to go fight for them and their party against the King and his party which did oppose those ends But afterward you might see apparently that it was not from his evill Councell alone but it was from himselfe which did appear by his refusal to hearken to those many Petitions Declarations Remonstrances and other proffers made unto him from time to time Nay when his evill Councell was taken away he came not to his Parliament but did flye to the Scots Nay when he was in Prison and after notwithstanding they did condescend to a Treaty upon tearmes of disadvantage yet he held still to his principles which had they yeelded unto they had not onely lost the Cause for which so much blood and treasure yea innocent blood of Saints was shed and that in abundance but in all liklyhood they had brought themselves and the Kingdoms into a greater and worser bondage then before And besides they had broken their Covenant in so doing And afterwards when it did appeare that many in Parliament did act so as was against your fore-named ends and did side in yeelding to the King and his party then the Army was bound if it were in their power and so all that had taken the Coven went are likewise bound so far as their power did reach to apprehend them and bring them to their tryal that they might receive condigne punishment and that by their Covenant So as if it appeare that the Parliament still sitting the Army and godly party of the Kingdom did desire and act no other ways then fâ—r the glory of God in the Priviledges of Parliament and liberties of the Kingdome and in discharge of their Covenant then they are so farre from deserving blame for what they have done as they deserve incouragement and commendations for what they have done And that they have so done may be seen and judged the better we will set down the Covenant at large which is as followeth I. THat you shall sincerely really and constantly through the grace of God in your severall places and callings endeavour the preservation of the Reformed Religion of the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common enemies the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdome of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches and shall indeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion and Confession of Faith Forme of Church Government Directory for Worship and Catechising that we and the posterity after us may as brethren live in faith and love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the middest of us II. That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavor the extirpation of Popery and Prelacy that is Church Government by Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellors and Commissaries Deanes Deanes and Chapters Arch Deacons and al other inferiour Officers depending on that Hierarchy Superstition Heresie Schisme Prophanesse and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of godâ—inesse least we be partakers of other mens sins and in danger to receive of their plagues and that the Lord may be one and his name one in the three Kingdomes III. We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our severall vocations indeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the Priviledges of Parliament and the Liberties of the Kingdome And to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties person and Authority in the preservation of the true Religion and the liberties of the Kingdome that the World may bear witnesse with our consciences of our true Loyalty and that wee have no thoughts nor intentions to diminish His Majesties just power and Greatnesse IIII. We shal with al faithfulnesse endeavor the discovery of all such as have bin or shal be Incendiaries Malignants or evil Instruments by hindering the Reformation of Religion dividing the King from his People or one of the Kingdomes from another or making any parties for faction among the People contrary to this League and Covenant that they may bee brought to publicke tryall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the Supreame Judicatories of both Kingdoms respectively or others having power for that effect shall judge convenient V. And whereas the happines of a blessed peace between these Kingdoms denied in former times to our Progenitours is by the good Providence of God granted to us and hath been lately concluded and settled by both Parliaments we shall each one of us according to our place and interest endeavour that they may remaine conjoyned in a firme peace and union to all posterity and that justice may be done upon the wilfull opposers thereof in manner expressed in the former Article VI. We shall according to our places and callings in this common cause of Religion Liberty and peace of the Kingdomes assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant in the maintaining and pursuance thereof and shal not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by what ever combination perswasion or terror to be divided from this blessed union and conjunction whether to make defection to the contrary part or to give our selves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause which so much concerneth the glory of God and the good of these Kingdomes and honor of the King but shall all the daies of our lives zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition and promote the same according to our power against all lets and impediments whatsoever and what we are not able of our selves to suppresse or overcome we shall reveale and make knowne that it may be timely removed or prevented All which we do as in the sight of God Thus you have the Covenant at large that nothing may be hid but it may appeare to the Readers view now let us come to consider what may be the true meaning of it as might be in the minds of all that understand the nature of a Covenant that tooke it for every such person I suppose will observe the rule set downe by the Lord which is Thou shall sweare in truth righteousnesse and judgement and according to that let us looke seriously at the meaning of it and so much the rather because many that I suppose doe really seeke the good of the Kingdome are much stumbled about it fearing it is broken by those that have beene the most eminent Actors for the Kingdomes good and partly because those who should bee Incouragers of them that have so acted whose word goes far cry out against for the breach of Covenant and make it one of their strong holds 1. In the first branch first there is a promise and ingagement to maintaine the Scots in that Reformation in Religion in Doctrine Worship and Discipline Govâ—rnment which is exercised and practised among them
