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
Dissenters Sayings The Second Part. Published in their own Words FOR THE INFORMATION Of the People And DEDICATED to the GRAND-JURY of LONDON August 29. 1681. By Roger L'Estrange LONDON Printed for Ioanna Brome at the Gun at the West-end of St. Pauls Church-yard 1681. To his Unknown Friends the GRAND-JURY for LONDON August 29. 1681 viz. Will. Whitehill Fore-man Henry Strode Ioas Bateman Tho. Shepherd Ralph Cooke Joseph Caril Valentine Adams Joseph Bowles Anthony Sâ—…oman Andrew Boult Theophilus Hawson Maurice King Jâ—… Bâ—…ll John Cutloâ—…e John Cowley Jonathan Leigh William Pendlebury Daniel Mercer Gentlemen THE Kindness you have already shew'd to the Observator I cannot but in Common Honesty take as done to my self and I dare here assure ye that what Obligations soever you shall hereafter lay upon L'Estrange shall be acknowledg'd by the Observator You were pleased on Wednesday the 31. of August last at Justice-Hall in the Old-Baily to Present Nathaniel Thompson Benjamin Took and Joanna Brome for Maliciously Printing and Publishing or causing to be Printed or Publish'd three Scandalous and Seditious Papers and Libels Entitled 1. The Loyal Protestant and True Domestick Intelligence 2. Heraclitus and 3. The Observator tending to the Advancement and Introduction of Popery and to the Suppression and Extirpation of the True Protestant Religion within his Majesties Realms and Dominions And this Terrible Presentment was Usher'd into the World with this Preface We the Grand-Jury Sworn to Enquire of Offences committed within the City of London do upon our Oaths Present c. Now there are Three Quaeres Gentlemen which if I durst be so bold I would presume to offer ye upon this Prologue First Being Sworn to Enquire Have you Impartially Enquir'd or not 2ly If ye have Enquir'd Are these Three Pamphlets all the Enormities that you have Discover'd upon that Enquiry 3ly What 's become of all the Rest for you are as well Sworn to Present as to Enquire These are Quaeres that I have sometimes formerly mov'd and the Answer was That these Three Papers were thrown in your Porridg-dish Now if ye stumbled upon 'em by Chance where 's your Enquiry upon Oath Or if ye found any thing else what 's become of your Oath of Presentment If ye had but taken me to your Assistance I 'de have carry'd 〈◊〉 where you should have 〈…〉 and Sedition Pulpits Cabals and Coffee-houses of the same Cloth and colour I 'de have brought ye acquainted with the Voxes Vindications and the Black-Box men A New Set of Jack Straws Waâ—… Tylers But where 's Old Walworth with his Dagger I 'de have shew'd ye Twenty New Schemes of Christianity as well as of Policy the Doctrine of the Insufficiency of Christs Death and Passion of Deposing Kings of Placing the Fountain of Power in the People Scripture-Proofs for speaking Evil of Dignities And in one word the Scenes dispos'd and the Stage fitted for the Second Part of the Tragedy of Muncer and the Curtain ready to be drawn I could have gotten ye a Key to the Soul-Saving-State-Confounding-Sheriffs Case and let ye into the Mystery of that Incomprehensible Dispensation It is a great Blessing to a Government for men upon their Oaths in the Administration of Publique Duties to be Nicely and Casuistically Instructed in the Bounds and Measures of Swearing And this is a Piece that cuts out Perjury from Damnation to a hairs breadth and will bring ye a True-Protestant Conscience within the very smell of Fire and Brimstone and yet carry him off again as whole as a Fish into his ready way to the Land of Promise Now here would have been Enormitywork e'en as much as ye could have turn'd you 〈◊〉 to But what 's all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Dick Janeway's Paper says that First He hath Wickedly and Maliciously Endeavour'd to Sow Dissention and Discord amongst Protestants thereby to render them an easier prey unto their Common Enemies the Papists Pray Gentlemen d' ye call this the Presentment of a Grand Jury or a Final Verdict upon the Merits of the Cause to say First that a Man has done such a thing and then to Pronounce that he did it with such an intention or to such an end But now to the Article So far has the Observator been from Labouring Dissention and Discord that no man has more declar'd himself against it or taken more pains to lay open the Moral Impossibility of Peace in the State according to this Constitution without a strict Uniformity in the Church But if you would have fix'd your Presentment aright upon this Head you should have presented the Enemy in the Parable that Sow'd the Tares And if you will but look into the Third Section of this Book for your better satisfaction you will find that the Dissention and Discord that you talk of was Sow'd Forty years ago and that what we see now is only an After