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
A Word to LONDONS Provinciall Assembly OR A View of some Passages in the Ministers late Vindication of their Government To which is added A Vindication of the Covenant against all Intruders and Opposers By NEHEMIA CENT Isa 62.1 For Sions sake will I not hold my peace and for Jerusalems sake will I not rest c. Jer. 5.30.31 A wonderfull and horrible thing is committed in the Land The Prophets prophesie falsly and the Priests beare rule by their meanes and my people love to have it so and what will yee doe in the end thereof Jer. 23.39.40 Therefore behold I even I will utterly forget you and I will forsake you and the City that I gave you and your Fathers and cast you out of my presence And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you and a perpetuall shame which shall not be forgotten LONDON Printed for the Author and are to be sold at the Crowne in Popes-head Alley 1650. TO THE Christian Reader Christian Reader WHEN I consider the divisions that are among us arising from the diversities of the Judgements and opinions of men and the dangers we are in thereby it makes me feare we are fallen into those times which are said shall come which are called perillous times 2 Timothy 3.1 Men shall be lovers of themselves Covetous Boasters Proud Blasphemers c. And from selfe it is that men seek to set up themselves and the brats of their owne braine and fall so in love with them as for the obtaining of their desires they run desperate hazzards for they are not willing that truth should prevaile nor those that seeke to hold it forth in their practises and therefore they indeavour to make all stoope to them and to that end they use all meanes to obtaine their owne wills and therefore they that stand against them they indeavour to loade with reproach and slander and to draw off peoples hearts from them and after themselves nay they give many privy nips at the power of Godlinesse under smooth pretences and expressions which is very sad to thinke of especially comming from such men as Ministers and Elders and in the Province of London the cheife City and place in the Kingdom which makes it the more dangerous and the more to be lamented And therefore my desire is for thy good that thou wouldest begge of God such a heart that thou maiest observe what our Saviour sayes that thou wouldest Take heed what thou doest heare or read and that of the Apostle Beleeve not every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God or not and that try all things and hold fast that which is good For it is said by our Saviour that there shall arise many false Prophets and shall deceive many nay if it were possible they should deceive the very Elect and therefore we had need watch and pray that we enter not into temptation and therefore be very carefull when thou art to read the booke called the vindication of the Presbyterian Government and Ministers for although there be many faire words and pretences yet thou shalt finde many things in it which if thou doest not take heede may prove very dangerous unto thee for there thou mayest see godlinesse pretended but those that desire to walke up to the power of godlinesse reproached and called Schismaticks c. and charged with rending the Church and people warned to reject their doctrine and many such kind of aspersions they are laden with in many parts of that booke which is sad to thinke of But my intent is to speake but a word to them in this booke nor to say more of them at this time But my intent is as thou maiest see mainly to answer a booke that was set out with forty seven of their names to it which I think were all of the same society the reason that causes me to thinke so is because many of them are known to be of them and yet there is not a word spoken against their proceedings in that booke which may give occasion to fear they are all of one mind which is sad to think of there being so much sin in it and that thou mayest not think it strange that it should come forth row so long after I had brought it neare to a readinesse for the Presse a good while since but seeing so many Answers come to it I resolved to let it alone But now seeing a book come forth with such a dresse as A Vindication of the Presbyterian Government and Ministery I tooke it and did read it and finding still the same frame of spirit as before so farre as I was able to perceive although it were in a smoother way It put me upon thoughts to put forth what I had formerly taken some paines in especially concerning the Nationall Covenant it being that which I perceive is their strong hold to runne unto upon all occasions and also that is one of their maine Pillars to beare them up in what they do speake and write against such as walk more strictly in the wayes of God then themselves doe And besides I perceive that many of those that I beleeve fear God are much stumbled at it and caused to thinke and speake evill of the present Parliament and Army for their late actings and therefore for the vindication of the Covenant Parliament and Army and yeelding some little light to the godly Readers I have brought it forth that so if it bee the will of God people may bee more settled in the way the Lord hath cast us into and give him that praise which is his due and their duty to give him And that it may appeare neither the Parliament nor Army in what they have acted nor the godly people in what they have