brought forth according to that maner and then if the King should then all those in Parliament that did side with him and endeavour to preserve him in that way and give him power so to doe in part or in whole must needs be dealt withall after the same manner or else the Covenant could not be kept and preserved 6. The Covenant bindes not onely to doe all this in your owne persons but to assist and defend all those that have taken the Covenant in their endeavours to maintaine it as aforesaid and this you will doe all the daies of your lives zealously and constantly against all opposition with all your power and if you cannot doe it your selves you will reveale it and that timely to those that may that so you may not be prevented of that great end you aimed at the glory of God the true priviledges of Parliament and the true liberties of the Kingdome and it must needs be thus or else another party that regard none of all these must pretend the Covenant that did maintaine the King and all other in their way which I hope you would abhor And now let us see whether the Parliament now sitting and the Army have broken this Covenant in this sense or not or whether they have not kept it and give me leave to joyn both together for they are both ingaged a like in what have beene done because allowed and approved of by both 1. And first they have defended the Scots against their Enemies and that notwithstanding their deserts to the contrary and did set them in such a posture as they might freely act their Reformed Religion in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government and have opposed them in the breach of Covenant which they did in many particulars according as the Covenant did binde them Also the Lord hath made them instrumentall so to act as that they have brought England into such a posture as they may have liberty to act freely in such a Reformation of Religion in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government as is according to the word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches and are about to set Ireland in the same condition and would be glad if Scotland would doe the like and they have opposed all those that have acted the contrary so far as in them lies according to this first branch of the Covenant 2. They have done as much as in them lies to extirpate Popery and Prelacie that is to say Government by Arch-bishops Bishops c. so that Hierarchy is to be abolished and for any thing is yet done they may endeavour to doe the like to all that shall be found to be contrary to sound doctrine and the power of godlinesse which is according to the second branch of the Covenant 3. They have with their estates and lives endeavoured to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament in their acting for the glory of God and the priviledges of the Kingdome and they have stood by and for them that have so acted and for the Parliament to act freely for the glory of God is their greatest priviledge and highest right and for the Kingdome to be set in such a condition as they may freely worship God and walke in their severall places and callings in the discharge of their duties according to the Word of God is the greatest liberty that can befall a Kingdome or Kingdomes and such a condition have they been instrumentall to set this Kingdome in at present and that the Kingdome might be eased of those burthens hath been their desire and endeavours by their Remonstrance and Petitions for many burthens to be removed and they have endeavoured it by their actings also and still they continue to be sollicitous that way and for the Kings Person they did defend it after they had gotten it into their possession and would have defended it still and his authority also if they could have done it in the preservation of the true Religion in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government and the Liberties of the Kingdome and also they would not have diminished his just power and greatnesse which was to be shewed forth in acting for the glory of God in the good of his Kingdomes but they kept his Person from putting forth his authority power and greatnesse in unjust waies and to the overthrow of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdomes in the Reformation of them according to the Word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches all which the Covenant doth binde them unto 4. They have indeavoured to discover Incendiaries Malignants evill Instruments that have hindred the reformation of Religion and sought to make divisions and also those that have made Factions and Parties among the people and have brought them to triall that they might receive condigne punishment according to the degree of their offences witnesse their dealing with Duke Hambleton Lord Goring Lord of Holland Lord Capâ—ll â—nd the chiefe of those that rose in Wales nay they have not spared the King himselfe so faithfull have they been in performance of their Covenant nor have they spâ—red any in Parliament that have acted that way 5. They have endeavoured that Justice might be done upon the wilfull opposers of the peace and union made between the Kingdomes witnesse their dealing with the Scots and those that adhered in that designe 6. They have assisted those that have stood in the performance and pursuance of this Covenant against all that have opposed them witnesse their dealing with the Scots when they opposed and with the King and with some in Parliament and with those parties before named when they opposed and as this may be said for the Army so the like may be said for the Parliament that now sit who have stood to owne them and have approved of what hath been done in these kinds by adding their authority to it And the like may be said of the godly part of people of the Kingdome who in their placâ— have showne themselves destrous those things might be done whereby the Covenant might be performed as hath appeared by their many Petitions so that those that are cryed out against to be Covenant breakers are those that have been the most faithfull in keeping their Covenant of any men in the Kingdome for the Parliament and Army have not effected these things but in hazard of their estates and lives and yet they have gone thorow with it in such a sort that the Generations to come may call them blessed and the present Generation especially the godly party of the Kingdome may say of the present Parliament and Army as they spake of Joseph Thou hast saved our lives And now let us examine their accusers which doe so cry out of the breach of Covenant and â—â—â—k arâ— many people by their so doing and see whether themselves have not broken the Covenant 1. They have been zealous for the preservation of that reformation of Religion here that
