at leisure perhaps to turn over Books and zealously affected over and above to the Reputation of an odd sort of Christians that style themselves True Protestants what more agreeable Present in this World could I make you than this Collection of True-Protestant-Sayings ready drawn up to your hands where you shall see all their Virtues Common-plac'd their Graces drawn to the life their Agreement among themselves their Affection to the King and Church the Moderation of their Principles and the tenderness of their hearts towards their Sovereign Faithfully and Impartially set forth and transmitted to Posterity by themselves and effectually Sign'd Seal'd and Deliver'd to the World for the use of future Generations by their own Rabbies Gentlemen I am with all Reciprocal Affection Your most Humble Servant Roger L'Estrange THE CONTENTS § 1. OF Toleration pag. 1. § 2. The Fruits of a Toleration p. 7. § 3. The Dissenters Harmony among themselves p. 13. § 4. The Dissenters Behaviour toward the Government and first the Clergy p. 22. § 5. The Dissenters Behaviour towards the Civil Government p. 30. § 6. The Presbyterians Opinion of the Covenant p. 34. § 7. Dissenters Liberty of Conscience p. 37. § 8. The Power of the Kirk p. 39. § 9. Principles and Positions p. 45. § 10. Tumults Encouraged And chiefly by the Able Holy Faithful Laborious and Trulypeaceable Ministers of the Gospel p. 51. Petition for Peace p. 4. § 11. The War Iustified p. 55. § 12. Reformation by Blood p. 59. § 13. The Murder of the King Encouraged p. 67. § 14. The King's Murder Iustifi'd p. 70. §. 1. Dissenters Sayings c. 1 TOleration hath done much more toward the Rooting of Religion out of the Hearts of many men in seven year then the Enforcing of Uniformity did in Seventy years Cawdrys Independency a great Schism 1657. P. 14. 2 A Toleration hath All Errors in it and All Evills Edwards Gangreen P. 58. 3 A Toleration would be the putting a Sword in a Mad man's hand a Cup of Poyson into the hand of a Child a Letting loose of Madmen with Firebrands in their hands An appointing a City of Refuge in mens Consciences for the Devil to fly to a laying of a stumbling Block before the Blind a Proclaiming Liberty to the Wolves to come into Christs Fold to Prey upon the Lambs Neither would it be to Provide for Tender Consciences but to take away all Conscience The Harmonious Consent of the Lancashire Ministers with their Brethren in London Subscribed by 84. 1648. P. 12. 4 A Toleration would make us become the Abhorring and Loathing of all Nations and being so palpable a Breach of Covenant would awaken against us the Lord of Hosts to bring a Sword upon us to Avenge the Quarrell of his Covenant Mr. Noise of New England of the Power of Magistrates P. 13. 5 That Doctrine that cryeth up Purity to the Ruine of Unity is Contrary to the doctrine of the Gospel Vindication of the Presbyterial Government and Ministry 1649. P. 124. 6 That Religion which carries in the Front of it a Toleration of Different Religions and not sufficient to keep the Body of Christ in Unity and Purity is not the Government of Christ. Ibid. 7 Liberty in all matters of Worship and of Faith is the open and Apparent way to set up Popery in the Land Bax. Non-Con Plea Pref. 8 Must he have his Conscience that makes no Conscience What he that hath sin'd away his Conscience If Conscience be a sufficient Plea the Papists may come in for a Childs part If Conscience goes against the word Deponenda est talis Conscientia Get Conscience better Enform'd The Conscience of a Sinner is Desil'd 1. Tit. 15. Conscience being desil'd may Erre Conscience erring may suggest that which is sinfull There is nothing can bind a man to sin Watson to the Commons Dec. 27. 1646. P. 17. 9 A Toleration of Independent Churches and Government with Opinions and Practise against the Magistrates Duty lay'd down in Scripture Edwards Full Answer P. 237. It is against the Solemn League and Covenant for Reformation P. 238. A shrew'd Temptation to make many fall and a means of Confirmation in the way of Errour P. 244. A Toleration of One or more Different ways of Churches and Church-Government from the Church and Church-Government Establish'd will be to this Kingdom very Mischievous Pernicious and Destructive P. 247. It hath ever been from first to last a Fountain of Evil and a Root of Bitterness of many bitter Divisions and Separations among themselves of Manifold Errors and other Mischiefs in those Churches and Places where they liv'd P. 248. 10 Will Mercifull Rulers set up a Trade for Butchering of Souls and allow men to set up a shop of Poyson for all men to Buy and take that will yea to Proclaim this Poyson for Souls in streets and Church-Assemblies c Baxters Self-Denial Epist. Monitory 11 We must either Tolerate all men to do what they will which they will make a matter of Conscience or Religion and then some may offer their Children in Sacrifice to the Devil and some may think they do God service in Killing his servants c. Or else you must Tolerate no Errour or Fault in Religion and then you must advise what measure of Penalty you will Inflict Baxters Church-Divis P. 363. 364. 12 I have known too many very honest hearted Christians Especially Melancholique Persons and women who have been in great doubt about the opinions of the Millenaryes the Separatists the Anabaptists the Seekers and such like and after Earnest Prayer to God they have been strongly resolv'd for the way of Errour and Confident by the strong Impression that it was the Spirits Answer to their Prayers and thereupon they have set themselves into a Course of sin Ibid. P. 162. It is very ordinary with poor Fantasticall Women and melancholique Persons to take all their deep Apprehensions for Revelations Ibid. P. 167. 13 If we do through weakness or Perverseness take Lawfull things to be Unlawfull that will not excuse us in our disobedience Our Errour is our sin and one sin will not excuse another Baxters 5. Dispute P. 483. 14 Oh what a Potent Instrument for Satan is a Misguided Conscience It will make a man kill his Dearest Friend yea Father or Mother yea the holyest Saint and think he doth God good service by it And to Facilitate the work it will first blot out the Reputation of their Holiness and make them take a Saint for a Devil Bax. Saints Rest P. 133. 15 Take heed how you tolerate Schism for in little time without great care it will open the door to Heresy Hodges to the Commons Mar. 10. 1656. P. 55. 16 Divisions whether they be Ecclesiasticall or Politicall in Kingdoms Citys and Familyes are Infallible Causes of Ruine to Kingdoms Cityes and Familyes Calamy to the Commons Dec. 25. 1644. P. 4. 17 Lyes would not take if they were not Commended by the Holyness of the
Colemanstreet Conclave Visited P. 1. 1648. P. 33 The Congregationall men swore to Endeavour Uniformity and yet practice this day Multiformity of Religions have put to the sale the Bloud of many Gallant men in Scotland that so they may buy with their lives Cursed Liberty of Conscience But will it not be bitterness in the End Rutherfords Free Disputation 1649. P. 256. We know no service to the State done by these men but that they set up with the sword all the Blasphemous and Hereticall Sects and Religions that Tho. Muncer or Iohn of Leydâ—…n fancy'd contrary to the Oath of God Ib. 259. I. 34 Was there ever any thing done in the Bishops time or any thing attempted to be done by this Generation of men in the day of their Greatest Interest and Power in the Kingdom of that Bloudy Consequence to those Godly Persons Ministers or others whom they most hated and sought to crush as this Ord'nance to Prevent the Growing and spreading of Heresies c. if once Establish'd is like to be to far greater numbers of truly Pious and Conscientious Men. Some Modest and Humble Queries P. 7. Notes upon §. 