Iudge Ienkins clearly holds forth unto us in his last Remonstrance at the barre of the House of Commons To conclude this point this second duty of Obedience to Kings is by all true subiects faithfully and loyally to be performed being a duty necessary for two respects 1. Necessitate praecepti 2. Necessitate finis First God by manifold precepts commanded Obedience to bee given to Rulers and Kings Secondly by the benefit Government affords without which all Common-wealths were mothers of common woes and would become the very shambles and slaughter-houses of Christian blood if that obedience were not given to Rulers that beare the sword The kingdom of hell which is the kingdom of confusion cannot stand * Mar. 3.22 26. being divided wanting Belzebub their Prince but should presently as one day it shall most certainly come to desolation Seeing therefore obedience to Kings is a duty so necessary for al subjects and acceptable unto God profitable unto our selves without which Kings or Kingdoms cannot stand Church or Common-weale cannot long continue Let us performe and practise this duty of obedience with a pure conscience which for conscience sake must be performed evermore honouring and obeying our dread Soveraigne the golden head of great Britane beseeching God to restore him to his glory and to pierce with sharp arrows the hearts of his enemies as the Psalmist of Solomons Psal 45.5 evermore obeying and praying God save King Charles CHAP. VI. THere are three other dutyes which are to be performed by subiects to the King honour faithful service tribute three as essentiall flowers of the crown as the former two as I could easily prove and shall if any be so bold as to deny it but at this time I respite to speak so largly of them as I might because I do not affect prolixity nor would bee tedious to my Reader of each of them then a word or two only The first is Honor Saint a 1 Pet. 2.17 Peter commands all Subjects Fear God Honour the King Saint b Rom. 13.7 Paul exhorting all to submit themselves to the higher powers concludeth Give honour to whom ye owe honour so the Lord himselfe in the fifth Commandement chargeth all to honor Father and Mother in which precept as most old and new writers well observe Kings and Magistrates are understood being politicall Fathers Fathers of the Common-wealth c Esay 49.23 Nursing Fathers of Gods Church and people And this duty to honor the King obligeth all by a three fold bond Ex Praecepto By Commandement Ex Maledicto By Punishment Ex Praxi By Practise Math. 21.21 d First by Precept God in his law hath commanded it Secondly by Punishment for God hath put a sword in their hands to cut off such as dishonor them Thirdly by Practise our Lord and Saviour with his Disciples did preach and practise obedience honor and reverence evermore to bee given to Kings and Potentates And this word honor signifieth all that duty whereby the renown dignity reverence and high estimation of the King may be preserved and unblemished and it reacheth unto our thoughts words and works 1 To honour him in our hearts and thoughts curse not the King no not in thy thought for the fowles of the heaven shall carry thy voice and that which hath wings shall discover the matter saith d Eccle. 10.20 Solomon 2 Honour him in thy words seeke not by bad and wicked speeches to disesteeme the dignity of their sacred persons for they are Gods Deputies and he that despiseth the Deputy despiseth him that appointed the Deputy wherefore God made an expresse Precept e Exod. 22.28 Thou shalt not speake evill of the Ruler of thy people And St. f Iude 8 Iude hath marked those for filthy dreamers who despise Governement and speak evill of them that are in authority 3 Honour the King in all thy actions to be ready to defend the honour and renowne of our gracious Soveraigne both by word and sword And indeed all good people did ever honour their anointed Soveraignes David Solomon Nâ—xt God we must honour those who are in the place of God with the rest of the Kings of Israel how honourable and glorious ever accounted in the eyes of their Subjects Ierome saith where honour is absent there contempt is present and to contemne these regall children k Psalme 81.6 of the most High is to contemne the most High himselfe Thinke then of this ye flattering Pseudoli of the Papall Myter and ye Parasiticall Sycophants of the two Houses at Westminster you that would have the Regall Scepter stoop to the Popes Myter or Parliaments Mace you that every way both by your pen and your prate labour to disparage the Sacred persons of Kings diminish their Regall Rights and encroach upon their Prerogatives substituting all to a Papall Supremacy or a Parliament Priviledge and make all good by armes not arts by blood not the Bible ye Machiavells of the Conclave and worse of the close Committee learn of God himselfe with what Honourable Titles and High Prerogatives in his Sacred word Kings stand possessed there they are called l Ps 82.6 Gods and Children of the most High the m 1 Chr. 4.18 Lords Anointed the Angels n â— Sâ—â— 1.20 of God the o â— Sâ—â— 2â— 17 Light of Israel p 〈◊〉 3.1 sitting in Gods Throne q Râ—m 1â— â— 4. the Higher Powers the Ministers of God r â—â—kâ— 2â— 25 the Kings of Nâ—tions that beare rule every where with variety of such high and stately Titles great Prerogatives commanding every Å¿ Rom. 13.1 Soule to be subject to them that he who should go about to empaire their honour must first infringe the Book of God Vnworthy is that Creature to breath the Ayre which denies honour to the breathing Image of God his anointed Soveraigne or with unreverent Action or Elocution enterprize to debase their Soveraignety Such tongues are worthy with Dives to be tormented or with Progne to be cut out or w th Nicaenors to be divided in crummes for Birds that will not honour with tongues and reverence with hearts their anointed and appointed Kings the earthly Pictures of the King of Kings And not to travel so far as forraigne climates to teach them to honour Kings let our speech be bounded within the circumference of his Highnesse Countries People above all other Nations bound to honour and obey our gracious Soveraigne We are blest with a King of incomparable vertues Rex natus ad regna natus descended of bloud royall t Eccles 10.17 A blessednesse to a K ngdome when a King is the Sonne of Nobles and much more of noble vertues A trusty defender of the true faith by pen pike and prison ready to defend Religion against both superstition and this Ages prophanenesse I am unable and unfit to draw the map of our Kings perfections De ipso ipsi loquuntur Antipodes not any Zone habâ—table
