Churches patrimony p. 68. VI Their illegall forcing the King to go against his Oath legally taken at his Coronation p. 72. VII Their swearing to have no respect of persons in their Extirpations p. 75. VIII Their allowing their Iudges to punish Malignants as they shall thinke convenient though their offences do not so deserve CHAP. X. That the Covenant is repugnant to those generall Ends for which it is pretended to be taken p. 78. As being I. Contrary to the Glory of God II. Destructive to the Protestant Religion and serving rather to advance Popery III. Derogatory to the Kings Honour p. 80. IV. Preiudiciall to the Liberties of the Kingdomes as taken for the upholding of their power by whom all publike Liberty is already destroyed V. Inconsistent with the Peace of the Kingdomes as tending immediately to nothing but Warre with others and not likely to end in Peace amongst themselves CHAP. XI That the particular Ends of the severall Articles are likewise inconsistent with the matter of them p. 87. As I. A violent Reformation with the Growth of Religion II. A violent Extirpation of what is not sin with the clearing of the Extirpers from sin III. Their swearing absolutely to preserve the power of Parliaments but the Kings Person and Authority with reservation for this End that the world may judge of their loyalty and how they have no intentions to diminish his iust Power Here the world is in part informed wherein the Kings iust Power consists As 1. In making p. 88. of Law 2. In making p. 88. of Law 3. In declaring p. 89. of Law 4â— In executing 5. In appointing Iustices 6. In pardoning offenders p. 90. 7. In disposing of preferments 8. In protecting his Subiects 9. In Supremacy over all Estates 10. In calling adiourning proroguing dissolving of Parliaments p. 91. And how all these Powers are actually diminished if not destroyed by the Covenanteers In treating of the last particular the equity and so the validity of the late Act Against the Dissolution of this present Parliament is ventilated CHAP. XII The true End of framing and enjoyning this Covenant The bringing in of the Scoâ—s absolutely unlawfull p. 96. I. In respect of the English invâ—â—ing p. 97. II. In respect of the Scoâ—s comming Where the three pretended Reasons of their Invasion are debated viz. 1. The gâ—â—d â—f Religion in England p. 98. 2. The 〈◊〉 of their native King p 99. 3. The rescuing this Kingdome from destruction p. 100. III. Their many former Oaths and Protestations to the contraryâ— CHAP. XIII From these premises the Covenant is concluded unlawfull in respect of the Forme p. 104. Errata Page Line For Reade 3 18 left last 6 3 desciverant desciverâ—nt 7 2 and or 8 34 abjected abjured 10 13 Passan Passaâ— 14 35 convented convened ib. 37 knew know 21 21 interferre interfere 23 33 Assembly that Assembly of that 25 6 bulke balke 29 6 to English to the English ib. 20 our one 31 29 must might 37 31 considered considerable Those Quotations which occurre out of the Remonstrances or Declarations of Parliament are taken out of that Exact Collection printed for Edward Husbands and published by speciall Order of the House of Commons made Martii 24. 1642. which is here usually pointed at the most compendious way by these Characters A Review of the Covenant CHAP. I. By what meanes the Covenanteers were reduced to the necessity of entering into this Combination confessed to be their last Refuge WHen the danger is once over to reflect upon the many miseries they have undergone may haply afford some small comfort to such as shall escape but so long as we groane under the present distempers and can discerne no probable end of our sufferings but with our selves it is but a sad contemplation to look back upon our former Peace and enquire by what sleights we were fooled out of so happy a condition He that found the poor man ready to perish in the bottome of the pit and was more inquisitive how he fell in then sollicitous to use meanes how to help him out expressed a greater measure of curiosity then Charity It shall therefore be my chiefest endeavour to rescue if I may the many seduced Scules out of that pit of Destruction into which they are already plunged The danger of those courses that led them thither was wisely foreseene a and timely foretold by His Majesty but urgentibus Imperium fatis salutares Dei atque hominum admonitiones spernuntur If the Contrivers of these great Tropicks in Church and State had at first {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} acquainted us with their designes we should have been affraid to owne and ashamed to abet them No question but what comes last in execution was first in their intention The subversion of Government as well Civill as Ecclesiasticall was the prime aime of those Architects of State who were to erect their private greatnesse upon the publique Ruines For whom it had been in vaine to strike immediatly at the face of Majesty or talke of pulling up Root and Branch the first day At the beginning of our Parliament it was with the common People of this Land as once with the Roman Souldier Miles longo Caesarum Sacramento imbutus ad destituendum Imperatorem arte magis impulsu quà m suo ingenio traductus The tye of Allegiance which had been ever held sacred and the many blessings of a long Peace enjoyed under His Majesty and His Royall Father would not without the help of Arts and Industry suffer them to make a suddaine defection from their Loyalty Their nature therefore fatally inclined to change must be cunningly wrought upon by an odious representation and malitious aggravation of some past grievances their dull restive Spirits must be conjured up by those two vulgar Charmes Religion and Liberty they are commanded to beleeve this is destroyed and that endangered So to bring them out of love with their present condition and make them venture a certaine happinesse for uncertaine hopes By what degrees they were disciplined and broken to a perfect Rebellion I forbeare to rehearse But if the Covenanting Members yet remaining at Westminster of whom onely I desire to be understood through this discourse be the same men that managed the Cause from the beginning and were the true Authors of all those Declarations and Remonstrances fathered upon one or both Houses of Parliament I crave leave once more to put the Kingdome in mind of what they were told before b how they had brought their worke to such a height and degree of successe that nothing seemed to be left in their way able to hinder the full accomplishment of their desires unlesse God in his Iustice should send a grievous curse upon them When we lay this profession of theirs in the ballance with His Majesties Answer to that very Declaratîon c where he desired his actions might no longer prosper then they were directâ—d to
he have not his default is sufficient to make all the rest lyars who in that case cannot truly say We of all sorts calling to minde the Plots in all places resolved after mature deliberation Sweare c. 7. If it were agreed who are the greatest Enemies of our Religion we should be better able to judge of the increase and exercise of their power and malice Vpon that principle which the Scots have taught us No unity in Religion without unity in Ecclesiasticall Government we must conclude against the Covenanteers that they who sweare to extirpate the Government are Enemies to the Religion of the Church of England But if they intend by Enemies the King and Bishops and other misnamed Malignants whom they traduce for an intention of subverting Religion it is a calumny as void of truth as full of malice nothing was ever denied by his Majesty or opposed by his Followers which might conduce to the settlement of the true Reformed Protestant Religion And if it be such a permanent truth that when ever any man sweares this Covenant The power of these Enemies is at that time encreased I wish they would consider what a strange Enemy they have to deale with who growes stronger by their opposition Qui saepiùs vinci potest quà m illi vincere and take heed they be not given up to incureable blindnesse and hardnesse of heart that they cannot see or will not acknowledge the hand of God working against them and themselves fighting against God 8. It is not true that their Supplications Remonstrances Protestations and Sufferings have been any meanes to preserve themselves or their Religion from destruction First for Supplications we have not heard of any from Ireland without effect save such as are put upon the Covenanteers score Nor have the Scots been repulsed in any desires which concerned themselves it was their crime which is our misery they would needs be in alienâ Republicâ curiosi And such supplications as have been presented in the name of this Kingdome were either for fashions sake desiring the Kings consent to things they resolved to do without it and after the rejection of that gracious Message of Ianuary 20th which might have prevented all those unreasonable demands insisted upon since Non ut assequerentur sed causam seditioni To send an Army to present a Petition was a strange addresse of Subjects to their King Nor need they impute their Remonstrances of all the conceived errours in Government or their Protestations to defend his Person accompanied with a f Declaration against his syncerity in Religion and resolution to hazard their lives against Him and his Army which the very next day they performed accordingly but if supplications and sufferings were truly meanes why do they not continue to supplicate since they have no right to command Why do they not like Christians rather suffer still then offer wrong Rather submit to the Lawes in force then by violence compell their Soveraigne to receive new ones from them 9 Their Resolution to enter into this League for the preservation of themselves and their Religion from utter ruine and destruction implies a double untruth that both they it may be utterly destroyed Though our Bodies and Estates have been long exposed to the perill of destruction yet our soules are shot-free we may take our Saviours g word for it and Animus cujâ—sque est quisque When Pandora's box of feares and jealousies was first set open we were told of dangers though we could see none then save that it was certain ruine for any man to thinke he was not in danger but we have now too just cause to believe their predictions who by that artifice got so much power into their hands as is sufficient to undoe the Kingdome and by this Covenant vow so much obâ—tinacy as not to entertain any thoughts of peace till either that be done or they perish in the worke and if they shall yet will their Religion if it be that which they professe the true Protestant never faile for Magna est veritas praevalebit h the gates of Hell shall not prevaile against it i it is founded upon a Roâ—ke and all the Enemies of God cannot overthrow it k because it is of God 10. The pretended truth of that which followes is obtruded upon the people to serve for a shooing-horne to draw on the Covenant which is falsly affirmed to be according to the commendable practice of these Kingdomes in former times The Subjects of England neuer entered into a sworne Covenant such as this is either amongst themselves or with other Nations If the late Rebells in Ireland did any such thing none but equall Rebells will thinke their Example worthy of commendation So then if neither England nor Ireland ever did the like tâ—en not these Kingdomes Scotland onely remaines the neare and neighbouring Example whereof l Master Henderson proposeth to our Covenanteers as worthy their best observation he would not say imitation for Examples are the weakest Arguments and in matters of doubtfull right those that urge them commonly go beyond their Copy It is but a poore defence Societatem alieni criminis innocentiam vocare Nor will the late Scots Covenant 1538 serve to justifie this now For first in relation to themselves there is a great difference in the occasion then and now Their Religion and Liberties they then affirmed to be invaded now they cannot pretend any such matter Secondly for the efficient cause that Covenant was made onely betwixt Subjects of the same Kingdome but this is a League amongst People of different Countries and Lawes Thirdly that was not without some stampe of royall Authority being alleadged to be the same for substance with the generall Band formerly subscribed and allowed by King Iames 1580. and enjoyned by severall Acts of Councell and generall Assembly 1581 1590. and to justifie their explanations upon it many Acts of Parliament were produced But this is wholly contrary to the Kings Command and some part of it against the whole current of English Parliaments Fourthly the maine matter in both Episcopacy though it was supposed or suggested to be against Law in Scotland yet was m not required to be abjected but the practice of it forborne and the matter referred to a free generall Assembly Whereas here though it be so deeply rooted in our Lawes that no man can tell what is Law without it it is vowed to be utterly extirpated and that without the advice of the Clergy in Convocation without a free Convention of both Houses in Parliament without His Majesties Assent or Approbation Fiftly for manner of prosecution n the Scots then professed to perswade not enforce men to Covenant disclaimed all threatnings but of Gods Iudgements all violence but of reason Whereas o now if their greatest Peers doe post-pone or refuse to take this Covenant all their goods and rents must be confiscate and their persons made
