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A62891 Short strictures or animadversions on so much of Mr. Croftons Fastning St Peters bonds, as concern the reasons of the University of Oxford concerning the covenant by Tho. Tomkins ... Tomkins, Thomas, 1637?-1675. 1661 (1661) Wing T1839; ESTC R10998 57,066 192

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some cases as duty which it would severely and might justly punish in others not so related as a crime But not to stand on that at the very first reading this Article suggests a considerable difference from all the above-mentioned Instances In those I am only obliged to discover present guilt and endeavours which if not prevented may go on to the high dishonour of God and disturbance of the Publick Considerations if sincere much above any private or particular Obligements But this Covenant obliges to discover all who have been Malignants no consideration that the design is prevented or repented of and therefore serves not at all for Publick Security but may for private Ambition or Revenge There is another Exception which though Mr. Cr. pleases to slight I will be bold to say all the Earth cannot answer it viz. That it betrays inevitably The Liberty of the Subject We there swear to maintain in setting up an Arbitrary Power when all the Rule they are to go by is As they think convenient which Mr. Cr. answers by saying nothing to it He repeats indeed the other words As the Supream Iudicatories or others from them c. But saith not one word in answer to that expression wherein the malignity lies As they shall judge convenient Words fit only for those men to use who knew they had no Law on their side It might here not unseasonably be asked Who are the Supream Iudicatories Certainly the two Houses distinct from the King are so far from being the Supream that they are no Court at all nor is there in Law any style or form of their joynt Acts. To the fifth Article It is said first That there is a false Assertion These Kingdoms if Ireland be one as in the former Parliaments it is are not at Peace nor dare the men of Oxf. abusively thank God for a blessing they do not all believe and Mr. Cr. proves by no better Argument then that England Scotland entered in Covenant As to the Peace which was between England and Scotland made by both Parliaments I ask If the Power of War and Peace be not solely the Kings If so here is another of the Kings Prerogatives this Covenant preserved As to the second Remora Mr. Cr. asks where this Covenant is defective towards the Kings Rights c I might rather ask where it is not where it left him the Authority I do not say Name but Power of a King or the freedom of a Gentleman The very design of all their Proceedings which this Covenant was a main Engine to effect was perfect dethroning him when they made what the Law what their Wit the foundation of all their Power called but his Counsel his Controllers And this is a Truth so clear that they durst not for shame but call themselves his Subjects even when they exercised all but the Name of his Soveraign When they raised Armies to compel even then they made a resemblance of their duty by sending Petitions to beseech They could not be Rebels but in the style of Your Majesties Humble and Loyal Subjects assembled in Parliament Let Mr. Cr. shew me any thing that Law or Reason call a Right or Prerogative of the King and I shall quickly make it appear how they took it from the King and Mr. Cr. himself p. 98. hath proved the truth of the Maxime he so much rails at No Bishop no King by giving us just such a King as he hath allowed us Bishops To the Bishops he will allow the formality of the Chair and the KING for ought I perceive shall have no more The Lords and Commons Melthodi Majestatis causa apply themselves to him Well said though I would the Law had been cited for it The King poor Gentleman may sit uppermost whilest he is mannerly his assent shall be asked if he will first secure us he will never refuse If he doth he shall then be reminded where the Reason of the Kingdom nay and King too resides As in the Declaration about Hull in 1642. p. 36. I am so far reconciled to this absolute depriving the King of his Authority that I like it much better than the prety knack of sharing it between him and two equal Houses which would be the worst Government in the world It is in our Saviours judgment Hard to serve two Masters But this Nation should have served three co-ordinate Enemies whose Interests and consequently commands were thwarting Every Convention would be a wrastling match where each his business was to give another a fall The Contradictions the Oxf. men assign are so clear as nothing more I shall therefore say little to them because they best appear when they are nakedly considered One Ambiguity I shall pitch upon because it is the most considerable part of this Mystery of Iniquity The Oxf. men demand Which be the best Reformed Churches Because before they swear to make those Churches their pattern it were well certainly that they knew them To which Mr. Cr. p. 129. The Covenant asserts not which are the best reformed Churches but binds the Covenanter to the observation of whatever shall appear and be found the best reformed as the example to which