1. Samuel 22. 3. Whose Oxe have I taken or whose Asse have I taken or whom have I done wrong to And with St Paul though in another sense I am pure from the blood of all men Acts. 20. 26. Errors till now of late were not wont to be accounted crimes not in the meanest much lesse in Princes wholy so high at leastwise should doe above the levell pitch of common censure And yet againe hath not the King long since been pleased to descend as t were from his Throne of Majestie yeelding to a gracious revocation of whatsoever but suspectedly might seeme heretofore to have been carried in a wrong course Hee who by virtue of his place is hath been alwaies so esteemed of in former times not only {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the chiefe framer and withall dispenser of lawes but also {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the very life and soule of the law A point therefore which Maiestie useth but seldome to stoop to Princes accounting of none as competent Judges of them and their Actions save God alone since it is a true saying Rex est qui Regem Maxime non habeat He is truely a King who acknowledgeth no commanding power upon earth above himselfe Against Thee Thee onely have I sinned we know whose submission it was and to whom he tendered it Neverthelesse our King He hath done it his Royall Declarations on the one hand and his reall transactions on the other extant in so many Gracious bills passed for the good of his Subjects may serve as a sufficient pledge of this truth Had but Rehoboam done the like notwithstanding his precedent so offensively grosse extravagancies indeed mentioned 1 Kings 12. the revolted Tribes as it is imagined by the best had soone returned to their due obedience even among private Persons a mans word backed with reall performances hath ever been esteemed of as a sure Testimonie of his true and sincere intendments For all this there be some so impudently fearefull that they dare not Trust his Maiestie And it is this Diffidence amongst other things which hath been a chiefe incentive to these publique disturbances Although a vaine one if rightly considered of when as men shall goe about to undoe a Commonwealth onely because they feare and weakly suspect it may be undone Furor est ne moriare mori There being moreover provided as there is a most sure and soveraigne remedie against all such danger an effectuall {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} for what ere distempers casually arising or happening in the State that of a Trienniall Parliamentarte Convention But say I beseech you Not trust him Not your King So religious and just a King Not him whom the Lord himselfe hath trusted Whom God and the law both have entrusted with the charge of so great a people Whence Kings they are usually stiled in Scripture Pastors Fathers termes of themselves importing much trust and affiance to bee had in them That too after such solemne Protestations such effectuall imprecations made to this purpose and published by him Lastly after the many Acts of grace done by him already as sure pawnes of his reall intentions for the time to come Yet after all not to afford your Soveraigne so much credit as but what either Turke or Pagan upon like termes might rightly challenge at your hands Wonderously strange Especially that men so credulously given in matters of highest consequence should prove so diffident and distrustfull here So confident God-wards and so suspicious of his Vicegerent Strange if not an offence happily besides its arguing further some {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or innate fraudulency of selfedisposition against the rule of common Charity which lessoneth us to entertain a favourable conceit of all men 1. Cor. 13. Nay a trespasse against the knowne Lawes of nature that prompts us to deale with other men as we would be dealt with our selves to mete out to them the same measure we desire should be meted back to us The truth is yeeld them so much power into their hands whereby they may be inabled to command if not as Masters of the kingdome yet as the Masters Mate keeping the scales upright in an equall poize readie to turne at their own pleasure In a word able when they list to binde their Kings in chaines and their Nobles with links of iron as the Psal. mystically deliver it And then t is probable they will be induced to trust him but not till then I may adde it as a Corollary here Never better Prince upon no better grounds so harshly and uncivilly intreated by his subjects Yet some moreover there bee who stick not to complaine that he is still misled So runs the phrase But for Gods love by whom or how Doe they meane so as each man is drawne away and tempted as S. Iames teacheth of his own lusts and untamed desires His knowne moderation and temperance in all respects will free him as much as may bee from this imputation By those then in private which are about him If it be so without more adoe and that the old pernicious stratagem of galing and wounding the Prince through the sides