3. I Shall not need to cut up this Section by Paragraphs but rather recommend it whole to the Consideration of any Indifferent Reader These are the People that assume to themselves the Title of the Kings best Subjects and the Church of Englands True-Protestants when yet at the same time they do with their own Lips and Pens declare themselves the Implacable Enemies of Order and of One another They call for Indulgence contrary to Law from those whom they themselves destroy'd for Living and Acting according to the Law and to whom so far from Mercy they never shew'd so much as Humanity or Common Pity They demand a Comprehension with that Church which they do Ioyntly pronounce to be Anti-Christian They make use of Religion and Tenderness of Conscience as their Plea for a Common Union with the Church and yet what is it but the same Pretense of Religion and Conscience that Causes all those Mortal Feuds among themselves What Religion can be expected from men of these Outragious Principles What Peace with so many Implacable Antipathies and Oppositions What Truth from such a Medly of Pernitious Errors and what Trust can be given to those that never kept Faith either with God or Man Nor ever agreed but in order to the Ruine and Confusion of the State Would they be United ye see 't is Dangerous and Impossible Dangerous in respect of the Publique and Impossible among Themselves for they make it no less then Matter of Damnation to Suffer one Another Now according to these Practices and Positions let the world Iudge of the Design §. 4. The Dissenters Behaviour toward the Government and first the Clergy 1 PErnicious Deceivers Presumptuous Shepherds Baalamites Blazing-Stars Glosing Hypocrites with God Fasting-Pharisaicall Preachers Miserable Guides Counterfeit-False Prophets Sycophants Trencher-Priests Conscience-Brokers Dangerous and Pestilent Seducers Sectary-Precise Preachers Trecherous Watchmen Sworn Soldiers of Anti-Christ c. Barrow and Greenwood Cited in Bancrofts Survey of Holy Discipline P. 355. 2 This new Parcell of Mockery and Iesuited Popery as bad as any in the Mass-book i. e. A Collection of Prayers and Thanksgivings used in his Majesties Chappel c. and publish'd by his Majesties Command 1644. 3 Croaking Frogs Clergy that crept into the Kings Chambers who are known by the Gutter whence they came out of the Dragon out of the mouth of the Beast and the False Prophet They are the Spirits of Devils who go forth unto the Kings of the Earth to gather them to Battle c. The Frogs Heads are like their Caps Quadrata Ranarum Capita Here is work for the Parliament that the King may have no more Croakers in his Chambers Wilson to the Commons Sep. 1642. 4 A Stinking Heap of Atheisticall and Roman-Rubbish a Rotten Rabble of Slanderous Priests and Spurious Bastard sons of Belial who by their Affected Ignorance and Laziness their False Doctrines and Idolatrous Superstitious Practises in Gods worship by their most Abominable Evil Lives and Conversations had like Hophni and Phinehas made the Lords Ordinances to be even abhorr'd by the People Vicars Iehovae Iireh P. 88. 1644. 5 Who among us 7. years ago Imagin'd that this Land should be healed of the two Great Plague-Sores of this Land viz. The Common-Pruyer Book and Episcopacy of the lesser Scabs of Deans and Prebends Chancellors Arch-Deacons Queristers Promoters c. Together with the Spiritual Courts and all the Trumpery of their Superstitious Ceremonies Loves Sermon at Uxbridge Ian. 30. 1944. P 29. 6 If Justice be at a stand and cannot take hold of Living Delinquents to keep the Ax from rust Let Justice be Executed upon Liveless Delinquents Are there no Altars no High-Places no Crucifixes c. Greenhill to the Commons Ap. 26. 1643. P. 37. 7 Throw away the Rubbish out with the Lords Enemies and the Lands Vex the Midianites Abolish the Amalekites else they will vex you with their Wiles as they have done heretofore Let Popery find no favour because it is Treasonable Prelacy as little because it is Tyrannicall but Establish God his Truth and ways Coleman to the Commons Au. 30. 1643. P. 64. 8 God was weary of our New-Moons and Sabbaths and the Calling of our Assemblies He could not smell in our Common Feasts our Sacrifices were an Abomination to him through the Noisomness of those Corruptions which Hophni and Phinehas Superstitious and wicked men in the Priesthood mingled with them Strickland No. 1944. P. 33. 9 The Hierarchy is become a Fretting Gaugreen and Spreding Leprosy an Insupportable Tyraany Up with it Up with it to the Bottom Root and Branch Hip and Thigh Destroy these Amalckites and let there Place be no more found Coleman to the Par. Au. 30. 1643. P. 39. 10 Our Cathedralls are in a Great part of late become the Nest of Idle Drones and the Roosting Place of Superstitious Formalities Coleman to the Commons Au. 30. 1643. P. 39 11 How was this Honourable and Famous City of London furnish'd Even just as Ieroboam furnish'd Bethel with the Idlest the most Superstitious of all the rest Id. Ibid. 12 An Ungodly Generation that weep with a Loud Voice and Complain their Gods are gone their God Episcopacy their God Liturgy the Organ and the Surplice the Cross c. Stanton to the Commons Ap. 24. 1644. Epistle 13 Our Religion and Liberties are setled by the Laws of the Land not so Israels in Egypt And therfore the Anti-Christian Party in their attempts to wrest them from us are more Unjust and cruell then of Old was Egypt Ibid. P. 5. 14 How many Dumb Devils are now casting out of many Parishes in the Land Bond to the Commons Mar. 27. 1644. P. 44. 15 What had we got if the Prelaticall Party had been set up What could we have Expected from them but superstitions Innovations Illegalities Bondage
Catechising the Anti-Christian Papists Malignants Incendiaries and other ill-Affected Persons under the name of CAVALIERS 10 I went saith he The King of his going to the House of Commons attended with some Gentlemen Gentlemen indeed the ragged â—…fantry of Stews and Brothels the Spawn and Shipwrack of Taverns and Dicing-Houses Iconoclastes P. 25. A Prayer for the Preservation of his Majesties Person c. Priest Right Responds 11 O Lord Guard the Person of thy Servant the King From Jesuites Papists Irish Rebels and Evil Councellors about him People Resp. Who putteth his Trust in thee Not we hope in the Arm of Flesh as Cavaliers Delinquents and such Enemies to the Kingdom Priest Resp. Send him and his Armies help from thy holy Place Not from Denmark Belgia France Spain and Ireland People Resp. And evermore mightily defend them From the Insinuations of Incendiaries other Promoters of this War Priest Resp. Confound the Designs of all those that are risen up against him To withdraw him from his Parliament and the Protection of his best Subjects People Resp. And let not their Rebellious Wickedness approach near to hurt him Nor any more to Rob Spoil and Kill the Poor People of this Nation Priest Resp. Oh Lord hear our Prayer That our King may speedily return home from destructive Misleaders People Resp. And let our Cry come unto thee And the Cry of thy Peoples blood in Ireland and England Cavaliers New Common-Prayer-Book Unclasp'd P. 3. 12 The Woful Miscarriages of the King himself which we cannot but acknowledg to be many and very Great in his Government that have Cost the Three Kingdoms so Dear and cast him down from his Excellency into a Horrid Pit of Misery almost beyond Example c. Vindication of the 59 London Ministers P. 6. 7. 13 The Kings Letter full indeed of much Evil and Demonstration of no Change of Heart from his former Bloody Cruel and Unkingly Practices of the Ruin of himself and his Kingdom as much as in him lay Vicars Chron. P. 43. 14 All Good Consciences shall Condemn that Course It shall be Easier for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgment than for such a Court. Admonition to the Parliament P. 3. Notes on §. 5. THis Section is of the same Spirit with the former and only a Malevolent Continuation of the same design for the overturning of the Government by rendring the King his Majesties Ministers and his Friends and the whole Frame of the Civil State Despicable and as Odious as the other did the Bishops and the Clergy What a Rabble of Bug-words have we here hudled together in the First Paragraph Num. 1 What a Diabolical and Uncharitable Iudgment pronounc'd upon the whole Party of the King 2 and 3 What an irreverent Mockery upon the Catechism of the Church 4 What can be more Insolent toward the Person of our Sovereign 5 How Rude and how Un-Christian is the Character pronounc'd upon the Cavaliers From 6 to 11. And then see the Turning of his late Majesties Devotions in his distress into Droll and Buffon 11 The lewd Reproaches cast upon That Pious Prince in the depth of his Afflictions by the London Ministers even in their Pretended Service to him 12 The Clamorous Outrage of Vicars's Revilings 13 And the Parliament as ill treated by Others of the same Stamp as these People treated the King §. 