Petitioned have broken the Covenant especially in such a manner as some would make the world beleeve they have but those that cry out so of the breach of Covenant are the greatest breakers of it themselves and therefore that prejudice may bee taken off from the Parliament Army and godly people and the thoughts of unbyassed Readers may bee established and those that have beene and are the great Censurers of others may come to see their sinne and bee willing to take the shame of it and so cease to condemne others and learne to condemne themselves by owning their owne sinnes and that the consideration thereof may be a meanes to stop them from such high and violent courses and also from such uncharitable ways and practises And others may be kept from doing or approving these or the like practises is and shall bee my earnest desire And therefore Christian Reader my desire is that thou wouldest reade this booke with such a frame of spirit as may cause thee to read it with judgement and consideration of every part of it so as to be willing to see the truth and to stoope to it so as thou mayest understand love and practise it and therefore my desire is
there is more required then freedome from ignorance and scandall if you meane grosse ignorance and scandall it is a truth and such a truth as is written and the Lord hath a mouth to speake and therefore we must have an eare to heare and a heart to beleeve and therefore it ought not to be rejected for are we not bidden to examine our selves and is it not necessary to discerne the Lords Body and also to know the danger if we doe not come worthily all which persons grosly ignorant or grosly scandalous cannot nor will not doe and if you meane by freedome from these that we should be wholly free then except you be able to prove what you say against any that they teach so it is a slander and that which you have cause to acknowledge and repent of especially you having put it in print that it may come abroad in the world for we know none require any qualifications above these and therefore I pray consider if beside the slander of that you hold forth be not dangerous to your selves and those you have written to and also to as many as shall read your Book and which is worse derogatory to the glory of Gâ—d And then consider how you will answer for it before him at that great and dreadfull day when you shall be called forth and must appeare to answer for all you have done in the body And whereas you speake of persons casting reproaches upon the Ministers of Christ I beseech you by this little that hath been said if you may not feare it may be a just hand of God against you that people should so doe as also if you doe but look whether you have not gone before them by your owne example to lead them so to doe for have you not done so witnesse what hath been already said of your dealing with others and then is it a wonder you should meet with it your selves nay have you not reproached them with unseemly names as calling them Sectaries and Schismaticks nay have you not gone against the light of your owne Consciences in what you have done while as they walke peaceably and conscientiously among you in the waies of God and so you have done worse then those you condemn which have spoken so of you for although it be not to be approved of that any should reproach you but condemned yet consider if you have not given them just cause so to doe which I hope by that time you have read this Book and considered you will smite upon your owne hearts and confesse you have and then I hope you will take the counsell is given you elsewhere in this Book and learne better language hereafter especially to publish it to the world for I cannot but beleeve you are convinced not only they are the Sâ—rvants of Christ but the Ministers of Christ especially some of them and what a sad thing it is that Ministers should so speake of Ministers if this be not rending of the Church and if it may not be called Schisme yet if it be not very like it let the judicious conscientious and impartiall Reader judge as also what hurt this may do in every place where it shall come especially it being in print and I beseech you consider what root this came from if it be not from pride as hath been formerly said for why should you thus cry out and speake so much evill of them because they will not stoop and come in to you and be of your judgement and goe on in your way why may they not as well finde fault with you because you doe not condiscend to them especially if you consider what hath been said and what is in reverend Mr. Hookers Book and we may the rather beleeve they are in the right way then you because they hold forth most selfe deniall and I beseech you therefore again and againe take heed you be not found raylers at the Churches and people of the living God and such as he will owne at the last day and bring them in Judgement against you for you know what became of him that railed on the Hoast of the living God there was a stone came and made him fall upon the earth and he was destroyed But yours being not only of the Hoast but also of the Ministers of the Lord Christ that stone that is spoken of which is hewn out of the Mountaine will fall upon you and crush you if you be found such for the Church is compared to an Army with Bannors and the Lord Christ is their Generall before whom you will never be able to stand if he come against you which the Lord in