find answered by the University of Oxford and seconded by the University of Cambridge The King told his Parliament March 19. 1603. The third which I call a Sect rather than Religion is the Puritan and Novelist who do not differ so far from us in points of Religion as in their confused forms of Polity and Parity being ever discontented with the present Government and impatient to suffer any superiority which makes their Sect unable to be suffered in any well governed Common-wealth And it is one reason why Grotius was so condemned for a Papist among this people because in his Book de Anti-Christo he hath left this Character of them Circumferamus oculos per omnem historiam quod unquam seculum vidit tot subditorum in principes bella sub religionis titulo horum concitatores ubique reperiuntur Ministri Evangelici ut quidam se vocant quod genus hominum in quae pericula etiam nunc opti mos Civitatis Amstelodamensis magistratus conjicerit videat si cui libet de Presbyterorum in Reges audacia librum Jacobi Britanniarum Regis cui nomen Donum Regium videbit eum ut erat magni judicii ea praedixisse quae nunc cum dolore horrore conspicimus I will give it you presently in that Kings English But the King giving them a fair hearing in the conference at Hampton Court partly by his Arguments and partly by his Authority suppressed them for that time Yet this restless people so incensed him by their murmurings and reproaches that he frequently in his Writings and Speeches in Parliament professed both his jealousie of them and caution against them in his Preface to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These rash heady Preachers says he think it their honour to contend with Kings and perturb whole Kingdoms and p. 41. 42. Take heed my Son to such Puritans very Pests in the Church and Common-weal whom no Desert can oblige neither Oaths nor Promises bind breathing nothing but Sedition and Calumnies aspiring without measure railing without reason and making their own Imaginations without any warrant of the word the square of their Consciences I protest before the great God and since I am here as upon my Testament it is no place for me to lye in that ye shall never find with any Highland or border Thieves greater ingratitude and more lies and vile perjuries than with these Fanatick-spirits and suffer not the principles of them to brook your Land if ye like to sit at rest except ye would keep them for trying your patience as Socrates did an evil Wife The good King Charles found this Prophecy to be true for notwithstanding all the care that himself and Arch-bishop Laud who apprehended the approaching danger to suppress them in so much as that Mr. Baxter says in that 7. § That the old Non-conformists being most dead and the latter gone most to America we cannot learn that in 1640. there were many more Nonconformists Ministers in England than there be Counties if so many the Wolves be like had got on the Sheeps Cloathing and not being able to ruine the Church by open force seek to undermine it by secret Arts being got within the Pale In 37. says Mr. Baxter Arch-bishop Laud using more severity than formerly and the Visitations inquiring more after private Fasts and Meetings and going out of their Parishes to hear And in many Places Lectures and Afternoon Sermons being put down which was done only where Faction and Sedition were Sown and there Catechizing a much more useful exercise was injoyned in its room by these things and some other which he there mentioneth the minds of Men were made more jealous than before and fears and jealousies were made the grounds of the War the King and Arch-bishop being reported to be Popishly affected though they both as well in their Life time as at their Deaths gave irrefragable Arguments for the contrary sealing the truth of their Professions with their Blood And after the Imprisonment of some the stigmatizing of others and the removal of many beyond the Seas all which both many and some amounted not to above Three or Four whom though the Parliament received in Triumph and plentifully rewarded yet they found them to be turbulent Persons viz. Prin Burton and Bastwick for I hear not of any removed beyond the Seas by authority these were the causes of Alienating the peoples Minds from the Bishops and made them afraid of Popery more than before and so it is still any restraint from Faction is Condemned for Popery Mr. Baxter tells us there of another Intregue Then was the New Liturgy imposed on the Scots with other changes there attempted which were the resuming of some Lands belonging to the Church and Crown which had been Sacrilegiously withheld during a great part of King James and King Charles's Reign with the fear of losing the Tithes that some great Men there detained from the Clergy whereupon the Scots Armed and Invaded England and some English Lords saith Mr. Baxter took advantage to prevail with the King to call a Parliament once again And here doubtless was the beginning of the War the Scots and such English as were in confederacy and had agreed upon a Covenant for Reformation being the first Aggressors But let Mr. Baxter proceed The Irish observing it is like how the Scots thrived in their Rebellion on Oct. 23. 1641. rose and murdered 200000. Persons and Mr. Baxter is not ashamed to say the News was here reported that they said they had the Kings Commission just as much as the Parliament had to fight by his Authority against his Person whereupon the Parliaments Declarations raised in multitudes of the people a fear that they had partakers in England and when they had done their work there they would come hither And mark the consequence there was no way of safety but to adhere to the Parliament for their own defence i. e. to strengthen the War against the King And in 42. says he the lamentable Civil War broke out but between whom did the Bishops fight against the King or against one another or against the Parliament no such matter How began the War then Mr. Baxter says the Houses of Lords and Commons consisted of such as had been Conformists except an inconsiderable number Some number then were apparently Non-conformists and it seems they had infected many others for Mr. Baxter says they were such as had been Conformists they were not so when the War began and N.B. their fear of being over-powr'd by the Loyal party of whom they thought themselves in sudden danger caused them to countenance such Petitionings and Clamours of the Londoners Apprentices and others as we think disorders and Provocations of the King This doubtless was a beginning of the War of which see the Kings complaint in his Ch. of Tumults Mr. Baxter says farther the first open beginning was about the Militia which by an Act of Parliament is thus determined That the