wherein his glory hath not habitation and they say we must praise a King as we honour God and herein such plenty of praise is offered that Inopem me copia fecit Xenophon might see that in our vertuous King Charles which he wished in his King Cyrus O fortunates Anglos bona si sua norint Oh happy had we been had we been but sensible of and thankfull for our happinesse and nothing can restore happinesse to us but his being restored to his former Honour and Glory that hee and his for the future may shine in their pristine lustre And lot all faithfull Subjects pray long may CHARLES the glorious Candle of this our Israel last who as upon this day was proclaimed with infinite joy received with peaceable entry enthroned with glorious investure But converted or confounded be all those his Subjects that refuse to pray for him obey him and honour him as well in deeds as words hearts as tongues saying and praying God save the King CHAP. VII THe fourth duty of Subjects to be duly rendred and tendered to their anointed Soveraignes is Loyall and faithfull service thinking themselves as Tiberius said of his people Homines ad sorvitutem nati Men borne to doe them service All true Subjects are bound by the Lawes of God and men to be faithfull servants to their Soveraignes and if they neglect or reject this duty I may say to them as a 1 Sam. 26.15 16. Daâ—id did to Abner Ye be worthy to die because ye have not kept your Master the Lords Anointed because you have not been faithfull Servants to your Anointed Soveraignes If any b Est 2.21.22 Bigchan or Teresh seek to lay hands on our gracious Sovâ—raigne with faithfull Mordecai and Ester speedily prevent it by revealing it if any King of c 2 Kin. 6.12 Aram takes counsell with his Servants against the King of Israel with faithfull Elisha reveale it to your Caesar even the words he speakes in his Privy Chamber nay not only reveale it but revenge it Jn reos Majestates publicos Hostes omnis homo miles est saith d Ter. Apo. c. 2. Tertullian against traytors and publike enemies every man is a Souldier yea in this kind and sence we may and must with e 1 Kin. 22.11 Zedekiah make hornes of iron to push these treacherous Aramites untill wee have consumed them give couragious resistance to treacherous violence untill they have received deserved doome by Iustice And for the performance of this Loyall service to their appointed Soveraignes no conditions of men under the Sun can plead immunity neither Popes Priests nor people yea a Parliament much lesse a part of a part of a Parliament cannot pretend to this Priviledge how ever that Claw-backe Sycophant the Author of the Vindicia contraâ—â—ty cannot by those his specious pretences but most false and Rebellion-countenancing principles would seem to insinuate such a priviledge their propriety like a right Machievell preparing the people by those gilded Pills to swallow those poysonous principles of treason and rebellion according to w his Masters have and if God prevent them not intend to act No no say hee and others what they will none upon what pretences soever can plead an exemption from performance of this duty Lords or Commons Popes or Cardinalls Preists or People their freedome from faithfull service to the King hath no warrant except from the Prince of the Aire to whom they may be justly said to dedicate their Scepter and service who deny their service to the King and therefore to him I leave such to receive their deserved wages But the servants of the King of Kings know they owe their service and allegiance to his Vicegerents Kings on earth and that this loyall service of the members unto the royall and Princely Head ought to be dutifull faithfull and perpetuall that is the happy service which comes from an hearty obedience for many things may seem so in apparence which are not so in essence 't is the practise and very prayers of the wicked to cry thus Hor. 1. Epist. 16. Da mihi fallere da justum sanctumque videri Noctem peccatis fraudibus objice nubem If they seem trusty in shew though treasonable in heart they care not like bad servants not in singlenesse of heart but with service to the eye as men-pleasers obey they their regall Masters This Age is full of such treacherous hearts as deceitefull f 2 Sam. 3.27 as Ioab to Amasa who tooke him aside to speak with him peaceably and smote him under the fift rib that he dyed or like g Macchab 16. Dalilah to Sampson with faire words and weeping to betray him to the Philistines No treason but in trust The faigned voice of Fowlers catch the Partridges and Plovers The Mother of Error puts on her maske to be taken for the daughter of Time truth The Wolfe in sheeps cloathing scarce known from the sheepheards dogge h Iudges 16.18 Ptolomie the sonne of Abusus under a faire vizzard of love and kindnesse feasting Simeon and his two sonnes kills them in his banquetting house a Mâ—â— h. 2 8. Herod when he would play the Wolfe he counterfeited a a Foxe a Maâ— h. 2 8. Goe and search diligently for the Babe and when yee have found him bring mee word that I may worship him his meaning was to worry him So b Maâ— 26 4â— Iudas comes with his Ave Rabbi Haile Master betraying him with a kisse So many a perfidious Traitor will cry Ave Caesar God save the King but it is with such an affection as Autoninus Caracalla said of his brother Geta Sit divus modo non vivus Let him be a Saint or a King in heaven so he bee not a King on earth Many such Iudases and Caracallaes there are in these dayes two Houses cannot scarce containe them yet there they sit and having first put out Sampsons eyes blinded the peoples understanding with glorious termes as We your Majesties faithfull Servants and Loyall Subjects and will make you the most glorious King in Christendome make the misery of both King and people their sport and past time Hee that foure yeare agoe should have said they had intended to set forth such a Declaration as their last is had runne the hazard of a Prison if he had scap'd the Halter as a false accuser and foule abuser of the Simeon and Levi of these dayes those two holy Brethren the Loyall Lords and Commons dissembling at Westminster Doe you not remember what was urged unto his Majesty at the beginning of this Parliament as an Argument to induce him to passe the Bill against the Bishops that their sawcy as they tearm'd it inference No Bishops no King and pray most Loyall Subjects as you are what is it come to now Oh my deare Countrey-men will you still be guld by such grosse and palpable Dissemblers Parasites and Equivocaters Beware I beseech you in time of those
Question that judgement bee executed upon them and then either behead or hang them or banish them or plunder them or at least imprison them oh unparâ—lleld disputants This is most certainly true witnesse the case of Corew Lilborne Jâ—nkins Mainard yea which ought to make a deepe Impression in all good mens hearts of the Kings Majesty himselfe whom they unjustly keep a Prisoner because he will not contrary to his Conscience and Honour say as they say and enact that for Law which contrary to Law they Vote and accuse him of his Fathers Murther and other crimes of a high nature and yet not admit him to answer for himselfe or permit others to write in his Vindication So that th se things considered heare oh heavens and judge oh eartâ— have not all the people of great Britan just cause to joyne as their loyall obedience bindes them to their necessary service both in hearts and voices to Almighty God the protector of Kings to a Psal 2â— 8 9. finde out all his enemies and make them like a fiery Oven in the time of his anger to confound all their Conspiraciâ—s making them like the grasse b Psal 119.6 on the house tops which withereth before it come forth And when more seasonable than upon this day for this is the day of our King c. CHAP. III. BVt besides these Reasons I shall here produce other causes and motives to induce all good Subjects to this Christian service and loyall duty to pray continually for the preservation of the King which because many and manifold I will but touch some of them and omit the reâ—â— for we must be short â—â—â—im 2.2 The first is the Apostle Paules