A CENTURY OF REASONS For Subscription and Obedience to the Laws and Government of the Church of England both ECCLESIASTICAL and CIVIL With Reasons against the COVENANT Justifi'd by Scripture Confirmed by the Laws of the Kingdom the Right and Power of Kings Ecclesiastical and Human Authorities with an Harmony of Confessions â—o which is annexed the Office and Charge belonging to the Overseers of the Poor c. Rex solo Deo minor caeteris omnibus major Tertul. Who can lay his hands upon the Lords Annointed and be guiltless 1 Sam. 26.9 W. Wasse School-master in Little Britain near unto Christ-church London Printed by W.W. for R.H. at the Bible in Heart in Little Britain 1663. To the most High and Mighty Monarch CHARLS the II. By the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the True Catholick and Antient Faith c. Religious Renowned and most Gracious King THis Small Work that chiefly concerns Kings and perswadeth to Obedience unto them with all Humility and Submission I one of your meanest Subjects present unto your Sacred Majesty in whom Courtesie and Clemency with Authority are transcendently Eminent of whom O King of Peace I cannot but with the many ten-thousands of your Loyal and Royal hearted Subjects give in my Test that Your Sacred Majesty is not onely as David but as Solomon yea the Solomon of the world who having Reconciled Three Kingdoms to Your self at Home and most Nations of the World Abroad have also tied Peace to Your Sacred Person These Transcendent All-concluding and All-commanding Virtues fill Your Loyal and Royal Subjects hearts with confidence that our Eyes shall see in Your Peaceable days God's House finished and the Temples built again that have been destroyed And the rather have we this confidence sith that Your Royal Majesty hath broken down the Partition Wall of Rites and Ceremonies in the Church of England and in the Church of Scotland and now of Two made One And as it hath been usual to Unite Nations and common to call United Nations by one Name and in them to Establish but one Form of Government Ecclesiastical and Civil even so hath Your Sacred Majesty done whereby the Black Monarchy of the Prince of Darkness is now cast down for ever Most Serene and Powerful Prince the attractive Beauty of Your Government draws the very Hearts and Souls of Your Loyal and Royal hearted Subjects not onely to pay unto You what is due but also by a Practicable Example to go before others in Obedience for want of which many years past by and gone through unduely untempered Zeal multitudes of Your Subjects denied the Magistrates of their duty and Your Sacred Majesty the Head of all Government By means whereof for some small Differences a few Error-searching Singulars out-faceing and opposing Ever-famous Plurals uncharitably first set the House of God on fire and afterwards caused a General Conflagration throughout all Your Majesty's Dominions which without Art-exceeding Deploration cannot be remembred Therefore there is great reason why Your Sacred Majesty should beware of yielding hasty belief to the Robes of Sanctimony By their works you shall know them Most Dread Soveraign By this dimme Light of a small Candle I am come at Noon-day to give what Light I am able unto the dark corners where the Sun nor the Moon nor the Stars as yet appear notwithstanding the Eye-dazling lustre of them in the Firmament of our Church and State the Light of the least of them being able to guide the Wayless Traveller in the darkest night Great and Mighty King the Great God that hath made You thus Great and set You up the Oracle of Kings the Miracle of Ages and made You to Your Enemies as a Rock invincible against which they have and for ever shall dash themselves in pieces the same Great God give You the Conquest of all our Hearts and Wills that there may be an Harmony and Agreement of Soul and Spirit amongst all Your Subjects from Dan to Beersheba and that this entire Realm of Great Britain English Scottish and Welch now being framed into one happy Soveraignty it is the humble Prayer prostrate upon the knees of my heart that the Almighty Three in One would bring us to be perfectly One Your Majesty's Most Humble Loyal and Obedient Subject W. WASSE To the Right Reverend Father in God GILBERT By the Divine Providence Lord B p of LONDON Reverend Father in God THere is but one thing in the World hath moved me to this Publick Addressing my self unto Your Lordship and it is this The Misrepresentation of me and my Judgment concerning the Established Government of the Church of England by the False Government and the No-Government Faction and this onely occasioned from my Childish Non-conformity through their Instructions for which I humbly beg pardon for I did it ignorantly and since Years have taught me wisdom with the reasons which prove our Government Holy Just and Good as to the ends thereof being convinced as in duty bound and as an account of my Obedience which I owe I do in all Humility present unto your Lordship the Reasons of my Conformity Beseeching the. Merciful God and our Heavenly Father to increase his Graces more and more upon You to his Glory the Churches Freedom from Error and Heresie and Your Everlasting Comfort Your Lordship 's poor Beadsman to be commanded W. WASSE TO THE Right Honourable Sir John Robinson Knight and Baronet Lieutenant of his Majestie 's Tower of London and Lord Maior of the Honourable City of London AND To the Right Worshipfull Sir Richard Brown Knight and Baronet one of his Majestie 's Justices of the Peace and Major General of the same Right Honourable and Right Worshipfull IT is not the first nor second time I have Affected to make known the Uprightness of my Heart towards his Sacred Majestie 's Kingly Power the Ecclesiastical and Civil Government of the Church of England established in all his Majestie 's Dominions But never untill this time could I Effect it and I hope seasonably when the Grounds and Reasons are considered which with all Humility I offer in a particular manner unto Your Lordship and Worship and the rather unto you than to any other Citizens in as much as ye were so eminently Instrumental in the Restauration of his Sacred Majesty and since in His Preservation From whom I have received sufficient cause to give Publick testimony of my thankfull Heart which the whole Kingdome also hath and to whom I worthily Devote my Self who next under God and His Sacred Majesty have preserved me with the Loyal ten-thousands from Ruine and Destruction and unto whom the Power and Possession of my Person belongs and therefore none more meet than Your Lordship and Worship to whom I might after the retirement to my Books commit the Care of this small Compiled work which asserteth the Duty of Subjects unto Kingly Power Ecclesiastical and Civil Government especially the Duty
in the judgment of the Law To alter the setled frame and constitution of the Government is Treason in any State Cicero Aut undique Religionem tolle aut usquequaque conserva Either take away Religion clean or preserve it in all points whole and sound Bracton l. 1. c. 8. The material Sword is put into the hands of the King by Almighty God lib. 2. c. 24. By the material Sword is meant Power and Right to look to the defence and preservation of the Kingdom and it is no less than Treason to enter into any Association or Confederacy without the King's Consent or against His Will By the KING His Majesty's Proclamation forbidding the tendring or taking the late Vow or Covenant c. WHereas We have lately seen a Vow or Covenant pretended to be taken by some Members of both Houses of Parliament whereby after the taking notice of a Popish and Traiterous Plot for the subversion of the True Reformed Religion and the Liberties of the Subject and to surprise the Cities of London and Westminster They do promise and covenant according to their utmost power to assist the Forces pretended to be raised and continued by both Houses of Parliament against the Forces raised by Us and to assist all other persons that shall take the said Oath which Oath as the same hath been taken without the least colour or ground the Contrivers thereof well knowing that there is no Popish Army within this Kingdom that We are so far