his abundant mercy give you hearts to consider of together with all the arguments besides that are written in this book and also al that hath bin or shall be written in any other book that some or all of them may be so gon along withall by his blessing the powerfull working of his Spirit as that it may throughly convince you of your sin that he may follow it on to bring you to true humiliation and acknowledgement of it in such a publike way as may be to hiâ— glory and your owne peace and true comfort that so it may be pardoned and your soules everlastingly saved and that it may doe good and keep from evill all those to whom it shall come whom he shall give a heart to read it impartially which is the whole aime and desire of him who caused it to be printed and to that end shall follow it with his prayers so farre as the Lord doth assist I should have written much more in answer to your Vindication but that I having written so much in answer to your former Booke and not doubting but that others farre more able and fit will give you full answers unto whom I shall willingly leave it and pray they may doe it effectually and with such ends and aimes as the Lord who is the searcher of all hearts may be pleased to goe along with them and it as it may become effectuall to his glory the peace and comfort of their soules and the good of all the Church and people of God and so for this time I shall commit it to him and wait and expect his gracious answer by his blessing upon it The Covenant vindicated against all Intruders and Opposers Gentlemen YOu have in a Letter of yours to the Generall and his Councell of war laid many things to the charge of the Army and so as you make them great offenders which you and all others have cause to consider of because the things therein contained do concerne the Parliament and many of the godly party in the Kingdome they having been such as have been approved of by the one and petitioned by the other and therefore it will be good to consider them againe and againe before we censure them for God does usually reveal his mind to them that feare him and therefore if it
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
is in Scotland which the Covenant doth not at all binde unto here in England and Ireland for there is a manifest difference put between us and them as I conceive for that here and in Ireland must be according to the Word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches and no mention is made of the example of Scotland which shewes they were doubtfull of that but they would be sure of the best Reformation and therefore they put in according to the Word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches but you have not endeavoured such a Reformation in England in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government as that before named which the Covenant doth binde unto witnesse your taking up with that which is in Scotland you have that manner of Worship Discipline and Government confuted by that reverend Mr. Hooker and we cannot but take it that you are convinced it is confuted for if you were not you would confute his Arguments and shew the falsnesse of them and untill you have so done we shall take what he hath said are such truthâ— as you are not able to answer according to the Word of God and therefore such as you are bound by your Covenant to reforme unto that being also the example of the best reformed Churches so far as yâ—â— doth appeare which while you doe not confute or reforme to it let the Reader consider if you breake the Covenant and live in the breach of it you having liberty so to doe and so you have not endeavoured to bring the three Kingdomes to the nearest uniformity in that way nay have you not and doe you not oppose that Government although you have not answered those Arguments neither have you so confirmed that way you walke in by arguments and grounds out of the Word of God so as might establish the people and leave them without doubt that you walke in that way which Christ hath set up to be worshipped in now in the times of the Gospel but the people must take it upon trust and so can never be soundly established in it 2. Although you have extirpated Popery and Prelacy in thâ— bulke of it in Church Government yet if you observe diligently some passages and Arguments in reverend Mr. Hooker you may see you have not wholly done it but the stumps of that Dagon doe still remaine and is stood for and upholden by you neither have you opposed Errors Superstition Schisme and Prophanesse as you ought to doe for although you speak against them in the generall you do it in such a manner that cannot in the largest breadth of charity be taken to come from love there is so much bitternes in the manâ—r of your expressions and in your so speaking in the general you cause those that are godlie in your own Judgements free from error as your selves be only they disscent from you in their judgement practise and yet you render them as odious to all your errors as those that hold and practise the greatest are the grossest blasphemers and so you condemne the generation of the Just and you know what is said he that justifies the Wicked and condemnes the Righteous are both alike in Gods esteeme And what a sad thing it is that you that call your selves and would have the people think you are the Servants and Ambassadours of Christ should be found in the number of those that speake