of his neerer attendants be kept up although this exception might now at leastwise well be spared a greater part of the two Houses being present to assist him howbeit were it so as they pretend it seemeth in time it may prove a criminall offence to be nigh his sacred person and that which hitherto hath beene accounted an honour shall be imputed as the greatest aspersion and so by degrees every loyall true Subject at what distance so'ere shall in fine become a delinquent Time was when disloyalty or but disaffection towards the Soveraigne was made to be crimen crimine vacantium saith the observant Historian a punishable fault in such that wanted faults of accusation besides but now we may expect and justly feare the contrary It hath already thus befallen the Ministry in their kind most of the conformable worthyer sort of them in all places being thereupon and for no other reason commonly strangely Metamorphized through a wrong interpretation into a new shape and so presented to the world under the title of Popish or scandalous But therefore let us rather know in what why thus as farre as my weake apprehension will carry me The King is not pleased to grant whatsoever is demanded of him though never so unreasonable ergo he is misled Because His Majesty will not yield to an hocksing and laming of his owne Regâ—ll authority transmitted unto him entire from the hands of his illustrious predecessours To a new moulding of the state after the Venetian platforme To a new building of the Church suitable to the Genevian modell In breife to the creating of a new Heaven and a new Earth here amongst us that is a new Church and a new Commonwealth he is misled he
THE KINGS CAVSE Rationally briefly and plainly debated as it stands De facto AGAINST The Irrationall groundlesse misprisions of a still deceived sort of People 2. SAM. 2. Shall the Sword devoure for ever Know yee not that it will be bitternesse in the end Heu quantum potuit terrae pelagique parari Hoc quem civiles hauserunt sanguine dextrae Printed Ann. Dom. 1644. The Kings cause rationally and plainly debated as it stands de Facto c. COncerning the nature or quality of these unhappy distractions we have long groaned under consequently by what name or title we may best decipher them I need not to speake much A civill warre it is who sees not yea plusquam Civile more then so an unnaturall bloodie warre wherein friend stands engaged upon tearmes of defiance against his friend brother against brother even father against the sonne making good by this meanes in these last and dreggish times of the world that inevitably true prediction of our Saviour Luk. 12. 13. what the event or issue of this warre so unluckely begun and as obstinately still maintained may be {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} God he knoweth The best we can probably expect unlesse the same God be pleased by a timely prevention to make up the breach must needs be a speedy overwhelming of this once flourisâ—ing Island in the generall deluge of ruine and destruction But enough of this The truth herein is too notoriously apparent to our extreame sorrow and rather requires the helpe of some kinde of healing salve then of a farther corrosive It may be worth our consideration then in the first place to observe against whom namely be these warlike armes taken up Against the King questionlesse Patrem patriae our lawfull Soveraigne the Lords annointed That {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as one expresseth it that Supream power placed in so neer a distance under God himselfe that whereas we in modesty terme Kings or Rulers here upon earth his vicegerents only he hath pleased to advance them to an higher title and plainly stiles them Gods I have said yee are Gods Ps. 82. 6. And hence further is it that we find in Scripture the seat of Royall judicature as usually termed the Throne of God as the Kings Throne nor themselves barely the Deputies or Ministers of Men but Gods Ministers his peculiar substitutes All power is from God I willingly acknowledge by some way of derivation or other but this for certaine more immediatly and in a neerer degree as being the Supreme 1. Pet. 2. 15. more determinatively too in that he alone is the disposer both of Kings and kingdomes saith the Prophet Dan. 2. 21. Dan. 4. 17. 