from giving countenance to that Religion that We have always given and always offered Our consent to any Act for the suppression of Popery and the growth thereof and that the Army raised by Us is in truth for the necessary defence of the true Reformed Protestant Religion established by Law the Liberty and Property of the Subject and Our Own Just Rights according to Law All which being setled and submitted to or such a free and peaceable Convention in Parliament being provided for that the same might be setled We have offered and are still ready to Disband Our Armies and as the said Oath was devised onely to prevent peace and to pre-ingage the Votes of the Members of both Houses directly contrary to the Freedom and Liberty of Parliament and to ingage them and Our good Subjects in the maintenance of this horrid and odious Rebellion so it is directly contrary as well to their natural Duty as to the Oathes of Allegiance and Supremacy established by Law which obliges them to bear to Us Truth and Faith of life Members and Earthly Honor and to defend Us to the utmost of their powers against all conspiracies and attempts whatsoever which shall be made against Our Person Our Crown and Dignity and to do their best Endeavours to disclose and make known to Us all Treasons and Traiterous Conspiracies which shall be against Us and to their power to assist and defend all Jurisdictions Privileges Preheminences and Authority belonging to Us or united and annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm And whereas We are informed that some desperate seditious persons do endeavour to perswade and seduce others of Our good Subjects to take the said Oath thereby to ingage them and this Kingdom into a continuance of these miserable and bloody distempers We do therefore out of Grace and compassion to Our people and that they may not by any craft or violence suffer themselves to be seduced against their Duty and Conscience warn them of their natural Allegiance and their Obligations by Oathes lawfully administred to them and with them to remember the great Blessings of God in Peace and Plenty which the whole Kingdom hath received whilst that Dâ—ty and those Oathes were carefully observed and the unspeakable miseries and calamities they have suffered in the breaking and violating thereof And we do streightly charge and command Our loving Subjects of what degree and quality soever upon their Allegiance that they presume not to take the said Seditious and Traiterous Vow or Covenant which indeavours to withdraw them from their Natural Allegiance which they owe unto Us and to which they are or ought to be sworn and are bound by the Laws of the Land albeit they are not sworn and engages them in Acts of High Treason by the express Letter of the Statute of the twenty fifth year of King Edward the Third And We do likewise hereby forbid and inhibit all Our Subjects to impose administer or tender the said Oath or Covenant And if notwithstanding this Our Gracious Proclamation any person shall presume to impose tender or take the said Vow or Covenant We shall proceed against him or them with all severity according to the known Laws of the Land Given at Our Court at Oxford the one and twentieth day of June in the nineteenth year of Our Reign God save the King Antiqua fert animus-dicere From his Majesty's command and because our Government hath been and stands established by Kingly power which power I am not to question but perform what is commanded for the King ruleth absolutely and commandeth his people at his pleasure as the World and all things contained therein are tied in subjection unto the will of the Highest King Because the Statutes and Acts of Parliament which banished Popery out of this Kingdom did establish our Church-Government with the Ceremonies as Lawful and if we through weakness or perversness make Lawful things to be Unlawful Baxter that will not excuse us in our disobedience our error is our sin and one sin will not excuse another sin Because the King as God's Vicegerent is bound to maintain and advance the true Religion so far forth as the light of Nature can manifest it or Divine Revelation doth make it known unto Him yea a Christian King is a Law-giver above the Ecclesiastical Law-makers for with Him is Wisdom Power Righteousness Meekness Justice and Judgment Therefore we ought to acquiesce in the unanimous Votes of the King's Majesty The Honorable Houses of Parliament And the Venerable Convocation and all Powers and Interests ought to be fully satisfi'd whether in the decision of Controversies in Religion making Ecclesiastical Canons c. or any the like Ecclesiastical matters because they are the conjunct Votes of all the concerned The General Assembly in Parliament is the Common-Council of the Realm called together by the King for advice in matters concerning the whole Realm of which Assembly Lambard some be Counsellors by birth as the Barons by Succession as the Bishops by Election as Knights and Burgesses the King as the Head to give life The Barony consisting of Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commonalty made up of the Knights and Burgesses be as the Body to deliberate confer and conclude So that forasmuch as every man from the highest to the lowest is there either in person or procuration therefore of right reason every man is said to be bound by that which doth pass from such an Assembly
Church of Ephesus write ver 8. And unto the Angel of the Church in Smyrna write ver 12. And to the Angel of the Church in Pergamos write ver 18. And to the Angel of the Church in Thyatira write 3.1 And unto the Angel of the Church in Sardis write ver 7. And to the Angel of the Church in Philadelphia write ver 14. And to the Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans write ver 18. I counsell thee to buy of me Gold tried in the Fire that thou maist be rich and White raiment that thou maist be cloathed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear and annoint thine eyes with Eye-salve that thou mayest see Statutes PArl. 21. Edw. 1.1 Edw. 3. c. 2. 25. Edw. 3. c. 2. 12. Hen. 3. p. 23. 12. Hen. 7. c. 18. 19. Hen. 7. c. 1. 12. Hen. 8. 31. Hen. 8. c. 9.13 25. Hen. 8. c. 20. 2. Ric. 3.11 18. Hen. 8.1 Bracton c. 9.10 8. Eliz. c. 1. 25. Eliz. c. 3. Jacob 3.11 Canons 1604. Canon 33 34. 42 43 44 45 46 47.59 139 140 141. The End MAY 29. 1660. YE Angels great in power Protect Our Soveraign Charls the Lord's Elect. Let Monk be Blest with showers of Grace That hath Unveil'd His Royal Face Oh welcome welcome from Exile Your waiting Captives can't but Smile Our King by Wisdome hath Release Our suffering Charls the Prince of Peace All tongues without false hearts let Sing With warbling Notes God save the King MAY 30th HAst thou an Eye Then look on Majesty Three Kingdoms just Possessour In Seisin full In Re-assuming free Faith's fence and best Professour Let Heads and Tongues ' Mongst Salvage have their doom Their Heart-strings break with fear That Treason hatch Against our Spotless joy Or England ravish of her Kingly Sphere Instruments be Blest That opened our Eyes To see Deliverers that Catechize In Proditores September 1660. HEnce hence absent what is it your desire You Enginers Massacres to conspire Let only such as Love a Royal peace Such and their Fruit for evermore encrease Cease cease your thoughts contrive not Murders still Against a King of Peace ye worst of ill What ere you think our Duty is to Sing Glory to God Honour to the King God save the King W. W. THE OFFICE and CHARGE Belonging to the OVER SEERS OF The POOR Of Hospitals Bridewell and of Every Parish in pursuance of several Acts Of PARLIAMENT Give to him that asketh thee c. 35 Matth. 42. When I was an hungred yee gave me meat when thirsty ye gave me drink when a Stranger ye took me in when Naked ye Cloathed me when Sick ye visited me when in Prison ye came unto me 35 Matth. 35 36. The Poor yee shall have alwayes with you 12 John 8. Let all your things be done with Charity 1 Cor. 16.14 By W. Wasse School-master in Little Britain near unto Christ-church London Printed by W. W. for R. H. at the Bible in Heart in Little Britain 1663. THE OFFICE and CHARGE Belonging to the Overseers of the Poor c. Quest 1 WHat is the word Overseer Answ The Word Overseer is a distinction of Office a word of Antiquity not of Novelty a word of Excellency not of Indignity an Office beseeming the best of men not the worst of men 1 Chron. 