Precept ante omnia before al that Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of thanks bee made for Kings c. and renders a powerfull motive to perswade all consiâ—ting of three benefits d Pâ—sâ— in â—â—â—um arising from it 1. a quiet and peaceable life 2. in all godlinesse and honesty 3. this is good and acceptable in the sight of God The Kings preservation is our preservation his welfare is the weal of our Common-wealth Pliny saith e Plin. 2 Panâ—g ad Praâ—◠〈◊〉 A Countrey is unhappy under an unhappy King so that if people desire to live a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty let them like dutifull members pray for the prosperity of the supreame head for if he fall upon the rocks they are like to come to ruine As a Ship whose Pilot perisheth is driven upon the rocks and so is cast away even so how can the ship of State saile with a prosperous winde whose Regall Pilot suffers shipwracke Regall adversity is the Harbenger of popular calamity and a Kings imprisonment of his peoples perpetuall slavery Wherefore if Subjects desire to bee happy themselves let them continually pray for the happinesse of their Soveraign whose prosperity is the Axis or Cardo the very foundation of their temporall felicity 2 Motive is the great difficulty in the right managing of the Regall Office and therefore had need to be assisted with the frequent and fervent prayers of the people imploring divine wisedome to direct the heart of their Soveraigne for it is the Art of Arts rightly to rule and governe Common-wealths this many-headed multitude so divided in faction and action scarce two of one minde or mould Peace pleaseth Cato Warre Pompey the Souldier cryes Arma virumque Cano War war that makes us merrie the Merchant prays give peace in our time oh Lord Brutus desires a Common-wealth Caesar a Monarchy Cicero's Counsel is Let us be Time-servers but Lentulus thinks that the voice of a flatterer in the f popular sort as many heads as hearts and let every one doe what seemes good in his owne eyes wee will not have Charles King in our Israel So that to reconcile and to reclaime to unity and unanimity this Babell of men and these men of Babell it is requisite that the King be for the people to God-ward Exod. 18.19 bring their causes unto God teach them Ordinances and Lawes shew them the way wherein they must walke V. 20. and the worke that they must doe and then provide out of all the people able men V. 2â— such as feare God men of truth who may judge the people in every small matter though every great matter be brought to him V. 22. so that each starre moving in its proper Orbe about the Sun who by this influence of his power unto others is not thereby accounted falne from his Sphere himselfe no more than to be conceited to bee placed therein at first by their appointment though such preposterous opinions have beene vented of late to the distraction of this poore Kingdome and without a timely retraction will produce its utter ruine and destruction which God of his mercy prevent I say that so each one in the Kingdome acting in his owne place the Commons under the Iudges or Peeres the Peeres or Iudges under the King and the King under God alone then shall the King be able to judge and rule this people wish ease and comfortably and all this people shall also goe to their place in peace â— â—od â—8 23 Now 't is the God of Heaven onely that can qualifie Kings with wisedome and knowledge fit for an imployment of such difficulty and he alone it is that will and must appoint the person whom he will thus qualifie For the Israel of God must accept of acknowledge and obey him for their King wh m the Lord their God shall chose not then whom themselves shall elect Deut. 17 15. Vnto God then it is the duty of all good subjects to pray alwayes with all manner of prayer and Supplication in the Spirit that God would enlarge with heavenly wisedome the heart of our Soveraigne and the Kings a Prov. 21.2 heart is in the hand of the Lord and furnish him with all blessed gifts sutable to performe his Royall Task making him as wise as b 2 Chr. 1.21 Solomon as religious as c Psal 27.4 Davia as zealous as the good King d 2 Kin. 2â— 1â— Iosias and in respect of his present condition as patient as Iob defending him against all forraine Invasions delivering him from all domestick Conspiracies and giving him Liberty from his present Captivity that so being by the power of our God restored to his Throne and Dignity full of the knowledge and experience of the great goodnesse of God towards him and endued with the wisedome which is ahout the Throne of the King of Kings with an understanding heart may judge this great people and awe and order this stiffe-necked and Rebellious nation then shall all this people also go to their owne place in peace and sit under their owne Vines and Fig-trees being for the future godly and governed quietly under him saying this is the day of our King this is a day of good
derived their being from him though now like cursed Vipers they endeavour to gnaw out the way to their resolved upon Democracy through the Bowels of their Father Monarchy But what ever we heare or see such Traitors Vote or Act let the remembrance of the Blessings both spirituall and temporall which under eighteen yeares of his Majesties good and happy Reigne we did enjoy and might stil have enjoyed if we would have beene content and could have knowne when we were well and undoubted hopes of what blessings his future Gouernment may bring upon this Land yea all his three Kingdoms Let I say the remembrance of the one and hopes of the other move all Loyall Subjects to lift up their hearts and hands to the King of Kings to multiply his dayes as the dayes of Heaven to deliver him out of his present thralcome and restraint to restore him to his rightfull Crowne and Dignity and us his Subjects thereby to the right profession of true Religion and an once more enjoyment of Peace and Plenty yea I am confident 〈◊〉 doe move all true hearted Nobility Gentry and Commonalty to pray for him as the Christians prayed in old time for their Kings though Heathens God of his infinite mercy grant him a Tertul. in Apolog c. 30. a long life a quiet Kingdome a safe Court strong and victorious Armies a faithfull Counsell yea with David b Psal 132.18 that God would cloath all his enemies with shame but set him at Liberty restore him his Scepter and on him and his to cause his Crown hereafter to flourish That so as on the day of his re-inauguration into all the hearts of his Subjects and re-establishment in his Throne the united voyces of his Majesties populous Kingdomes may annually send up to heaven their cordiall and continuall acclamations God save the King that the eccho thereof may resound in heaven as fervently as the noise of the Romans did in applause of Flaminius generally calling him Saviour Saviour the noise whereof was so violent and vehement that as c Plut. in vita Flaminii Plutarch writes it made the Fowles of the aire fall downe dead or that as the d 1 King 1. people of Israel did to Solomon when hee was created King in Gihon and anointed there by Zadock with an horne of Oyle taken out of the Sanctuary the e 1 King 1.40 people piped with pipes and rejoyced with great joy so that the earth rang with the sound of it f 39. blowing their Trumpets and saying God save King Solomon So may all the people within his Highnesse Dominions