6. The Presbyterians Opinion of the Covenant 1 THE Covenant was the Parliaments Sword and Buckler for when the Cavaliers shall see ye come Armed with the Covenant they will Run Run Run from the Presence of the Lord of Hosts Colemans Exhortation-Sermon to the Commons 2 As God did swear for the Salvation of Men and of Kingdoms so Kingdoms must now Swear for the Preservation and Salvation of Kingdoms to Establish our Saviour Iesus Christ in England Nye upon the Covenant 3 We Know O Lord that Abraham made a Covenant and Moses and David made a Covenant and our Saviour made a Covenant but Thy PARLIAMENTS Covenant is the Greatest of All Covenants A Lay-Preacher at Banbury in his Prayer 4 Look upon your Covenant I beseech ye and do Justice upon Delinquents Impartially and without Respect of Persons Palmer to the Commons Aug. 13. 1644. P. 48. 5 None but an Atheist Papist Oppressor Rebel or the Guilty Desperate Cavaliers and Light and Empty men can Refuse the Covenant Coleman Sep. 27. 1643. P. 23. 6 This Despised Covenant shall Ruin Malignants Sectaries and Atheists Yet a little while and behold he cometh and walketh in the greatness of his strength and his Garments Dyed with Blood Oh for the Sad and Terrible day of the Lord upon England their Ships of Tharshish their Fenced Cities c. Because of a Broken Covenant Rutherfords Letters P. 555. 7 I think it my last Duty to Enter a Protestation in Heaven before the Righteous Judge against the Practical and Legal Breach of Covenant and All Oaths Impos'd on the Consciences of the Lords People and All Popish Superstitious Mandates of men Ruth Lett. P. 575. 8 In the League and Covenant that have been so Solemnly and Publiquely Sworn and Renewed by this Kingdom the Duty of Defending and Preserving the Kings Majesties Person and Authority is Joyned with and Subordinate to the Duty of Preserving and Defending the True Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms Gillespy's Useful Cases of Conscience P. 55 56. 9 Look upon the Covenant to which we have Lift up our Hands I Tremble when I read it We Covenanted not only against Prelâ—…ey but Popery not only Hierarchy but Heresie not only Sin but Schism Watson to the Commons Decemb. 27. 1649. 10 Will not these Abjurers of the Covenant of All others be the very Chief of Sinners whilst they become Guilty of no less then the very Sin against the Holy Ghost Or at least border as near to it as possibly may be O amazing Vengeance Oh most dreadful of all Iudicial Strokes that can fall upon the Reprobate minds of men May not the dismal Doom of Francis Spira be here remembred and Solomons Backslider in Heart who shall be fill'd with his own ways Prov. 14. 14. Though to commit Murther upon the High-way and to do it deliberately and in cool blood too be a most horrid Crime against the very Light of Nature and against the second Table yet how short doth it come of This the highest of all Crimes imaginable A Crime that murthers Conscience that murthers Souls that murthers Religion it self a Crime against the First Table most immediately against the Sovereign God! and the greatest of that nature that men can be guilty of Three Mens Speeches P. 6. 11 Q. Whether seeing the Covenant was made to God Almighty All Persons by the Covenant were not bound to bring Delinquents to Punishment And whether the Long Parliament did not Declare the Late King to be a Delinquent let God and the World judge The Valley of Achor 1660. Q. 16. 12 I do Solemnly declare as a
he so Imposes E. Bagshaw of things Indifferent Part. 2. p. 3. 5 Our Fundamentals were not made by our Representatives but by the People themselves and our Representatives themselves limited by them which it were Good that Parliaments as well as People would observe and be faithful to For no Derivative Power can Null what their Primitive Power hath Established The English-man p. 11. 6 Royal Primogeniture alone without the Peoples consent is no Rightful Title to the Government nor hath the Eldest Son or Heir of the King any Right to the Government by Birth unless the People consent to chuse him thereto Mene-Tekel p. 10. 7 The Parliaments of England and often the People without the Parliament have in their Addresses to the King given him the Title of Lord in a way of Honour and Respect but when he hath refused to perform his Duty to them and endeavoured by his Unlawful Prerogative to abridge them of their Liberties they have made him understand his Relation and by force of Arms Asserted their own Privileges and sometimes compelled the King to Perform his Duty other times Deposed him from the Government as the People of Israel did Rehoboam upon the same account and so have most if not all the Nations in the World done the same Ibid. pag. 36. 8 Rising up against Authority it self the Ordinance of God and Disobeying the Powers therewith vested standing and acting in their Right Line of Subordination is indeed Rebellion and as the sin of Witchcraft but to Resist and Rise up against Persons Abusing Sacred Authority and Rebelling against God the Supream is rather to adhere to God as our Liege Lord and to Vindicate both our selves and his Abused Ordinance from Man's Wickedness and Tyranny Naphtali p. 157. 9 The Power of the King Abused to the Destruction of Laws Religion and Subjects is a Power contrary to Law Evil and Tyrannical and Tyeth no man to subjection Lex Rex p. 261. 10 If we consider the Fountain-Power the King is Subordinate to Parliament and not Co-ordinate for the Constituent is above that which is Constituted Lex Rex p. 377. 11 Whensoever a King or other Supream Authority Creates an Inferiour they Invest it with a Legitimacy of Magistratical Power to punish themselves also in case they prove evil doers yea and to act any other thing requisite for the Praise and Encouragement of the Good Io. Goodwins Right and Might well met 1648. p. 7. 12 The People is not King formally because the People is eminently more than the King for they make David King and Saul King Lex Rex p. 156. 13 The Laws are in the hands of the Parliament to Change or Abrogate as they shall see best for the Common-wealth even to the taking away of Kingship it self when it grows too Masterful and Burdensome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 101. 14 The Parliament sit in that body not as his Subjects but as his Superiors call'd not by him but by the Law not only twice every year but as oft as great affaire require to be his Counsellors and Dictators though he stomack it nor to be Dissolved at his pleasure but when all Grievances be first removed all Petitions heard and answered Ibid. p. 110. 15 Our Covenant was not taken without the Royal Authority of the King though it be Condemn'd by his Personal Command for as long as this Parliament of England continueth the Royal Authority and Power is annexed to it by vertue of that Act of Continuance So that the King of England in his Power may still be at Westminster though King Charles in his Person be at Oxford or elsewhere The Covenanters Catechism 1644. p. 16. 16 If a People that by Oath and Duty are obliged to a Sovereign shall sinfully Dispossess him and contrary to their Covenants chuse and Covenant with another they may be Obliged by their latter Covenants notwithstanding the former Ho. Com. p 188. 17 Though the Perfidious Parliament or rather Mock Parliament have lately betrayed their own Trust and our Liberties making it Treason for us to mention the Cruel Tyranny and Oppression we groan under yet by the Ancient Laws of England this Man that Rules at present is no Rightful King of England but by Oppressing the Nation and Persecuting the Lords People hath loss the Title of a King and the Name of a King doth not agree to him but Tyrant is the Name due to him Mene-Tekel p. 63. 18 Q. Whether the Title of Supream be not rather Nominal than Real Valley of Acbor p. 1. 19 Our War has been proved over and over to Unbiast Consciences to be Just. Caryl to the Commons April 23. 1644. p. 15. 20 If the King raise War against the Parliament upon their Declaration of the Dangers of the Common-wealth in that case people may not only Resist him but also he Ceases to be a King Baxter H. Common-wealth Thes. 368. 