25. even to a particular designation of the person frequently as we finde it to have been not to speake ought of exoticke governments in the Iewish commonwealth The Heathen anciently by the very light of nature found out this truth {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} saith the Poet and another yet more closely {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} The King saith he is the truest and liveliest reflex or image of God upon earth that may be Humani Ioves as the Latine Comoedian speaking of such persons in a straine beyond them both And surely for this reason particularly amongst other in my poore fancie is that very title above mentioned of being called Gods bestowed upon them to wit in regard of their dominion and soveraignetie over the rest which they still retaine as a maine Relique as it were of that Gods image at first stampt and engraven upon the soule of man Now as ' I said against this Soveraigne power neverthelesse be these armes lifted up a power so sacred it seemes as not to be touched or but roughly medled with since Touch not mine annointed not the chiefe then be sure is the interdictive expresse caution of the Almightie David thus did but touch Saul by cutting off the skirt of his garment and we see how his heart smote him streight in as much as who can stretch forth his hand saith he against the Lords annointed and be guiltlesse For however to colour and disguise the businesse the King hath been all along pretended to these harsh unusuall proceedings of late as if what were done were not against him but for him yet is this in truth such a strange peece of state-Sophistry that men though of meane capacitie cannot I suppose at last but discerne easily and see through it Nuga quisquiliae unlesse they can possibly shew pro con with and against termes so widely opposite to be one and the same which yet will neither good Logick admit in the former nor scripture phrase acknowledge in the latter That saying of our Saviour Mar. 10. touching matrimoniall union Quos Deus iunxit nemo separet is in a good sense if read backwards appliable to the present divisions Q. D. S. N. jung whom God in his secret displeasure as here hath a while really divided set at distaÌ„ce let none go about in pursuance of their close unjustifiable designes by bare and emptie termes to ioyne together You say you are for the King entitle him to every act the King saith no disclaimes it utterly often and againe hath protested against it whoÌ„ may we in reason rather beleeve especially considering those grosse monstrous inconsequences which follow hereupon as that thereby he is made to set forth Edicts levie monies wage war and all against himselfe It is true I confesse in some cases as where the Prince is a Minor and under age or where he is not compos sui through weaknesse of his intellectualls this may well hold and the seeming contradiction be easily closed up The reason is for that there the party is not Master of his own actions nor can he in a legall consideration be reckoned amongst those {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} whether in Art or Nature which move of themselves but as one rather who is moved from without There both law and equitie justly commit such a one to the tuition and guidance of another But where there rules a iudicious and discerning Prince able to steere by the conduct of his own reason there to plead your being for him and yet goe crosse to his commands is such a fine peece of artifice as may serve perchance to ensnare the simple but withall occasion the wise to smile If it be here replied as some have done that this Resistance of theirs is meerely against the King his Private not his Publique his Personall not his Royall commands for as so say they he must be supposed alwaies to speak in the voice of his Parliament or else that of the law A poore shift when as they are faine to shape on this manner their evasions at the Romish forge for thus deale they labouring by a like art of Sophistrie to set up Monarchicall
retirement Breifly for the former if so it be not a meere Chimera of Imagination barely it is to be wondred at that lawes of so high concernement in the present businesse should lie hid so low under ground as not to be found out produced all this while whereas the contrary I understand have beene and many be still exhibited without any such labour or paines of disquisition or grant such lawes might be produced and made appeare yet surely with me the law of man shall evermore submit to the law of God This is or should be I am sure the Touch-stone for all lawes where the divine law and humane chance to crosse thwart each other my conscience directs me the safer way and tells me I had best keepe close to the former It is so in the Discipline or outward forme of Church-governement I appeale to themselves for a testimony There they cry up to a tittle verbum Domini still the Word the Word And why not so according to some proportion at least if occasion require it in the rectifying of secular and state affaires I see not the least shew of reason that can be yeilded to the contrary yet now for the word of God they have so little comfort thence such small hopes of any expresse warrant for their proceedings savouring over strongly of Jesuitish principles to be found there as that they scarcely meddle with it unlesse as they be casually drawne thereto in their replyes and unsatisfactory answers Nothing to be heard of there more then prayers and patience in such cases God as then must be intreated to incline the heart of the Soveraigne not the people incouraged to inforce him little mention made of Resistance except it be against the Devill or so but still of obedience and Christian-like subjection For the latter that of practise