lift up their hearts and hands blow their Trumpets ring their Bells frequent their Churches and pray God save the King Corporally in Body God save the King Spiritually in Spirit God save the King Politically in Government And excite one another to say This is the day of our King we do not well then this day is a day of good tidings we doe not well to hold our peace And indeed we can never have greater cause to speake of and pray for our King then now in these Rebellious times upon which we are unhappily fallen For these are the times wherin by those that call themselves a Parliament Rebellion is countenanced yea counted Devotion and holy Reformation and the most desperate Traytors entitled Saints and Martyrs Wherein not onely in the Popes Conclave but also in the Sectaries Conventicles shall I say nay in the grand Counsell of the best reformed Protestant Kingdome nothing is more rife than the slandering rebelling against and Imprisoning shall I say Yea the Theorick and practicke of deposing nay it is to be feared which God prevent it will proceed to murthering Princes Wherein as Mariana that insolent Iesuite prescribes to Traitors rules and cautions for poisoning Kings and highly commends King-killers So Marten that impudent Rebell publisheth with the approbation of a Parliament too to the encouragement of Sectaries and Traitors grounds and reasons to proceed in Kings resisting and deposing and highly applauds that cursed crue of King catchers eclipped Saints of the Army Wherein those Traiterous assertions of Suarez and other Iesuites are the constant Positions of those who would be thought to abhorre and beate downe Poperie Subditos posse de privare Reges a Papa excommunicatos vitâ Regno That is to say the Sectaries of England Subjects may deprive Kings if Voted against by the Parliament not onely of their Liberty Crownes and Kingdomes as appeares by the present sad condition of King Charles but also of life it selfe with their Tradatur Satanae and we know not though we feare what event that may in time produce Wherein that horred saying of that foule mouth'd Guignard concerning the murther of one of the Henries of France committed by two Jacobine Friers Heroicum factum donum spiritus sancti is become the oft incultated Doctrine out of Protestant Pulpits and re-resolved Votes of the grand Committee Chaire to resist fight against imprison Depose yea kill and slay the King and all his adherents is a most Heroicall act and the gift of the Holy Ghost Lastly these are the times wherein that knowne bloudy practice of the Spanish Inquisition is parallel'd shall I say nay out-practized by the action of the English Parliament As in the Spanish Inquisition their arguing is this whosoever is an Heretick ought to â—ee burnt but whosoever will not submit to our Canons and Decretalls is an Hereticke therefore whosoever will not submit to our Canons and Decretalls ought to be burnt He that is under the Inquisition denyeth that every one that will not submit to their Canons and Decretalls are Herereticks and consequently not to be burnt and offer to dispute it They of the Inquisition prove it thus They command him to withdraw decree his death dragge him to the stake bind him to it put Faggots about him set them on fire and burn him a most invincible argument So the Vote of this Parliament is whosoever will not doe the Law of God and the Law of the King ought to have judgement specâ—â—â—y executed upon him either by death or by banishment or by confiscation of goods or by imprisonment But whosoever will not obey the Orders or Ordinances of one or both Houses of Parliament doth not doe the Law of God and the Law of the King Therefore whosoever doth not obey the Orders or Ordinances bee they never so opposite to reason and justice of one or both Houses ought to have judgement speedily exâ—cuted upon him either by death or banishment or confiscation of goods or imprisonment Those men that are brought before them as guilty in this point Deny that whosoever will not obey the Orders or Ordinances of one or both Houses of Parliament therfore do not do the Law of God and of the King and consequently ought not to have judgement executed upon them without a legall Triall Hereupon they command them to retire resolve upon the
in his obedience and a patterne of Loyalty to all generations adventuring his body and blood for the service of Saul in defence against his enemies the Muster-roll of whose battailes for Sauls well-fare is recordded in holy Scripture from the xvii Chapter of the first of Samuel almost to the end of that Booke the glorious Trophy of the fidelity of an obedient Subject But all the counsels and practises of the Lords and Commons now sitting at Westminster have wholy tended to advance disobedience and manifest themselves the Presidents of disloyalty and rebellion to all other nations and future ages engaging not many of their own bodyes I confesse or much of their own blood but many thousand of bodyes and an ocean of the blood of poore seduced and deluded Christians their fellow subjects for the pulling downe their religious King a David and utter ruine and destruction of all his faithfull freinds and loyall subjects the Muster-roll of whose battails for King Charles his subversion and deposing is hung out at most Pamphlet-sellers stalles the glaring Trophy of the disloyalty of such impudent unmatchable Rebels So that I well say with Toxaris to Anacharses Å¿ Lucianus in Sâ—â—tina viso Solone vidisti omnia here I can shew you the two wonders of the world at once Looke upon David and you shall see the wonder and pattern of Loyalty and Obedience Looke upon that thing at Westminster which calls it selfe a Parliament compassed round with their Army of Sts. as they tearm them and there behold the wonder and president of Disloyalty and Rebellion In their Declarations and Remonstrances read principles fit to direct Traytors in his Precepts and Practice read Doctrines sufficient to instruct faithfull subjects and if that be not sufficient nothing will suffice Object But the enemies of Charles reply and say We ought to be obedient and subject to good Kings but if they bee bad wee may resist and deny our obedience to him yea good men may send him to his grave and indeed this Doctrine to depose a King dispose of his Kingdome and deprive him of his life if he be not as the Iesuites count Catholique as this Parliament counts Protestant the treacherous Iesuites at Rome and our Rebellious new-lighted Saints at Westminster doe with an equall heightned fury of blind zeale labour to maintaine by their published seditious Papers and where their Pens faile their Pikes prisons yea poysons make good as you may read Page the seventh both their wayes of proving their Arguments are Answ Answer It is an easie task to shew that loyall obedience is to be performed to wicked Kings as our former Instances of the best note Christs obedience and Davids obedience to Saul make it manifest it is due to them omni jure naturali civili morali municipali divino By the Law of nature civill morall municipall divine wee will only prove it due by the last by divine Law if that prove it who dare deny it The Apostle Rom. 13.1 makes the matter plaine Let every soule be subject to the higher Powers for there is no power but of God c. From which place I argue thus Aâ—l Powers that are ordained of God must be obeyed The higher Powers