against and condemne his Servants and Children I beseech you consider how you will answer it before him at his comming for by your preaching the people are not able to know who you meane except you meane all those that are not just of your Judgement and Practise and therefore if this be not your mind distinguish who they be that you may not lead people in a mist or else how can they be convinced for truth is plaine and open and therefore you neede not bee ashamed nor afraid to speak it and therefore while you forbear so to do we cannot but looke at you as Covenant-Breakers except it be so you cannot do it for you have Covenanted to doe what you can and for opposing whatsoever is against the power of godlines I wish you do not countenance incourage such as if you be asked or at least if you will seriously aske your own consciences you will say they have it not appearing in them yet you admit them into your choise societie and make them partakers of the choisest Ordinances and incourage them therein and how this can stand with your Covenant I leave the Reader to judge 3 You have not preserved the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliament nor the Liberties of the Kingdome as you should have done formerly as doth appeare to the world in Print and of late it hath appeared more clearlie for whereas it is their Right and their greatest Priviledge to act freely for the glorie of God you have not encouraged them â—n the so acting nor yet have you incouraged them that have been a meanes to set them in such a condition wherein they might so act and the like may be said for the liberties of the Kingdom for the Parliament have been acting for the liberties of the Kingdome and you have not incouraged them therein and the Armie have been instrumentall to set them in such a condition as they might so act and you have not incouraged them therein for is it not the greatest libertie to the Kingdom when they can injoy to have the Ordinances of God in a powerfull manner according to his Word freelie and without controle and likewise to have Justice executed impartially and it doth not appeare that you have been any meanes to further it notwithstanding you know what the Word of God holds forth that Justice exalteth a Nation nay which might make a gracious consciencious heart to tremble to think that you who have incouraged to the taking of the Covenant and gone before others in so doing by taking it your selves that you should so faile as not to incourage them that have done it Nay which is farre worse have cast dirt and filth in the faces of the Parliament and trampled their honour under your feet and caused all others so to doe so far as have laine in your power and that for their faithfull discharge of the Covenant And you have done the like by the Army which have so often ventured their lives and estates as they have done and you also have Covenanted to doe the like so farre as in you lies Nay have you not been Incendiaries to stirre up people to a dislike and contempt of Parliament and Armie in what they have done Nay I desire that it may not trulie be said of some of you at the least that you have in a sort cursed them but which is most hideous to consider have you not prayed to that God against them in their proceedings to whom you have lifted up your hand that you
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
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
contrive the subversion of the whole Laws and Government of the Kingdom and to endeavour a totall universal Toleration as they fear Answer it was indeed a matter of offence of a high nature for one man for the satisfaction of his owne will to overthrow the fundamentall Lawes of the Kingdome but that is not their case for they would not have any alteration to bee made at the will of any one man and for the fundamentall Lawes to be altered that is not like to be but is declared to the contrary and that was an offence of a high nature to disswade from the calling of Parliaments and therefore they seeing and feeling it to bee so great they have desired it may be prevented for time to come a Parliament being the next way of refuge and safety to the Nation under God and the breaking of it up at the pleasure of one man was a great burthen and high offence and therefore they propose that they might have their time set how long they should sit that so they might not be broken up before except they themselves see fit so to do for the good of the Kingdome And for what you speake of Arminians and Papists it was cause of griefe to every gracious heart the one being grosse Idolaters and the other but little better but in some sense may be more dangerous and hurtfull but your inference will not hold as if it was commendable to contrive the subversion of the whole Lawes and government of the Kingdome and to endeavour a totall and universall Toleration for it doth not appeare that any especially those whom you do write unto doe account it a commendable thing to contrive the subversion of the whole Lawes and government of the Kingdome for they have not propounded that and therefore how can any without breach of charity say they commend it nor have they propounded for an universall Toleration and therefore we dare not conclude they doe approve of either and therefore they will never account it commendable but that they will oppose it and any that shall labour so to doe and as they have been so they will continue to be for the glory of God and the good of the Kingdome and for the good of the people of God who we hope are deare unto them And as for your feares you hold forth against persons of such eminent note with no better grounds we cannot but witnesse against it as a sin so to doe being a breach of the 5. 