against all common Enemies so as if the common Enemy should disturb them at any time the Covenant bindes to go and helpe them if they stand in need as well as if we were of that Nation but it doth not at all binde us to their manner of Worship Discipline and Government neither could our Oath have beene lawfull if wee should so have sworne because we did not know their Worship Discipline and Government and so we could not have sworne according to the forenamed Rule but if we should have been so weake or sinfull to have offered to have taken such an oath you that professe to be our guides would not have suffered us so to doe and much lesse have incouraged and exhorted us so to doe as you did but to make it sure that your meaning might not be mistaken you adde that the Reformation you would endeavour in England and Ireland should be according to the word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches which doe clearly hold forth that your selves did doubt whether the Reformation of Religion that is in Scotland in Worship Discipline and Government be according to the word of God or not or whether it be according to the example of the best Reformed Churches and therefore you would weigh it and examine it and in that you did well and it was a good sure way for the people for by that meanes they might have liberty to try it before they did receive it and in so doing they might lawfully take such a Covenant for they might have the word of God to looke into and by that means they might try the Worship Discipline and Government whether it were agreeable thereunto or not and also might see thereby which were the best Reformed Churches for that is an unerring Rule And you adde you will likewise endeavour to bring the three Kingdomes into the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion I suppose your meaning is therein that England and Ireland should be endeavoured to be as one according to the Rule formerly spoken of which was sure and when you had attained that Reformation in the manner before spoken of you would carry it on with so much beauty in love humility and meeknesse and also by earnest prayer to God together with brotherly exhortation that you would win the Scots to come in and joyne with you in your way of Worship Discipline and Government and this is the substance of the first Article 2. To the attaining to this end you Covenant that without respect of persons you will endeavour to extirpate all persons and things that should hinder you in that forenamed Reformation and way of Worship as Popery Prelacy and their adherents and also whatever else that is contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of godlinesse and also that which will not conduce to your forenamed end and therefore you would doe here as David said Away from me ye workers of iniquity for I will keep the Commandement of my God And this was necessary for you to doe to have all the old Rubbish removed that you might the better lay a new foundation And this I take to bee the substance of the second branch of the Covenant and the summe of the first and great part of it the glory of God in the manner of his worship 3. That you will in like sincerity c. endeavour with your lives and estates the preservation of the Priviledges of the Parliament and the Liberties of the Kingdome and the Kings Majesties person and Authority But all these must be in the preservation of the true Religion and the Liberties of the Kingdome but I suppose you never intended their preservation no further so as you would preserve neither Priviledges of Parliament nor the person nor Authority of the King any further then it might appeare they would preserve Religion in that way of Reformation as is in the first Article And also the Priviledges of the Kingdome to the same end and indeed therein stands the Priviledges of the Parliament and the true Liberties of the Kingdome for that is a guide to both and the preserver of both for while wee preserve the honour of God we provide for both the other and there can be no true priviledge nor liberty nor safety assured without that for God is the preserver of all and he hath said Those that honour me I will honour and those that despise me shall be lightly esteemed so as the just power and greatnesse stood in the upâ—olding of that and if he went against that his power and greatnesse was not to be obeyed for wee should obey God rather then man and they that were urged to goe against a command of God by men have chosen rather to goe into the fire and into the Den of Lions rather then to obey Potent Kings when they were not able otherwise to shift for themselves and the like may be said of any in Parliament that should joyne to doe the like But your Covenant does directly binde you to stand for it in another way which was by force if you could and therefore you ingage your lives and estates for the obtaining of it so as if you have not ground out of the word of God so to doe your Covenant was a sinfull Covenant and then you had not need to cry out of persons for transgressing of it but had need to humble your selves for the taking of it and incouraging others so to doe for the Covenant as it is made in a true sense seems to me to be kept and more exactly by them that are cried out against for the breaking of it then by any of you that so cry out c. by the Parliament now sitting and the Army 4. You will with all faithfulnesse endeavour to discover all those that are Incendiaries and evill Instrumeâ—ts c. that shall be found to be hinderers of your Reformation of Religion as beforesaid by dividing the King from his people and the Kingdomes one from another and that you will bring them to triall that they may receive condigne punishment c. So as here you binde your selves to this to all whosoever they be if they doe either of these they must be brought forth to triall and therefore if the King or any party in Parliament or any other whatsoever shall hinder your Reformation as aforesaid by making factions among the people or factious the Covenant bindes to bring them to triall that they may receive condigne punishment according to the degree of their offences 5. You Covenant that all that wilfully oppose that union made between the Kingdomes upon the termes formerly expressed they must be dealt withall according to the manner expressed in the forâ—er Article and therefore I appeale to your owne consciences if the King did not oppose it wilfully in his not yeelding according to that manner as is formerly expressed and if he did then how could the Covenant bee kept if he were not