23.4 Acts 20.28 Quest 2 What is an Overseer of the Poor Answ One placed over others to see unto them 1. To see what is to be done 2. To foresee how it may be done 3. To Oversee that it be well done 1. To imploy the Poor by Work 2. To Relieve the Poor by Money 3. To order by Discretion the wants of the Poor Quest 3 What men are fit to be Overseers of the Poor 1. Men of Honest Report 2. Men of Wisdom 3. Men of Wealth 4. Men of a good Conscience Quest 4 What men are not meet to be made Overseers of the Poor Answ 1. Such as complain of their being taxed too high for the Poor which give with grudging and pay with delaying 2. Such as will not be spake with at home when the Tax is to be gathered nor bring money to the Church to pay it but rather absent themselves from Church to defraud the Poor of their right 3. Such as spend all upon their Pride in Diet and Apparel beyond their degree but part with little to the Poor 4. Such as abuse the Overseers and out-face them to defraud the Poor 5. Such men as will pay no more then the Law compels them to alleging that there is a Law and by the Law they must live Quest 5 What should Overseers consider of in their Office Answ 1. To discharge their Office as in the sight of God who searcheth the heart and seeth all their actions 2. To avoid all malice and not to Tyrannize over the Poor The Naturalists observe that the Governour of the Bees is without a sting or useth it not though it have a sting 3. That their Office is not held by Patent but that they are as Tenants at will and as they do over-see so they shall be over-seen 4. That if any perish for want of succour through their neglect it is their sin 5. That what Beggars are licensed in the Parish according to the Law to continue them within their limits or else to punish them for their defaults 6. That if they shall tax ten shillings more by the week then is needfull and then give largely because there is enough it will but encrease the number of the Poor and nothing decrease the charge of the Parish 7. That they relieve not such as may forbear it because it is to nourish idleness to rob those that want it to wrong those that pay it and condemn them of oversight which dispose it 8. That to enquire after Poor is the way to procure Poor and some will sue to be Recorded for Poor that are able to contribute to the Poor and being Recorded raise scandal upon them if not the Curse of the Poor Quest 6 What is the Office of an Overseer Answ The Office of an Overseer is to Tax the Contributions for the Poor and receive the Donations and then discreetly to dispose thereof Taxing all men that are Inhabitants 1. According to Equality The middle sort not equal with the Rich and when every one is rated equally according to his Estate to see that every one pay their rates though there be sufficient besides for the Poor 1. For Example sake Lest others be backward in paying their due 2. For the good of the Inhabitants If any thing be left it will some what abate the taxation the year following Moreover if the weaker sort pay and the better able be undertaxed or forborn it is an injury 2. According to their Estates Which is not to be judged by reports that is the next way to make Poor maintain Poor For a man of 250 pounds Estate with no Children is
which he hath polluted by Perjury let him have no Communion with Christian men nor Portion with the Just but let him be Condemned with the Devil and his Angels eternally together with his Complices that they may be tied in the Bonds of Damnation which were joyned in the Society of Sedition Con. 4.5.6.10 Can. 74. VVhosoever of us or of all the People through all Spain shall go about by any means of Conspiracy or Practice to violate the Oath of his Fidelity which he hath taken for the preservation of his Country or of the King 's Life or who shall attempt to lay violent hands upon the King or to deprive him of his Kingly power or by Tyrannical presumption Usurp the Soveraignty of the Kingdom let him be Accursed in the sight of God the Father and of his Angels and let him be made and declared a Stranger from the Catholique Church which he hath prophaned with his Perjury The Oath of Supremacy I A. B. do utterly testifie and declare in my conscience that the King's Highness is the onely Supreme Governor of this Realm and of all other his Highness's Dominions and Countries as well in all Spiritual or Ecclesiastical things or causes as Temporal and that no Forein Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority Preheminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm and therefore I do utterly renounce and forsake all Forein Jurisdiction Powers Superiorities and Authorities and do promise that from henceforth I shall bear Faith and true Allegiance to the King's Highness his Heirs and Lawful Successors and to my power shall assist and defend all Jurisdictions Privileges Preheminences and Authorities granted or belonging to the King's Highness his Heirs and Successors or United and Annexed to the Imperial Crown of the Realm So help me God and by the Contents of this Book The Oath of Allegiance I A. B. do truly and sincerely acknowledge profess testifie and declare in my conscience before God and the World that our Soveraign Lord King CHARLS is Lawful and Rightful King of this Realm and of all other his Majesty 's Dominions and Countries and that the Pope neither of himself nor by any Authority of the Church or Sea of Rome or by any other means with any other hath any Power or Authority to Depose the King or to dispose any of his Majesty 's Kingdoms or Dominions or to authorize any Forein Prince to invade or annoy him or his Countries or to discharge any of his Subjects of their Allegiance and Obedience to his Majesty or to give License or Leave to any of them to bear Arms raise Tumult or to offer any violence or hurt to his Majesty 's Royal Person State or Government or to any of his Majesty 's Subjects within his Majesty 's Dominions Also I do swear from my heart that notwithstanding any Declaration or Sentence of Excommunication or Deprivation made or granted or to be made or granted by the Pope or his Succestors or by any Authority derived or pretended to be derived from him or his Sea against the said King his Heirs or Successors or any Absolution of the said Subjects from their Obedience I will bear Faith and true Allegiance to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors and him and them will defend to the uttermost of my power against all Conspiracies and Attempts whatsoever which shall be made against Him his or their Persons their Crown and Dignity by reason or colour of any such Sentence or Declaration or otherwise and will do my best indeavour to disclose and make known unto his Majesty his Heirs and Successors all Treasons and Traiterous Conspiracies which I shall know or hear of to be against Him or any of them And I do further swear that I do from my heart abhor detest and abjure as Impious and Heretical this damnable Doctrine and Position That Princes which be Excommunicated or Deprived by the Pope may be Deposed or Murthered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever And I do believe and in conscience am resolved that neither the Pope nor any Person what soever hath power to Absolve me of this Oath or any part thereof which I acknowledge by good and full Authority to be Lawfully ministred unto me and do renounce all Pardons and Dispensations to the contrary And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to these express words by me spoken and according to the plain and common sense and understanding of the same words without any Equivocation or mental Evasion or secret Reservation whatsoever And I do make this Recognition and Acknowledgment heartily willingly and truly upon the Faith of a Christian So help me God Two things in special are to be observed in this Oath 1. That the King receiveth his Authority onely from God and hath no Superior to punish or chastize him but God alone 2. That the Bond of Subjects