he shall endeavour England may be conf●rmed Very well Sir The Covenant asserts not which is the best reformed Church but binds me to reduce England to what shall appear the best reformed Church That possibly may appear to me either that already established in Old England or that devised for New England Possibly I may not find Classes or other canting knacks in the Word of God and then tell you in your own language I dare not own that for the Scepter of Christ which I believe nay can prove to be an Humane Institution I can tell where and when it came first up and that Policy was the very best and if any was that was the only justifiable Ingredient in all its constitution How shall I then reform England according to the Word of God and the best reformed Churches and yet according to the Scotch mode which I know to be neither Or if I am not bound to the Scottish pattern How shall I bring the three Kingdoms to Uniformity not only in Confession of Faith but Form of Church-Goverment Directory for Worship and Catechizing and how preserve that in Scotland which I swear to do and yet set up another in England which in that case I am sworn to also But because Mr. Cr. tells us p. 129. The Covenant hath not determined which is the best reformed Church c. I would fain know whether these three terms we are equally sworn to The Word of God the best Reformed Churches Uniformity with Scotland are three expressions of the same Rule or of different ones If of the same then it is not true what Mr. Crofton being put to his shifts sayes because it is expresly determined viz. Scotland If of different With what Conscience can we swear to all when by keeping our
Oath to any one we do necessarily break that part of it which was taken to another and in all probability observing in it any one is breaking it to both the other The Covenant obligeth us to reform England according to the best Reformed Church but determines not which it is as Mr. Cr. acknowledges The reason of which is clear because by that reservedness they engaged all Sects to them when by declaring their meaning they had engaged but one every one by this means who was for the Covenant the Covenant was for him and such ambiguity sure is not an Oath but a Iuggle But from this proceeds another Ambiguity Who are the common Enemies c. How shall I know who are Enemies to the best Reformed Church if I know not which is so Can I prosecute any as an Enemy to the best reformed as such and know it not or shall I tell him I know him to be an Enemy to I know not what Mr. Cr. p. 128. waves this Plea and assures us That the words plainly run to the Church of Scotland c. and Independents by their enmity to the Church of Scotland are our common Enemies This Explication I must needs say fits the meaning of the Covenanters and the no meaning of the Covenant In different Pages it is as in different States of Affairs one while the best Reformed Church is not determined another while it is plainly Scotland If Independents were common Enemies sure it was from the Presbyterians they received Arms and Authority There is a Contradiction alledged by the Oxf. men which I thought not to have considered which because Mr. Cr. professes not to see I shall shew it him out of himself It is We are bound absolutely and without exception to preserve and yet upon supposition to extirpate the present Religion in the Church of Scotland To which Mr. Cr. p. 131. That Supposition must be plainly expressed in the Covenant to make it a contradict●ry Oath which is not done The best way of proving a Contradiction is to lay the Propositions contended so to be together which will clearly if they are so shew themselves Thus then We are absolutely bound to preserve the Doctrine and Discipline c. of Scotland We are to bring the three Kingdoms of which Scotland is one to Uniformity in Doctrine and Discipline We are to reform 2. England and Ireland according to the best Reformed Church See the first Article of the Covenant The Covenant asserts not which are the best Reformed Churches but binds the Covenanters to reform England whatever shall appear to be the best Reformed Church Cr. p. 129. Thus then The first Proposition binds us to preserve the Doctrine and Discipline of Scotland absolutely The second to bring the English Church and the Scottish Church to an Uniformity in Doctrine and Discipline The third to reform England according to the best Reformed Church The fourth assures us that the Covenant asserts not Scotland to be the best Reformed Church but binds to reform England according to whatever shall appear to be so Now then if Scotland doth not appear to be the best Reformed Church the third Proposition binds me to alter what the first binds me absolutely to maintain If I am obliged to make the same thing exactly after several Patterns if they happen not to be exactly the same I must necessarily in following one differ so much from the other as I follow that which differs for to agree with what differs is sure so far to differ I perceive the Covenant is as it was at first urged to several men so as to comply with their several humors and interests The well-meaning and undiscerning Populacy they now as they did formerly before things were ripe engage to the Covenant and tell them those