{non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} there will be no danger of breaking Priviledge But if all these were high violations of the Parliament Priviledges all the Covenanteers are sworne to enquire after and punish the offendors without respect of persons 5. I cannot see that those who had a speciall hand in the creation have ever had a due care for the conservation of many new Priviledges They who declared it to be no ordinary but a high breach of Priviledge to d intercept any Letters or Messengerâ— comming to or from the Parliament have since countenanced the interception of His Majesties Letters commanded the imprisonment of His Messengers and done enough to prove themselves either guilty of Priviledge-breaking or no Parliament Who if they shall pretend in case of Priviledge as they have done in point of Law that whatever they doe or command or approve how contrary soever it may seeme to be to their confessed or declared Priviledges yet must not be taken for a violation of Priviledge because it is approved by them in whom the Privilegilative power is supposed to reside I confesse this might be urged with good coherence to their other principles nor should I know well what to reply if I were not furnished out of their Store-houâ—e Where I find them telling the King August 25. 1642. that till he have recalled His Declarations and Proclamations and taken downe His Standard e they cannot by the fundamentall Priviledges of Parliament treat with him Yet within a few moneths after though the Royall Standard was not taken downe nor any Proclamations recalled those very men who before refused to grant are now f petitioning for a Treaty to His Majesty at Colebrooke and we find them actually Treating at Oxford Whence we conclude seeing they did afterwards what they had formerly declared by their fundamentall Priviledges they could not doe not onely in some cases they possibly may but in this particular according to the principles of their owne Declarations they actually did violate a Priviledge of Parliament and that a fundamentall one VII There can scarce be imagined any invasion upon the Publique Liberty more manifest or of greater consequence than is the imposing of this Oath by such as have no Authority to exact it and the submitting to this usurped Authority is in all them that take it a betraying of the Liberty of the Kingdome We have already proved that no new Oath can be imposed but by Act of Parliamentâ— Besides what can be more in prejudice of the Liberties of England then forcing all the Subjects to sweare to defend the Liberties of Scotland and the unknown Priviledges of their Parliament Are we not hereby made sworne vassals and slaves to another Nation Do we not give them a Supremacy over us or if their obligation be reciprocall yet I doubt whether in case they prove perfidious that will serve to excuse our perjury If by swearing to preserve the Liberties of the Kingdome they sweare as their g Expositours beare us in hand against all Arbitrary Power whereby the Rulers will and pleasure is made the onely Rule of the Subjects obedience their Oath strikes at none more than the Masterâ—Covenanters to whom I feare the description in that Authour is most aptly fitted New proud ambitious domineering Officers of the first Head VIII Seeing no Act of Parliament can be made without his Majesties consent no new Oath imposed without an Act of Parliament their pressing of this Covenant by any Ordinance their entering into League with two Forreigne Nations and inviting others to joyne in the like Association is such a palpable violation of the Kings Authority which they sweare to preserve and a contradiction so grosse as none can reconcile unlesse He to whom nothing is impossible IX What is the whole Designe of the Covenant but an apparent dividing of the King from his People Or which is all one of the People from their King What but a sowing of division between the Kingdomes by hiring the Scots to take part in our dissensions What but a sworne Faction amongst the People of this Land being a combination of some who confesse themselves not to be the Kingdome And yet they would seeme to sweare against all these in the fourth Article That they who here sweare against Faction and Division have been the Authours and are still the upholders of Division and that by Faction is plaine from their constant refusall to descend to any Treaty for accommodation First when his Majesty wooed them to it from Nottingham then when the most substantiall Citizens petitioned for it at London Againe when in Iuly last the Lords remaining at Westminster did Vote for it when the major part of Commons then present did entertain the first motion of it when the many poore People and the weaker sexe did offer up strong cries and teares for it yet so potent was the prevailing party of the Common-Councell of London of Master Pennington's election and therefore at his devotion as not to spare their greatest Patriots all their former service could not protect their names or persons from the rude hands and ruder tongues of those enemies of Peace from whom the poore Petitioners found such barbarous entertainment as pitied me to see I take no pleasure to remember Nor need I mention the many gracious overtures from his Majesty that have been spurned at and rejected since That which most irremoveably pinnes the Faction upon the Covenanteers sleeves is their entering into such a League as this with Forreigners which they would never have purchased at so deare a rate had they confided in the native Forces of our own Kingdome Besides the very ground of the Contestation decides the Controversie The Covenanteers fight for Subversion of the Lawes and Government established his Majesty as by their confession he is bound to do and his other Subjects for preservation of them Say then who are the Faction Whether they who willingly submit to all Lawes now in force and are ready to pay equall obedience to all such as shall be established in a free Parliament or they who not onely deny obedience but vow to extirpate the present Lawes and Government CHAP. IX That many particulars vowed and intended by the Covenant are simply and absolutely unlawfull HAving already demonstrated the iniquity of the Covenant upon such generall Heads of Discourse as by sound consequence doe inferre no lesse I proceed to the proposall of such other particulars as are found primâ facie without any help of deduction immediately unlawfull in themselves I. Such is the maine matter of the first Article if not of the whole Covenant The alteration of Religion in England and Ireland Which if it were false and erroneous as it is falâ—ly suggested to be yet being already setled by standing Lawes in both Kingdomes such as the King is sworne to defend as much if not more then any other for any Subjects by force of Armes to goe about to introduce
defend What cause then have they for this invasion Is it for their own necessary defence Nothing is threatened nothing intended against them Is it to revenge any injury we have done them If any were done on either part we have dearly paid for it already and by the Act of Oblivion all former bitternesse should be forgotten but Chi offende non perdona they wronged us so much they will never dare to forgive us Is it for the lawfull recovery of any right that we have taken and detain from them Nor so nor so What then is it which may give any colour of justice to this expedition Forsooth no other then the good of Religion in England the deliverance of their Brethren out of the deeps of affliction the preservation of their own Religion and themselves from the extremity of misery and the safety of their native King and his Kingdomes from destruction and desolation Ad populum phaleras We must be very silly if we be cheated with such faire words 1. Concerning the first we have already disputed and I hope proved that it is not lawfull to propagate Religion by Armes Nor is it true that those whom they call their Brethren in England suffer any thing for their Religion or need shed one drop of blood in defence of that power without which Religion as they pretend cannot be defended It has alwaies been and still is the passionate desire of his Majesty to preserve the protestant Religion and the just power of Parliaments He has often profferd and is still ready to performe to passe any Lawes that shall be presented to him for hindering the growth of Popery and securing the just Priviledges of Parliament He has onely refused to consent to such an alteration in Religion and Government as the Enemies of our peace would force upon him under the generall name of Reformation who are not yet agreed what is meant by it more then Extirpation And therefore if the Scots should sit still and hold their peace they need not feare the curse of Meroz when they looke upon the cause which these men maintaine Which if it were indeed what it is notâ— the cause of Religion it were but common to them with other Christian Churches which lye groaning as they tell us under the yoak of antichristian Tyranny If the Scots think themselves bound in Conscience and have any calling or Commission from God to be the Catholique Reformers of other Nations they should doe better to begin their Reformation in other popish Countries where there is more need of it and where lesse exception can be taken to it where it may be free from any suspicion of Rebellion against the Prince as being not their own Native King and of ingratitude and perfidiousnesse to the Countrey as having not received equall courtesies from them nor entered into the like union and pacification with them as they have done with England God forbid that those weapons which our money hath put into their hands should be drawne to cut our own throates or that our Kingdome should be ruined because they think it fit to be reformed 2. And concerning the second if they do not enter into England and lift up Armes against their owne King who as they confesse hath promised and done as much for them as may secure them in their Religion and Liberties we shall never blame them But if they shall conceive of themselves or be perswaded upon reports from hence that those who adhere to His Majesty in the present quarrell are none but a popish prelaticall and malignant party whereas it is evident to the world that the greater part of this whole Kingdome sides with the King otherwise their assistance had never been implored never purchased at so high a rate that many thousands of the best repute for Religion towards God and affection to their Countrey to the certaine damage of their Estates and hazard of their lives doe appear in this cause upon no other incentives but of Conscience and Loyalty it is but a groundlesse pretence in the Scots to talke of providing for their owne preâ—ervation against those that meane them no harme No pretended experience of former times much lesse any principles of their owne Declarations or conceived jealousies oâ— the vindictive disposition of the English can warrant them before God or cleare them to the world if they shall take advantage of our present weaknesse and attempt a conquest of us now because it is possible if we once recover of these distempers and be united amongst our selves we may be strong enough to resist them hereafter Nor is there any necessity that the condition of one Kirk and Kingdome either in Religion or Peace should be common to both the present evidence of their quiet and our unrest proves it otherwise And if we should ever be restored to our right wits and former quiet whether they consider the peaceable disposition of His Majesty His Princely Clemency towards all and tender affection He has ever borne to His Native Countrey or the Loyall disposition of His adherents in these troubles falsly called Malignant and Preiaticall whose constant practice hath ever confirmed their Doctrine of subjection to the Magistrate and to whose profession and interest nothing is more repugnant then a Civill War by which they may loose all but are sure to gain nothing or they consider the present condition of this whole Kingdome harrased and spoyled by these intestine divisions which will certainly produce this good effect that if once we see an end of these Warres we shall better know to value Peace hereafter and not be easily engaged againe From these grounds of common reason they might conclude more solidly more charitably that what ever be the event in England if they doe not imbroyle themselves without cause they may for ever enjoy their Religion and Liberties and need not feare an afterclap from hence And let them remember thus much more of Israels leading into captivity that they never revolted from their God till they first revolted from their King Rebellion led the way Idolatry followed after and both ended in Captivity God preserve both them and us from such a judgement But let them take heed how they dally with edge-tools how they make solemne Oaths to God Protestations to the world promises of Peace and Vnion to their neighbours when they intend nothing lesse How they begin a Nationall Warre against us without any provocation from us or previous denunciation from them contrary to the late Treaty onely upon conceipt that if the power of this Kingdome be recovered into those hands out of which it was wrested by violence and injustice we may possibly according to the Treaty within three moneths denounce War against them 3. And concerning the third if the question be not whether they should presume to be arbitrators in the matters now debated by fire and sword betwixt His Majesty and those whom they call the Houses of Parliament