in Obedience to his Sacred Majesty is inviolable and cannot be dissolved Bracton 20. years Chief Justice in the time of King Henry 3. There are under the King Free-men and Servants are Subject unto his Power as also whatsoever is under him and he himself is Subject to no Man but only unto God and no Man may presume Judicially to Examine his doings much less to Oppose them by Force and Violence St. Ambr. Kings are not bound unto Law because Kings are Free from the Bond of Crimes and are not called unto Punishment by any Law being Safe by the Power of Command Anonymus The people manifest the King to be their King but do not give unto him the right unto his Kingdome which is of the Lord's appointment By me Kings Reign The outward Unction not enferring upon Kings their Authority but used as a sign of Soveraignty So that the People making a King is not by giving him the Right of his Kingdome but by putting Him into the Possession of his Kingdome to Reign over them Succession and Lawfull Conquest are but Titles whereby Princes receive their Authority they are not the Original and Immediate fountain of their Authority Tertull. Inde illis est porestas unde spiritus Thence have Princes their Power whence their Spirit Irenaeus Cujus jussu nascuntur homines ejus jussu constituuntur Principes By God's Appointment By whose Appointment they are born Men by his Appointment are they made Princes God only makes them Kings and God only can unmake them and deject them from their Thrones King James's Royal assent to Church-Government We of our Princely inclination and Royal care for the maintenance of the present Estate and Government of the Church of England by the Laws of this our Realm now Setled and Established having diligently with great contentment and comfort read and consiâ—ered of all these their Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions agreed upon as is before Expressed and finding the same such as We
the Covenant from the nature of the thing doth include a Condition Now the King the Church of England the Church of Scotland nor the Parliaments of either Kingdom never gave any consent or Civil sanction to the Covenant but on the contrary have abolish'd all Laws made as illegall and unjust whereby we were bound to the keeping of it So that the Covenant doth not bind us nor our consciences to the observing of it otherwise no Laws could be altered by the Legislative Power The Unfeigned Assent and Consent of all Ministers I A.B. do here declare my unfeigned Assent and Consent to all and every thing contained and prescribed in and by the Book intituled The Book of Common-prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church according to the Use of the Church of England together with the Psalter or Psalms of David Pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches and the form or manner of Making Ordaining or Consecrating of Bishops Priests and Deacons By the Parliament of England 1662. A Declaration or Acknowledgment to be Subscribed unto I A. B. do declare that it is not Lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to take Arms against the King and that I do abhorr that traiterous Position of taking Arms by His Authority against His Person or against those that are Commissionated by him and that I will conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England as it is now by Law established And I do declare that I do hold there lies no Obligation upon me or any other person from the Oath commonly called The Solemn League and Covenant to endeavour any change or alteration of Government either in Church or State And that the same was in it self an unlawful Oath and imposed upon the Subjects of this Realm against the known Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom By the Parliament of Scotland 1662. A Declaration to be subscribed unto I A. B. do declare that it is unlawful for any to take up Arms against His Majesty or to enter in Leagues and Covenants without His Majesty And that all the late Acts of Committees and the two late Oathes called the Solemn League and Covenant and National Covenant are unlawful and no ways binding on any By the Parliament of Scotland Edinburgh Septemb. 5. 1662. A Declaration I Declare that I do judge it unlawful for Subjects upon pretence of Reformation or other pretence whatsoever to enter into Leagues and Covenants or to take up Arms against the King or those Commissionated by Him And that all these Gatherings Convocations Petitions Protestations and erecting and keeping Council-Tables that were used in the beginning and for carrying on of the late Troubles were Unlawful and Seditious And particularly that these Oaths whereof the one was commonly called The National Covenant as it was sworn and explained in the year one thousand six hundred and thirty eight and thereafter and the other entituled A Solemn League and Covenant were and are in themselves Unlawful Oathes and were taken by and imposed upon the Subjects of this Kingdom against the Fundamental Laws and Liberties of the same And that there lieth no Obligation upon me or any of the Subjects from the said Oathes or either of them to endeavour any change or alteration of the Government either in Church or State as it is now established by the Laws of the Kingdom 4. Incendiaries Malignants Because there are such expressions in the Covenant as are not to be found in any Oath that hath been taken in the Kingdom and for that the Laws of the Land are left out and not so much as once named 5. All Scripture-Covenanting from the Alpha unto the Omega thereof were commanded or chiefly acted by the Kings or the Chief Rulers and not one of the Covenants by the Elders of the People against or without the consent of the King 6. The Covenant is against Custome Usage Judicial Records and Acts of Parliament the King's Declarations and Proclamation and against all the Customs and Usages of all Nations in the world themselves being Judges and therefore ought not so much as to have been intended much less sworn unto Mr. Nye Such an Oath as for Matter Persons and other Circumstances the like hath not been in any Age or Oath we read of in Sacred or Human Story Iid. We are entring now upon a work of the greatest moment and concernment that ever was undertaken by any of Us or any of our Fore-fathers before us or our neighbouring Nations about us Henderson The Reformed Churches the Low-Countries our Noble and Christian Progenitors entred not into such a Solemn League and Covenant whence have we this Covenant then The dangers and pressures of the Kingdom of Scotland growing to greater extremity such as were entrusted with the Publick affairs of the Kingdom were necessitated to call a Convention of the Estates for considering of the present affairs And Commissioners were sent from both Houses of Parliament not from the King to consider with the Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland without the King what then Their consultations did in the end bring forth this Covenant When the Reformed Churches shall hear of this so neither the King nor the Reformed Churches were consulted with in this matter How then Salt-marsh The Covenant is a Divine Engine the godly have found out This is the first time the Sun saw such a confederation and therefore there should be as much Art used in preserving the Spirits of people as there was Art used in raising them up to this Height Coleman This is a new thing and not done in our Land before Ask your Fathers consult with the Aged of your times whether ever such a thing were done in their days or in the days of their fathers before them 7. 1643. 1641. The Covenant is diametrically opposite to the Protestation taken not long before wherein we have sworn That to our Power and as far as Lawfully we may we will oppose and by all good ways and means endeavour to bring to condign punishment all such as shall either by Force Plots Conspiracies or otherwise do any thing contrary to the true Reformed Protestant Religion established or against His Majesty's Royal Person Honor or Estate c. which was taken in Lawful things besides the Oathes of Allegiance and Supremacy which were taken Lawfully and in Lawfull things long before and so made all contrary Oathes unlawful to be afterwards either taken or kept St. Jerom. Now lay your hands upon your hearts consider and take the counsel of St. Jerom unto Ruffinus Never blush man to change thy opinion of the Covenant for neither you or I or any person living are of so great Authority as to be asham'd to confess they have erred Pym. As it is a crime odious in the nature of it to endeavour the alteration of the Government of the State so it is odious