6. and 9. Commandments It is said they are confident upon their former successes which is no good ground especially they being before in the wayes of God but now they are not Answer if ever they might be confident of successes because they were in the wayes of God they might be now for the way they are now in is as much approved as any way they ever walked in since they tooke up Armes for this did tend much to the consummation of all they had laboured for and the triall greater and therefore for them to hold out is a great signe that God is with them and will be with them and give them good successes It is further said there was no necessity of their so acting but of their owne making but they make a necessity to sin Answer that there was a necessity is true but that made it doth not appeare for the necessity lay in the power and greatnesse of the parties they had to deal withall which made the worke difficult and so a necessity for them to act as they did and although necessity doth not warrant to sin yet necessity may make that lawfull which without necessity is unlawfull as for David and those that were with him to eat the shew-bread was a sin had not necessity caused them to do it but when they were in necessity they might eat it and not sin in so doing and it might be shewne in many other things and so it was your owne case in taking up Armes against the King which had beene sinfull if necessity had not beene and that doth continue still but they needed not to have pleaded necessity for they had the word of God and the Covenant which they had taken to beare them out as hath beene formerly shewed Againe it is said their necessity was doubtfull and not cleare and certaine because it was seen by none but themselves Answer if persons will not see none can make them but to them that will see it was plaine enough for any rationall man might see that there was nothing held forth by the King that could be a ground to thinke other but that all should be as bad as ever if not worse if ever he came upon the Throne againe nor any thing in those Parliament men that were kept backe that might be ground they would not act for the hurt of the Kingdome they having so acted the last time they were there by their voting notwithstanding the Army was in London and the King was taken off from treating and removed to another place and therefore it could yeeld no hope but that they that would so act in such a time as that was might goe further to the undoing of all and therefore no further to be trusted in that kinde for the present It is further said the Parliament did act freely for the Covenant untill they were forced by the Army Answer it is manifest they have acted for God since those members were kept backe witnesse their repealed Votes and in their execution of Justice but that they did so before doth not appeare but the contrary witnesse those Votes they made that are since Repealed and the danger of them held forth by the Declaration of Parliament And also it was clearly against the Covenant they acted for is it not against the Covenant to shelter from Justice those that had deserved death by Treason as Duke Hambleton and the Lord Goring c. And is it not against the Covenant to keepe any Delinquents from triall that they might receive condigne punishment so that they were so farre from acting for the Covenant as they acted against the Covenant It is further said they are busie-bodies in other mens matters Answer it is true they are busie for the good of other men even many thousands but they are busie in the place they are called to and fitted for by God and in which they were set by the Parliament who caused that to be their worke by appointment as they were Souldiers so as they are busie in their owne worke for the Kingdomes good and that was their duty and they were faithfull in it for the glory of God the good of his people and the Nation and the cause they were to defend and therefore to be commended for being so faithfull in their places and they are to be prayed for to the Lord that hee would keep them faithfull in their places and keep them from turning That they being faithfull to the death the
Lord may give them the Crowne of life I pray therefore consider of all these particulars and consider if it be not a sad thing so many of you as 47. should be found guilty of so many grievous sinnes as this is to charge people with so many things and can prove none for all those charges are sins of a high nature and some of them are sinnes of a very high nature and deserve great and high punishments from God and man and therefore doe render justly those persons detestable to God and man that are guilty of such things as these But if guiltles then consider what a condition such men are in as do thus charge persons although they be but of ordinary rank if they canot prove what they charge them with their sin is very great for we know what the Lord hath said against false witnesses those that lay so many things to their charge as these have done and not prove them are false witnesses in a high degree and the Lord hath told us looke what they