made the Parliament contemptible and torne them in sunder in one day to which it may be answered they have set the Parliament in such a condition that if the Lord be pleased to give them hearts to lay hold of it they may be more exalted and honoured then over Parliament was for they are in such freedome to act as never Parliament was before for they have no negative voyce to trouble or hinder them in going on in any good motion that God shall put into their mind or any other can helpe them to understand by informing of them and for their being torne in sunder I hope that is farre off for I hope they are joyned more sure together then ever and there appeares nothing contrary in their acting but they are more then ever and there is need they should having so many enemies to joyne against them and they so few that stand to act close for God in seeking his glory onely for being in such a condition as they are they have opportunity sweetly to accord and agree together and keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace they having obstructions removed as they have been and are Again it is said they have gone against the Law of God in what they have don in going against Magistrates and are such as God hath condemned under paine of damnation and so are like Caine and Corah and his companie and so are gathered together against the Lord and so to be taken as wicked men and rebells and as if Jehu like they murdered Kings under specious pretences For answer They have done the Law of God which saith whosoever sheddeth mans blood by man shall his blood be shed And thou shalt take nâ— recompence for the life of a murtherer for blood defileth the Land and the Land cannot be purged of the blood that is shed but by the blood of him that shed it so as what they have done in bringing such to tryall hath been their dutie to God the Covenant and Kingdome and therefore are not such as God will condemn but approve of and instead of going against Magistrates they have and do act for the upholding of them in their acting for God and therefore they may comfortably expect a blessing from God they being for God and their Covenant and so are far unlike Caine and Corah c. and therefore do not deserve the name of wicked men in their sence for they rebelled against the servants of the Lord to set up themselves and so have not these done yet Nor are they to be accounted as Rebells for they have been apprehending of Rebells and have been so far from going against them that have acted for the glory of God that they have acted for their peace and for the safety preferment and libertie not only of such of them as are in Parliament but for those that are al over the Nation and therefore may be called more truly Saviours then Rebells And for Jesuitish practises for private persons to murther Kings It is very evill to apply this to them for as hath been said formerly they were not private men but publick being set in publicke place by the highest Authoritie and what they did was far from murther for they did but bring him forth to Tryall which the Covenant did bind them unto and hee had his Tryall according to the power of the highest Court in the Kingdome and therefore they are not to be called murtherers of Kings nor in any degree to be held forth to be such as have done any such thing under specious pretences And whereas it is said they do that which they would condemn in others in possessing the Kings person and carrying him from place to place without and against the Parliaments consent and the like was in the removing the Parliaments guards and continuing new modells destructive to this and all other Parliaments with other acts of like nature Answer They have done that which I hope they would commend in others and charity binds me so to thinke for because that they did was good for for ceazing the Kings person was necessary for their own the Parliament and Kingdomes safety that so hee might not be at his own nor the Parliaments dispose at present while there were so prevalent a party for him which might have indangered all that which they had beene so long striving for and that had cost so much blood and treasure and that it was so appeareth in the Parliaments Declaration for they say there was a strong party to hinder the good of the Kingdome And for the removing of the King from place to place that was to the same end But whereas it is said to be against the Parliaments consent Answer it hath not appeared so for they did never send to the Army to have him out of their hands and besides they had him not so but the Parliament might have free accesse to him at their pleasure and had untill they voted they would have no more and yet afterward when their minds changed they had acccesse to him againe and such as might have hazzarded the good of the Kingdome and Cause and all and besides they offered no wrong to him all the while they had him in their custody and for removing the Parliaments guards what harme was in that or cause of complaint for the City was eased thereby of a burthen and charge for it was all one price for the Souldiers must have been paid if they had not done it and for the Parliament they never complained of it and for contriving new modells it hath been often answered it was but propounded but that that which was propounded was destructive to this and all other Parliaments I never yet understood but it was for the better carrying on of this and all other Parliaments and keeping them from corrupting and easing them of the burthen of sitting so long before they have any respit and setting the people of the Kingdome at liberty often in their choise that so if they be mistaken one time they may endeavour to avoid it in the next and so one Parliament may amend if others have done amisse and for other causes of the like nature and you may see they were mistaken in their thoughts of this Parliament being set a time but they sit still and those that propounded for their breaking up are content and I hope thankfull to God and them that they are content to sit and take pains for to settle the worke they have begun and made so great a progresse in and I hope I may say the like for many of the godly party in the Kingdome And it is further said it was once thought of them a matter of offence of a high nature to endeavour the destruction of fundamentall Lawes and to disswade the calling of Parliaments and the breaking up of Parliaments and to countenance Arminians and connive at Papists and now as if it were commendable in them to