be they good or bad are ordayned of God Ergo to be obeyed We may corroborate these two propositions by manifold places as Proverbs 8.15 By mee Kings Reigne c. Iob 36.7 He placeth them as Kings in their Thrones for ever Sometimes God suffers the hypocrite to reigne Iob 34.30 I gave thee a King in my anger and tooke him away in my wrath faith the Lord to Israel Hosea 13.11 Thou couldest have no power except it were given thee from above said Christ to â—il te Iohn 19 11. Give care all you that rule the people all your power is given of the most High Wisd 6.3 Touch not â—ine anointed 1 Chr. 16.22 be they good be they bad touch them not a 〈◊〉 12.19 vengeance is the Lords not mans Mâ—n must not meddle in Gods matters Wâ— b can lay hi haâ—ds on the Lords Anointed and be guiltlesse Though they grow defective in their high office yet still remain Kingâ— because eâ—throned by God By whose command men are borne by his command doe Princes reigne c Iraeâ—◠〈…〉 saith Iraeneus Thence have Princes their power whence they have their breath d Tâ—â—â—ul 〈…〉 saith Tertullian The Kings Commission is sealed â—y the hand of God and though it runne During the good will and pleasure of God yet man yea a * 2 〈…〉 4. Parliament cannot nay must not cancell it for that were to warre with God The wise e Bâ—acâ—oâ— sive 〈…〉 sineâ—te deo Aug conte Faust Manich 〈◊〉 22. c. 7. Heathen saith the power of good Kings is by the speciall ordinance of God of evill by his permission the first are badges and pledges of his mercy the second are the scourges of his furie So f Esay 10.5 God called Ashur the rod of his wrath and Attyla called himselfe the scourge of God and Tamberlaine in his time termed the revenge of God and terror of the World Saul was a Tyrant King yet David g 1 Sam. 24 6 trembled to touch the skirts of his garment What greater Tyrant than King Pharaoh yet Moses neither had nor gave any Commission to the Israelites to rebell he makes no Law or Booke either to dispose or depose him from his Kingdome Nebuchaanezzar a wicked and Idolatrous King yet God h Jerem. 25.9 calls him his Servant and though he commands the three children to be put into the fiery i Dâ—â—â— 3.21 Aâ—â—ud esâ—â—ervaâ—â—◠〈◊〉 me aliud 〈…〉 Oveâ— they offer no violence or resistance but commend their soules to God and commit their bodies to the King Saint k 〈…〉 Peter who wrot his Epistle in the time of the raigne of that wicked Emperour Clandius as l 〈…〉 Baronius conjectured exhorts all people to feare God and 〈…〉 the King 1 Pet. 2 17. and that for 〈…〉 v. 13. yet this Claudius was a most wicked Emperour maintaining many Ethnick superstitions and the worship of Idols he was as Suetonius * Sueton. c. 34. writes of him by nature cruel bloody libidinous yet to this Emperour a tyrant and an infidell S. Peter exhorts the faithfull Iews to obedience S. Paul who lived under the same Emperour as a Rhemist in tab Paul some doe thinke writes to the Romans the Emperours subjects exhorts all to submit themselves not in any colourable or dissembled obedience but ver 4. for conscience sake Let us heere a voyce or two of the ancient Fathers that lived in old time Tertullian who as b In Catal scriptor Eccles Jerome saith flourished under the raigne of Severus the Emperor who was a great Tyrant an Infidell and an enemy to Christianity who in the fift persecution after Nero troubled the Christian world with most cruell persecution as c Baron An.
Christâ— 205. some write yet teacheth that all subjects should both Bene velle bene dicere bene facere wish well speak well and do well for the Emperor the which threefold Bene comprehends all loyall dutyes The first Ad Coâ— 2. Ad Linguam 3 Ad opus as the * Iansen c. 40. Concord Jesuite rightly 〈◊〉 in thought word and deed to be obedient So Iustin * Apolo 2 ad Anton Imperat. Martyr in the name of all Christians speaks to the Emperor Antoninus an infidel and a persecutor d Bellar. in Chronol in these words Wee worship onely God and in other matters are joyfull to serve you So Saint e Ambros Epist lib. 5. Epist 33. Ambrose would not wish the people of Millan to disobey the Emperour Valentinian yet a favourer and a follower of the Arrian Heresy If the Emperor saith he abuse his imperiall authority to tyrannize thereby here I am ready to suffer death we as humble suppliants flye to supplication if my patrimony be your mark enter upon it if my body I will meet my torments shall I bee dragged to prison or death I will take delight in both Oh Theologicall voice Oh Episcopall obedience These were the voices of the holy Fathers in the ancient times I but will the Adversaryes to the regall supremacy reply the times must be considered the people wanted power to resist No no that was not the matter when Iulian did dominere who was an Apostate and an Idolater as f August in Ps 124. Austine yet his souldiers who were for the most part Christians did obey him without resistance in all military matters and publique services yet they then had power to have resisted him for most of Julian Army did consi t of Christians as their voices to Ioâ—inian his Successor declare g Râ—ff lib hist c. 1. Ruffinus records that with a generall voice they all confessed themselvâ—s Christians So Câ—ustantius and Valens wicked Emperours and favourers of the Arrian Heresie yet wee do not read of any of the Orthodox Christians that disobeyed them by rebellion or resistance Then Bellarmines h Bellar. lib. 5 de Rom. Pon. c. 7. doctâ—ine was not in date It is not lawfull for Christians to tollerate an hereticall King Nor were those reasons for the Commons deposing their King at their pleasure so much as thought on then though of late published by the scribling creatures of this Parliament and borrowed from that their fellow rebellion fomenting Cardinal the people may at their pleasure depose their K. bâ—cau e Reges coronas sceptra ab hominibus recipiunt ad corum placita tenent Kings doe receive their Crownes and Scepters from men Ego unxite in regem super Israel and hold them at their pleasures Strange stuffe for Kings receive their Crownes from God as Psal â—0 3 And are enthroned by God By me Kings raigne Pro 8.15 They receive their throne from God as Queen i 2 Sam. 12.7 Sheba tells Salomon Diadema regis in manu Dei â— 2 Chro 9.8 Esay 62 3. Sedebat Salomon in throno Dei 1 Chron 29 23. Reges in sâ—lio câ—llocat in perpetuum Iob 36 7. the anointing is Gods With my holy oyle have I anointed him Psal 89.20 The Crowne the Scepter the Throne their annointing all from God stiled by God Vncti Dei Gods annointed Where is the Popes or peoples claime what interest have any except God in Kings Crownes who can remove whom God appoints who can deprive whom God approves yet these absurd errors the corrupt leaven of Romes Pharisees and Westminsters Parasites are moulded out by the mouthes of Cardinals and Iesuites and tasted by the Sectaries and Levellers of this Island by their pens republished both being indeed agreed in this to become Trumpeters to the world and sound forth false alarms of disobedience to encourage peoples rebellion But leaving them let us listen to Solomon who was wisâ—r then them both whose rule is k Pro. 24.21.22 My sonne fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are seditious fâ—r their destruction shall rise suddenly and who knoweth the ruiâ—e â—f them both Leâ— us learne this lesson from our l Mâ—tth 22.21 Sav our to give unto Caesar