truly due unto them and the King bound to admit of them These suppositions being granted it cannot be denied but the severall Parliaments all challenging as great Councels to his Majesty whose advice he must follow may advise many things repugnant in themselves and both or all impossible to be hearkened to The nineteen Propositions of the English and the Scots Demands in the Act of Pacification will save us the labour of enquiring into former times or straining invention for possible cases 1. The English advise and require that no Marriage of the Kings Children be treated of without their notice nor concluded without their consent The Scots and Irish having equall interest especially in the Princes Person may require equall priviledge But their publique nationall interests and affections to other States being different their advice and resolution will be so too The Irish may advise and resolve upon a Match with Spaine the Scots with France the English with some other distinct Familyâ— Againe the Scots demand that the Prince may reside with them at some time the English may require his continuall residence at all times at least they may both exact it at the same time So when a these would have him at St. Iames those would have him at St. Andrews Such like for the King himselfe much about the same time when the b Scots exact his residence with them the c Councell of Ireland desire his presence amongst them the d English protest if he leave them they will no longer submit to him so as to be directed by any Commissioner This impossibility will be more considered if we restraine it onely to the time of Parliaments at the same time 1640. there were three Parliaments sitting in the three Kingdomes if they have equall Priviledges all equally require the Kings Presence what shall he do when he is told his absence from Parliament is a breach of Priviledge e against Law against ancient Custome against his Oath Is it possible for him to be in three Kingdomes at the same time Grant him his just Power and he may without inconvenience rule all but if the Supreme Power be in them he will have a hard taske to serve so many masters Secondly if all the Parliaments be considereed as Courts â—nd allowed for Supreme Iudicatories in the severall Kingdomes may not one of them declare Law against another Surely yes we have a fresh precedent for it The Scots were declared Traitors by the Parliament of Ireland 1638. They were declared loyall Subjects by the f Parliament of Scotland 1640. And their Actions were condemned to oblivion by the Parliament of England 3. Lastly if each Parliament be considered as the Representative Body of the respeâ—tive Kingdomes with a power to enact order or ordain whatsoever they shall hold fitting or of publique necessity and the King be bound by his Oath to passe all the Bills which shall be pesented under that notion as they have formerly before the union of the Kingdoms made many g contraâ—iant Laws so will they do again for the interests of the Kingdomes being severall in themselves none having any mutuall dependance or superiority above another the titular union in the same King will be found in effectuall to reconcile their differences if he be not Supreme in the old received sense but onely in the new-coyn'd notion of coordinate as some or subordinate Supremacy as others wittily have expounded In any such case of difference whether in matter of State or of Law a mutuall preservation of the Priviledges of all the Parliaments will be utterly impossible both for King and Subject to preserve one is to destroy two III. Every Covenanteer undertakes more than he is able to performe when he sweares not barely to endeavour as in other Articles but actually to assist and defend all those that enter into this League and actually to reveale and make known all lets and impediments against it Though they have a will to do it yet they may want meanes to effect it If they do not send assistance to any Covenanteer when it is demanded or what they do send be not sufficient to defend him they faile in their Oath and were to blame they did not use the word endeavour here which is so carefully inserted in other places IV. Nor can the most confiding of them be assured that he shall not suffer himselfe directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination perswasion or terrour to be divided from this union As it is not in any mans power to hinder other men from using what Arguments they can to perswade him so neither can he totally hinder those Arguments from leaving any impression in his soule Besides daily experience of many flitting from that cause to which they were sometimes as zealously addicted as any witnesse Sir Iohn Hotham and others there is reason why it should be so in spite of any resolution to the contrary Though ambition avarice passion or prejudice make men very willing to have that passe for true and good which they affect and â—o first stagger their judgement which at last fixes in a resolution not to examine any grounds of the contrary part which they hate Yet the variety of successe may so much alter the face of things the inconstancy of humane nature may so farre comply the light and evidence of the object may be such as will dispell all those mists of the understanding and prevaile against any obstinacy of opinion But if they meane by this Oath such a resolution Non persuadebo etiamâ—i persuaserâ— that against the light of their own consciences they will still persevere in the same courses though they be never so much convicted of their unlawfulnesse they do but adde Heresie to Perjury For a pertinacious maintaining of an opinion after a man is convicted that it is erroneous I take to be the very formality of Heresie and that which I suppose the Covenanteers have sworne to extirpate V. It will not be denied but if one part of the Covenant either in terminis or by implication contradict another then it will be impossible to performe both And I pray what are these but contradictions 1. That all the Covenanteers in the three Kingdomes should professe to be of one Reformed Religion and then sweare to preserve it in one Kingdome but to reforme it in two 2. To preserve the Kings Person without respect of Persons This they vow in the second Article and that in the third 3. If the Parliamentâ— beâ— as they conceive the supreme Iudicatories in the respective Kingdomes with what congruity doe they sweare to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments in all three Kingdomes and then that all Delinquents shall be punished by the Supreme Iudicatories of both i.e. onely of two Kingdomes No marvell if some parts be liable to contradiction when the whole Covenant is ushered in with a grosse absurdity which has influence upon every sentence in it When each
the Crosse notwithstanding he had power infinitely sufficient to repell all the violence of his enemies so did his Apostles follow him in the like example t rejoycing in their life time that they were counted worthy to be beaten for his name and Saint Paul reckons it for a speciall grace and favour to the u Philippians {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} c. that they not onely beleeved in in Christ but suffered for his sake and when they had finished their course and fought the good fight of Faith they gave up their lives a willing sacrifice in testimony of the Truth of their Religion Conformable to this patterne was the constant * Doctrine and Practice of the Primitive Church The most ancient Apologists for the Christian Faith use this as an Argument to prove the Religion of their Persecuters to be false and their own trueâ— that stood in need of humane force to maintain it but theirs stood by the sole power of God Pudeat te eos colâ—re quos ipse defendiâ— pudeat tutelam ab ipsis expectare quos tu tueris Those good Christianâ— were content to trust God with the defence of his own Cause and indeed they durst do no otherwise their Religion enjoyned them not to kill but be killed for it Nor was this for want of ability but authority They who best knew their own strength professed to the face of their adversarieâ— that both for number and experience they were nothing inferiour It was in their power to have oppoâ—ed if their Religion would have permitted One of them makes Peter put this question to his Master Cur haberi praecipis gladium quem vetas promi Nisi fortè ut videaris potuisse vindicari sed noluisse Hence it came to passe that when both Swords were in a manner united after the Emperours were converted to the Christian Faith yet Heretiques were cut off by the Spirituall not by the Temporall The first Generall Councels of Nice Constantinople Ephesus and Chalcedon condemned those Arch-Traitors in Religion Arius Macedonius Nestorius Eutiches but not to death The Councell of Constance was the first that proceeded in that kinde against Iohn Husse and Ierome of Prague Lastly as the Harmony of Reformed Churches in their publique x Confessions does not admit of any division or violent resistance against the supreme Magistrate so has it been the constant Doctrine of all the Protestant Divines generally from Luther down till our times and more particularly of this Church of England as may be more fully seen in the Exhortation to obedience published in Edward the sixth's dayes and the Homily against Rebellion confirmed by the Articles of our Church under Queen Elizabeth The contrary Doctrine being ever reputed peculiar to the worst of Papists the Iesuites and the practice of it made a marke of Antichrist So as I dare averre these three last yeares have produced more seditious Pamphlets in that kinde within this one Kingdome then all the Christian world ever saw before to the shame of our Nation and scandall of our Profession 5. Fifthly this course of violence is contrary to all experience of former times by which it is found that Religion hath ever been better propagated by the sufferings of the true Professours than by force Persecution to the Church being like pruning to the Vine as it was first planted so has it been watered and fructified most by blood Sanguine fundata est Ecclesia sanguinâ—â—râ—vit Not by shedding the blood of others but willingly powring out her own The constant patience of Martyrs was the most winning Rhetoricke to perswade others to the Faith it being most likely those opinions should be true for which they so willingly laid down their lives at least common pitty is a powerfull Oratour to perswade with the People with whom the punishment makes the Martyr that he who suffers has a good Cause Whereas should he make resistance to defend himselfe or use violence to compell others that might be upon other ends of profit vaine glory revenge and what not The persecution in other places drove the Protestants hither in Edward the sixth'â— dayes as to a common Sanctuary which much advanced the Reformation in England and the cruelty of the Papists under Queen Mary was disposed by the Providence of God to perfect the Reformation both in France and the Low-Countries whither no lesse that y thirty thousand strangers were banished from hence for Religion The flames of our English Martyrs did but give more light to the Truth of the Gospell which their Enemies thought by that meanes to suppresse their Funeâ—als were the most effectuall Sermons for the Peoples Conversion The bloody Massacre at Paris was y found to advance the Religion in France and the rigorous pressing of the Inquisition made way for casting Popery out of the Low Countries where the present Toleration of all Religions is acknowledged by the Lord a Brook for a speciall meanes that makes it flourish 6. Sixthly it is against that innate principle of the Law of nature Quod tibi fieri non vis alteri ne feceris Those who pleade most for extirpaâ—ion of Heretiques when it comes to be their own turne to be under the Crosse stand for Liberty of Conscience and declaime against persecution for Religion as a thing utterly unlawfull â—o the very Iesuites Cardinall Allen and Creswell in his Philopater And surely if we will not suffer iâ— from others we may not use it our selves 7. Seventhly 't is against the Law of our Land Wâ— have alwayes deprecated that aspersion which ouâ— adversaries would cast upon it professing we do not punish any Heretiques with death but Seminaries for Sedition and Rebellion not for Religion And here I must observe that the Lords and Commons in Parliament primo Elizabethae confesse they had no meanes to free the Kingdome from the usurped power and authority of the Pope but with the assent of the Queenes Majesty so farre were they from thinking it lawfull to raise Armes for extirpation of Popâ—ry when it was established by the Law of the Land 8. Eighthly it is against the common rules of prudence and Civill Policy to use that as a meanes to propagate which is more likely to tend to the extirpation of our Religion I speak of the Protestant which in the generality being not so populous as the Roman if we shall extirpate them heâ—e where we are stronger we must expect the same measure from them in other places where they are stronger and then in all humane probability our Religion is like to come to the worst in France Germany Poland and other Popish Dominions If they shall take the same course what can we have in equity to object against them Si quis quae fecit patitur is he not rightly served 9 Lastly it is utterly destructive to all Civill Government for if any be allowed to take up Armes for propagation or defence of their true