be the mind of God they have done then I hope you will see that you have gone against the mind of God in what ye have done in this your accusation of them and that you have cause to be humble and give what satisfaction you can although I feare you cannot hardly be able to give satisfaction to the full And therefore it will not be amisse to consider what our condition was before the beginning of these troubles and what it hath been since You may remember before these troubles began there were many sore burthenâ— which lay upon the hearts of the honest party in the Kingdome which I suppose many of you if not all were sensible of I am sure if you were not some were so sensible of them that they chose rather to forsake their dear native Country and hazzard themselves in a wildernesse among wild-men and wild-beasts and many other sadde hazzards to themselves and families to be at freedome from them and injoy their liberties to honour God in his own wayes rather then to indure those burdens for they saw and you might see also that the whole law of God was violated in ahigh degree which stands in our duty toward God in knowing and worshiping of him in a right manner according to his Word and in our duty we owe to men with whom we have to deal which in sum is that our Saviour tels us is the fulfilling of the whole law and in these are the priviledges of all those that fear God that they may injoy both these as God doth require and you being hindred in both these your burdens were insufferable but we had no remedy but your only hope under God lay in a Parliament to helpe to right us and releive us in this condition and therefore our desires were earnest for a Parliament which through many difficulties the Lord was pleased to grant us and then you thought you had a power to countervaile that power which before did oppresse you which made you conceive by this means you might be set at liberty from your fore named burthens and procure a freedome in both to act for the glory of God but when it came to the pinch you know what was done by that power which did hold you in bondage what plotting and contriving there was against that power which should act for your liberty as hath appeared by many Declarations of Pâ—â—liament that they were such as tended to bring in Popery and Tyranny And it doth appeare further by their late Declaration of the 18 of January last where it appeares they sought unto the King by making their complaints to him by humble Petitions and Remonstrances and Declarations but all in vaine and the obstruction did continually flow from the Kings immediate designe which did appeare in what he did offer to the English Army and also to the Scots as to give them the four Northern Counties and the plunder of the City of London as appears in the sixth page of the fore named Declaration And further it appeares in that he did in Ireland as there it appears And further his withdrawing from the Parliament and setting up his Standard against it and then they being in such a condition they were fain to raise an Army and then seeing in what manner they were opposed and fearing the people might be drawn aside they did enter into a Covenant themselves and caused the people so to do that by this they might have a strong tye upon them to bind them to do that they were in duty bound to do which was to hold for the glory of God to maintain that in the Priviledges of the Parliam whereby the Law of God might be preserved which caused the most part of the godly people in the Kingdom to be willing to enter into that Covenant and I hope it was that you aimed at in perswading and stirring up the people so to do and therefore the Covenant was taken to that end and must be so taken if lawfully taken according to the rule which we must sweare in Truth in Righteousnesse and Judgement and therefore there must not be a Covenant that any part thereof should crosse that end so as the King and his party must be preserved to that end and no further and the Priviledges of Parliament and the liberties of the Kingdome must be preserved for that end and no further for all must stoop to that maine end the glory of God because therein consists all our Priviledges and peace and what ever else is good So as if the King or Parliament in part or in whole or any other person or persons whatsoever will go contrary to that end the Covenant binds to take them to be enemies to God and the peace and Priviledges of Parliament and Kingdome For it may be said as sometime Jehu said to Jehoram what peace can there be c. So we may say what peace can there be so long as Idolatry or oppression remaines or is sought to remaine in the Kingdome And the Covenant does bind all that have taken it to do their utmost to bring all such to tryall that they may receive condigne punishment and that with their lives and estates and not only so but they must aide and assist all those that doe take and bring any such to tryal to receive such condigne punishment as shall be according to their deserts And therefore if the King will go contrary to that forenamed end the glory of God wherein stands the Priviledges of Parliament and the peace and liberties of the Kingdome he must be brought forth or if any in Parliament will do so they must be brought forth or any other person whatsoever for there is none excepted in the Covenant And therfore you preached curse you Meroze because he came not out to helpe the Lord against the mighty and therefore your aime was against them principally aske conscience if it were not them for who could have carried on that designe but those and you did well so to do and to minde the people of their Covenant And however then your breadth of charity was such as you might think the King was led by evill Counsell at those times and therefore you might thinke to preserve his person if it could and might appeare it was so really but however you were resolved to go on in acting for the glory of God therein for the peace and liberties of the Kingdoms to free them from their former burthens and therefore he being among them if he would continue among them they must go out as well against him as against any other and he might fal by a bullet or a sword as well as any other nay there was more cause to go against him then against any one man because he was the only man able to carry on such a designe by his Authority And for the Parliament because you saw nothing but that they did act for those ends you did incourage people