intended to bring upon the party by such witnesse the same shall be done to them but how much more when this is not done to one person but to many and that not to men of a meane ranke and place but those of a high ranke and place and such as have deserved to be honoured for what they had done and were doing it being that the Law of God allows of and the whole Kingdom hath cause to blesse God for what ever may be held out to the contrary by persons dis-affected to the Kingdomes good that may aime at their owne ends in so doing and therefore God will finde out such persons if men passe them by and he will powre out contempt for contempt and disgrace for disgrace and reproach for reproach for he is a just God and hee knowes also the most secret workings of such as worke against his people for their owne ends and their secret grudgings against them and therefore we may say to such Be not deceived for God is not nor will not be mocked for what a man or men sow that they shall reap But how much more is it to be admired that such as lay such heavy burthens upon others should be more guilty of those very things if not greater themselves and therefore it will not be amisse to examine whether they bee guilty or not May it not be said it was an unseemly thing if not too much arrogancy of spirit for you to call them private persons and account it an unseemly thing for them to desire a consultation with you for if they were private persons they were none of the meanest sort which if they had you should not have slighted them Againe have you not gone herein against a direct rule in the Word or against many rules have you not gone against the fifth and sixth Commandement and that of the Apostle love thinketh no evill and that Judge nothing before the time Nay I wish you had not broken the third Commandement by misapplying the Word if not mis-interpreting the Word Again have you not don that which is out of your sphere in medling with matters of the Commonwealth in such sort as you have done and with persons in highest places in the Kingdome and throwing filth upon them And may not you be charged with former miscarriages if all that was written of some of your carriages in your preachings in your morniâ—g Lectures be true which I may beleeve because I never heard it denied by you yet May it not be truly said your late carriages have been against lawfull Authority when you taxe Parliament and Army with things of so high an offence that have been done against the King May it not be said you oppose the Parliament when you will not acknowledge them to be a Parliament at least not pray for them as a Parliament and also oppose their proceedings and that before and to the whole world so farre as in you lyes and thereby take off the hearts of the people of the Kingdome from them as much as in you lyes and by justifying men to be eminent and of worth and integrity which have been declared by the Parliament to have acted directly against the good of the Kingdome and this you have done since they so did And it may bee said that which you have done is against lawfull Authority and Magistrates that God hath set over us and contrary to the duty you owe unto them by the law of God and man nay which is yet more against your Oathes and Covenants which you so plead for for if that which they did was in performance of the Covenant as hath been said formerly then what you have done must needs be against it And may it not be said you have gone against all those Scriptures you have alledged against them in that kind for if the Word speak against them for doing any thing if you do the same it will take hold of you as well as of them And have not you done something without colour of authority of the Word of God if it be taken in a right sence and not abused And have not you gone against your trust and many Ingagements in opposing what you have done tending to overthrow that for which so much blood and treasure have been shed for which was the purity of the Ordinances and in bringing us into a worse condition then ever wee were in before the Warres began and you were preserved in your places by them that so you might preserve them in purity and do you not go against it and shew your discontent because they are removed which did hinder it And do you not usurpe authority over the Parliament and Army so far as you can with your clamours and threatnings if we may judge your hearts by your wriings you make high opposition And may it not truly be said you meddle with things not belonging to you did it belong to you to write in controle of the Proceedings of the Parliament and Army as you have done and so to take off the hearts of the people from both And is not your doings irregular and tending to the overthrow of Religion while you seek to preserve them that would do it And O that it might not be truly said you are fallen from your former Judgements and Principles of Curse you Meroz because they came not out to helpe the Lord against the Mighty for now you do little better to those that have and doe helpe And are not you in such a condition that the people of God that understand themselves dare not nor may not bid you God speed nor wish you well in the name of the Lord in this action and such like And do not these your desires tend to open a doore to Popery and Prelacy while as you plead for them that will bring in both And may it not be truly said that Religion is made to stinke by your