21 It is our Duty to yield to this Authority all Active and Chearful Obedience in the Lord even for Conscience sake Ibid. 22 A Refusal to be subject to this Authority under the pretence of Upholding the Title of any One upon Earth is a Refusal to Acquiesce in the Wise and Righteous pleasure of God Ienkins Petition Printed Oct. 15. 1651. 23 The King must Command not only according to God's but Man's Laws And if he do not so Command the Resistance is not a Resistance of Power but Will. Bridges to the Commons Feb. 7. 1642. Pref. 24 Let not the Sons of Belial say there is no Law now let them not be as when there was no King in Israel every man doing that which was right in his own eyes let them know that the Kingly Power Resides in the High Court of Parliament Pickering No. 27. 1649. Epist. Ded. 25 Subjects do promise Obedience that the Magistrate might help them which if he do not they are discharg'd of their Obedience Goodman p. 190. 26 Judges ought by the Law of God to Summon Princes before them for their Crimes and to proceed against them as against all other Offenders Obedience p. 111. 27 Scotland fought for themselves and their own safety and whatever Law will Warrant Nations now to joyn together against the Turk will Warrant Scotland their joyning with England against their Common-Enemy Apologet. Relat. p. 138. 28 A War raised by the Parliament against the Common Enemy in defence of the Kings Honour the safety of the People and the Purity of Religion cannot be Condemned as Unjust and Illegal Apol. Rel. p. 142. 29 It was the common practice of the Parliaments of Scotland and Lex currit cum Praxi to rise in Arms against their Kings when they turned Tyrants Ibid. 143. 30 It is lawful for the Inferiour and Subordinate Magistrates to defend the Church and Common-wealth when the Supream Magistrate degenerates and falleth into Tyranny or Idolatry for Kings are subject to their Common-wealths Canterburies Doom p. 290. c. 31 The Parliament have declar'd
freely for it and now dye for it Nine Mens Speeches Axtel at his Execution p. 89. 8 It cannot be unknown how much we and other Ministers of this City and Kingdom that faithfully adhered to the Parliament have Injuriously smarted under the scourge of evil Tongues and Pens ever since the first Eruption of the Unhappy Differences and Unnatural War between the King and Parliament for our Obedience to the Commands and Orders of the Honourable Houses in their Contests with his Majesty and Conflicts with his Armiâ—…s London-Ministers Vindicatiâ—…n 1648. p. 1. 9 When we consider how much it concerns the Honour of our Master and the good of all to preserve our Ministerial Function Immaculate we dare not but stand by and assert the Integrity of our hearts and the Innocency of all our actings in reference to the King and Kingdom for which we are so much calumniated and traduced Ibid. p. 3. 10 Doubtless the Lord is highly displeased with their proccedings in the Treaty at Newport in reference to Religion and Covenant concerning which they accepted of such Concessions from his Majesty as being Acquiesced in were dangerous and destructive to both The Kirks Testimony against Toleration p. 12. 1649. 11 I pray look on me as one that comes among you this day to beat a Drum in your Ears to see who will come out and follow the Lamb. Marshall 1641. 12 The Sabbath-day following next after their Arrival to London from Branford the Godly and well-affected Ministers throughout the City Preached and Praised the Lord publiquely for their so joyful and safe return home to their Parents Masters and Friends exhorting those young Soldiers of Christ's Army Royal still to retain 〈◊〉 be forward and ready to shew their Courage and Zeal 〈◊〉 of Gods Cause and their Countrys welfare shewing 〈◊〉 of their Adversaries to have Introduced Popery and 〈◊〉 Kingdom and assuring them that this War on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 waged and managed by Papists an Army of Papists being 〈◊〉 the Kings Command contrary to his Vows Protestations and deep Asseverations to the contrary Iehova-Iireh p. 212. 13 My House was a Receptacle for Godly Ministers in the worst of times Here was the Remonstrance fram'd against the Prelates Here were all meetings c. Mr. Calamy's Apology against Burton 1646. 14 You must do and you must do and yet you must do and yet ye must do as long as there is a Penny in thy Purse as long as there is strength in thy hand as long as there is breath in thy body c. Sedgwick's Speech at Guildhall Octob. 6. 1643. 15 I may not omit here to speak of all the Faithful Presbyterian Ministers in this City as well as through the Country those Chariots and Horse-men of our Israel though now forgotten many of the which not only ventur'd their Lives in Battel but by holding up their hands as Moses did when the People of Israel fought against the Enemy and by the lifting up their Hearts and Voices to God with strong crys made all our Armies abroad and our Counsels at home to prosper and all our undertakings happily to succeed Neither is that all but by their Wisdom Vigilancy and Powerful and persuasive Preaching they were the principal means under God of keeping the People here and every where in obedience to the Parliament by resolving their doubts satisfying their scruples and going before the People to their abilities yea many of them to my knowledg out of zeal to the Cause beyond their Abilities in all Contributions animating and encouraging others to bring in their Plate and Moneys and whatsoever was of price and esteem with them exhorting them now if ever to stand for their Religion Lives Liberties and the Liberty of the Subject Bastwicks Appendix to Indep c. p. 628. 16 I am one who out of Choice and Judgment have embarqued my self my Wife Children Estate and all that 's dear to me in the same Ship with you to sink and perish or to come safe to Land with you and that in the most doubtful and difficult times Pleading your Cause Justifying your Wars satisfying many that scrupled and when your Affairs were at lowest and the Chance of War against ye and some of the Grandees and Favorites of these times were packing up and ready to be gone I was then Highest and mâ—…st Zealous for ye Preaching Praying stirring up the People to stand for ye by going out in Person lending of Money c. Edwards Gangraena Ep. Ded Notes upon §. 10. AFTER these Proofs and Declarations of the Ministers Zeal and Industry for the promoting supporting and carrying on of the late Bloody Impious and Unnatural War let not any man take upon him any longer to acquit the Nonconformist Divines of the Guilt and Consequences of that Execrable Rebellion You have here under their hands and from their own tongues not only a Confession of the Fact but a Valuing of themselves even to the degree of Vanity and Ostentation for what they did toward the Advancing of that Sedition as a most Meritorious Service Nay they do not stick to acknowledge that the War could hardly have proceeded without them There 's no evading or qualifying the dint of this Charge since we have their own Papers in Iudgment against them §. 11. The War Iustified 1 LET us set hand and heart and shoulder and all to advance the Lords Sion to a perfection of beauty and to set up Christ upon his Throne Whites Centuries Pref. 1643. 2 Did ever any Parliament in England lay the Cause of Christ and Religion to heart as this hath done Did ever the City of London the rest of the Tribes and the Godly Party throughout the Land so willingly exhaust themselves that Christ might be set up Marshal to the Commons 1643. p. 19. And then let all England cry that our Blood our Poverty c. are abundantly repaid in this that there is such a Concurrence to set up the Lord Christ upon his Throne to be Lord and Christ over this our Israel p. 20. 3 As the Spirit of the Lord came upon Sampson and Iephtaâ—… and David so hath it been in our Conflicts The Spirit of the Lord hath come upon our Noble General and all our Commanders The Spirit of the Lord hath come upon our Gallants Gentlemen Young men Faithful Country-men Renowned Citizens So that he that was weâ—…k among them is as David and he that was as David hath been as the Angel of the Lord. Case to the Commons 1644. p. 28. 4 Tell them from the Holy Ghost says Beech from the word of Truth that their Destruction shall be terrible it shall be timely it shall bâ—… total Serm. Licensed by Mr. Cranferd 1645 p. 1â—… And ibid. O give thâ—…nks unto the Lord for he is Gracious and his Mercy endurâ—…th for ever who remembred us at 〈◊〉 for his Mercy endureth for ever who remembred us in 〈◊〉 shiâ—…e for his mercy endureth for ever who remembred us at Leicester