horrid Consequences deduced from it belong not to it but afterwards engage men to them by vertue of the Covenant they have taken whose Obligation never fully appears til due season Their first aim is at that part which is least guarded Religion which being that wherein most are least concerned is their first attempt Because the Church would not pull down the State the State must pull down the Church But what followed They who perswaded that the Nobles Prelates were nor good enough to be their Equals made it out that Coblers and Draymen were good enough to be their Masters And besides the Grandees who acted in that change the whole Party were as forward to own the other House as ready at any time to take the other Oath I very well know many will not in spite of Reason and Experience be perswaded but that reforming the Church is the sole aim of the Covenanters In the new sense of reforming the Church-Lands being already in their opinion disposed of Reformation must begin at the State and surely it is great pity but they who will not beware by the examples of others should be made examples to others The second Article of the Covenant is only talked of and that being the concernment of the Church others think themselves not interessed in But he who considers that they are in the sixth Article sworn never to be wrought off no not so much as to an indifferency or neutrality but zealously and constantly in despight of all impediments pursue all they have sworn And that in the fourth Article they swear to bring all to punishment who have been Malignants Which words signifie what they please and expresly all who have acted contrary to the Covenant and they to be punished as the Supream Iudicatories i. e. no doubt the two Houses who are no Court at all or others from them shall think fit will find the Cavaliers in an ill case nay all who at any time did any thing which was ever Voted Malignancy by the two Houses The rigour of whose Sentence they not being in a now capacity to pardon being dissolved must be now executed upon the first opportunity nor must they at all question the reasonableness or legality because the Rule is As they or any from them i. e. their Committees shall think convenient One thing I shall observe that though the Parliament may be trusted to act arbitrarily beside or against the Law which they are not yet that they may delegate such an extravagant power over Lives and Fortunes as is here mentioned to oothers though men of such Principles and Fortunes as our Committees were who were to make Offenders by whom they might thrive having nothing to grow rich with but an ill Conscience and other mens faults is such a Liberty of the Subject as destroyes all the trust Besides it is a rule in Law and Reason Offices of confidence and trust by our Representatives in Parliament are not cannot be delegated because that trust is only personal I have before observed That that Invitation in the conclusion to forraign Churches where there are no Parliaments with pretence of share in the Power must be to them confessedly as Subjects whom notwithstanding they absolve from their Allegiance Though it is not delivered in Scripture that freedom from a Master or Prince who is a Heathen is any part of that liberty wherein Christ hath installed us and so is seditious Having shewed it to be against Duty I will in a word shew it to be against our Interest It engages us to pursue by the way of the Sword as their Practice and the Invitation in the conclusion shews all we have sworn to all our dayes which is Whatever is contrary to the power of Godliness So then Every man is to slay his brother who commits any sin that deserves it so many Covenanters so many Commissioned Officers There is a Tribunal in every brest to condemn and execute both And if their Oath obligeth them to any thing it doth to this they being equally sworn to all the other Articles though that alone takes up all their thoughts What horrid effects there would follow hence themselves would quickly feel should they thus begin to assert the Covenant themselves would quickly find its edge They who set a house on fire themselves be soon made a part of that fire It is not then more dishonourable to God injurious to the King and the Nation then it would if pursued be quickly found to be to its most violent assertors All that is desired of them is they would either pursue the Covenant in all things or none that is deal equally and sincerely shew that they act out of the sense of an Oath not of a party or rather let the Covenant be buryed placed in the Regions of Rottenness and Forgetfulness and let them be quiet and suffer others to be so If any Reproofs seem in these Papers too sharp I wish the unreasonabl●ness of those expressions may thus appear that few deserve them But then as few are concerned in them I should willingly make a distinction between those of the Presbyterian Iudgement and those of the Presbyterian Party and I hope themselves will concurre with me in it by making it appear that there are those who may approve that way of Government yet abhorr the usual way of promoting it The former may possibly be reclaimed by rational discourses the latter by nothing but severe Laws FINIS * By whatever Combination Perswasion c.