J. Goodwin The Parliamentary Assembly in a Representative and Legal consideration is the whole Body of the Nation and of all the persons in it having the same Power and Authority by Law and in Conscience too to do every whit as much in every respect as the whole Nation and all the particular persons therein could have if they were met together All the Kingdom besides hath no such Power as they and things may be done very Lawfully and with a good Conscience by virtue of their Appointment and Command with the King's Consent which could not be done without it though a thousand times more men or persons than they are should command them Because the Council of the King consisteth onely of persons thereunto especially elected by Himself and thereunto sworn to serve Him with their faithful advice and counsel and whether they be Nobles or no it is not material seeing that the Calling cometh not by Birth Lambard but groweth by Election and be so incorporate with him as he speaketh by them and their Judgments are reputed to be His own Because the King and Governors substituted under him both Ecclesiastical and Civil excel in virtue by equity saving from injury and do maintain all in one indifferency of Right and Justice and therefore to be obeyed in what they shall command by all good Subjects J. Goodwin A man's consent to an Unlawful Power in an absolute and simple consideration is a meer Nullity and such a a Power never the more Lawfullized thereby Because the King in his own Kingdom is the onely Supreme Judge and bound by his Coronation Oath to be the onely Judge of his people as may appear by this one Question therein amongst others Lambard Facere fieri in omnibus judiciis tuis aequam rectam justitiam discretionem in misericordia veritate secundùm vires tuas Judiciis tuis vires tuas do more properly denote unto us his own doings than the doings of his subaltern Justices albeit their judgment be after a certain manner the Judgment of the King himself also from whence their Authority is derived Camero the Learned holdeth that in things pertaining to external order in Religion Kings may command what they will pro Authoritate and forbid to seek any other reason besides the Majesty of their Authority yea when they command frivola dura iniqua respectu nostri our consciences are bound not onely in respect of the end because scandal should possibly follow in case we obey not but also jubentis respectu because the Apostle bids us obey the Magistrate for conscience sake Eleutheriâ—s to K. Lucius Rex Dei Vicarius est in Regno suo The King is God's Vicar in his own Kingdom Because we have the testimony not onely of Antiquity but of Papists themselves in the days of Queen Elizabeth of ever blessed memory whose Church-Government was the same with ours now in being Guazzo If say they there be nothing to keep her meaning the Queen from Heaven but Her Religion no doubt but She shall go thither for I can tell you this that the most Learned men of the world are of this opinion that Her Religion is the high way to Heaven and if a Tree be known by its Fruits we doubt not but this Tree is good which bringeth forth such Fruits as the like are not to be found in the whole world again a Princess and now a Prince endued with such piety such purity c. that She and now He may be a pattern for all Princes to practise by Grave and Wise Counsellors referring all their thoughts and doings to God's glory their Prince's safety and their Country's commodity a well-disposed and orderly Commonalty ruled as much by Religion as Law obeying as well for conscience as fear continual peace and quietness which is a singular blessing of God and an undoubted sign that God liketh well of Her and now of His proceedings For as She so He banished Popery keeps the Ceremonies and maintaineth the Authority of Bishops To attempt to be the Authors of Combinations to extort by tumults the alteration of any part of the established Government Ecclesiastical or Civil is Treason and will lay such men open to the lash of the Law Stâ—w in vit H. 7. Bugnal Scot Heath and Kennington being Sanctuary men in St. Martins le Grand London had judgment to be hang'd drawn and quarter'd for setting up seditious Bills to the scandal of the King and some of his Council In vita Eliz. Penry Udal Barrow Greenwood Studley Billots and Bowdler were Condemned and three of them hanged for writing Treasonable and Seditious Books by which the Peace of the Kingdom might have been disturbed though no Rebellion followed Hollingshed in vit Eliz. Copping and Thacker were Hang'd at St. Edmonds-bury for publishing the Pamphlets writ by Robert Brown against the Book of Common-prayer How 's Chron. Mr. Williams Barrister of the Middle Temple was Executed in King James his Reign for writing a defamatory Book against the said King and his Posterity Because the Matter of Church-Government is far wide from every man's particular profession neither is it to be spann'd and fathom'd by the length and reach of ordinary discretion but requires great faithfulness gravity meekness and dexterity to restore Religion into her place and being placed there to keep it Because it is not a bare good intention or Zeal without knowledge that can justifie a good action much less an evil action it must be a mature knowledge that will warrant actions upon which our Customs are grounded now Customs are not to give place to men's Humors but men must resign their Humors to Custom nay to Government established by Law for our Government hath been long and often established and if there were a change we should never be at peace within our selves by reason of those humorous affections that are amongst us Because those that thwart the Government of the Church if left to themselves would be able to cross the King and encourage the people to Rebellion and thereby become unpeaceable proud obstinate disobedient self-will'd and contradict the Powers that be of God For can we expect Unity and Peace from those that have been so wofully divided amongst themselves and yet are unanimous against the Rites and Ceremonies Because it is a Jesuitical Opinion to hold that Princes must determine nothing in matters of Religion nor ought to encourage the Church For Riches tend much to strengthen the Clergy and preserve Religion but dissentions and divisions and exasperating of the King against the Bishops is the way to sow the seeds of another desperate War and by novelties and diversities make people grow weary and set loose to the practise of piety Paraeus Magistratus est Custos Religionis The Magistrate is the Keeper of Religion Cunaeus de Rep. Heb. Persaepe Spiritus Divinus Reges principesque Sacerdotes