as if Mr. Presenter had gap'd and the Devil himself had spit in his mouth But it is come to that pass now that a man cannot speak a word in favour of the Ecclesiastical Order and Discipline but it comes presently to be an Arraigning of the Commons in Parliament 4. The Observator is Charged with Endeavouring to Render his Majesties Protestant Subjects in general and more particularly those in this City suspected to him by mis-representations of and odious Reflexions upon their Legal proceedings in their Common-Halls and Common-Councils as also by False and Ignominious Reflexions upon some of their Magistrates and by Arraigning the Integrity of Juries of this City for bringing in Verdicts according to their Judgments and Consciences Be you your selves now the Iudges my Masters which are the rather to be Complaind of Those that Defame the most Eminent of your Citizens or those that Vindicate them Those that make it a Crime to be Dutiful to the King and the Church or those that Assert the Honour and Conscience of that Obedience And this is the very Case betwixt those Seditious Scriblers whom you have not touch'd at all and the Observator And which is yet more Remarkable After all your seeming Fierceness against Popery ye have not so much as Presented one single Papist What ye mean by odious Reflexions upon your Common-Halls and Common-Councils I cannot Imagine unless it be that some Notice has been taken of the Freedom of a Gentleman that said he knew before-hand London was to be Burnt and had several Checks as is reported from the Court it self for 't If that be the Point I shall take the freedom to tell ye that it is wonder'd at to this day that it was never put home to him how he came to the knowledge of it And though I am not Conscious of any one Disrespectful thought toward this Famous City in my whole Life saving in the Late Rebellion when the Fanatique Rabble had torn the Government of it to pieces by the same Methods that are now Prescrib'd and Practic'd over again by Hundreds of Enflaming Libels yet if such a thing had been I do not know how your Common-Halls and Common-Councils come to be more Sacred than the Debates of the House of Commons and of his Majesties Privy Council which are daily abus'd by Malicious Forgeries by Contemptuous and Defamatory Reflexions without Controll Provided only that the Misrepresentation be made on the Right side as in the Printed Copies of several Loyal Speeches and Unanswerable Reasonings in the Right of the Crown where only the general drift of the Speech is set forth without any thing mention'd of the Argument As to the Abusing of your Magistrates I am of opinion they would have found it out themselves if any such thing had been And then for your Juries bringing in Verdicts according to their Consciences they are Sworn to find according to Allegations and Proofs and not when the Law determines one thing for them to think another for at that rate 't is at their Choice to make an Honest man Guilty or a Criminal Innocent and at once to overthrow the Reason and the End of Government The Law says 't is Treason in the People to Conspire the Death of the King but the Phanatiques make it Treason in the King to deny the Sovereignty of the People as you will find abundantly and particularly clear'd in several Sections of this Pamphlet But neither is the Observator Chargeable even with this Article The Observator is lastly Presented for Endeavouring to Disgrace and Discountenance Religion it self by an Ironical Immoral and Atheistical of writing against such as he endeavours to Stigmatize by the name of True Protestants Now if I were well enough acquainted with ye Gentlemen I would most humbly beseech ye to Expound this word Religion Is it one Persuasion that is single and true to it self Or is it a Medley of Various and Disagreeing Opinions in the matters of Holy Worship Tell me now I beg of ye how it is possible to bring one and the same Truth to a Consistence with a hundred and fifty Divided Implicated and Inextricable Errors Nay and they are Boundless too for there are Monsters in Heresies as well as in Bodies which by a Promiscuous Liberty of Mixture and Confusion must necessarily produce still New and New Diversities to the end of the world But you shall have this Religion better Decypher'd by some of your own Doctors in the following Papers and I shall particularly remit ye to the Oracles of Dr. J. O. W. J. and R. B. And you will find in the Conclusion that the Uniting of Dissenters is just such another piece of Non-sence as the Separating of your selves together Now for the Appellation of a TRUE Protestant It is but calling of those People by the name which they have given themselves And not with any Regard to the Reformed Religion neither but in a Reflecting way of Discrimination from those of the Establishment for in the naming of themselves True Protestants and taking the whole Schism into that distinction what is this but to intimate that those of the Church are False Protestants from whom they have divided This is the first step toward the explaining of those False Protestants to be Papists But what they are they will tell you themselves if you will but consult their Sayings And I do not find that there belongs any great matter of Complement to this sort of True Protestants I should not have been thus free with ye Gentlemen before Company if the Observator had not prevail'd upon me to follow your Example in giving Countenance to the Publishing of so many thousand Copies up and down the City at the Election on Michaelmas day last and all over the Kingdom by a Scum of Mercenary Intelligencers Insomuch that whosoever gives Credit to those Papers must necessarily believe the Observator to be one of the greatest Rascals upon the face of the Earth And I do confidently Affirm that they are infinitely greater that Publish him so to be If the Presentment had taken place and the matter gone on in a due form of Law a man might have had a Speech yet for his money but this way of Proceeding runs to the Tune of Four and Forty and Condemning the poor Rogue to the Gallows over again without a hearing I would not be Ungrateful to any man any manner of way and I could not tell how to pitch upon a more suitable acknowledgment than by this Dedication First It was your Pleasure to set your Presentment abroad with a kind of a Noverint Universi and I have taken the best care I could here to make it twice as Publique as it would have been otherwise 2dly You were pleas'd to do Honour to the Observator by Printing your Names to the Scandal and for that Reason they are here likewise Exposed with his Vindication 3dly In regard that ye are men of Bus'ness and not
dying man who dare not dissemble that as I thought and still aver that the Erecting of this Abjured Prelacy is the Cause of much of the Sin in the Land and of all the Sufferings of the Lords People So I had no worse Design then the Restoring of the work of Reformation according to the Covenant and more Particularly the Extirpation of Prelacy c. Naphtali The Testimony of Alexander Robertson P. 229. 13 Oh might this Privilege be offered to the Apostate Angels which kept not the Covenant of their Creation nor consequently their First Estate and to the rest of the Damned Souls in Hell Would God send an Angel from Heaven to Preach unto them a Second Covenant upon the laying hold whereon and closing wherewith they might be receiv'd into Grace and Favour How would those poor Damned Spirits bestir themselves What Rattling of their Red hot Chains What shaking of their Fiery Locks In a word What an uproar of Joy would there be in Hell upon such Glad Tydings Case's Quarrel of the Covenant Dec. 1643. P. 60. 14 There is much Sin in making a Covenant on sinful Grounds and there is more Sin in keeping it but when the Preservation of True Religion and the Vindication of Iust Liberties meet in the Ground-work ye may Swear and not Repent yea if you Swear you must not Repent Caryl Oct. 6. 1643. P. 18. 15 Let them first shave their Heads and pare their Nails as the strange Virgin of Old was commanded to do and so let them enter into that Sacred and Dreadful Covenant Bond to the Commons on Isa. 25. 9. Oct. 8. 