losse of the Head or by consumption of the inferiour Members these are scruples which others may resolve But if Treason be a charge which a Parliament cannot be capable of as they n declare it is and I believe it to be true because perhaps as some Romish Doctours have asserted the Popes infallibility teaching that he cannot erre as Pope for if he do he ceaseth to be Pope so if the maior part of one or both Houses shall consent unto approve or command any treasonable Act they thereby cease to be a Parliament who are presumed in Law to be no lesse than they professe His Maiesties faithfull and loyall Subiects Then if the Members at Westminster by raising Warre against the King o by forging a new Great Seale and declaring the old one by which they were called and do sit to be of no force by calling in an Army of strangers or by any other Act or Vote of theirs be trulâ— guilty of that charge â—hey are no longer to be looked upon as a Parliament Lastly if the equitable sense of the Law may take place here which has been pressed so much in other cases it must be acknowledged that the Essence of that great Councell does not consist in the place but the persons for the place may be changed yet the Parliament remain still the same When we see farre more of the Lords with his Majesty than at Westminster when we finde upon strict account that the maior part of the Commons are either drivâ—n away or have deserted that Cause when we observe how many Members of either House do daily hazard or have already spent their lives in the service against it when we weigh their qualities abilities and estates with those of their opposites and finde them to be men of the best ranke in their Countries of known integrity for their lives of unspotted zeale to Religion of sound judgement and knowledge in Law of publique thoughts to the good of the Kingdome as well as loyalty to the Kiâ—g which hath engaged them in this Warre by which they have lost more already than the opposite Faction ever had and expect to gain nothing but the testimony of a good conscience when we consider how many of those that are most active at Westminster by reason of their undue election had never any right to sit there and suppose that many others still remaining are not alwayes carried along with the streame when we remember by what meanes the Bishops who are acknowledged by Parliament to represent one of p the three Estates of the Realme were thrust out contrary to the Fundamentall Law and how by that meanes all succeeding exorbitancies have been falsly fathered upon the Parliament we cannot but pronounce upon these premises that the Parliament is in truth for that cause which is owned by his Majesty and not for that which passeth under the false usurped name of King and Parliament CHAP. XII The true End of framing and enjoyning this Covenant the bringing in of the Scots absolutely unlawfull HAving done with the many specious and pretended Ends of the Covenant we are come to the true End of Covenanting at this time which the Schooles would call Finis applicationis finis operantis This in particular persons may be divers as the desire of advancement in some the hope of impunity in others but the main general End which first set the Contrivers on worke about framing this Covenant and keepes them still at it by pressing it upon this Kingdom was the bringing in of the Scots a The Covenant is one of the postnati of that Kingdome it was begotten and borne in Edinborough onely our English Commissionerâ— played the Midwives and helped to licke it over into some fashion Vnlesse the Faction in England would engage themselves and their Adherents in such a Combination those conscientious Brethren of Scotland refused to assist in this Rebellion as they are now ready to do being upon their march to invade us A thing so repugnant to the Weale of this Kingdome that no true English heart but will abhorre the mention of it and so unjustifiable in respect of them that no Scot who has any sense of Religion to God of gratitude and duty to their native King or of brotherly charity to this neighbour Nation will ever dare to draw his sword in this quarrell I. First how farre it may endanger the being of this Kingdome to admit an Army of strangers into her bowels none such an infant in discretion or History but is able to descerne The calling in of forreigne Force if it were not Treason by Law is a thing so odious in Nature to any that is touched with affection to his native Countrey that his Majesties greatest Enemies could not suggest a calumny more malicious against him nor more powerfull to steale away his Subâ—ects hearts from him than by giving out that he intended to make use of forreigne aide when they supposed they had brought him to so low an ebbe that he would never finde sufficient succour from his own Subjects They are now driven to as great an exigency and make no scruple of acting that course which no necessity would suffer to enter into the Kings thoughts Such was his tender care and fatherly affection to His people He chose rather to run the hazard of His owne ruine then owe his preservation to any hands but such as God should raise up in his defence among His owne Subjects These waies of the Covenanteers doe both justifie the Commission of Array against all their former objections which grant it lawfull in the comming in of strange enemies and if His Majesty should follow their example and hire an army to assist him from some other Nation whatever were the consequents of it they must beare the blame that first led the way and he would be clear before God and man II. Secondly this intended invasion is so injust in respect of the Scots that all who heare of it must cry shame upon them who at the same time enter into a solemne Vow inviolably to observe the Articles of the late Treaty of Peace betwixt the two Nations and to 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 and at the same time seise upon Berwick and put a Garrison in iâ— contrary to an expresse Article of that Treaty of Peace so lately concluded and setled by both Parliaments and are now upon the poynt to power an Army into this Kingdome whereby it appeares that though we made peace with them they made none with us and we conclude as a former b Parliament did against them that it were better for us to be at open war with them then under such a feigned peace III. They cannot say nor doe they pretend that any one Article was violated upon our part unlesse it were by those whom they come to
A REVIEW OF THE COVENANT WHEREIN The Originall Grounds Means Matter and Ends of it are examined AND Out of the Principles of the Remonstrances Declarations Votes Orders and Ordinances of the prime Covenanteers or the firmer Grounds of Scripture Law and Reason disproved HOSEA 10.3,4 Now they shall say We have no King because we feared not the Lord What then should a King do to us They have spoken words swearing falsely in making a Covenant thus judgement springeth up as hemlocke in the furrowes of the field Printed in the Yeare 1644. The Contents of the Chapters in this ensuing Discourse CHAP. I. By what meanes the Covenanteers were reduced to the necessity of entering into this Combination confessed to be their last refuge p. 1. CHAP. II. The Grounds of the Covenant and false Assertions laid down in the Preface to it disproved p. 4. Wherein is shewed that the Covenanteers falsly affirmâ— 1. Themselves to be All sorts of Commons 2. To live All under one King 3. To be All of one Reformed Religion p. 5. 4. In taking this Covenant to have an eye to the Kingâ— Honour and Peace of the Kingdomes 5. Or upon all the Plots against Religion in all places 6. That they sweare after mature deliberation 7. That their supposed Enemies have an intention to subvert Religion p. 6. 8. That their own Supplications and Remonstrances have been any meanes to preserve it 9. Or themselves from utter ruine p. 7. 10. That this Covenant is according to any former practice of these Kingdomes The late Scottish Covenant how unlike it 11. Or the example of God's People Iewes Germans Low-Countreymen or other Protestants in other Nations p. 9. CHAP. III. The unlawfulnesse of the Covenant in respect of the Cause Efficient as made by Subjects against the will of their Superiour in such things as necessarily require his consent p. 11. This illegality proved upon it 1. As a Vow This illegality proved upon it 2. As an Oath p. 12. This illegality proved upon it 3. As a League CHAP. IV. The matter of the Covenant examined and proved first to be against Truth p. 13. In that they falsly sweare I The Doctrine Discipline Government and Worship of the Church of Scotland to be according to Gods Word II. The Doctrine of England not to be so as contradicting their practices p. 14. III. The Lord not to be one amongst them so long as Prelacy is not extirpate IV. That Prelacy is a sin and that if private men should not take upon them to be Reformers they should be partakers in other mens sinnes V. That the Cause of Religion is common to them all p. 18. VI That they earnestly desire to be humbled VII That the sinnes by them mentioned are the true causes of the Kingdomes distresse p. 19. CHAP. V. That the Covenant by reason of the many ambiguities in it especially this Who shall be the authenticke Interpreter oâ— it cannot be sworne in judgement p. 20. Where we enquire I. Who ought to be the Interpreter in other ordinary Oaths II. Who in this Whether every man for himselfe or the foremen for all and how they may differ Particular doubts proposed upon which the Covenanteers are not resolved As III. Wherein the Doctrine and Discipline of Scotland consists p. 22. IV. Who those Common Enemies are against whom they sweare V. What the Doctrine Worship Diâ—cipline and Church-Government of England is as to the Covenanteers p. 23. VI To what that clause relates According to the Word of God VII What meant by Whatsoever shall be found contrary to the power of godlinesse p. 24. VIII In what sense they vow to deâ—end his Majesties Person and Authority IX And whether the Kings preservation must be preferred before the preservation of all or any one Priviledge of Parliament p 25. X What Liberty they intend Whether to be free States XI Who meant by Both Kingdomes And which the Supreme Iudicatory in them p. 26. XII What they understand by the Yoak of Antichristian Tyranny CHAP. VI That the performance of sundry Clauses in the Covenant cannot be without grand inconvenience or injustice p. 27. Such is their swearing I. Constantly to preserve the Scottish Government a humane invention and Discipline in its own nature alterable II. To reforme the English and Irish according to the example of the best Reformed Churches which is hard to be found and not necessary to be followed p. 28. III. To endeavour the nearest uniformity in all the three Kingdomes which is not possible to be compassed nor fitting to be kept p. 30. IV. To preserve the Priviledges of Parliaments whereof some challenged to be such are declared to be incompatible others argued to be injust V. To accuse all Delinquents and Malignants not excepting a mans own selfe p. 34. VI To endeavour that all such may be brought to punishment without hope of mercy or pardon VII Each man to go before another in the example of Reformation without waiting for the Ministers to shew or Magistrates authority to lead the way p. 35. CHAP. VII That many things vowed in the Covenant are not possible to be fulfilled p. 36. For it is impossible for all the Covenanteers I. Constantly and all the dayes of their lives to endeavour each particular they sweare II. Mutually to preserve the Priviledges of Parliament of all the Kingdomes III. To assist and defend all that enter into thiâ— Covenant p. 38. IV. Never to alter their opinions to neutrality or indifferency V. To observe all the Claâ—ses in the Covenant some whereof imply contradiction CHAP. VIII That the very taking the Covenant and other avowed actions of the Covenanteers are in â—act contradictory to the formall words of their Oatâ— p. 40. This is argued in that they sweare According to their callings to extirpate all Popery Superstition Heresie Schisme Faction And to preserve the Priviledges of Parliament Liberties of the Kingdomes Authority of the King Yet is their taking and enforcing of this Oath I. Inconsistent with most of their Callings II. An act of Popery properly so called p. 41. III. As great a Superstition as Monastique vowes p. 44. IV. A Branch of Aërianiâ—me and so a Heresie p. 46. V. A vowed Schisme from their mother Church p. 48. VI A breach of the iust Priviledges of Parliament p. 50. VII An encroachment upon the publique Liberty p. 53. VIII A contempt of the Kings Authority IX A sworne Faction against the better part of the Kingdome CHAP. IX That many particulars vowed in the Covenant and intended by the Covenanteers are simply and absolutely unlawfull p. 55. Such are I. The alteration of Religion established by Law without the Lawgivers consent II. The Extirpation of Episcopacy p. 61. III. The pulling down the present Churchâ—Government before they be agreed upon another p. 63. IV. The Extirpation of the present Ministery as being Ecclesiasticall Officers that depend upon the Hierarchy p. 66. V. The Extirpation of Deanes and Chapters and alienation of the
