Form of Law and who shall be answerable for what Advice they give Lastly As to the Ardua Regni and Great Matters of making dispensing with and repealing Laws redressing of Grievances imposing of Taxes making of War c. the Assembling of the States of the Realm shall be by him but within a certain definite time the Dismission of them likewise but not till all the Business be dispatched the Ratification of Laws shall be by him but only of such as are first agreed both in Matter and Form by the other States He may make War by Advice of the Privy Council but at his own Charge unless the other States agree to it and if it prove prejudicial to the Nation they are to consider of it And to them the Imposing of Taxes the Examination and Declaration of Grievances and the Inspection and Consideration of the Management State and Condition of All belongs as a Right and Power remaining in and retained by them In summ the Government is so constituted of all the three Forms that the Regal is plainly but one third part of the whole and that most Honorary conferr'd upon him by the rest and apparently in all the Parts in trust for the Whole but most of the rest Originally in them retained by them and so remaining in them jure naturali This Constitution must by the Doctrine of this Convocation be confessed to be as it is in truth the Ordinance of God and the Authority which it hath to be Gods Authority Now such a King is a Soveraign Prince and he is Absolute that is he is not bound by any Tenure to any other Emperour King or State In this sence he is both these and his Crown is for the same reason an Imperial Crown But otherwise he is not Absolute to do what he
pleaseth that is without Law or that his Will should be a Law as the Roman Emperours was Quod Principi placuerit Lex esto He hath so much as the Common Agreement or the Constitution hath given him and no more the other States in all things else retaining their Natural Power and not only the Laws which he is sworn to observe confining him within bounds but the very Constitution which gives him his being And therefore if a Question arise in such a Constitution concerning any Right of King or People the Proof will ly on the part of the King to make good his Claim by the publick Agreement or Constitution and not on the part of the People who have a precedent Title viz. Jure Naturali and are subject to him in nothing but what he hath by the Constitution or Original Contract And such an intire Constitution being the Ordinance of God and the Authority residing in the whole and in each part Gods Authority the Authority of the whole is Irresistible and the Authority of each of the Parts equally Irresistible And therefore as whoever violates the Authority of the whole violates Gods Authority so whoever violates the Authority of either of the parts in that part violates the Authority of the whole and Gods Authority and may therefore be resisted though it be either of the Parts that doth it even the King himself For in that he doth not act by but contrary to Gods Authority and Resistance of the King in such case is no Resistance of his Authority for he had no such Authority to do what he doth but of a Tyrant or an Invader Aggressor or Usurper nor Rebellion but a Just Defence of the Government and Constitution of Gods Ordinance and Gods Authority But on the other side as such a Violation may be either by open Force or by Fraud secret Practice and Conspiracy so they who do it this way are as much Traytors against the Government as they are Rebels who do it the other though against the King himself And if the King in such a Constitution conspire with a part of the People to do this He and They become thereby a Trayterous Faction He violates Gods Ordinance his own Oath and in effect Abdicates his Government and may justly be deposed for his Trayterous Practice and They be punished as Betrayers of their Countrey and Traytors to the Government And God himself doth often punish such Abuses of his Authority especially in persons professing Religion even in this Life by his Providence with very severe and remarkable Judgments And such we may observe in the present business of the Convocation and the Consequences thereof from first to last as will further appear in what follows For From what hath been said I think it apparent that the Doctrine and Resolutions of this Convocation do as I said plainly confirm what they were designed to subvert and subvert what they were designed to erect or raise up which is an argument of a very strange Infatuation as if God had smitten them with Astonishment given them a Spirit of Slumber and mingled a perverse Spirit in the midst of them as he threatned to do in the Counsels of the Egyptians Isa 19. a thing not at all incredible or indeed to be questioned if we consider how wicked and perverse a work it was they were about which is likewise apparent and easie to be concluded from what hath been said that is in general as I said before a hidden Work of Dishonesty and a very Mystery of Iniquity but more particularly such a Conspiracy as I mentioned but now with divers Aggravating Circumstances For that Constitution there described is the very true and genuine English Constitution and one of the best in the World But the Principal Design of that Book as Dr. Sherlock hath rightly observed and is apparent to an ordinary Capacity and by consequence of that King and of the Principal Managers of that Convocation in it was to assert the Irresistible Authority of Soveraign Princes as he phraseth it that is such an Authority Jure Divino as makes them irresistible in any thing Which is utterly inconsistent with such a Constitution where the Supreme Authority is so divided among several Essential parts as with us the King the Lords and the Commons So that it was plainly a Conspiracy against the Government of their Country to enslave their Country and turn the Legal Government thereof into Tyranny against an Ancient settled Government of their Countrey and therefore according to their own Doctrine against the Ordinance of God and Gods Authority And their End in it was plainly for their own Advantage the very same with that of the Papists and generally of aspiring Courtiers They are all for Arbitrary Government not only in pretence to insinuate themselves into Favour but in reality because they find it more easie to deal with the single Person of a Prince and to deceive him with Flatteries and Insinuations than with so great a Body of Men as an English Parliament among whom it can hardly be expected but there will alwayes be some or other of Parts and Ability to discern and defeat their Projects before they can bring them to perfection and who will not be corrupted as Favourites often may And the Parliament in the Queens time had bin so often upon Reformation of Pluralities Non-residence and other matters as ungrateful to them as before to the Papacy that they even dreaded the thoughts of it And this was their Tentation and the Occasion of their engaging in such a Work in such a Manner And indeed the Manner of their managing this Work is no less observable being altogether agreeable to a Mystery of Iniquity viz. 1. Under False Pretences pretence of Religion and pretence of setting out the Dignity of our Saviour Christ by his Almighty Power and Universal Government of the World so like the Great Mystery that never was Daughter more like her Mother 2. With gross Sophistry and Fallacies craftily leading People into such Opinions as they cautiously forbear to affirm As Can. 2. concerning the Original of Civil Power to affirm That it was derived from the People they seem very formally to condemn as a great Error and yet they craftily intermix so many allayes that indeed they do not unless it be affirmed 1. As a Consequence of such Premises there mentioned as may be in some sort false 2. That it was first so derived 3. And not simply from the People but from the People and disordered Multitude And 4. it must also be coupled with this Negation and is not Gods Ordinance c. So that it seems a designed Artifice to deceive the People and mislead them into an Opinion which yet they themselves did not believe and had therefore secured their Evasion which might be confirmed from many other Instances of their Canons contrived and drawn up in such a fraudulent and fallacious form That of Can. 28. I have touched already