1645. P. 37. Notes upon §. 6. IT is but suitable that the Blasphemy Heresy and Sedition that went to the Framing of this Oath of Conspiracy should be follow'd with an answerable measure of Wickedness in the promoting of it and in the Execution Whereof you have here Three Notorious Instances Num. 1 2 3. And a Clause that draws Blood upon the King himself 4 A Brand upon all the Refusers of it 5 And another Sanguinary Clause 6 A Protestation against Soveraign Authority 7 And a Jesuitical Exposition of the meaning of it 8. 9. The Breach of it no less than a Sin against the Holy Ghost 10 And the Murther of the Late King Iustifi'd upon the Obligation of it 11 The Malice of the Confederacy own'd at the last Gasp. 12 A most Impious and Phantastical Exaggeration of the blessed Privileges of that Brand. 13 The Cheat. 14 And a Foppish Allusion to the pretended Solemnity and Sacredness of it 15 So that upon the main the Covenanters do assert First the Indissolvable Tye of That Oath Secondly the Intent of it to be the Dissolution of the Government And in the Third place so often as every they move for a Toleration they do as good as desire the King in plain Terms That he will be Graciously pleased to give them leave to serve his Majesty as they did his Father §. 7. Dissenters Liberty of Conscience 1 THat there may be a Thorough and Speedy Proceeding against Blind Guides and Scandalous Ministers by whose Wickedness People either Lack or Loath the Ordinances of the Lord and Thousands of Souls Perish and the removal of the Ark from among us is to the Trembling of our Hearts evidently Threatned And that your Wisdoms would find out some way to admit into the Ministry such Godly and Hopeful men as have prepared themselves and are willing thereunto without which there will be such a scarcity of Able and Faithful Ministers that it will be to little purpose to cast out such as are Unable Idle or Scandalous The Assemblies Petition to both Houses of Parliament July 19. 1643. Husbands Collections Part 2 fol. 241. His Highness by the Advice of his Council doth Publish Declare and Order that no Person or Persons aforesaid do from and after the First day of January 1655. keep in their Houses or Families as Chaplains or School-Masters for the Education of their Children any Sequester'd or Ejected Minister Fellow of a College or School-Master nor permit any of their Children to be taught by such upon pain of being proceeded against in such sort as the said Orders do direct in such Cases And that no person who hath been Sequestred or Ejected out of any Benefice College or School for Delinquency or Scandal shall from and after the First day of January keep any School either Publick or Private nor any Person who after that time shall be Ejected for the Causes aforesaid 3 And that no Person who for Delinquency or â—…candal hath been Sequester'd or Ejected shall from and after the First day of January aforesaid Preach in any Publick place or at any Private Meeting of any other Persons then those of his own Family nor shall administer Baptism or the Lords Supper or Marry any Persons or use the Book of Common Prayer or the Forms of Prayer therein contained upon pain that every Person so offending in any of the Premises shall be proceeded against as by the said Order is provided and directed Olivers Declaration Nov. 24. 1655. A Confession of Faith to be agreed by your Highness and the Parliament according to the Rule and Warrant of the Scriptures to be asserted held forth and recommended to the People of these Nations so that this Liberty be not extended to Popery or PRELACT Humble Petition and Advice May 25. 1657. Notes on §. 7. NOT to cloy the Reader with Repetitions out of my First Part upon this subject I shall pass over the whole History of the Late Persecution with this short Note upon 't That as it was levell'd at the Destruction both of Church and State so it fell heaviest upon persons of Condition Honesty and Letters as the men most sensible of the Tyes of Honour and Duty And I shall now content my self with these few Instances of the Rigour of those times which methinks might stop the mouths of those that cry out so loud against the Uncompassionate severity of the present Age. What were the Blind Guides and Scandalous Ministers c. Num. 1 but the Canonical Clergy that were forc'd away from their Livings and their Families by a Popular Rage and Violence under the countenance of that Diabolical Slander Neither was the loss of their Lawful Possessions and the Ordinary Comforts of Life sufficient to Expiate for their Piety Integrity and Virtue without their Adversaries doing as much as in them lay to Starve them too 2 and 3 And this was the Liberty of Conscience of those days Is it not a Reasonable Proposition now for those men that gave no quarter to the Church upon that Revolution to Mutiny for the same Liberty again of Destroying it And for the whole Schism that from time to time by Common Agreement Excluded the Prelacy to Expect that the Ecclesiastical Government should be now torn to pieces in their favour §. 8. The Power of the Kirk 1 IF the Prince with Gideon Nadab
Discipline must all the Estates within this Realm be Subject as well the Rulers as they that are Ruled 1 Lib. Disc. cap. 7. 22 As the Ministers and others of the Ecclesiastical State are subject to the Magistrate-Civil so ought the Person of the Magistrate be subject to the Kirk Spiritually and in Ecclesiastical Government 2 Lib. Disc. c. 1. 23 As Ministers are Subject to the Judgment and Punishment of the Magistrate in External things if they offend so ought the Magistrates to submit themselves to the Discipline of the Kirk if they transgress in matters of Conscience and Religion Ibid. 24 The National Assemblies of This Country called commonly the General Assemblies ought always to be retained in their own Liberty and have their own place with Power to the Kirk to appoint Times and Places and Convenient for the same And all men as well Magistrates as Inferiors to be subject to the Judgment of the same in Ecclesiastical Causes without any Reclamation or Appellation to any Judge Civil or Ecclesiastical within the Realm 2 Lib. Disc. c. 12. 25 The Princes and Magistrates not being Exemed and these that are Placed in the Ecclesiastical Estate Rightly Ruling Governing God shall be Glorified c. 2 Lib. Disc. c. 13. 26 The Ministers Exerce not the Civil Jurisdiction but teach the Magistrate how it should be Exercised according to the word 27 To Disobey or Resist any that God hath placed in Authority while they pass not over the Bounds of their office we Confess or Affirm to be sin Large Confess Art 15. 28 We Confess and Avow that such as resist the Supream Power doing that thing which appertaineth to his Charge do resist God's Ordinance and therefore cannot be Guiltless Ibid. Art 25. 29 Blasphemy Adultery Murder Perjury and other Crimes Capital worthy of death ought not properly to fâ—…ll under Censure of the Kirk because all such open Transgressors of Gods Law ought to be taken away by the Civil Sword 1 Book of Discip. cap. 7. 30 In the fear of God we signifie unto your Honours that whosoever persuades you that ye may pardon where God Commandeth Death deceives your Souls and provokes you to offend God's Majesty 1 Book of Disc. cap. 9. 31 The Magistrate Commandeth External things for external Peace and Quietness among the Subjects The Minister handleth External things only for Conscience-cause 2 Lib. Disc. cap. 1. 32 If the Offender abide an Assise and by the same be Absolved then may not the Church pronounce Excommunication but justly may exhort the man by whose hand the Blood was shed to enter into Consideration with himself how precious is the Life of man before God and how severely God commandeth Blood howsoever it be shed except it be by the Sword of the Magistrate to be punished And so may Enjoyn unto him such satisfaction to be made publick to the Church as may bear Testification of his obedience and unfeigned Repentance Psalm-Book in the order of Excommunication 33 Wanton and Vain words Uncomly Gestures Negligence in hearing the Preaching or Abstaining from the Lords Table when it is publiquely Ministred suspicion of Avarice or of Pride Superfluity or Riotousness in Chear or Raiment These We say and such others that of the world are not regarded deserve admonition amongst the Members of Christs Body If he continues Stubborn then the Third Sunday ought he to be Charged Publiquely to satisfie the Church for his Offence and Contempt under the pain of Excommunication Psalm Book in the Order of Publique Repentance 34 It is Ordained that every Thursday the Ministers and Elders in their Assembly or Consistory diligently Examine all such faults and suspicions as may be espied not only amongst others but chiefly amongst themselves Psalm-Book Sect. of the weekly Assembly 35 In every Notable Town we Require that one day beside the Sunday be appointed to the Sermon and Prayers which during the time of Sermon must be kept from all Exercise of Labour as well of the Master as the Servant 1 Lib. Disc. cap. 9. of Policy Notes on §. 