crop The Second Point is Countenancing and Abetting the Villanous Contrivances of the Popish Conspirators who have endeavoured to cast Fictitious Plots upon Protestants thereby to make way for their own Hellish Plot to take effect That is to say The Observator is in the Popish Plot. Why do ye not inform against him to the King and Council then and say Where and When and How and What Why do ye not Name the Contrivances and say who are the Conspirators Or what if ye should set forth your Grievances in a Protestant Mercury or get little Hancock to open your Case in one of his News-Letters He 'l do 't for Pence a piece and that 's just Eighteen pence for his Reward I do assure ye Gentlemen I am in no other Contrivance then to do the Part of an English Protestant a Loyal Subject and an Honest man towards the Upholding of the Government and I was once within a Trifle of a Halter for being in that Popish Conspiracy as they call'd it once before with the Late King And if the same Word and the same Humour be now taken up again I am in just such another Plot. The Third Charge is the Vilifying and bringing into the Disesteem of his Majesty and the whole Nation the Commons of England when Assembled in Parliament by Arraigning and Impudently Condemning their Proceedings You forget my Masters that Impudence is the Surname of the Greatest Phanatique in the Three Kingdoms and that the Epithete Villanous fits him too as if it had been made for him Therefore for the future I would advise ye to put your Slanders 〈◊〉 better language And now to the Accusation The Observator does first defie ye to shew One Line in all his Writings that will bear the sence you have Impos'd upon 't And 2dly The late Long Parliament which the Fanatiques have Loaden with so many Reproaches had at least as many Good Patriots Protestants and Subjects in it as any Parliament since Nay there is One of your Number at least who has said Positively that L'Estrange is a Papist which is as False
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
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
you Who Oppresses you Where is the least shew of Oppression or Cause of Complaint Minister'd to you except it be because you are not suffer'd to oppress your Brethren Can you feed upon nothing but Bloud yea the Bloud of your Brethren that though you have every thing else you so complain of sorrow and Oppression Is this your sorrow and Oppression that you cannot Oppress Pulpit-Incendiary 1648. P. 45. P. 3 Our Sectaries in their Sermons Prayers Pamphlets Discourses Petitions all cry out of Persecution and accuse the Orthodox Presbyterians of Persecution yea when for their Seditious Tumultuous Libellous Scoffing Wicked Lying Scandalous Reports Books and Practices they have been Questioned there 's nothing in their Mouths but Persecution and of Unheard-of Prosecution of the Godly I am of the mind if any of them should come to be Imprison'd and Hang'd for Stealing Killing a Godly Presbyterian Plotting against the Parliament and City in seizing upon their Forts or some Parliament-men One or other of them would cry out of Persecution Edwards Gang. P. 37. I. 4 The way Sirnamed Presbyterian conjures all mens Gifts Parts and Industry into a Synodical Circle and suffers them only to Dance there Jo. Goodwins Theomachia P. 33. P. 5 Independents are Beasts Grolls Puffoists Wild-Geese a Company of Juglers sticklers against Parliament and Presbytery a Generation of cunning Deceivers and Fighters against God Violaters of all the Laws of God and Nature the most dangerous Sect that ever yet the world Produc'd a Company of Rats among Joyn'd-stools Despisers of Magistracy a Generation of men not worthy to give guts to a Bear Moon-Calves All the Independents put together have not so much learning as one of a thousand other Ministers A Wheel-Barrow such as they trundle white-wine Vinegar on fitter for them then a Coach Bastwick Cited by Burton in his Brief answer P. 28. I. 6 That Reformation which is forward Rough Peremptory Impatient Imperious and will gather where it hath not strewed and reap where it hath not sow'd exact Obedience and Subjection from those to whom it hath not Effectually taught or Perswaded Obedience and Subjection nor ever gave any tolerable account unto truly Conscientious and Considering and Disinteressed men of any worthyness in it why it should be submitted unto and cannot be Iudg'd a Reformation according to the word of God Jo. Goodwins 12 Cautions P. 5. P. 7 The Independents are Railers Revilers Slanderers Covenant-Breakers with God and man Ordinary Lyers Notorious Calumniators and False accusers such as in holy Scripture are call'd Diaboli Devils Heretiques open Seducers and Causers of Division and Offences contrary unto the Doctrine of Christ such as all Christians have a special Command to take heed of and to