them they being but private persons To which may be answered they had beene acting according to the Covenant which they had incouraged them to take and now they were to act in a higher degree in it and therefore it was beseeming them to call them to desire a consultation with them who had formerly incouraged them so to doe But whereas they pretend they were but private persons it appeares they were publicke persons and set in high publicke place and that by the highest Authority in the Land and therefore it would have beene no disgrace or unbeseeming thing for Ministers of the Gospel to have gone to consult with them nor would it have necessitated them to have beene partakers with them in sinne if they could have seene any for they might have witnessed against it and they might have counselled the contrary and so might have prevented sinne if the way they went in had beene sinfull which doth not yet appeare but the contrary but they were doing their duty and that according to their Covenant Againe they say they had gone against a direct Rule of the word of God It may be answered they did that which the word of God does require by your owne confession for they were performing of the Covenant and Oath of God which was upon them as may appeare in that which hath been formerly said in the matter of the Covenant in maintaining the Parliament in a free condition to act for the glory of God and the liberty of the Kingdome in apprehending Delinquents and bringing them to triall that they might receive condigne punishment according to their deserts and so to remove them that would hinder them in their so acting all which they are bound unto by their Covenant And whereas it is said they did that which was out of their sphere and so made themselves guilty of sinne but they did that which was in their sphere for they did that for which they were raised and sent out at the first which was to preserve the Parliament in such a way as they might act freely for the glorie of God and therein for the libertie of the Kingdome in the removing of those persons and things that might hinder them in their so acting as have formerly been said and therefore they were not guilty of sin in their so acting And whereas they seeme to charge them with former miscarriages if you meane their not disbanding when they were bidden It may be answered it had been ill for the Kingdome as well as for themselves if they had so done and it may be considered if it had not beene unreasonable they should have so done they not having their wages which was their just due nor an act of indempnity for what they had done in the extremity of the Wars against some Lawes of the Kingdome for which their lives might have been taken away and beside were they not exceedingly provoked when for desiring these things which were but just and equall they should be accounted enemies to the Kingdome if they did persist in so doing Againe it is said in their late acting they have resisted lawfull Authority especially in their Remonstrance To which may be answered that the Remonstrance was in way of proposalls in some things and the rest was that which they might conceive was their duty grounded upon the word of God and also upon the Covenant in performance of that for they might perceive evill instruments had beene working and had brought their design neare to a period against the glory of God priviledges of Parliament and liberties of the Kingdomes nay to the ruine of them all as much as men were able to doe which they were bound to discover and hinder as much as in them lay and that by their Covenant which they faithfully did And whereas it is said they opposed the Parliament It may be answered they did not oppose the Parliament that acted for the end for which they were chosen and sent which was for the glory of God and the Priviledges and liberty of the Kingdome for they did that which they have approved of since witnesse their Declaration of the 18 of January for they have set them at liberty so to act by removing those that did hinder them in their so acting which was their duty so to doe and that for which they were raised and sent out at the first and to which the Covenant does binde And whereas it is further said they seized and imprisoned the King without the consent or knowledge of the Parliament To which it may be answered for his imprisonment it was before they seized him and for their seizing of him it was the Kingdomes safety and their owne also that so no greater misery might come upon the Kingdome nor upon themselves for they might perceive there was an evill affected party in the Parliament that might prevaile and so joyne with him and so things might bee brought into a worse condition then they were before the Wars began and themselves the godly party in the Parliament and Kingdome might have hazarded to have been destroyed which being perceived by them they were bound to prevent it and that by their Covenant And for its being done without consent of Parliament if we take the Parliament for those which according to their trust committed to them did act for the glory of God and the liberties of the Kingdome and if they did not consent before to it yet it shews they were willing it should be done because they have never declared openly against it but have approved of it as it doth appear by their Declaration of the 18 of January And whereas it is said they offered violence to the Members of Parliament hindring them from sitting in Parliament and imprisoning some of them though knowne to the Ministers to be of eminent worth and integrity It may be answered the violence was onely keeping some of them backe from sitting in the House the reason was they saw them to be such as had voted against the honour of God the priviledges of Parliament the liberties of the Kingdom and that hath appeared in that they voted to that which since hath been unvoted again being such as was dangerous to the priviledges of Parliament and the liberties of the Kingdome and declared so to be by the Parliaments Declaration of the 18 of January and so they did not keepe them backe as Members of Parliament but as acting very dangerously against the Parliament and Kingdome And howsoever some of them might formerly be knowne to the Ministers to be of eminent worth and integrity yet this act of theirs did appeare otherwise to them that with an impartial eye look upon it but for some of them they had been accused and were faine to forsake the Parliament and yet they were brought in againe by a strong disaffected party that were in Parliament against the minde of those that acted for the glory of God and the true liberties of the