8. THere can be no better Antidote against the Poyson of a Presbyteriaâ—… Government than the very Orders of their Discipline which are the most Unanswerable Condemnation of the Party You have here a more than Papal Tyranny in the Usurpations of the Kirk over Kings and Princes in the 6 first Clauses Treason it self exempted from the Cognizance of the Civil Power Num. 7. The Kings Supremacy not only disclaimed but the bare acknowledgment of it made Criminal 8 9 All the Governments of the World subjected to the Holy Discipline and Rebellion it self abetted and maintained 10 11 Sovereign Power Vested in the Multitude 12 The Restoring of the King Condemn'd 13 14 And the Objections against it his receiving the Sacrament from a Prelatical hand according to the Order of the Church and the Charging his Father with the Guilt of Bloâ—…d 15 The Taking of the Oâ—…th of Allegiance and the Acceptance of the Kings Indulgence pronounced utterly Unlawful 17 18 19 Conventicle-Preachers Warranted from the Precedent of Christ and his Apostles 20 The Ministers above their Sovereign 21 22 23 24. Princes upon their Good Behaviour and accountable to the Presbytery if they transgress their Bounds 25 26 27 28. The Power of Life and Death taken from the Magistrate 29 3â—… The Minister Usâ—…rps the Civil Power 31 The Presbytery take upon them to punish Malefactors when the Law has acquitted them 32 And call People to account for their very Thoughts Cloaths Gestures nay a suspition is enough to make a body lyable to their Censure 33 They make Two Sabbaâ—…hs in the Week more than God ever Commanded and by the same Authority they may set apaâ—…t all the rest 34. 35. This is enough said to shew the Shameful and Intolerable Rigour of that Government §. 9. Principles and Positions 1 WHEN the Supream Magistrate will not Execute the Judgment of the Lord those who made him Supream Magistrate under God who have under God Sovereign Liberty to dispose of Crowns and Kingdoms are to Execute the Judgment of the Lord when Wicked men make the Law of God of none Effect 1 Sam. 15. 32. so Samuel killed Agâ—…g whom the Lord expresly Commanded to be kill'd because Saul disobey'd the Voice of the Lord. Lex Rex p. 173. 2 Shall it Excuse the States to say We could not judge the Cause of the Poor nor Crush the Priests of Baal and the Idolatrous Mass Prelates because the King forbad us Lex Rex p. 175. 3 The Kings Power is Fiduciary and put in his hand upon Trust and must be Ministerial and borrow'd from those who put him in trust and so his Power must be Less and derived from the Parliament Lex Rex p. 177. 4 The Magistrate hath no Power to suppose things Doubtful and Disputable upon the Practice of any in the Service of God and therefore it cannot be lawful for any to obey him when
the Supream Power to be in themselves Exclusively without a King or House of Lords And they are the Powers that now are as hath been cleared Saunders Mar. 23. 1650. p. 24. 32 It is altogether Lawful for the Parliament to take up Arms for the Defence of the Liberty or any other Imaginable Cause against any Party Countenanced by the Kings Presence against his Laws Baylyes Review p. 83. 33 The Votes Orders and Ordinances of the Lords and Commons in Parliament even without or against the Kings Personal Command are to be obey'd and observ'd Câ—…oftons fastening of St. Peters Fetters p. 118. 34 A Reformation is setled by Highest Authority in despight of Papists Prelate Pope or Devil Staunton to the Commons April 24. 1644. p. 24. 35 Is it so high a Crime for the Great Council of the Nation to determine things necessary for the safety of King and Kingdom without consent of his Majesty when it cannot be obtained Newcomen to the Commons Nov. 5. 1642. p. 48. 36 You are Ambassadors of the Greatest King The Great things of Heaven and Earth are committed to your care the Glory of Iehovah the Gospel of Christ the Welfare of Churches the Good of Kingdoms and in some respect of the whole Christian world is in your hands Greenhil to the Commons April 26. 1643. p. 45. 37 There is no danger in Resisting Acts of Tyranny for Tyrants exercising Tyranny are no Terror to Evil doers Apol. Rel. 154. 38 The Authority and Gods Ordinance can never do wrong but the Corrupt Person placed in Authority may offend so that the King as King is one thing and the King acting Tyranny is another thing Knox Hist. Li. 2. p. 141. Notes on §. 9. THE King render'd Accountable to his Subjects Num. 1 2. His Power Fiduciary and not to be obey'd in doubtful Cases 3 4 The People the Fountain of Power 5 6. And may Depose their Sovereign if he fails in his Duty 7 The Abuse of his Power is the forfeiture of it 8 9. His Parliament is above him 10 11. And so are the People 12. The Parliament are his Superiors and may Depose him 13 14. The Kings Power at Westminster though his Person may be at Oxford 15 The People may discharge themselves of their Allegiance 16 The Crown forfeitable and fâ—…rfeited 17 Supremacy only a Complement 18 The late War justifi'd and the Resistance Lawful 19 20. Cromwel to be Obey'd for Conscienoe sake 21 22. Resistance allowable 23 The Parliament are Supream and the Subjects Obedience Conditional 24 25. Princes Punishable as well as others 26 The Scottish Invasion defended 27 28. And the taking up of Arms against Tyrants 29 Kings subject to their States 30 The Commons and the Parliament-War defended 31 32 33 34 35 36. Tyranny is not Gods Ordinance 37 38. Let the Reader judge now what any man can design that exposes and supports these Positions but the Ruin of the Government §. 10. Tumults Encouraged And chiefly by the Able Holy Faithful Laborious and Truly-Peaceable Preachers of the Gospel Petition for Peace P. 4. 1 IT is not unknown nor unobserved by the Wise that the Ministers have been very serviceable to the Civil State and to the Military too Not only by their Supplications to God for good success in all their Undertakings and their happy Proceedings in all their Warlike Marches and Motions as at the Removal of the Ark Num. 10. 35. Rise up Lord and let thine Enemies be scatter'd Let them that hate thee flee before thee But 2 By their Informations and 3 Solicitations of the People to Engage both their Estates and Persons in the Case of God and their Country Iohn Ley's Examination of the New Quere 1646. Epis. Ded. to the Lord Mayor 2 And we do not Repent of any part of our Pains or Pressures or Perils so long as we may be Serviceable to so good a Cause and to such Good and Gracious Masters as under Christ they The Parliament have hitherto approved themselves towards us And I hope we may without Boasting say by way of Apology that we have not been altogether their unprofitable Servants in respect 1 of our Interest in and 2 Endeavours with the People without whom the Greatest Kings are rather Cyphers than Figures and destitute both of Honour and Safety Prov. 14. 28 1 To Inform their Iudgments and 2 to Enflame their Zeal and 3 to oblige their Consciences and 4 to Fasten their Affections in Loyalty and Fidelity to those worthy Patriots whom they have in their Choice and Votes of Election entrusted with the Religion the Lives and Estates of themselves and their Posterity Hyde p. 80. Sect. 22. 3 After-Ages will Abominate their Baseness and Villanies that have lifted up their hands against the Parliament But the Fsthers the Mordecais the Religious Patriots that have acted in this Sphear the brave Soldiers whose Lives were not dear unto them the FAITHFUL MINISTERS the Horse-men and the Chariots of Israel they shall be had in Everlasting Remembrance Heyrick to the Commons May. 27. 1646. p. 16. 