shun and are prohibited to receive into their Houses or bid God speed or so much as to eat with they are no Visible Saints nor Good Daemons and therefore no True Form'd Churches nor to be Communicated with in Holy things Burton Cited by Bastwick Independency not Gods Ordinance P. 310. I. 8 Mr. John Goodwin says in his Theomachia That the presbyterian is a Bloudy Unpeaceable and Persecuting way a way much Damping and Deading the Flourishing Improvements of the Gifts and Graces of the Saints Picture of Independency P. 12. P. 9 Independency a Seminary of Schisms and Dangerous Divisions in Church and State A Floud-Gate to let in an Inundation of Heresyes Errots Sects Libertinism and Lawlessness without means of Suppressing them when Introduc'd Prinn Cited by Burton Vindication of Independency P. 40 41. Pharisaical Spiritual Pride Vain-Glory Singularity Self-conceitedness of Superlative Holiness Ib. 43. I. 10 If Ephraim be against Manasseh is it any ways like but Manasseh will be against Ephraim And God himself Prophecying of Ishmael told his mother that he would be a wild man and that his hand should be against every man and Every mans hand against him Undoubtedly that way whose hand shall be against every way will find that the hand of every way will be against it and then what manner of Peace can reasonably be expected under the Predominancy of such a way Goodwins Theomachia P. 30. P. 11 The Independents have now the sword in their hands and they think their party strong enough to Encounter any adverse and Opposing Party and they Profess they care not how soon they come to cutting of throats and speak of nothing but the slaughtering and butchering of the Presbyterians Bastwicks Postcript to Burton I. 12 At the beginning of this Parliament the whole Kingdom sided with Both Houses in the Vindication of their Liberties and so it continued untill such as did overmuch Idolize Presbytery prevail'd for a Bill to Damn Episcopacy Root and Branch that Presbitery might succeed it with it 's Fascibus and Fustibus with its Pontificalibus and Synodalibus nothing to be ahated which concern'd either Wealth or Iurisdiction only an Episcopall Tyranny to be Exchanged for a Presbyteriall Slavery Answer to Prinnes 12. Queryes P. 19. P. 13 With what Faces and Consciences can ye think to Obtrude your Independent ways and Fancies upon us c. Picture of Independency Licensed by Cranford 1645. I. 14 As the Bishops would call men Puritans and Non-Conformists and so Persecute them so will the Presbytery call men Schismaticks Heretiques Antinomians Separatists and do the like Jo. Goodwins Answer to Mr. Prinns Full Reply P. 15. P. 15 The Assembly of Câ—…renton judging the Sect of Independents to be not only Prejudicial to the Church of God in so far that it endeavours to bring in Confusion opening a Gate to all kinds of Singularities and Extravagancies and taking away all means of any remedy to the Evil but also most Dangerous to the State where if it had place there might be as many Religions set up as there be Parishes or particular Congregations doth enjoyn to all the Provinces and particularly to the Maritimes to take heed that the Evil takes no foot in the Churches of this Kingdom to the end that Peace and Uniformity as well in Religion as in DISCIPLINE may be Inviolably Preserv'd and that nothing be brought in amongst us which may alter in any kind the Service due unto their Majesties An Extract of the Act. Dec. 26. 1644. I. 16 The Spirit of the Ten-horned Beast Rev. 17. is now making war with the Lamb which is likely to be his last War Babylons fall following in the next Chap. and this Spirit warreth under new Colours not red but white whose word is Reformation and this under a Fair Colour of a Covenant by Virtue whereof pretending a just Title to the War he hopes by the help of the Remonstrance and the Prime Authors thereof and their Adherents to enact a New Bestiall Tyranny over Souls Bodies and Estates under new Names and Notions Burton's Conformities Deformity Ep. Ded. P. 17 The Independents worse then Diotrephes or the Pope most Diabolicall Tyranny Lording it over Gods Clergies Fellows of Goatham College not knowing their
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