and example it is an Anthenticke classicall saying Exempla paucorum non sunt trahenda in Leges vniversorum we must if we do well not suffer our selves to be governed altogether so much by Presidents or Examples as by reason And it is cheifely true of the examples of latter times where they recede from the fountaine the purity of ancienter and better ages and so grow more suspiciously corrupt If some before us have done amisse we must not straight make their example the rule or patterne for us to erre by By resistance so often forementioned to goe no further at present I meane an active resistance first undertaken and then pursued in an hostile offensive way for and such a resistance is this say they what they please both deluding themselves and others And yet such a resistance none of them of the later hach as farre as I have seene yet dare in their writings offer to maintaine with open face Just in the method of those of Rome whom they so much abhorre their practise here no way keepes pace with their doctrine For why neither scripture nor reason nor yet any President of the primitive or better times they know could be brought with the least semblance to speake for them They are for the King too if we may beleeve them as well as we and meerly stand upon their owne defence nor this neither against the King in his owne person but against some invisible enemies of the Common-wealth about him so as to enter the lists of a dispute by putting the businesse to an ungranted height on the Kings side where yet the {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or maine point in controversie as things do stand in themselves is though but for credits sake denyed on theirs were as they say to beat the aire or for want of other worke to seeke out an Adversary Let the premisses be duely observed being no otherwise then according to the true condition of the present affaires and the question if rightly propounded would be this whether or no it may be lawfull to take up Compulsory or offensive armes against a rightfull gracious Prince professing to governe in all respects by the knowne established lawes of the land only upon termes of meere jealousie and distrust to his Regall promises thereby imbroyling broyling their native country in a bloody and miserably destructive warre Quod restat probandum Besides that such Scholastick Hypotheticall velitations as these one way or other howbeit they right the King in point of due obedience yet by reason of the supposall they take in malitious and captious heads may be apt to misconstrue them to somewhat a prejudiciall conceipt of him in matter of his goodnesse and integritie whereas God bee thanked Non defensoribus istis we need no such strained helps having so Religious so Iust so Vnderstanding so every way Compleat a Prince Be this ground firmely and strongly still maintained what needs much arguing the lawfulnesse or vnlawfulnesse of Resistance in some Dioclesian his time when as there raigneth a good and godly Constantine Or of clashing and banding together in set disputes the Supreme Soveraigne power residing in the King a point sufficiently evidenced by the severall and those publique Acts of State extant to this purpose as also farther confirmed by the very title of Majestie appropriated unto him as chiefe this having been in all States evermore the peculiar badge or cognizance of Soveraignty wheresoere it lay with that of Parliaments where the Prince freely and ex mero motu denies them nothing that either Reason Law or his owne just Rights may give way to A Prince whose heart is truely in the hands of God not of Evill Councellours to order and dispose of if any Kings upon earth be Of whom briefly it may be said perhaps without our better deservings as the Apostle speakes Heb. 11. of some especiall Saints and Servents of the Almighty in times past that this Island of ours or lesser World will prove it selfe unworthy Meane while the premised considerations as I have committed them to paper for mine owne satisfaction so shall they suffice mee untill a surer and more reall ground be offered of a disputative enquirie And did others I wish whom it may concerne propose the like to themselves annexing them as a Labell to that sacred oath of Allegiance they have taken Adde hereunto the late solemne Protestation made for defence of his Royall person dignitie either of which how they can possibly dispense with in their proceedings so diametrally opposed maugre their sundry senselesse Evasions be it between God their owne consciences for my part I must professe I am yet to learn Let them consider the Sacriledge the Murders the Rapines done nay commanded Iustifiable Legall offences you may now call them as far as an humane Ordinance will carry in these wild licentious times of Anarchy Strange beginnings of an intended Reformation one would think I have read of Religion in the Primitive times planted yea propagated in blood under Pagans and Infidells but for Christians amongst themselves professing one and the same faith to advance