Kingdom which afterwards was declared to be of dangerous consequence as tending to the destruction of Justice and the peace of the Kingdome witnesse the Parliaments Declaration of the 18 of January and likewise many other Votes after they came in as there it doth appeare and therefore there was a cause some of them should bee imprisoned and be brought to their triall and so it was that the Covenant binds unto Another thing they lay to their charge is the framing a new moddel of Lawes and Government which is against the lawfull Authority that God hath set over us contrary to the obedience we do ow unto them and those manifold oaths and Covenants we have bound our selves to render to them and against the Law of God also For answer to this is it against our Oaths taken or against the lawfull Government or against the authority of Magistrates for men to propound their apprehensions to them when they are set in place to make Lawes so as they leave them to themselves to consider of let the impartiall Reader judge and this is all that is yet done for there is none of these things forced yet and therefore for any to charge them with it yet is to judge before the time and so against that rule which bids us judge nothing before the time and against the rule of charity that thinketh not evill It is further said they have no colour of legall Authority but meerly upon presumption of strength to attempt these changes To which it may be answered as to what they have acted by way of Authority they have a reall authority so to act for they have it from the highest Authority in the Land and it is manifestly knowne and for their strength it was raised as is manifested before which was for the defence of the Parliament that they might act freely for the glory of God and the true liberties of the Kingdome anâ— therefore they need not act from presumption but from faith grounded upon a promise that being their way and in his also they might looke for protection and preservation for he hath promised to keep us in all our wayes and he hath done so to this day and will so doe if they seeke his glory as their end and walke in his way as the meanes It is further said they have gone contrary to their trust which was to preserve the Parliament Religion and liberties of the Kingdome and the Lawes To which it may be answered that which hath beene said before might be sufficient but we may say they have done according to their trust and if they had not done what they did they had gone contrary to their trust indeed for that was the great trust for which they were raised to preserve the Parliament in acting freely for God and so for Religion and the liberties of the Kingdome which else might have beene destroyed and as hath appeared by what hath beene said many times before this they have done in their late actings and therefore they have shewed themselves faithfull and trusty in what they have done in performing their ingagements Againe it is said their violence they offered to the Parliament did exceed that of the Kings by far For answer to this consider the violence pretended by them offered here was because they kept out some persons that were a hindrance to the Parliament in their acting freely for the glory of God in the liberties of the Kingdome and such as had acted against the glory of God and the true liberties of the Kingdome witnesse the Parliaments Declaration of the 18 of January by acting in those votes there mentioned contrary to what had been voted before and were such as when the Parliament was set free to act they were fain for the Kingdomes good and safety to unvote againe but that of the King was in demanding those that did appeare to be most active for the glory of God and the good of the Kingdome And againe that which the Army did they were bound to doe by Covenant as will appeare if what hath been said be considered but what the King did was manifestly against it also that which they did was their duty to do as the cause then stood that which the King did was that which he ought not to have done so as the violence the King did offer did as far exceed theirs as a man that goeth directly contrary to that which the word of God calls for and a man that goes directly to do what the word of God does enjoyn and therefore the Army did what in conscience they were bound to do and what the King did was that which in conscience hâ— should not have done It is further said they have usurped Authority over King and Parliament To which it may be answered for that of the King they were set in authority to doe it and the Covenant did binde them to doe what they did and so no usurpation and the like may be said of what they did to those of the Parliament so as they have neither gone beyond the authority that was given them nor contrary to the end for which it was given them if that which hath been formerly said be well weighed and therefore far from usurpation It is said they intermeddle with things that belong not unto them for answer it may be said they did what belonged to them to doe that which they did being necessary to be done for no other could have done it because they were not able and it being in their power to doe it they were bound to doe it by the Covenant what they did to the King and those Members of Parliament and what they did in their proposals was lawfull for them to doe in the way they did it that so they might communicate their thoughts to the Parliament thereby and I never heard that the Parliament did finde fault with them for so doing nor so upbraid them as you have done and yet I thinke it belonged more properly to the Parliament to do it then to you It is further laid to their charge that they effect that by power which the Laws of God Nature and Nations doe not allow for answer you allow the Parliament might take up Armes against the King and his Party for their owne defence which doe warrant them in what they have done because what they did was in subordination to the Parliament as owning them to be above them for it is plaine what justice was executed upon the King or hath been upon any other except that which doth properly belong to them as Souldiers hath been done by the authority of Parliament they did but bring them to Triall which the Covenant did binde them to doe and they have not hindred the Parliament much lesse usurped authority over them but they have done that which your selves acknowledge they were raised to doe which was to preserve the Parliament from the King and such as were evill disposed and so