that truth I once believed to be in them and of no power to convince the Church of England doth err either in Doctrine or Discipline which while I did believe I did not conform in any Circumstantial supposed error but was a Non-conformist with you upon the Reasons Scriptures and Authorities by you Urged Preached and Printed yet have I not at any time knowingly risen up against the Powers that commanded and enjoyned Obedience as they are Powers but upon the grounds aforesaid which grounds I have considered upon in more ripe judgment and find them not to be sufficient to warrant disobedience to the Higher Powers or to joyn with you in your determined Non-conformity having the eyes of my understanding better enlightned by the Divine goodness by Scriptures Reasons and Authorities the Confessions and Professions of the Churches abroad the Laws and equitable Constitutions of the Kingdom of which I am an unworthy Member besides what I have learnt from your own Writings of which formerly I was ignorant From all which Grounds Reasons Scriptures Authorities Writings c. I see not any cause to make further appeal nor know not of any higher search that can be made for the discovery of the truth Now that ye may the rather weigh and consider of what I have here offered to publick view after the satisfaction given hereby to my own conscience know that I am not a person under any temptation neither have I any Ecclesiastical Promotion to lose nor one that hath ever sought after or doth seek after Honor Advancement or to be preferred in the world though I might have had it for Swearing subjection unto an Usurping Power no I am a person studying to get my daily bread with hard labour labouring under great unthankfulness unjust and vexatious sutes and all-devouring scandals not mounted upon the uncogged wheels of prosperous fortune no the Plutoes of the world sons of violence rapine and spoil have cogged every spoak in my wheels I mean men who by force and power and other unjust practices have possessed themselves of all I have and have possessed it for more than ten years without an accompt or restitution which puts me in mind of an Historical Example not utterly to be despised of them The example of injustice is reported by one Antonius de Florentia an antient Doctor who tells us of a certain man that would not make restitution of his unjust gain alleging if he should do so his Children might beg or be sent to the Hospital The Father dieth in the same estate his eldest Son succeedeth and likewise will not restore The younger Brother demandeth his part of those goods and restoreth after the rate of his portion the rest that remained he gave to the poor and entred into the state of a solitary life Shortly after the elder Brother dyeth whereupon was shewed to the younger Brother living in chast contemplation this Vision following He seeth his Father and his Brother in torment one cursing the other the Father saying the Son was the cause of his damnation because it was for the love of him and enriching of him that he did not make restitution The Son he cursed and said that his Father was the cause of his damnation because he left him these ill-gotten goods the keeping whereof hath wrought his perdition Let such as have gotten ill-gotten goods in their possessions or are intangled with the iniquity of them apply this Example before it be too late and consider of Thespesius Fable in Plutarch He Fableth an infernal Vision of Souls like Vipers hanging on together did bite and gnaw one another Ob memoriam injuriarum in vita actarum Remembring old grudges and wrongs done in their life time here on earth keeping their hatred for ever Ovid. nec mors mihi finiet iras Though we be dead our malice shall not die I am sure such Caitiffs are of that Family who at the hour of death Lavat remittunt culpam non poenam Odia inimicitias quasi per manus liberis suis tradunt haeredes paterni odii Senec. They say I forgive all and in the Will and Testament bequeath their hatred and malice by Tradition to the hands of their sons and make them heirs of their fathers hatred Et astutam vapido servant sub pectore vulpem They appear in Sheep's cloathing but inwardly they are ravening Wolves Tuta frequensque via est per amici fallere nomen Tuta frequensque licet sit via crimen habet A safe and common way it is by friendship to deceive But safe and common though it be it 's knavery by your leave Now I return to our purpose I find it recorded of Dionysius Hallicarnasseus who was never advanced to Magistracy in the Roman Re-publick that he hath Written farr more truly the History of the Romans than those which Flourished amongst them with Riches and Honour So I hope you shall find from an Obscure person more of the truth concerning our established Government and reasons for the same than you have ever heard delivered or seen Written by most in Honour and Esteem amongst you Many of them being like the Franciscans of Old who at the beginning professed Conscientia losing a Syllable and Honesty with it fell to Scientia and now having lost two Syllables remain pure Entia Stocks and Images Such as these may well despise and reject these Reasons as of no worth and disdain to read them much more to own them and in hatred of my Name consider my Person and not the Weight that is to be found in every sentence in them though of so great concern as wisely improved would put a stay to the Reeling steps of many thousand Ignorant Unstable and All-concluding Souls What I have Written is necessary though by disowning of your Principles I seem to savour of Levity and Inconstancy but my reward is with me I know and am prepared for the Slanderous tongues of an Ungratefull and Miskenning world I reckon not what becomes of me or my credit in this World or what I have that is most dear unto me so God may be Glorified in me and by me it is not what men can Speak or may Write will dismay me it were better their pains were bestowed about their own Everlasting peace as others had better in former times to have bestowed the Labour they took to prove and perswade the Church of England did err in taking care they themselves had not erred in Doctrine and joyned Practice with it Departing from the Truths of God Rejecting the Book of Common-prayer and Teaching others so to do with great Judgment purposely framed as I believe out of the Grounds of Religion which we profess and hold for Agreement sake and that Scandal might be avoided in our Christian Divine Worshipping of God By means of which in former times great Mischiefs were presaged which came to pass in our days besides Perjury which did accompany all our Evils to
the undermining the Tribunals of Judgment and the Wofull disturbance of Church and State which the proudest Non conformist cannot Balk but must confess it is a Truth and that they have walked within the Enormous confines of their own Exorbitant desires and even as Atheistical Nullifidians have not regarded the Blood of a King like riotous Ruffians eating and drinking and taking pleasure therein adjoyning Criticks to justle out the truth of the Lawfull absoluteness of Kingly power practizing as the Scenical jesters do fast and loose without a Cordial subjection and obedience but being Covetous cried give give for a King to whom no Antheme was more pleasant than possession of 80000 l. Diotrephes like seeking for the Pre-heminence yet pretending to have the self-denying Virtue but Demas like did embrace the present now and at the same time while they did profess themselves lofty Favourites took a Pattern of Religion from Raviliack and cared not for a King so much as a Wildred promise a Promise that made a King of never Dying Virtues and Bishops of never Dying Fame troublesome to their queasie Stomacks The Devil they had rather have for their Father and Confessour by whom they were led to follow the bright Beams of Corruscant Gold and Silver that had with them Authority to make them turn Turn-coats yet ceased not Parasitically to profess and swear they Loved the King with all their Saul at that very time the Friperers of Power and Government were telling them so much Money as made those Mercenary Pensioners bow before they would break though they had a King of Power in their Hands able for ever to have made them and three Kingdoms happy if these were not Ideots going in the Pride and Presumption of their Hearts after the Gods of Gold and Silver let all Generations judge whose Faith was Spun so broad and whose Consciences were without Measure as the Corn in Egypt without Number let any who have had so great Convincing reasons as we have had Judge how likely they should be the only feeling and faithfull Members that made so great a Defection from Duty and Allegiance or with what Confidence we should rely upon their Pargetting Profession whose Pandects and Plagiaries have made their Mountainous thoughts to swell higher than any Mountain in their barren Country being a people more Lapped than Nichodemus who was ignorant of the Mysteries of the Gospel and came by night to Jesus for Instruction but these who professed they knew Jesus to be Christ the King of Jews and Gentiles came by night to their Annointed Soveraign Lord and King not for instruction but to betray him and Judas like sold him for Money the root of all Evil. Now