4 You are required to Commend to God in your Prayers the Lord General the whole Army employ'd in the Parliaments Service as also in your Sermons effectually to stir up the People to appear in Person and to joyn with the Army to stand up for our Religion and Liberties as is desired and expected by the Army and the Committee for the Militia in this City Penningtons Order to the London Ministers Ap. 1643. 5 The work of Reformation still goes on There we do get ground as to Perfect a Protestation into a Covenant to ripen an Impeachment into a Root and Branch And in a word to settle an Assembly of Divines as a General Refiners fire to try all Metals of the Church Bond. to the Commons March 27. 1644. p. 56. 6 The Assembly Petition'd both Houses for a Fast and the removing of Blind Guides and Scandalous Ministers destroying all Monuments of Idolatry and Superstition the Executing of Justice upon all Delinquents according to the Solemn and Religious Vow and Protestation for that purpose that so God who is now by the Sword avenging the Quarrel of his Covenant beholding the Integrity and Zeal of the Two Houses might turn from the fierceness of his wrath hear their Prayers go forth with their Armies and perfect the work of Reformation c. Ex. Col. July 19. 1643. p. 242. 7 I must truly tell ye that before these Late Wars it pleas'd the Lord to call me by his Grace through the work of the Ministry and afterwards keeping a day of Humiliation in Fasting and Prayer with Mr. Simeon Ash Mr. Love Mr. Woodcock and other Ministers in Laurence-Lane they did so clearly state the Cause of the Parliament that I was fully convinc'd in my own Conscience of the Justness of the War and thereupon Engaged in the Parliaments Service which as I did and do believe was the Cause of the Lord. I ventur'd my Life
for his Mercy c. who remembred us at Tauntâ—…n for his Mercy c. who remembred us at Bristol for his Mercy c. p. 9. 5 As Sampson with the Philistims so let us die with Babylon if we cannot out-live Anti Christ and the Enemies of Reformation let us adventure our selves to death in the Cause yea lâ—…t us take hâ—…ld of the Pillars of the Church of Dagon of the Temple of Anti-Christ and say Now let me die with Anti-christ Rome and Babylon Bond 1644. p. 59. 6 God hath put you in his own Place God hath grac'd you with his own Name Lord of Hosts General of Armies God hath committed to your care what is most precious to himself precious Gospel precious Ordinances a precious Parliament a precious People God hath called forth your Excellency as a choice Worthy to be a General and the Champion of Iesus Christ to fight the great and last Battel with Anti-christ in this your Native Kingdom Palmer to the E. of Essex 1644. Ep. Ded. 7 Whether the Stupendious Providences of God manifested among us in the Destruction of the late King and his Adherents in so many pitcht Battels and in this Nations Universal forsaking of Charles Stuart and the total Overthrow of him and his Army whether by these Providences God hath not plainly removed the Government of Charles Stuart and bestowed it upon others as ever he removed and bestowed any Government by any Providence in any Age Whether a Refusal to yield Obedience and Subjection to this present Government be not a refusal to acquiesce in the Wise and Righteous pleasure of God and a flat breach of the Fifth Commandment W. Ienkins's Conscientious Quaeries 1651. p. 2. 8 The Prenâ—…ices and Porters were stimulated and stir'd up by God's Providence thousands of them to Petition the Parliament for speedy Relief Palmer to the E. of Essex 1644. Ep. Ded. 9 Remember how far I have gone with ye in the War And shall I be affraid of my old most Intimate Friends Bax. Holy Com. Pref. to the Army 10 If I had known that the Parliament had been the Beginners and in most fault yet the Ruin of our Trustees and Representatives so of all the Security of the Nation is a Punishment greater than any fault of theirs against the King can from him deserve and their faults cannot disoblige me from defending the Common-wealth Ho. Com. p. 48â—… 11 If the King Venture into Battel and hazard his Person we are sorry for it and he hath been most humbly requested by the Honourable Houses of Parliament not to expose his Royal Person unto such extremities But iâ—… his Evil Council prevail more with him than the good Advice of the Parliament we wash our hands in Innocency and plead Not Guilty of any Evil that may befall his Majesties Person in the like occasions In the mean while we must not forbear to defend our Religion and Liberties against our Bloody Enemies but go on couragiously and play the Men to fight for our People and for the Cities of our God 2 Sam. â—…0 12. The Covenanters Catechisms 1644. p. 26. 12 I think I have not read of many Assemblies oâ—… Worthiâ—…r men since the Apostles days Bax. Answer to Dr. Sâ—…llingfleet p. 84. 13 Phinehas executes Justice upon great ones and what follow'd a Commotion No Gâ—…d's wâ—…ath was â—…urn'd away and a Covenant of Peace made Greenhil April 26. 1643. p. 37. 14 This is a time wherein we should all Unite against the Common Enemy that seeks to devour us all Calamy to the Commons Decemb. 25. 1644. p. 36. Notes on §. 11. IT is no wonder after the foundation of a War so fairly laid to see the Peaceable Preachers of the Gospel as they call themselves well â—…nough satisfied to reap the fruits of their own labours Nor could any other be expected then that the Seeds of so Pestilent a Sedition should quickly grow up into a rank Rebellion The best that can be said for them is that the Broil went farther then they intended or otherwise that they were misled into a mistake of the question in hand But even in this point also they have left themselves without excuse for 't is a clear Case that their Zeal and Confidence increas'd with their Successes And all their care was at first for his Majesties Honour and Safety and to bring him home to his Parliament out of the hands of Cut-throats and Papists They were up at every turn with the Maxim that the King could do no wrong and all the blame was laid upon his Ministers This way of Pretended Tenderness for his Majesties Authority and Person implys their secret Consciousness of a Legal Duty only 't was too early days yet to take off the Masque Now their judgment upon the Point was the same afterwards as at first but as they gather'd Strength they grew Bolder too and the last Violence was no more than the putting of their first Thoughts in Execution And whoever observes the method and the scope of their Proceedings will find their Principles varying with their Fortunes and the deepest Professors of Veneration for the Dignity of the King and his Government in the Beginning prove the most daring Insulters upon his Imperial Regalities and Honour in the Conclusion But to the next Section §. 12. Reformation by Blood 1. â—… Have often thought that too much Mercy towards Malignants hath made more Delinquents than ever Iustice hath Punished Mercy should not weigh down Iustice. Loves Serm. at Uxoridge Ian. 30. 1644. p. 26. 2 Moses bids all the Levites Consecrate their hands to God What to do To Kill Three-thousand No sewer of the Idolaters fâ—…ll that day c. How brave a pattern have we here for those that are in Magistracy and Authority All you Honourable and Beloved that God hath called to any place of Authority and Trust Consider but this of Moses here the meekest man upon the Earth yet what a Pattern is he to you herein How excellent a Champion is he for God upon the People Herle to the Lord Mayor c. Lond. 1644. p. 22. 3 Probably the way to sheath one Sword were to draw another and if the Sword of Iustice did more the Sword of War would do less The Physitian by way of Revulsion stops bleeding by letting blood and did England bleed enough in the Malignant Vein we have cause to think that other sad Issues of Blood would be stopt and staunched Staunton to the Lords Oct. 30. 1644. p. 26. 4 Iosiah Executed the Justice and Vengeance of God upon the Instruments of the Kingdoms ruin the Idolatrous Priests digging the very bones of some of them out of their Graves the same Lord direct you c. Then let not the man Escape whom God appoints out to Punishment Marshal to the Commons Dec. 22. 1642. p. 52 53. 5 Let none think it Bloody Divinity if I say Execution of Judgment is good Phinehas stood up and Executed Judgment and so