that which is Caesars to give loyall obedience for it is Caesars royall due So our Saviour n Mat. 23 2 3. againe commands the multitude that they should obey the Scriâ—es and Pharisees who did sit in Moses c aire to observe and doe what they did command In all things not repugnant to Gods Lawes wee must and ought to obey Kings yet if they command contrary to Gods commands then we must follow the o Acts 4 1â— Apostles rule and practise rather to obey God then man and to remember St. p Aug. 11. quae c. 3. Austinâ— counseâ—l It God command one thing and the Emperor another thing what judgest thou to be done Gods power is greater give leave O Emperor thou doest threaten prison but God hell God that made these Gods ought to be obeyed before them and duty bindes that God who is the King of Kings the maker and master of all Kings omnes Reges ejus pedibus subjecti all Kings subject and subjects of that great King should be obeyed by them all anâ— before them all Yet for all this wee must not rebell against a King Regis voluntas fiat aut a nobis aut de nobis if hee command contrary to Gods Lawes but imitate the three children Theoph. in Luc. cap 20. obey in body and resist in spirit Theophylact saith wee must prostrate our selveâ— to the King who hath power over our bodyes be he a King or a Tyrant for this nothing hinders us spiritually to please the God of our soules nay we cannot be truly said to obey and please God if we resist and contemn the supream Ruler the King the contempt that is offâ—red to them being offered to God himselfe as the Lord said to Samuel They have not cast thee away but they have rejected mee that I should not raigne over them 1 Sam. 8.7 and the Apostle saith whosoever resisteth the power resisteth the Ordinances of GOD and shall receive to himselfe damnation How long then how long oh my deare but stupified Countrey-men will you permit your selves to be deluded by a crew of ambitious covetous and yet blinde guides How long will you suffer your selves to bee gui'd out of your propriety and true liberty and lead tamely into so dangerous a sinne as King resisting How long will you flatter your selves with the hope of Liberty under the Anarchy of a pack of such matchlesse Tyrants who intend nothing more than your Vassallage and des rved slavery Will yee not yet see your owne misery Will you be fool'd out of your Religion the pure Gospell of Iesus Christ by a company of wilde headed Sectaries and factioâ—s Beggars under that
venerable name and great good of our Nation if not abused as it is now a Parliament Doe you ever hope to enjoy the joy and desire of each good Christians heart Truth and Peace under those who are enemies to both For if they were not enemies to the first they would not countenance such lying at best but equivocating double-sence bearing Treatises and Pamphlets to be published and stifle all other the writings of such honest men as would answer such false Propositions overthrow such principles and make the truth in Iesus Christ appear to the satisfaction of the whole world how your judgements are abused by these Imposters juglings If they were not enemies to Peace also would they hold up the sword still meerely to support thereby Rebellion-acquired Power over you their fellow subjects and to hold the King in his present Captivity contrary to the Law of Nature of Nations of this Kingdome yea of God himselfe who forbids resisting as you have heard proved much more restraining or imprisoning Kings Object Ah but you will say we have seen their late Declaration in which they satisfie us with the Reasons of their proceedings wâ—th the King and labour to possesse us with a beliefe that they are able to prove against him many soule Crimes before his comming to the Crowne and many tyrannous practises and oppressive enormities during his reigne Answ It is true indeed that they have beene very carefull that their Declarations should come to your hands for so they know they shall blinde you so that you shall not see their blasphemous Forgeries against a vertuous Prince and one as free from those crimes with which they seeme to charge him as the Sunâ—e is from darknesse or their owne s ules from hellish darknesse Were their accusations not false and malitious they would never suppresse imprison and declare those faithfull dispensers of the truth Traitors who desire to write in his vindication and take such speciall care that as few of such Books as discover their falsities shal come to sight but never to answer any of them for indeed they are unanswerable but by those their common Arguments the Axe the Halter the Goale or banishment If they would satisfie the world of the lawfulnesse of their proceedings let them if they can answer Dr. Ferne his Summary answer concerning Conscience satisfied of the unlawfulnesse and damnablenesse of their resisting and since imprisoning and deposing the King and disposing his Kingdome without yea against him Iudge Ienkins his Remonstrance the Plea for the Lords and Dr Huttons Divine Right of Government and if you my deluded Countrey-men desire rightly to satisfie your Consciences buy and read those Books and I beseech you as you desire not to bee more seduced and deceived read none of their licenced Books unlesse you are first satisfied that a free liberty is granted to any man that will to answer them for they are spells cast abroad to bewitch you into Rebellion and venemous principles prescribed by the State Mountebanks Walker Martin and others to poison your obedience and Loyalty If they would bee believed to have any reall charge against his Majesty Let them answer Master Simons his Vindication of the King or permit his Majesty to answer for himselfe by the assistance of such Secretaries and others that shall be needfull to helpe his memory and to do him such other service as shall bee requisite therein and let the writings and answers of the one side bee as freely published and perused as the Declarations Papers or Pamphlets of the other side in a word let the plaine letter of the Law decide the Controversie not the swo d and their wilfull Votes for what just sentence can be expected when they will be Iuâ—ges and yet are parties in the same matter If they shall deny this I have just cause to conclude that that Declaration of theirs and all other Bâ—oks licenced by them have more venome in them to poyson the yet Loyall hearted and dis-unite the hearts of the Kingdome from his Majesty than vertue to salve up the breaches of this distracted Nation And my discreet Countrey-men will you betray so much levity and easinesse of beliefe as to receive that for solid matter which dares not endure the examination and tryall of a just reply No let it bâ—â—sh all other impressions thereof from yâ—u but of hatred uâ—to such unrighteous practises and looke upon it as the bone and poyson of Aspes spot abroad to envenome your soules resolving never to believe more therein than themselves dare speake or utter◠〈◊〉 meane concerning the death of the King his Father and yet speake much more thaâ— they are able to prove Now if you desire to be armed with unmoveable resolutions and sufficiently fortified against the dangerous poyson and deadly venome of that their Declaration and all other their Pamphlets take next your heart the Antidote prescribed against the infectious Aire therof or a short Reply unto the Declaration of the 11th of Febr. 