consider if God was so severely wrath with David a King for the Death of Urias the Hittite that Dyed in Warr with others of his Subjects that God did threaten Him that the Sword should not depart from his House And tell me nay tell the whole World whether you think Private persons Subjects sworn in Allegiance to their undoubted Lawfull King if they shall treacherously Murther their King will go Unpunished of God shall not his Sacred blood be upon their Heads upon the Heads of those that have Slain a righteous King upon the Heads of those that put the Sword of Warr by their side at a time of tenders of Peace Can such be guiltless O tempora O Mores it is hard to Kick against the Pricks By this very thing let it be known to all Generations ye were Sons of Belial ye that might have prevented the Murther and did it not ye are guilty His blood be upon you and your Children and the Innocent let them be free Thus far I hope I have kept a good Conscience in what I have done and hope so to keep it whatsoever I suffer for this my Integrity when I was a Child I did as a Child and took the Covenant being traiterously mis-led by them that did pretend Zeal and Piety for which transgression I humbly plead the forgiveness of Our Dread Soveraign Lord King Charls the First I willingly forgive such mens taking the Covenant who keep it within such bounds of Piety and Loyalty as can neither hurt either the Church my Self or the Publick peace Otherwise than thus I have not kept it and therefore with humble boldness lay hold upon and plead my right unto and in the Act of Indempnity given and granted by Our Dread Soveraign Lord and King Charls the Second as my Salvo against all the false Rumours and Reports gone out against me unto which I humbly add the Admission under Seal from the Right Reverend Father in God Gilbert by the Divine Providence Lord Bishop of London which I doubt not but they are sufficient Indempnities for my first Oath that ever I took 1643. being in Nonage and under Servitude when I took it And when enlarged into freedome I took the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy 1648. and since never took any Oath in any kind whatsoever but in Obedience to His Sacred Majesty And therefore let those that would retort upon me the Covenant consider the time when it was taken by me and under what Jurisdiction I then was remember that one Grand objection against our Rulers brought by all Non-conformists as a reason to enforce the taking of it viz. that they were Wicked but now are Justified which Objection brought as a reason did much prevail upon the Hearts of multitudes of Ignorant Men Women and Children and upon my Self amongst others But had we been able wisely to have considered that the wickedness of the Rulers if any such there were did not make the truths of God a Lye and his Commandments of none Effect it might have been a good Premonition to us that profess our selves the true Members of the Church to have taken heed we had not fallen and carefully to have minded those that made it their business to creep into mens affections with entising Words and under pretence of Religious opposing Ceremonies and established Government Kill'd the power of Godliness Nevertheless as I have so still I do acknowledge many Godly men to be amongst those that do not Conform and sound Religion yet not more sound Religion as some formerly and now would perswade than is in them that Conform although some might then and may now seemingly be of a more holy Conversation Howsoever that was and is the Error of the Person not of the Government or Doctrine of the Church yet such themselves being Judges cannot but have Regret upon their Spirits for those desperate falls they have had in the Opposing of the Doctrine of our Church and our established Government The fall of Contempt and Disobedience unto that Divine Commandment Curse not the King no not in thy thought The breach of four great Commandments the 5 6 9 10. their joyning Violence with that they called truth and Cruelty with that they called righteousness too evidently
manifest by which things alone I might easily be Convinced of the Equity of an established Government and the Iniquity of them that did and do oppose it who knowingly so horribly did Violate God's own Laws which here I use as an Argument for my own lawfull and just Defence especially when I consider that the first Opposing of established Government was but the beginning of Evils which gave scope to Bloody Seditions And therefore by this my contending for the established Government with Subjection and Obedience to the King is that I may go the right way to meet Peace that I may be clear from the Blood of all men pure then peaceable From whence I inferr that it is better to Contend against you who have preferred your own Humors and Opinions before the Commandments of God and the King than to be at Peace with you You who have occasioned dangerous Schisms Seditions and Bloody warrs by which you clearly Evidence and Justifie the Authority of a Law in Church and State Under which Law had we acquiesced we had not been wrapped in such evil snares but by our Obedience removed much Evil and prevented the shedding of much Blood besides the good we might have done to others others whose Consciences by strange Doctrine and unparalleld Practice have been made Bold Erring Presuming Secure if not Seared who under a pretence of good Meaning attempted Unlawfull nay Sinfull nay Damnable actions which cannot be Justified or Excused For if a good meaning did or could justifie or excuse evil actions then they who killed the Apostles might be justified and excused because in so doing they thought they did God good Service How farr any of ye that have been Leaders in the Church of God through your good meaning if I may so say have been or are from Soul ruinating Scandal though ye might not intend any such thing let your own Consciences and the fearfull Effects of the late Warr give in Evidence for Conviction as it doth clearly manifest the danger of yielding to the first beginnings of Evil as also the danger of opposing established Government and teaching others so to do by Doctrine or Example Ye could not swallow Gnats of Ceremonies but Camells of Blood went down O Bellua Multorum Capitum These these things we should lay to Heart and be humbled for 〈◊〉 great Provocations and Defections from our Covenant made in Baptism our Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy for the breach of less Oaths than these we find the Romans branded from the time of the third Punick Warr our opposing of the established Government of the Church of England our loss of the Practice of Piety and this with all our Hearts and according to all our Powers to endeavour to help the wounded Church of Christ the cause of our Religion which suffers much at home and much abroad by our strange Doctrines Opinions and more strange Actions and this with the loss of our Credits and all that is dear unto us endeavouring all of us in our Places and Callings for the time to come to keep the Commandments of God and the King without declining unto the right hand or the left that so the Evils felt or feared for our former Disobedience and Rebellion may be removed and prevented and our Persons find acceptance with God through the only Merits and Mediation of our Great High Priest the Lord Jesus the Mediator of the New Testament to whom be Honour and Glory ascribed of us and all the Churches of God now and for evermore Scriptures whereby the fore-going Reasons are inforced Gen. 13.8 And Abraham said unto Lot Let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee and between my Herd-men and thy Herd-men for we be Brethren Gen. 47.22 Only the Land of the Priests bought he not for the Priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them wherefore they sold not their Lands ver 26. And Joseph made it a Law over the Land of Egypt unto this day that Pharaoh should have the Fifth part except the Land of the Priests only which became not Pharaohs Ex. 20.13 Thou shalt not kill Numb 8.14 Thus thou shalt separate the Levites from among the children of Israel and the Levites shall be mine ver 16. For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel ver 18. For I have taken the Levites for all the first-born of the children of Israel ver 19. And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel 26.9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel to bring you near to himself to do the service of the Tabernacle of the Lord and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them ver 10. And he hath brought thee near to him and all thy brâ—thren the sons of Levi with the and seek ye the Priesthood also Deut. 17.15 Thou shalt in any wise set him King over thee whom the Lord thy God shall chuse ver 18. And it shall be when he sitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdom that he shall write him a copy of this Law in a Book out of that which is before the Priests the Levites 23.21 When thou shalt Vow a Vow unto the Lord thy God thou shalt not slack to pay it for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee and it would be sin in thee Josh 1.17 According as we hearkned unto Moses in all things so will we hearken unto thee 6.19 But all the Silver and Gold and Vessels of Brass and Iron are consecrated unto the Lord they shall come into the Treasury of the Lord. Judg. 17.26 In those days there was no King in Israel but every man did that which was right in his own eyes 1 Sam. 15.17 And Samuel said When thou wast little in thine own sight wast thou not made the Head of all the Tribes of Israel and the Lord annointed thee King over Israel 16.9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by and he said Neither hath the Lord chosen thee 24.6 And he said unto his men The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my Master the Lord 's Annointed to stretch forth mine hand against him seeing he is the Lord 's Annointed 2 Sam. 5. And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-Gilead and said unto them Blessed be ye of the Lord that ye have shewed this kindness unto your Lord even unto Saul and have buried him ver 6. And now the Lord shew kindness and truth unto you and I also will requite you this kindness because ye have done this thing 1 King 7.51 So was ended all the work that King Solomon made for the House of the Lord 2 Chron. 15.8 9. And Solomon brought
in the things which David his father had dedicated even the Silver and the Gold and the Vessels did he put among the Treasures of the House of the Lord 2 King 23.5 2 Chron. 19.6 And he said to the Judges Take heed what ye do for ye judge not for man but for the Lord who is with you in the Judgment Ezr. 12.7 Artaxerxes King of Kings unto Ezra the Priest ver 13. I make a Decree ver 21. And I even I Artaxerxes the King do make a Decree ver 26. And whosoever will not do the Law of thy God and the Law of the King let judgment be executed speedily upon him whether it be unto death or to banishment or to confiscation of goods or to imprisonment ch 8.36 And they delivered the King ' s Commissions unto the King 's Lieutenants and to the Governors on this side the River and they furthered the people and the House of God Ps 82.6 I have said ye are Gods and all of you are children of the most High 47.9 The Princes of the people are gathered together even the people of the God of Abraham For the Shields of the earth belong unto God he is greatly exalted 51.4 Against thee thee onely have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight 88.20 I have found David my servant with my Holy Oyl have I annointed him Prov. 8.15 By me Kings reign and Princes decree justice ver 16. By me Princes rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the earth 24.21 My son fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change Eccles 8.12 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth that there be just men unto whom it hapneth according to the work of the wicked again there be wicked men to whom it hapneth according to the work of the righteous I said that this also is vanity 1.1 The words of the Preacher the son of David King of Jerusalem 10.17 Blessed art thou O Land when thy King is the son of Nobles and thy Princes eat in due season for strength and not for drunkenness ver 20. Curse not the King no not in thy thoughts and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber for a bird of the air shall carry the voice and that which hath wings shall tell the matter Jer. 33.20 Thus saith the Lord If you can break my covenant of the day and my covenant of the night and that there should not be day and night in their season ver 21. Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant that he should not have a Son to Reign upon his Throne and with the Levites the Priests my Ministers Dan. 2.27 Thou O King art a King of Kings for the God of Heaven hath given thee a Kingdom power and strength and glory Dan. 3.9 They spake and said to the King Nebuchadnezzar O King live for ever ver 10. Thou O King hast made a Decree c. 6.26 I make a Decree that in every Dominion of my Kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel for he is the living God and stedfast for ever and his Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed and his Dominion shall be even unto the end Mal. 3.7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine Ordinances and have not kept them Return unto me and I will return unto you saith the Lord of Hosts but ye said Wherein shall we return ver 8. Will a man rob God yet ye have robbed me but ye say Wherein have we robbed thee in Tithes and Offerings ver 9. Ye are cursed with a curse for ye have robbed me even this whole Nation ver 10. Bring ye all the Tithes into the Store-house that there may be meat in mine house and prove me now therewith saith the Lord of Hosts if I will not open you the windows of Heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it ver 12. And all Nations shall call you blessed for ye shall be a delightsome Land saith the Lord of Hosts Mat. 5.19 Whosoever shall break one of these least commandements and shall teach men so he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven but whosoever shall do and teach them the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven 26.52 Then said Jesus unto him Put up again thy sword into his place For all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword Mar. 6.27 And immediately the King sent an Executioner and commanded his head to be brought and he went and beheaded him in the prison 15.2 And Pilate asked him Art thou the King of the Jews And he answering said unto him Thou sayest it ver 15. And so Pilate willing to content the people released Barabbas unto them and delivered Jesus when he had scourged him to be crucified 23.12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together for before they were at enmity between themselves Joh. 19.15 But they cried out Away with him away with him crucifie him Pilate saith unto them Shall I crucifie your King The chief Priests answered We have no King but Caesar Io. 16.2 They shall put you out of the Synagogues yea the time commeth that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God service Acts 1.10 And while they looked stedfastly toward Heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white Apparel ver 20. For it is written in the Book of Psalms Let his Habitation be desolate and let no man dwell therein And his Bishoprick let another take 3.1 Now Peter and John went up together into the Temple at the hour of Prayer being the Ninth hour 4. ver 25 26 27 28. 29 30 31 32. Acts 8.14 Now when the Apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God they sent unto them Peter and John v. 15. who when they were come down Prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost v. 17. Then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost Acts 10.9 Peter went up upon the House-top to pray about the Sixth hour ver 15. What God hath cleansed that call not thou common 15.22 Then it pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas ver 23. And wrote Letters by them after this manner The Apostles and Elders c. 20.30 Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away Disciples after them Rom. 12.3 For I say through the Grace given unto me to every man that is among you not to think of himself more highly than