they be Ecclesiasticall or Civill not in some cases onely but in all causes doth appertain Lastly when they were to take such an Oath as this without the consent and against the command of the Magistrate so utterly destitute of all the conditions required to a Lawfull Oath they could do no lesse then reforme the 39. Article which requires those conditions So that it cannot be denyed but they have strong inducements to reforme the Doctrine as well as the discipline and Government of England and as they vow them both in one clause so perhaps they intend them both in one sense the Reformation of Doctrine as well as Government must be a totall Extirpation of Branch and Root we must not have one chip left of the old block III. Their swearing the first Article to this end that they may live in Faith and that the Lord may be one amongst them implies that before and at the time of their entrance into this Covenanâ— they neither lived in Faith and so were Infidels nor was the Lord one amongst them and so without God in the world which I hope is not true But if faith be here taken for obedience as sometimes it is or for an assent to the truth of that Doctrine which is a acknowledged by the world for the Confession of Faith of the Church of England so I grant their late and present demeanour iâ— a sufficient demonstration they have not lived in that faith And I confesse we have been told in effect by some of their fore-runners that the Lord is not one where Prelacy is not extirpate b That the true Church of Christ consisteth of Saints Covenanted with God and themselves having power to Christ and all his Ordinances which the Assemblies of England want being violently compel'd to submit to another Christ of the Bishops devising and so are no true Church For the true visible Church is but one as the Baptisme but one and the Lord but one Iohn 10. 16. This was the scandalous imputation of the Brownists upon our Church in the beginning of their separation and it is shame and misery we should live to see it confirmed by a Solemne Oath IV. When they sweare in the second Article to extirpate Prelacy and that for this end least they be partakers in other mens sins this implyes not onely that Episcopacy is a sin which is an errant untruth but that if they should not labour for the extirpation of it in such a violent manner as they doe they should be guilty of that sinne This conceit was the maine ground of Separation both to the ancient Donatists and our moderne Brownists they both imagined that if the Church be any way stained with corruption in Doctrine or Discipline her Communion is hatefull and defiled and that whosoever joynes with her is c partaker of her sins and so in danger of her plagues Which is certainly false our Saviour did not partake in the sinnes of the Iewes yet he did communicate with them So long as we neither command nor counsell a â—inne to be done nor consent to the doeing of it nor commend it when it is done but barely permit it though it be naturally yet if it be not legally in our power to hinder it we are no way guilty of it God himselâ—e does permit sinne without sinne And if any man will be a Reformer without a Commission he must look to be checked with a Quis requisivit Israell sinned not by staying in AEgypt nor Lot by remaining in Sodom till the Lord sent Moses to call them and the Angell to fetch him out It was their affliction but not their fault to see those unrighteous dealings of their Neighbours which did vex but not pollute their righteous soules All sinne is to be avoyded but not by all meanes some are possible which are not lawfull Death is a certaine cure for all distempers but a man may not kill himselfe to avoyd intemperance nor make away his Children in their infancy to prevent the sinnes of their age The President of the New Assembly with his twenty assistant Brethren have published some truthes in this Argument which might have been of singular use had they come in time sufficient to stop that current of blood which has flowed from other principles then that which they now Preach to others but doe not practice themselves d They tell their more zealous Brethren who having conspired with them to extirpate this Government and sworne every man to goe before another in the example of a reall Reformation begin to gather themselves into Church societies Although it be the duty of all the Servants of Christ to keep themselves alwayes pure from corruption in Religion and to endeavour in an orderly way the Reformation of it yet it is an undoubted Maxime that it belongs to Christian Magistrates in an especiall manner to be authorizers of such a Reformation If this Maxime had been as well followed as it was knowne we had never had a Rebellion to make way for a Reformation How can they without blushing talke of an Orderly way to others who know their call and sitting to reforme where they doe is altogether disorderly But suppose the sins of Government did involve every one of our Nation in a common guilt what is this to the Scots Though Israell offend no necessity that Iudah should sin They may have sinâ— enough of their owne to reckon for though they should not sweare that those of another Kingdome shall be put upon their score and yet they doe it by vowing to extirpate Bishops c. least they be partakers in other mens sinnes V. That which they have undertaken to maintaine is not truly called in the sixt Article The common Cause of Religion Liberties and Peace of the Kingdomes The many Sects and different opinions among the Covenanteers and the reiterated desires of the Scots for unity in Religion abundantly prove that the same Religion is not common to them all And de facto the Religion Peace and Liberties of England and Ireland have been disturbed when the Scots enjoyed all theirs without opposition and may doe so still unlesse they will thrust their fingers into the fire when they need not The Cause of one Kingdome is not common to another though they be in subjection to the same King Philip the second might have done well to grant a toleration to the Protestants in the Low Countries though he had resolved never to allow the like in Spaine And His Majesty by reason of his necessary absence from thence may have granted some Liberties to Scotland which if he should doe in England would be in e disherison to the Crowne VI In the last Article they professe and declare to the World their unfeigned desire to be humbled for their owne sinnes Which profession the World that sees onely their Actions will â—carce admit to be true For it may well be conceived that the chiefe Heads among the
minor make a maior part or some of the present maior part may dye or be removed or be absent or alter their opinions and so vary the sense of the Houses especially in that great businesse of Reformation in Doctrine and Government conâ—erning which neither the two Houses nor their assistant Divinesâ— as themselves b confesse are yet agreed Fourthly if it shall hereafter appeare that the major part at the time of their taking and imposing this Oath did understand it in one sense and the major part at the time of declaring shall expound it in another it must be doubted in whether sense it shall be obligatory And lastly if the greater part of Lords shall declare it in one sense and the greater part of the Commons in another whose Declaration must carry it Vpon the resolution of these doubts it will appeare that many well meaning Covenanâ—eers whiles they laboured for such a Reformation as themselves conceived to be according to Gods Word were zealously perjured by not endeavouring it in that sense which the Houses will declare was onely intended III. This maine doubt being premiâ—ed which has an influence upon all the rest I shall onely mention such others as I am perswaded the chiefe Covenanteers themselves are not agreed upon Where first I conceive in the top branch of this Covenant it is not onely doubtfull wherein the Doctrine and Discipline of Scotland consists which are here sworne to be preserved but how farre the preservation of them is intended and who are meant by common Enemies Since the ancient Confession of that Church has been so much improved by moderne explanations and all these confirmed by a Nationall Oath since their Discipline is such a mystery that many of themselves are not fully agreed upon it since their first and second Book of Discipline contain severall platformes and the Contents of those foure Volumes of the Acts of Generall Assemblies ratified at Glasgow are not yet published it is a hard case that any man should be forced to sweare to preserve what no body knowes IV. Next I cannot tell where to â—ix that Character of common Enemies which Master Hendâ—rson obscurely paraphraseth Syrians and Babylonians c and Master Nye more expresse but not more satisfactory tells us that Popery and Prelacy are the chiefe For considering Church government in England and Ireland is by Episcopacy and that of Scotland by the Presbytery this Covenant being supposed to be taken by all the three Kingdomes it followes that neither Papists nor Prelates are enemies to both Governments who stifly maintain the one to be of Divine or Apostolicall Institution but the Separatists are common Enemies who hold a distinct Forme of Pastorall and Independent Government to be â—niversally enjoyned by the Word of God and both Episcopacy and Presbytery to be humane inventions and Antichristian V. I am sorry I should be forced to question what is meant in the next Clause by the Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government of England Whether that which has been constantly avowed by this Church and accepted for such by other Nations Or if that Government be already abolished by the Votes of both Houses if the life and soule of that Discipline be taken from it by new Expositions made upon the late Act for taking away the High Commission if that Forme of Publique Worship the Book of Common Prayer be suspended by an Order if the ancient Doctrinâ— be already altered in part or in whole by the extemporary Declarations of an upstart Assembly if these Declarations that Order those Expositions those Votes be indeed binding to this whole Kingdome as the Covenanteers pretend they are it will be impossible for them or any man to affirme what is now the Doctrine Worship Government and Discipline of the Kingdome of England there being no Generall Forme left in which the Kingdome is any way required or supposed to agree and the particular Formes may be as many and different as the persons and opinions of the Reformers VI Those words following According to the Word of God are in themselves very materiall and the misapplication of them is a matter of great consequence I doubt whether they ought to be restrained to the Clause immediately foregoing touching Reformation of Religion in England and Ireland or {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} they must be extended to the preservation of Religion in Scotland too and so every Covenanteer be bound to maintain that the Scotch Discipline Church Government is according to the Word of God I am confident the Scots themselves do now intend them and will hereafter expound them in this sense and I raise that confidence upon these reasons First because the Generall d Assembly that Church with the assent and concurrence of the e Lords of Secret Councell in that Kingdome have declared to our two Houses that their Kirke-Goverment by Assemblies higher and lower is jure divino and perpetuall Secondly because in that forme of this Covenant which came from Scotland the words ran thus Preservation of Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God Now upon the other part there is equall reason to believe that not onely many particular English Covenanteers as possessed with an opinion of another Government but that our Lords and Commons at Westminster do not in this point concurre with the sense of the Scots For first they f declare in answer to that Declaration of Scotland that one Forme of Church Government will hardly be obtained in all his Majesties Dominions unlesse some way might be found for a mutuall debate in framing that one Forme Whence it must be collected that the Forme they aime at is not yet framed and therefore not that which the Scots practise Secondly their reforming that draught of the Covenant agreed upon in Scotland and reducing that Clause According to the Word of God to a more proper place and swearing in their new project of Reformation to have an eye not onely to Gods Word but to the example of other Reformed Churches without any expression of or restriction to that of Scotland do perswade with me that ouâ—English Covenanteers do not conceive the Scotish Discipline and Kirk-Government to be according to the Word of God VII Their Vow to extirpate whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of godlinesse points at some new discovery not yet made I would be resolved who are designed for that inquisition how farre their Commission shall extend and by what rules they must pronounce what Doctrines are sound what rotten what they must take to be contrary to the power of godlinesse what not If Bishops be upon the file either because some have too much enlarged the Philacteries of their Authority or have been otherwise personally faulty or because Superiority and distinction of degrees amongst the Clergy are discovered already to be contrary to found Doctrine and the power