1647. But least you should not know how to furnish your selves with so Soveraiâ—ne a Cordiall it being very hard to be got and yet not wholly unâ—urnâ—sh'd therof I have made bold for which I crave that worthy Authors and the wel-wishers pardon to transcribe so much of that Epitome of true hearted Loyalty as shall serve to our present purpose set forth in our Title Page A Briefe of the briefe Reply to the Declaration of the House of Commons We have read your Declaration and have thought good to give you this short account of those impressions that it hath left with us The death of the late King is we conâ—ess a matter indeed of a very high nature and though you are loath to express your selves therein yet it is not hard to discerne what thoughts you would thereby commend unto us But if you can clearely make good what you intend â—hy did you not speak it plainly If you cannot why do â—ou go about by malicious art to insinuate that which you â—e not able to make good Men that are under the power of others use indeed sometimes to speak timerous verities But where men armed with greatnesse and strength speake fearfully there the truth is in danger Can you thinke to perswade us that the honour of so great a King or his just power and Rights are to be layd uâ—derfoot upon surmises and uncertain conjectures whose grounds and foundations are rather in the apprehensions of men variable according to the vaâ—iety of their affections then in the reallity of things or actions When events are liable to divers causes and those that have their residence within the breasts of men to fixe them upon one without any sound reason for the choice but because it appears mo t serviceable to our purposes is a fallacy of too open a collusion That wee should trust our judgements with it in so great a matter and therefore since you have proved nothing against his Majesty in
that particular we cannot but inferre that all that you want of evidence against him lyeth against your selves and doth convince you to have committed as high an offence against the duty of Subjects as against the candour of Christians But secondly in case it could be proved and so fully so demonstratively proved as is requisite to overcome that larg portion of Charity which is due unto a King above all other sorts of men and to him for ought wee know above all other Kings much the more for the sad condition wherein you keep him proved so clearly as to bee victorious over so many and so disswasive improbabilities that present themselves in array against it we should indeed even then admit it with great reluctancy as a truth that it might bee thought a kind of impiety to understand wee should then when we must needs looke upon it as a sad and great affliction unto our Nation and as a great cause of humiliation not of triumph or insulting unto us That God should suffer our King to fall into such a depth of impiety for the sins of the Magistrate as of the Minister are usually the iudgements of a people for their sins But yet neverthelesse we should hold it our duty even in that case to cry out with the holy Prophet Micha 7.9 We will beare the indignation of the Lord because wee ha e sinned against him c. And to set our selves to the duties of Fasting and Prayers and Fears for the lamentation and expiation of so horrid an iniquity from his Maiesty and the Kingdome But we could not be perswaded that it were a Christian course for us to make his iniquity the countenance or excuse of ours or admit it as a supersedeas or discharge of the bond of our allegeance though it should render it indeed much discomfortable unto us for as a child owes his filiall honour and obedience not to a good father but to a father be he good or bad as servants owe subjection with all feare not to a good master but to a master be he good or froward 1 Pet 2.18 if that be scriptu e with them and wives subjection nâ—t to a believing husband but to a husband he be a beleever or an unbeleever 1 Pet 3.1 compared with 1 Cor 7 13. So subjects owe their allegiance not to a good King but to a King And though wee deny not but Potentates may forfeit their Crownes by their impieties yet the holy Word of God leades us to beleeve that none is thereby enabled to take that forfeiture but God Saul forfâ—ited his Crown by his Sacrilegious intrusion into the Office and Function of the Priesthood 1 Sam. 13.8 c. and doubled that forfeiture by his disobedience unto the command of God concerning Agag and the spoyle 1 Sam. 15.9 c. And God both times proceeds to sentence against him but yet none must take the forfeiture nor put the sentence in execution till God himselfe was pleased to do it And therefore notwithstanding all that David durst not lift up his hand against him 1 Sam. 24 26. David himselfe afterwards though an holy man yet was so far left unto himselfe for a time by God that hee fell into two horrid and unworthy sinnes base in the eyes of men as well as hainous in the sight of God First committing adultery with Bathsheba at such a time when her husband whom hee so vilely wronged therein was imployed in the hazarding of his life to doe his service and then to cover that treacherously contriving and procuring his murther and yet this was no good plea to justifie Absalom or the sonne of Bichrâ— in their rebellions no nor yet Shimei in his foule-mouthed railing against him for it But all of them in their times were overtaken with their rewards and David yet ended his dayes in peace being reconciled to God by his repentance Nero was as it were a Devil incarnate so bad that his wickednesse added glory to the persecutions of those that suffered by him And Tertullian useth it as an argument to prove Christianity to be good because Nero opposed it He made it his sport to see his owne Imperiall City set on fire before his face and when he had done caused it most falsly and wickedly to be laid upon the Christians And embrued his hands in the blood of his own Mother and yet it is observed this very Nero was then Emperour and Governour of the Romanes at that very time when Saint Paul wrote unto them to be subject unto the higher powers and tels them withall that whoever resists shall receive to himselfe damnation Let not any think that in this we plead for the wickednes of Kings but for their impunity from men for the preservation of Government the good of the people Nor would we wish any to imagine that we think these patterns of wickednesse have any such paralells in his sacred Majestyes story if it may be truly set downe as some would perswade but only to shew the unforciblenesse of such kind of deductions as our dayes have produced and if it may be to prevent the like hereafter And to satisfie all men who will be satisfied that for all your conclusions that you draw so hard for that you have even broken your Geeres we are yet to seek for a sound reason why the King should be secluded from his Government or from the addresse of a Parliament unto him but only upon your bare averrements Si satis est accusasse quis tandem innocens God himselfe should not be innocnt if to be accused were to be convicted we hold it therefore most unjust and unreasonable for us to admit any of those aspersions which you have laid upon his Majesty into our beleife or to make any results at all upon them in the least degree prejudiciall to his Majesty in our opinions untill we shall see as well what his Majesty can answer as what you have objected against him for since it is a justice not to bee denied to the meanest of Subjects nay to the greatest slaves that they have liberty to speake for themselves before iudgement be given upon their accusation we must tell you that we hold it a thing against all equity and right for you to take the freedome to say what you please against his Maiesty and in the mean time to keepe him in that restraint that hee can neither know what you have objected nor hath liberty to make his answer thereunto All which and much more that might be said proves substantially that the resisting not a good King but a King be he good or bad though by the Ordinance of them who call themselves a Parliament is a resisting the Ordinance of God that the imprisoning of King under what specious pretences soever couched is unlawfull and the deposing him and disposing his kingdome without him damnable according to the law of God what they are according to the law of this land