being established it is his will the Truth should be defended by Action in resisting Tyrants and John Goodwin said as bad of the Doctrine of resistance Mr. Robert Blaire told his Auditors Beloved the Lord hath forsaken our King and given him over to be led by the Bishops the blind brood of Anti-Christ who are hot Beagles hunting for the Blood of the Saints Nor can I forget Mr. Douglas's Sermon at the Coronation who turned the Pulpit into a Scaffold and Acted the Martyrdom of the Father in the sight of the Son After these Scottish Pipes did too many English Presbyters dance whose Sermons were Satyrs and invectives against the best of Kings and his most Loyal Subjects Take the active Covenanters from the greatest to the least and as they thought it their duty so they made it their business to do more than dethrone the King I have said enough of Mr. Marshal already let him that would know more read his Sermon on Curse ye Meroz and not his only but the most of those Sermons Preached to the Parliament especially on their Solemn days of Thanksgiving Mr. Case in a Sermon to the Court-Marshal 1644. says God would have no Mercy shewn where the quarrel is against Religion and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ p. 16. These Men that would bring in Idolatry and false Worship to depose Christ from his Throne and set up Anti-Christ in his place such a generation Christ hath doomed to destruction Luke 19.27 As for these mine enemies bring them forth and slay them before me and p. 18. What severity will God expect from you who are called to judge for God between the Sons of Belial bloody Rebels and an whole Christian Church and State now resisting unto blood for Reformation Let me say to you as God said to Moses concerning the Midianites vex those Midianites and smite them for they vex you with their Wiles Numb 25.17 18. Mr. Th. Palmer said that God saw it good to bring Christ into his Kingdom by a Bloody way p. 13. Dr. Downing of Hackney in a Sermon to the Artillery-men It is lawful for defence of Religion and Reformation of the Church to take up Arms against the King And Mr. Calamy seconds him it is commendable to fight for Peace and Reformation against the Kings command Mr. Love who was chosen as the fittest person to assist at the Treaty at Vxbridge doth no doubt speak the Sense of the Juncto he calls Episcopacy and Liturgy two Plague Soares and tells the Commissioners that while their enemies are going on in wicked practises and they keep their principles they may as soon make Fire and Water to agree yea I had almost said quoth he Heaven and Hell And again it is the Sword not disputes that must end this controversie Wherefore turn your Plowshares into Swords and your Pruning-hooks into Spears to fight the Lords Battles to avenge the Blood of the Saints which hath been spilt it must be avenged by us or upon us See p. 7. and 26. of Englands distemper I have sometime feared always prayed that too much pitty and mercy in our State Physicians may not retard the healing of the Land p. 32. There are many malignant humours to be purged out of many of the Nobles and Gentry in this Kingdom before we can be healed It was the Lord that troubled Achan and cut him off because he troubled Israel O that in this our State Physicians would resemble God to cut off those from the Land who have distempered it would you know whom he means he speaks plainly melius pereat unus quam unitas Men that lye under the guilty of much innocent Blood are not fit persons to be at peace with till all the guilt of Blood be expiated and avenged either by the Sword of the Law or by the Law of the Sword else the peace can never be safe or just Are these the principles of Love or can they consist with holiness it will amaze any Christian to consider that though the hand of God might mind him of his sin by the nature of his punishment yet instead of declaring his Repentance a little before his death he professed his hatred to Malignants his opposing the Tyranny of a King saying I did it is true in my place and calling oppose the forces of the late King and were he alive again and should I live longer the cause being as then it was I should oppose him longer In his Speech Sect. 14. Yet how horrid soever this final impenitence appears to be too many that should know and do better things have little sense of it And it is very remarkable that Prideaux the Attorney General repeated most of these passages against Mr. Love at his Trial as Arguments that he ought not to have any mercy shewed him See the Printed Trial. What a sad thing is it saith Mr. Case to see our King in the head of an Army of Babylonians refusing as it were to be called the King of England Scotland and Ireland and choosing rather to be called the King of Babylon on Isa 43.4 p. 18. Those that made their peace with the King at Oxford were the Judas 's of England and it were just with God to give them their portion with Judas saith Mr. Calamy in a Sermon Preached Decemb. 25. 1644. p. 18. Mr. Herle in a Sermon to the Commons Novemb 5.44 Do Justice to the greatest Sauls Sons are not spared no nor may Agag or Benhadad though themselves Kings Zimri and Cosbi the Princes of the people must be pursued into their Tents This is the way to Consecrate your selves to God Strickland at the same time to the same tune You know the Story of Gods message to Ahab for letting Benhadad go upon Composition Brooks to the Commons Decemb. 26. 1648. Set some of those grand Malefactors a mourning that have caused the Kingdom to mourn so many years in Garments Rolled in Blood by the Execution of Justice But though many of those Sons of Thunder had done wickedly there is one exceeds them all as you may read partly in a submissive Petition of Mr. Jenkins and in a Sermon Preached Sept. 24. 1656. Who thus discovers his inward parts to be very wickedness Before the present Parliament Worthy Patriots you that are our Rulers in Parliament it is often said we live in times wherein we may be as good he might more truly have said as bad as we please wherein we enjoy purity and plenty praised for this be that God who hath delivered us from the impositions of Prelatical Innovations Altar-genuflections and cringes with Crosses and all that Popish Trash and Trumpery and truly I speak no more than what I have often thought and said the removal of these insupportable burdens contravailes for the Blood and treasure shed and spent in these late distractions nor did I as yet ever hear of any godly man that desired were it possible to purchase their friends or mony again at so dear