of godlinesse The same grand Enquest of Middlesex which found the Bill against Episcopacy may impannell hereafter and upon the same evidence finde against Magistracy The same Arguments which set the Rooters on worke will finde them more employment when this is done when their hands are once in they may proceed for a through Reformation to extirpate all Civill superiority all distinction of Lords and Gentlemen They who put these reasons into the mouthes and that power into the hands of so many knowne Anabaptists may be too weake to wrest it from them when their owne turne is served VIII In the third Article I bulke the Priviledges of Parliament so mysterious and intricat as no man dare undertake to state them truely and onely take notice of that passage where they swear to preserve and defend the Kings Person and authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdomes If his Authority were as well knowne as his Person yet might it well be doubted how farre these words intend the preservation of one or other g Mr Ward in behalfe of the Covenanteers gives two expoâ—itions of them for surenesse either that we sweare to defend his Person and Authority so long as he defends our Religion and Liberties Which is not so much as they sweare to doe for any ordinary person that takes this Covenant For they vow in the sixt Article absolutely to defend all those but here they undertake no more then barely to endeavour to defend the King Or Secondly that in defending Relâ—gion and Liberties we do defend His Maiesties Person and Authority yet may it so fall out that what they doe or intend for his defence may truely tend to his destruction And this we must confesse is not common to His Majesty with the rest of His people who as it seemes has these two Prerogatives left yet unquestioned that as the Kings Commands and none but His may be disobeyed by the Kings Authority so his sacred Person and onely His may be destroyed in His owne defence IX It is further to be observed in the frame of this Oath that contrary to the method of the generall Protestation the Priviledges of Parliament what ever they be have got precedency of His Majesties Person which alteration surely was not without cause It is therefore a doubt very necessary to be resolved when the certaine safety of the Kings person comes in competition with any of their reall or pretended Priviledges which is to be preferred Whether by this Oath they are not bound in such a case rather to suffer his person to perish or actually to destroy him then violate any such Priviledge or leave it unpreserved X. I likewise doubt what manner oâ—liberties those are which the Covenanters ayme at seeing they have never yet claimed any as due by law which were denied them I meet with a new word much in request of late in some Scottish papers The States and though it hath been naturalized by Act of Parliament in England I am not yet willing to understand it When our men would caresse the united Provinces they apply the word to this Kingdome and tell those High and mighty Lords when they complain of that assistance which His Majesty received from thence h We cannot beleive it was done by any direction from their Lordships Neither can we think that they will be forward in helping to make us Slaves who have been usefull and assistant in making them Freemen Whence we may well be jealous â—â—at by Liberties of the Kingdomes they intend no lesse then those of the Low Countries and till they can attaine to be such Free-States in their owne opinion they are no better then Slaves XI When they make it a part of their Oath to bring all Malignants to such punishment as the supream Iudicatories of both Kingdomes respectively shall iudge convenient it should seem they have lost a Kingdome already for {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} they begun with three Kingdomes and now here are but two left I will suppose England to be one and here it will be a grand doubt to determine which is the supream Iudicatory i Whether in some caseâ— the Kings Ordinary Courts of Iustice be not supreme Whether the House of Commons be a Iudicatory at all k Whether the House of Lords be in all cases Whether if they differ in their judgement eitâ—er of them be supreme and which that is or both or neither Whether if they should both concur in matters of universall concernment to the whole kingdome without or against the King they ought to be reputed Supreme Whether if His Majesty should concur with them in things concerning Reformation of Religion the maine businesse of this Covenant the joynt assent of the l Clergy be not regularly required by the Lawes of this Kingdome If this one question about the supreme Iudicatory were rightly stated perhaps all other doubts would not be tanti But this still depending we are left to uncertaine resolutions for all the rest XII In the close of the Covenant it is very uncertaine who they meane by those other Churches groaning under the yoake of Antichristian tyranny Surely none more than those of the Romish Religion who acknowledge the Popes Supremacy Yet Master m Henderson applies it rather to other Reformed Churches which as he sayes when they shall heare of this blessed Conjunction it will be no other than the beginning of a Iubile and ioyfull deliverance unto them from the Antichristian yoake of tyranny Who those Reformed Churches are I professe I do not yet understand unlesse that Civill Dominion which their naturall Princes of the Popish Religion exercise over them be reputed by the Covenanteers a yoake of Antichristian tyranny CHAP. VI That the performance of sundry Clauses in this Covenant cannot be without grand inconvenience or injustice RIght reason will dictate that we ought not to make such a promise as cannot be performed without manifest inconvenience and Religion will adde that it were a sin in such cases to binde our selves by a solemne Oath Many things in this Covenant though they be not simply impossible nor absolutely unjustâ—in toto genere yet in many cases they may prove to be so and therefore cannot be sworne in righteousnesse and judgement If I make good this charge against it then must it be acknowledged a rash indiscreet and therefore a sinfull Vow I. If a quite different Forme of Church-government from that of Scotland be approved by the Word or at least conceived to be so then all such as are so conceited as amongst the Covenanteers not a few cannot with a safe conscience sweare to preserve that Government in any Church which they are perswaded is not according but contrary to the Word of God Again the Discipline and manner of Worship used in Scotland are not onely alterable in themselves but confessed to be so by the a Doctrine of
Religion against the Civill Lawes and will of their Prince whosoever has a minde to rebell may do it upon the same pretence and ought not to be questioned by any humane Authority for though they do but pretend Religion yet is it impossible for any Iudge to convince them of such pretence not can any thing be urged in defence of the true Religion which may not be made use of by a false II. The extirpation of that ancient Government by Bishops which has obtained in England ever since the first plantation of Christianity in this Nation to which we principally owe the Reformation of that Religion we now professe of which none have been more zealous more able propugners than our English Bishops who by their constant preaching of it their learned Writings for it their pious living in it and patient dying for it have sealed unto us that pretious Faiâ—h through which we hope by the mercy of God for the salvation of our soules who have bâ—en the Founders or most eminent Benefactours of most Churches Colledges Schooles Hospitalls and other publique Monuments of piety and devotion which have rendered this Nation so famous abroad and so magnificent at home Of whose Government all the Clergy of this Land have testified their solemne approbation at their entrance into holy Orders and to whom all beneficed Ministers have sworne obedience at their institution and therefore it was b M. Bagshawes Argument if ever they assent to the alteration of this Government they are really periured Which Hâ—s Majesty and all His Royall Predecessors at their Coronation have by a more particular and solemne Oath vowed to protect which God himselfe by extraordinary blessings from Heaven as King c Iames of blessed Memory did acknowledge has approved and ratified Which by the Catholique consent of the Churches of Christendome both in Asia Africk Greece Russia and other parts of Europe that never acknowledged any subjection to or dependence on the See of Rome hath been constantly embraced and the oppugners of it universally branded for Heretiques which in most of those few Churches that want it by their best and ablest Members hath been frequently desired which of all other formes has undoubtedly the best title to Divine or Apostolicall Institution Against which nothing is or ever could be justly objected but the humane infirmities and personall failings of some particular men from which no Government is or can be totally exempt If it be not unlawfull to sweare the Extirpation of this Government so deeply rooted by the fundamentall Lawes of this Kingdome both Common and Statute as Monarchy it selfe or the new-named Soveraigne Power of Parliaments cannot pretend to be built upon a surer foundation let it be piously and prudently considered whether the same Engines by which the Covenanteers would subvert the Government of the Church will not be of equall â—trength and fitnesse to pull up the Government of the State Suppose neither King nor Bishop were of divine Right certainly Parliaments are not Suppose both Kings and Bishops faile in the performance of their trust is there no expedient but the Government must be abolished Sure it is not impossible for Parliaments to be guilty of a like defailer must they be exposed to the like justice No Bishop no King is granted to be an old received truth by d one who was none of the best friends to either Government When I consult with history and experience and behold the example of some Neighbour Nations I say no more but Vestigia terrent A strict account must one day be given for every drop of Christian blood that has been shed in the common Cock-pit of Europe these fourescore yeares last past III. If it were as certainly true as it is prodigiously false that Episcopacy were an Antichristian invention and therefore fit to be abolished yet it would concerne our Reformers to provide us of another Government before they take this away If Christ did indeed prescribe one set Forme to be perpetually and universally observed in his Church and Episcopacy be not that one as we contend it is let our adversaries first agree amongst themselves what it is and we shall then know how to proportion our conformity to the authority and reasons of those that enjoyne it Or if it were left at large in the power of the Church Catholique or particular to ordaine what Forme she shall think most convenient we still demand who that Church is and what that Forme must be here in England In the meane time this is certaine in it selfe and generally acknowledged on all hands an absurdity so grosse as cannot fall into the imagination of any Christian that Christ should at any time be thought to have a Church without any Government or that it should be in the power of any man I doe not except a Parliament to extirpate the present and so leave the Church voyd of all Government I e read indeed of a Law amongst the Persians that after the death of the King there should be a five dayes Cessation of all Law and Government {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that the People by that want might learne to know what a great blessing it is to enjoy the Kiâ—g and the Law As the end was good so in a civill State the thing was not injust But in a Church the case is quite otherwise The time was when the House of Commons took it for an imputation cast upon them by Malignants against whom they remonstrate to the Kingdome in these words f They infâ—se into the People that we meane to abolish all Church-Government and leave every man to his owne fancy for the service and worship of God absolving him of that obedience which he owes under God unto his Majesty whom we know to be intrusted with the Ecclesiasticall Law as well as with the Temporall to regulate all the Members of the Church of England by such rules of Order and Discipline as are established by Parliament Were that House now turned Covenanteers I should say those Malignants if they were bad Counsellours were good Prophets Is not all that a present Truth which is here laid down as a false aspersion When the Government by Arch-bishops Bishops Chancellours Commissaries Deanes Archdeacons and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers is according to the tenour of this Covenant utterly extirpate if all Church Government be not taken away let them shew us what remaines if every man be not left to his own fancy for the service of God let them say what other rule the Covenanteers have to walke by while they are in expectation of a new Directory If the rules of Order and Discipline by which the Bishops did governe under the King be established by Parliament and no other so much as pretended so to be if his Majesty require obedience to these Rules according to those Lawes with the execution whereof next under God he is intrusted when the Covenanteers not onely refuse