that his Highnesse and his Princely Posterity may in these Kingdomes reigne so long as the world endureth maugre all thine and his enemies Enlarge and enrich his Royall heart with all Regall gifts and divine graces sutable for his present sad condition and yet high calling save him from the Treachery and tyranny of forraigne enemies and deliver him from the Plots and Projects of his Domesticall Adversaries whom wee beseech thee to cloath with shame and break in peeces like a Potters Vessell Let thy hands oh Lord finde out all that hate him make them like a fiery Oven in the time of thine Anger and destroy them in thy Wrath scatter the devices of those crafty ones and make all their Councells like the Councell of Achitophell foolishnesse confound those Shebaes that stirre up Israel against our David those Shimeis that revile and raile upon our Charles and those Adoniahs that goe about to take the Kingdome from our King yea let all like them perish like them Then will all Loyall Subjects rejoyce when they see the vengeance the stone which is cut without hands breaking all Rebells and Traitors to pieces Dan. 2.34 and making all his foes his footstoole but upon him and his grant that his Crowne may flourish that his seed may possesse the gates of their Enemies and that there may not want one of his Posterity to sit upon his Throne and sway his Scepter till Shilo come in judgment And now let all good Christians and Loyall Subjects say Amen Yea let high and low rich and poore young and old professors of the Gospel be devoted Suppliants to the King of Kings in our Kings behalfe with tongues and hearts praying and saying God save our King God save King Charles Vivat valeat Vincat Gloria Tri-uni Deo in secula Amen Postscript THis Treatise is dedicated to none the discoverer of these truths being unwilling to engage any particular Patron yet desires it may be accepted of all of what degree or rank soever both in Church and State if sound members of our Supreame Head to such I am confident this short tract will be welcome therefore to such it presents it selfe and in the discoverers absence begs their entertainement though there be danger to be found in its company The cause of his discovery of these dangerous though faithfull truths and that so plainly and home is the desire hee hath to undeceive his deceived country men to discharge his duty and to render those who are guilty if they wilfully persist therein inexcusable that when they come before the throne of the King of Kings they may have no plea of ignorance of the greatnesse and damnableness of their sin but that they may know there hath been a Prophet among them The cause of his forbearing his name is his charity to them who are reproved therein that they may not bee deeper engaged in blood and oppression for he too well knowes their common way of refuting such truths imprisonment or death and not either in ability to make good all herein contained or timidity to stand to his principles for should their unsatiable thirst after blood by the diligence of their blood hounds or subtilty of their spies make them so unfortunately succesfull as to discover him you shall find him so resolved as to seale this truth with his life if their fury carry them to that height of tyranny or by what other oppression and cruelty soever they shall use to answer This unanswerable assertion That the resisting much more imprisoning and deposing King CHARLES and disposing of his kingdome without and against him is a sinne not only unlawfull but damnable by the word of God What kind of sin it is by the law of this land Iudge Ienkins plainly tels them in his Remonstrance of the 21 of February 1647. I am confident both that and this shall have one and the same refutation that common way of answering of such assertions set forth in the 7th page of this short tract And truly I shall have no other opinion of them till they answer that Remonstrance and permit him againe to make and publish his Reply but this I beleeve they will with more safety to their hopefull cause and blessed Reformation doe first hang him and then answer him for so they shall save him a labour of a Reply and may come off with credit having as they may then vaunt silenc'd that good old Iudge And what Ingenuous Intelligent breast can entertaine better thoughts of them or hope for other proceedings from them if it seriâ—usly consider those daily Reproachfull Reviling Aspersions by their sawcie Pamphleters cast upon His Sacred Majesty to the alienating of the Affections of His People from him which they permit yea countenance if not themselves Order to bee published so to slander the foot-steps of the Lords Anointed and render him odious in the eyes of his Subjects and yet keep his Majesty in such a condition as not permitted to vindicate himselfe and threaten yea thunder out fire and faggot agaiâ—st all others that shall Write or speake in his Vindication What truely enobled soule and rightly enlightned Christian can mâ—ke any fairer Construction of such unjust practises If th y would have us harbour other Cogitations let them cause 〈◊〉 Overton to bee taken intâ— Custody and recei e conâ—igne â—â—nishment for for him was Prinâ—ed thaâ— foâ—geâ— maliâ—â—â—uâ— venemous * Pâ—â—lisâ—â—â— Maâ—câ— the 〈◊〉 164â— Letter pretended to be sâ—â—t from His Majesty to the Queene but intercepted together with those bâ—tter pâ—ysonous aspersions fixt upon his Majesty by way of certaine Prâ—posalls to the Kingdome All published in a Pamphlet stuft with as much falshood forgerie yea gall and poyson of Aspes as could be spet from the envenomed mouth of the most reviling Shimei or railing Rabshakeh of this Kingdome to the Reproching Slandering and Disgracing of a David and Hezekiah in one good King Charles to whom the Lord of his mercy grant the shield of faith in him and his goodnesse to repell the fiery Darts of such incarnate Devills from whose tongues set on fire of Hell and Pens dipt in the gall of bitternesse yea from the present sad Restraint in which he now is The Lord of Heaven and God of His Consolation and Confidence speedily deliver him Amen Amen doe all the Loyall hearted of Great Britane say and theref re have desired that thâ—â— their Vote bee speedily Printed and Published and Coppies thereof dispersed into all parts of Great Britane for the begetting a right understanding bâ—twixt His Majesty and all His Subjects FJNJS