person to banish the thoughts of repenting for his own sins by inquiring into the heinous sinfulness of Conformists I wish heartily he could prove his innocency in the one as easily as they can in the other and if he cannot clear his innocence that he would manifest his penitence then would I as readily give him the right hand of fellowship as he now denyeth it to others and he might be as great an instrument of peace on earth among the Saints as of joy in Heaven among the Angels of God I shall only beseech Mr. Baxter to say that Prayer heartily which he hath penned in the 251 and 252. pages of his Cure of Divisions and then let him reply as he thinks fit Lord hide not my own miscarriages from my sight and suffer me not to take any sin that I have committed to have been my innocency or duty lest I should dare to Father sin on God and lest I should live and dye without repentance and lest I should be one that continueth judgments and danger to the Land stir up some faithful friend to tell me with convincing evidence where it is that I have miscarried that contrition may prepare me for the peace of remission O save me from the plague of an impenitent heart that cannot indure to be told of sin and from that ungodly folly which taketh the shame which Repentance casteth upon sin to be cast upon God and Religion which bind us to Repentance and Confession Amen Now when you have humbly and sincerely renewed this Prayer to Almighty God I beseech you to consider seriously with your self that it may be God hath in answer to your prayers raised up so vile an instrument as I am to be your Monitor that what you thought your duty is your sin and that you are one that still continueth judgments and danger to the Land For first you seemed doubtful of it when you prayed against it 2. When after long and mature deliberation you entred into Communion with our Church in all its Ordinances that concern Lay-Communion and resolved together with other of your Brethren to continue in it and by that practice of yours as well as your Arguments did influence many others to a like pious and peaceable behaviour how can it be less than a sin against God and a grieving and gravelling the Consciences of such well-disposed Christians not only to withdraw your avowed Communion but to practise that which directly tends to Division and Confusion 3. That in the judgment of such as were very pious and learned men in your own Opinion that practice of yours which continueth and encourageth separation from our Communion is sinful such were Cranmer Ridly Peter Martyr and others that compiled the Liturgy in King Edward the VI. days and Parker Grindal Horne Jewel who reviewed and recommended it in Queen Elizabeths days Such were Vsher Davenant Potter Hall Carleton and others in the days of King James and King Charles of Blessed Memory What think you of all these sober and moderate Conformists such as Bolton Whately Fenner Dent Crook Dike Stock Smith Preston Sibbs Stoughton Taylor c. These you confess were no ignorant nor temporizing persons What think you of Jacob and Johnson who were Independents yet wrote against separation And what think you of the most learned and pious of the Non-conformists such as Cartwright Egerton Hildersham Dod Ames Parker Baines Brightman Ball Bradshaw Paget Langly Nichols Hering who wrote more against separation than any of the Conformists themselves Principles of Love p. 57. as you affirm What think you of the Assembly of Divines Twiss Gataker c. Among whom you say you never heard but of Five Non-conformists what think you of such as have Conformed since 1660. such as Reynolds Conant Wallis and lastly what think you of the Father of all the Non-conformists Mr. T. Cartwright who after he had written as much as he could against Conformity saw so much of the weakness of his arguments as that he repented and Conformed at last If all these have judged a bare withdrawing of the people from our Communion to be unlawful and against their duty I wonder how you can still think your more positive opposing and hindring of it to be your duty I considered again that to live in the contempt of the Laws and lawful Autority both of Church and State in a well established Kingdom is a sin of no mean nature in it self and by its effects may prove exceeding sinful for Schism and Division Spiritual Pride Censoriousness are as certainly sins and perhaps greater than Whoredom and Drunkenness and Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft I considered also that you have had long experience of the evil of Schism how great a matter a little fire kindleth and did meditate and foretel with what design I know not in the second paper to the King p. 12. That if you should lose the opportunity of your desired Reconciliation i. e. if you could not obtain what you would it astonished you to foresee what doleful effects your divisions would produce These and such other motives prevailed with me to become your Monitor that what you now take to be your duty is your sin and that your present practice tends to the continuing of judgments and danger to the Land and if my charitable admonition to you and peaceable endeavors for unity and establishment in the Church and State be still despised I can only continue my prayer to God as well for my self as you in the Petitions above mentioned Lord hide not our own miscarriages from our sight c. Cujus Aures clausae sunt ut ab Amico verum audire nequeat hujus salus desperanda est Cicero de Amicitia FINIS