have right to any thing here below but clearly conceives a heathen Emperour may be as lawfull a Monarch as any Christian Prince And I shall subâ—ect this reason to it because Temporall Dominion respects men as they are men in a civill politique capacity not as they are Christians Papists Protestants of this or that Religion We need not fetch precedents from forreigne Countries the approved practice of our own Kingdome will confirme us in this Truth After the death of Edward the sixth when the Protestants could see nothing in Quâ—en Mary but what threatned ruine to their persons and if it were in her power to their Religion too yet they never questioned her right of succession to the Crown because she was a Papist Nor did the Papists upon that ground oppose against Queen Elizabeth in the first Parliament of her Reigne If it be needfull to adde any examples from Scripture we shall there reade that divers Kings of Israel were Idolaters h Solomon Amâ—ziah Manasseh Amon and though the i Law was punctuall that Idolaters should be put to death yet we shall never finde that either the People did or the Prophets exhorted them to attempt any thing against the Persons or to withdraw their Allegeance from the Government of those idolatrous Kings This present Oath then is in that particular injust because it provides not for the safety but implicitly vowes the destruction of his Majesties Person in case he be thought obnoxious to Popery Prelacy Superstition Heresie Schisme or Profanenesse all which the Covenanteers sweare to extirpate without respect of persons VIII Those Malignants or evill Instruments whether truly so called or falsely suspected must all be brought to their triall and receive punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the Supreme Iudicatoryes of both Kingdomes or others having power from them for that effect shall iudge convenient So as though the supposed offence of a Malignant do not deserve to be punished with confiscation of his Estate with death or bands yet if it require it or if the Supreme Iudicatory what that meanes I do not question nay if any inferiour Iudge delegate from thence shall thinke it convenient be the crime what it will never so small never so great be the Law for punishment of it never so expresse all this is not considerable these Iudges are not tied to any rules of Law but convenience If they thinke fit the killing of a thousand men shall be lesse capitall than the cutting off a dogges necke Treasonable words against a worthy Member shall be severely punished but against the King they shall passe unreproved What though there be lesse justice there is more convenience in the killing and slâ—ying all such as are made Delinquents by Vote then in discouraging such as are Traitourâ— by Law For any Iudicatory to arrogate a power of punishing offenders meerly as they shall judge convenient and condemning them because they will though the degree of the offence do not so deserve is most tyrannicall and injust and to delegate such a power to others as they cannot challenge to themselves is to propagate injustice for convenience sake In this Covenant such a power is pretended to be due to some and deriveable upon others and all the arbitrary exorbitant sentences which either those supreme or these delegate Iudges shall thinke fit to passe all the Covenanteers sweare to endeavour CHAP. X. That the Covenant is repugnant to those generall ends for which it is pretended to be taken HAving dispatched the Efficient and Materiall we proceed to examine the Finall Causes of the Covenant which are set down in the Title and Preface to it they are we confesse very good in themselves but such is the nature of the Covenant that the taking or observing of it is either inconducing to or utterly inconsistent with those proposed Ends and therefore unlawfull I. The first maine End is pretended to be here what in Truth should be the supreme End of all humane actions The glory of God However some seduced Zelots may have an actuall intention of referring this their Oath to that End yet the thing in it self being incapeable of any such relation there cannot be a greater profanation of Gods Ordinance or indignity offered to his Honour than the abusing of his Name to unlawfull acts Uti Deo ut fruamur mundo They who least reckon of his glory are most ready to make use of that pretence All the Popes Bulls thundered out against Princes did ever begin as this Covenant doth with a Nomine Domini Having before our eyes the glory of God There is nothing more certaine then that the sinfull devices of men do not conduce to the glory of God II. The next generall End is said to be Religion pure Religion a common cloake for Rebellion in all age Saepius olim Religio peperit scelerosa atque impia facta The Sicilian Vespers the Massacre at Paris the Gun-powder Treason were all forsooth pretended to be for the advancement of the Kingdome of Christ for the Reformation and Defence of Religion By which I suppose the Covenanteers understand the true Protestant Religion in opposition to Popery Yet I am confident this course of theirs tends more to the advancement than extirpation not onely of Popery properly so called of that Pope which every man has in his own belly but even of Romish Popery and serveâ— rather to confirme that Antichrist in his Throne then any way to weaken his force I am quite of another minde then a M. Henderson had the Pope of Rome knowne what was done that day when he made his Speech at Westminster it would have made his heart dance for joy to see the Protestants mutually vowing the destruction and extirpation of one another Hoc Ithacus velit This is not the way to unite our selves against the Common Enemies b who are the better enabled by our Divisions to destroy us all When Beares and Lyons goe together by the eares it is victory to the sheepheard if both be destroyed We are now doing that of our owne accord which the Pope with all his arts and industry could never bring about He prayes for the continuance of our Warres as the establishment of his peace with that old Roman Maneat quaesâ— duretque gentibus si non amor nostri at â—erte odium sui Quando urgentibus Imperii fatis nihil jam prestaâ—e fortuna majâ—â— potest quà m hostium discordiam They who in cold bloud pronounced the peace and quiet of this Kingdome to be the c onely visible meanes under God to preserve the Protestant Religion if â—hey now sweare no peace but utter extirpation Iurata nepotibus arma sure the care of Religion is the least thing that troubles them This then is one meanes whereby the Covenant advanceth Popery confessed and visible our distractions amongst our selves there is a second more close which I doubt the Iesuites and other Emissaries
make as much use off to the seducing of weake soules Namely that the Covenanteers here in England have left as to themselves no visible Church no knowne rules of Doctrine no set forme of Government and Discipline and therefore they begin in London to erect new Church-Societies according to every mans fancy and humour This is false for the maine ground for as our King so our Church is still the same Nun quam obscura nomina licet aliquando obumbrentur Both under a cloud in some places but though they doe not shâ—ne in their full lustre yet are they not so darkened but any may see them who doe not wilfully shut their eyes against them I must not repeat what I have proved already that this Reformation intended to be brought about by the Covenanteers as it is already begâ—n by force of Armesâ— raised by Subjects against the Law to which they owe and the Prince to whom they have sworne Obedience is a thing not onely unwarrantable as contrary to the word of God the nature of Religion the practice of the true Church in all ages and the experâ—ence of former times but even against the rules of prudence and civill policy III. The third End proposed to this Covenant is the Honour and happinesse of his Maiesty and His posterity Where the King must of necessity be understood in a personall not in a politique capacity for in that onely he can be said to hâ—ve posterity in this he never dyes Now for his Spirituall happinesse it must be granted the many injust provocations froÌ„ these Covenanteers have afforded him sufficient matter of Christian patience and meeknesse for which he may expect a more eternall weight of glory in the heavens having on earth had so deep a share in that Royall virtue Bene facere malè audire But how farre their former actions and so in likelyhood their present intentions are opposite to the personall Honour and temporall Happinesse of His Majesty let them speak and the world judge If d whatever violence be used against any that exercise the Militia cannot but be taken as done against the Parliament by the same reason whatsoever is done or said against those that execute His Majesties Commands he cannot but take as done against himselfe much more those aspersions cast upon His Answers Messages Declarations Proclamations and other avowed actions of his owne tend immediatly to his dishonour The scandalous e impuâ—ations upon his Government forged in the same shop with this Covenant the defamations and invectives against his Person suggestions against his sincerity in Religion if not countenanced never punished though often complained off were these to his honour The seising and detaining of his Townes Forts Magazine Navy Houses Children was this for his Happinesse Directing their Cannon more especially against that part of his Army at Edge-hill and Newbury where his Sacred person was knowne to be was this for his Safety If these things be dishonourable in themselves it matters not by whose command they were done that does not alter their nature and make them cease to be so Whether their thoughts of his Children and Posterity be so full of Honour as they here give out we shall be glad to know by their fruits hereafter and unlesse those reveale themselves to the contrary shall not further question the truth of their pretensions IV. The fourth End of the Covenant is Liberty The common frontispeice to all popular Rebellions Libertas speciosa nomina praetexuntur nec quisquam alienum servitium dominationem sibi concupivit ut non eadem ista vocabula usurparet What a precious conâ—erve of publique Liberty what a sovereigne Antidote against any growing Tyranny this Covenant is like to prove which is principally enjoyned for the support of those menâ— power who under pretence of defending have already destroyed whatever had the face oâ— Liberty by anunheard of Tyranny may be easily discerned by presenting some few of their exorbitant invasions upon the Common Libertie of the Subject I am unwilling to be ever bearing upon that harsh string the Liberties of the Clergy which by the f Lawes of this Land are none of the least Suffering the People to abuse the Bishops that they might complaine and then punishing them for complaining turning them out of those walls where they had sate ever since there was a Parliament in England usurping the power of the Convocation in refusing to passe such Subsidies as they had freely granted and imposing others upon them without their consent Determining without and against their advice in matters of Religion and Ecclesiasticall cognizance Substituting in their place other Factious Spirits neither chosen by the Clergy nor approved by His Majesty dispersing printed Tickets inviting all men to accused them and publishing to the world the most odious extracts of those accusations before any proofe made of them or the parties appeared to their answers a thing as full of scandall to the Religion of the accusers as of injustice to the parties accused Fineing Imprisoning Sequestring and depriving them without any due processe of Law all these and more I could presse but if the Liberties of other Subjects have been preserved entire I am content the Clergy suffer We have been informed at large by the g House of Commons wherein the Liberties of the Kingdome consist and how they were infringed before this Parliament If there be any particular mentioned by them wherein the Covenanteers have not equalled or exceeded all former pretended violations from the Crowneâ— let our sense of the present confer with our memory and experience of the former times and freely pronounce whether that Remonstrance had more of History or of Prophecy Those distempers which before assaulted never till now over-whelmed and extinguished the Liberty Peace and Prosperity of this Kiâ—gdom nor weakened and undermined the foundation and strength of the Royall Throne The forced Contributions upon the Propositions are executed with more cruelty upon refusers then any moneys formerly taken up by Commissions of Loane The Petition of Right and Priviledge of Parliament have been insufficient to protect either other Subjects or the Members of that great Councell from fines Imprisonments without baile or Habeas Corpus from triall of some and Execution of others by Martiall Law Tunnage and Poundage are received h contrary to an Act made this present Parliament without any colour of Law or precedent to warrant it Shipmoney and Monopolies are revived under the new name of Excise to the value of many thousand pounds a moneth A thing on their part so odious and illegall that they who now impose it did once seem so farâ—e to detest it as to put out a Declaration i calling it A scandall raised against them by Malignants Not onely private interest but Publique Faith has been broken by them in neglecting to pay the Scots according to agreement employing that and the money raised for reliefe of Ireland