evill instruments nor have the Parliament declared against them any such thing nor shewed any dislike in what they have done but rather justifie what they have done by their Declaration and this the Covenant calls for and therefore they are not so to be charged And whereas it is said they offered violence to the Person of the King contrary to the intention of the Parliament in taking up Armes and that they divested him of his regall Authority to which it may be answered when the Parliament first tooke up Armes the breadth of their charity and tendernesse of his honour was such as made them to thinke possibly he might be led chiefly on only by his evill Counsellors and yet they were more tender over the honour of God and the priviledges and Liberties of the whole Kingdome and therefore they raised an Army to go against him if he would oppose that but if he would forsake those wayes he went in and come and joyne with them for the honour of God and the good of the Kingdome they intended no violence to his Person but if he would not nor they could not obtaine it no other way then they resâ—lved to offer violence to his Person for their raysing an Army and sending them out and keeping them in the Field against whom was it but against his Person and Authority for who could have been able to have carried on such opposition but he And besides he was among them in person and therefore as subject to the Bullet and Sword as another man but afterward when many apparent grounds were that it was not from his evill Counsellours alone but from himselfe as appeared when his Cabinet was taken and after when his evill Counsell was gone he went to the Scots and would not come to his Parliament neither hath he yeelded since as hath been said before so as they who will not bee willfully blinde may see the Cause was otherwise and that which was done was necessary and according to the Covenant to divest him of his regall authoritie for the cheife ground did still remaine as at the first for the glory of God and the Priviledges and true Liberties of the Kingdome must be maintained which could not have been don otherways witnesse the Parliaments Declaration of the 18th of January and they knew better how the State-affaires stood then you and we doe besides consider what is said in Mr Cookes booke and it will appeare plainly And againe it is said they being private persons seeke to overthrow and subvert the fundamentall Laws of the Kingdome For answer to the first their being private Persons consider what hath been said formerly and for overthrowing the fundamentall Lawes of the Kingdome that is not so for the contrary is declared by the Parliament for they have said they will maintaine them what the Armie did was in proposalls as hath beene said formerly and so they are not subverted and overthrowne Againe it is said their doings are licencious tending to the subversion of Religion Laws and Liberties of the Kingdome Answer The doings of those especially that your Letter is directed unto have not been irregular if what hath been formerly said be weighed much lesse licencious so far as they have yet acted nor have they been to the subversion of Religion c. but they have acted to the preservation of all while they have set the Parliament in such a condition as they may act for the preservation of them all It is said they have gone against their Oath and Covenant in what they have done For Answer That may suffice that is said formerly they have been so far from going against them that the Parliament and Army have kept them better then any in the Kingdome for they have performed what the Covenant desires in a high degree It is againe said they are fallen into such a condition as they should not be bidden God speed nor be wished well in the name of the Lord. Answer What some dare or will doe I know not but they have acted and kept the Covenant so faithfully of late as the Parl. and Kingd especially the godly party in the Kingdom have cause to blesse them in the name of the Lord and to pray for them for we may not only say Instrumentally they have saved our lives but our families and estates that we have but they have been Instrumentall also to save our liberties and which is most of all our Religion in a more free and full injoyment of it more then ever before and this by their late actings for without this all the former blood and treasure had been lost and the Cause and all the Kingdom left in a worse condition then before It is said they feare they are opening a doore to damnable Errours Heresies and licentious wicked practises For Answer I doe not see Cause so to thinke much lesse to speake but least of all to write so for love thinkes no evill nor dares not except it have manifest witnesse and we are commanded to judge nothing before the time which Rules I conceive are broken in a very high degree being divulged to the world especially against persons as are in such places and of such deserts Againe it is said Religion is made to stinke by reason of their miscarriages and the faces of Gods servants covered with shame and their hearts filled with sorrow and griefe for it It may be answered Religion may be made beautifull and it and the people of God made a sweet savour unto God by their meanes for they have been a meanes to set them at liberty that have power in their hands to give liberty to the people of God so to doe and therefore so far from having their faces covered with shame as they may look their enemies in the face with boldnesse and so far from having their hearts filled with sorrow as there is cause they should be filled with joy and gladnesse to thinke that now those in Parliament may act freely for God in setting his people at liberty to serve him according to the Rules of his Word and the example of the best Reformed Churches and that they may act freely also in the execution of justice between man and man without feare and without partiality and also for any other thing for freedom and liberty of Parliament and Kingdome Againe it is said the golden cord of Government and Authority of Magistrates is broken and laid in the dust by them for answer it is so farre from being broken and laid in the dust by them that it is exalted and made strong by them for they have been a meanes to set them in such a posture they need not to feare but be bold and couragious in acting for God and his glorie and be bold in the true execution of Justice and you know Justice exalteth a Nation so as there is a way made by them instrumentally to the exaltation of the whole Nation Againe it is said they have