to the maintaining of an unnaturall Warre in the bowels of England The Covenanting Committees have committed more rapes upon the common Liberty in one yeare than all the Courts of Star-chamber and High Commission from their first Erection Iudges have been taken off the Bench by armed men and sent to Prison for refusing to do against their Oaths and conscience as Iudge Mallet Others have been so awed that they durst not do their duty and the better to hold a rod over them they have been impeached and committed for High Treason yet brought to sit upon the Bench again before any Triall or Sentence of Absolution as Iudge Bartlet Commands have been sent to prohibit their proceedings in severall particular cases Iustices and Iurors have been superseded from enquiring upon Routs and Tumults and the common Iustice of the Kingdome hath been obstructed by Ordinances prohibiting the holding of Assises notwithstanding the Generall Protestation for the free course of justice New Oaths are enforced upon the Subject without Law The usuall course of pricking Sheriffes not observed but mock-Sheriffes appointed by a new forged Broad Seale Master White and his assistants triumph in the Suspension Sequestration or Deprivation of many painfull learned and pious Ministers Many noble Personages and other Patriots are Parliament-men in name but the Power and Authority is wholly devolved upon a few whose resolutions and determinations if they be brought at all are onely brought into the House for countenance and execution not for debate and deliberation All military charges encreased and exercised Souldiers against their will daily pressed by Ordinance contrary to an Act made this Parliament Are we any whit the more secured in our persons or estates so long as the root of all these evils is not truly taken away but onely transplanted Which was acknowledged to be the Arbitrary Power formerly pretended to be in his Majesty but now usurped by the Covenanteers of taxing the Subiects without consent by Act of Parliament If the blow be the same it smarts as sore whatever hand inflict it To change our masters is not to be free If they truly confessed in the case of Hull it were in them an Act of high iniustice should they destroy mens properties when we see them daily do it must we call it therefore just They have urged against the King what holds strongest against themselves k If by Law they might charge the Subiect for defence of the Kingdome in time of danger they were ill advised that desired aide of the Subiect in such times and engaged themselves as we know they have done without a salvo jure for repayment Admitting it should be so that without this power of imposing Contributions it were impossible to defend the people it followes not that therefore they may impose such Contributions l If M. Pym's excuse be yet authentique the same Law that enables them to raise Forceâ— for defence of the Kingdome enables them to impose Taxes for maintaining them otherwise that power were vaine and uselesse it will serve the King in good stead he it is who is entrusted with the power of defending the Kingdome he to whom the two Houses themselves sue for protection he to whom they confesse m All mens persons lands and monies are subiect for the publique good V. The last generall End of the Covenant is Peace it is trueâ— the chiefe Covenanteers did once professe their detestation of a Civill Warre n If it might be avoided without alteration of Religion which they conceived to be the main End of their Enemies and such as would draw with it lâ—sse of Liberty and subversion of Law This now appeares to be their own main End for what else is intended by their Oath for Reformation of Doctrine and extirpation of the Government in our Church What was it that altered the Popish Religion into Protestantisme but Reformation And do not these aime at a greater alteration both in Doctrine Discipline Government and Worship than ever the Papists went about If they had been cordially affected to Peace we had never been driven to these sad extremities of war They might have had it before the Sword was drawn or a blow struck no new Religion was pressed upon them no Law denied which might conduce to the publique safety Since the warre begun severall Treaties for accommodation have been proffered to them the most rejected others made fruitles by them But if war be the onely meanes to procure Peace if weakening and impoverishing the Kingdome be the way to preserve it what hopes have we but in desperation May they not yet have Peace if they will embrace it with the same Religion the same old Lawes A gracious pardon is freely offered to all that will accept it The happinesse of a blessed peace concluded between the two Nations what hinders the continuance of it Extirpation of Church Government was no condition of that Pacification Certainly then these destructive wayes of the Covenanteers do not lead immediately to it but are they likely to end in Peace Yes when they have extirpated all opposers Vbi solitudinem fecerint pacem appellant Yet I doubt of that too The chance of Warre is uncertain they could not bring their ends about when they had more strength and lesse opposition which if they shall ever do they must know that Lawes made by the Sword are but short-lived they will be unmade so too Doe they hope so throughly to root up the Royall Vine and spoile the Branches that there will not be left {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} so much as to powre upon the Goates hornes There will never be wanting a Title to the Crown and justice or compassion or faction at home will finde and interest abroad will lend a sword to defend it Besides it will aske some time to extirpate Popery Prelacy Delinquents Malignants c. who being all declared Traitours and by this Covenant devoted to destruction sure they will sell their lives as deare as they can they can expect no worse by fighting than they must undergo by submitting it is more honourable to die by the sword than by the halter Moriendum victis moriendum deditis id solum refert novissimum spiritum per ludibrium contumelias effundant an per virtutem But say the Covenanteers should at last be masters of their most improbous desires the Kingdome by that time will be so exhausted of men and money and other necessaries by a long Warre and the consequents of it Plague Famine and Decay of Trade that it will be exposed for a prey to any stranger that shall thinke it worth invading who cannot want as faire a colour as the Scots either to interpose as Mediators to propagate their Religion to protect or rescue or revenge their injured friends Or if all other States should be asleep while our house is on fire what security can we have from our deare Brethren of Scotland whoâ— though it
which is truely forraigne and extrinsecal to that Nation they having no relation to nor dependance upon the two Howses or Kingdome of England onely they owe subjection to the same King why then after their mediation hath been rejected as they suppose by both sides upon confidence of their owne strength and severall successes or unwillingnesse to receive conditions from Strangers should they think it their duty though it be in their power to presse that Ecclesiasticall Governmâ—nt upon us by force of Armes which his Majesty hath often declared he will not and the two Houses have never declared that they will accept They have vowed the destruction of all those that adhere to his Majesty under the name of Malignants and evill Instruments and when they come with an Army to pay this Vow call they this stopping the effusion of Christian blood To hew out their way by the sword through all the forces raised for a guard to His Person amongst whom he has yet been safe whose actions have been as full of Loyalty as their adversaries professions is this to rescue their native Kingâ— His Crowne and Posterity out of the midst of dangers To help to sacrifice the greater part of this Kingdome to the malice of those by whom they are declared Traitors is this to preserve his people from ruine and destruction What if every private man be bound in duty to interpose himselfe as a reconciler betwixt his neighbours armed to their mutuall destruction Must they therefore help with armed force to destroy the one party at variance is this the part of a Reconciler What if the sonne ought to hazard his owne life for the preservation of his father at variance with his Brother Must they therefore take up armes to endanger the life of their King tâ—eir Civill father to side with a company of Schismatiques that flatter them with the name of Brethren III. When they ask shall a Kingdome sit still and suffer their King and neighbouring Kingdom to perish in an unnaturall Warre I shall answer this question to their owne content it is not fitting it is not lawfull But let me in courtesie ask them another When a Kingdome hath taken notice of a difference debated by fire and sword betwixt their owne King and some of his Subjects of a neighbouring Kingdome when they have solemnely vowed not to give themselves up to a detestable indifferency and neutrality in that cause when they have observed that the maine poynt in controversie is because the King will not consent to alteration of some Lawes already established which he holds himselfe bound in conscience to preserve after the whole Clergy in their c Nationall Assembly have promised to keep the people under their charge in obedience to his Maiesty and his Lawes confessing it a duty well beseeming the Preachers of the Gospell after their whole d Kingdome has sworne with their meanes and lives to stand to the defence of their dread Soveraigne his Person and Authority in every cause which may concerâ—e his Maiesties Honour with their friends and followers in quiet manner or in armes as they shall be required by his Maiesty after they have acknowledged in their Nationall Covenant that the quietnesse and stability of their Religion and Kirke depends upon the safety of the Kings Maiesty and have therefore universally protested and promised under a solemne Oath and hand-writ upon fearfull paines and execrations e to defend his Person and Authority with their goods bodies and lives against all Enemies within the Realme or without as they desire God to be a mercifull Defender to them in the day of their death and comming of our Lord Iesus Christ after the Nobility Gentry Burroughs Ministers and Commons of that Kingdome have confessed themselves f bound by all the ties of Nature Christianity and Gratitude so fully satisfied and perswaded of the Royall zeale and constant resolution of his Maiesty to preserve the Lawes and Liberties of his Kingdomes that it were the height of disloyalty and ingratitude if they should harbour any scruple or thought to the contrary having so many reall and recent evidences of his Royall goodnesse iustice and wisdome in setling and establishing the true Religion the Lawes and Liberties of that his Kingdom to the full satisfaction of all his good Subiects after all these vowes promises and protestations how can they be so strangely given up to folly and wickednesse as to thinke it their duty it being in their power to come with armed Force to end our quarrels by taking part with them to whom they owe no duty and fighting against that part which is owned by his Majesty to whom they stand bound by all the ties of Nature Christianity and Gratitude who has left nothing undone that might give them content Certainly if they shall so farre forget or cast behinde their backes all these solemne vowes and professions they will one day rise up in judgement against them And if they shall hearken to the call of the Enemies of our Peace and come to assist them in this unnaturall Warre as they threaten to do though in the time of animosity and appetite of revenge such Invasion may be well taken by those who invite them to helpe to destroy their Brethren yet afterwards when the eyes of the minde no more bloodrun with passion do discerne things aright it will be a griefe and offence to all true English hearts to see how they have sold themselves slaves to a viler Nation and they may be more united to cast them out who were so ready upon the advantage of their Divisions to thrust themselves in I shall in the mean while put them in minde that there was a time when they had if not a juster Cause a better colour for Invasion of England yet then they so farre disclaimed all intentions of it as to call the bare mention of it g The despitefull and devilish calumny of the disnatured Enemies of their Kirke and Kingdome I am commanded to forget what they did then but if they shall now verifie those calumnies and falsifie all their solemne Oaths though the King and this Kingdome should not be able to call them to account there is a God in Heaven that sees all their hearts and will judge all their actions And they cannot be ignorant that all the colours which they use in excuse or defence of their intended expedition may with equall nay better reason be alleadged by any other Nation that have a minde to oppresse and subdue upon pretence of assisting us of providing for their own safety or comming to compose our Differences CHAP. XIII From these Premises the Covenant is concluded unlawfull in respect of the Forme HAving thus deduced at large the severall Illegalities of this Holy League both in respect of the Efficient and Finall Causes but especially in respect of the matter it naturally followes that we conclude it in the last place to be likewise unlawfull