Universal Concurrence of all Reasons and Circumstances and a greater harmony of the Laws of Nature Reason Prudence and Necessity to warrant any act then was found and may be discerned in that act of Justice upon the late King English Translation of the Scot Declaration 1650. p. 18. Notes on §. 14. I Shall now briefly and plainly sum up the whole matter and leave it with the Reader to consider of You have in the First Section a full and unanimous Testimony of the Presbyterians against Toleration nay against any sort of Toleration either in Doctrine or in Discipline and in what Degree or Measure soever as a thing utterly Impious and therefore Insufferable This me-thinks should be sufficient to stop the mouth of a Presbyterian when he demands a Toleration that he himself pronounces it a wicked thing to grant it In the Second Section he sets forth the Fruits and Consequences of it to be not only the certain Destruction of Church and State but an Inlet to Licentious Prostitution of Manners and the most Blasphemous of Herefies With what forehead now shall a Presbyterian desire that Liberty from the Government which he declares in his own Conscience will be the Ruin and Damuation of the Allowers of it In the Third Section the Dissenters do not only make it a matter of Conscience to disagree among themselves but fall even to Cutting of Throats upon the very Question What is the meaning then of their pressing for a Union among men of so many several Persuasions not to be United And what do they talk of Brotherly Love and Agreement for among men of Principles as Inconsistent as fire and water In the Fourth Section you may observe the Rude and Implacable Animosities of the Dissenters toward the Ecclesiastical State where they declare themselves tyed in Conscience to do their utmost endeavours towards the overthrowing of it What would you think of half a dozen good Fellows that should come to the Maâ—…er of a House and tell him Sir We are very Uneasie on the wrong side of the door you 'l do us a great favour to let us into your 〈◊〉 that we may Rifle ye and cut your Throat for your pains Is it not the same thing 〈◊〉 a Phanatique to make the same Proposition to the Church when they declare before hand that they will destroy it if they can And the Case of the Civil Government in the Fifth Section holds exactly with the former of the Ecclesiastical for Kings are to be pull'd down as well as Bishops for the Establishing of Christ upon his Throne The Covenant ye see in the Sixth Section is an Oath of Conspiracy set up against an Oath of Allegeance And on the other hand an Oath if I may say so of Anti-Canonical Obedience By this Oath the Presbyterians reckon themselves Indispensably bound to oppose the King and the Church Would they have the King now to Indulge any man without renouncing that Covenant by which every Unrenouncer accounts himself oblig'd to Depose his Majesty In the Seventh Section is set forth in few words the Inexorable Rigour of all sorts of Dissenters toward the Episcopal Party With what Equity now can these several Schisms make it a point of Conscience in the Government to grant them a Common Indulgence who both joyntly and severally agreed in the giving no Quarter to those of the Religion Establish'd The Eighth Section advances the Authority of the Kirk to a more absolute Degree of Sovereignty over King and People than ever the Papacy it self pretended and supported upon the same Pretensions too so that to demand a Toleration of the Presbyterial Government is only to desire his Majesty that he will d'off his Imperial Crown and strike to the Consistory In the Ninth Section lies fairly expos'd the hazard of abating any thing in the strictness of Ecclesiastical Discipline in regard of the Principles and Positions of these People even if the Men themselves were honestly inclin'd Take notice of the Positions and never doubt it but Men of Deposing Principles will proceed if they have opportunity to Deposing Actions and reckon that they do God and their Country good Service too Especially when it seems no more to them than the placing of Authority upon the right Foundation In the Tenth Section you will find the Operation of the former Principles in the Animating Pressing and Irritating of the People to Commotions and Tumults and still the Dissenting Divines in the Head of the Controversie and the Pulpits and Presses the Fountains of our Calamities Never did any People speak fairer at first or do fouler things at last then those pretended Peaceable Ministers of the Gospel And had they but come into the World time enough Boccalini would never have drawn his Intelligence from New-Spain of the Shepherds Dogs being all turn'd into Wolves when he might have found so much a more lively instance nearer home of those that were set to Guard and Defend the Sheep transform'd into the Merciless Devourers of them In the Eleventh Section you will find a Rebellion Justifi'd by the same lips that had call'd God a thousand times over to witness the Integrity of their hearts and the Loyalty of their intentions And with Imprecations also not to be mention'd without trembling Iudge what Credit now is to be given to the fair Professions of this sort of People In the Twelfth Section you would take these Godly Ministers as they style themselves to be Members rather of a Corporation of Common Executioners then of an Assembly of Divines by their Outragious and Insatiable Thirst of Blood and yet thâ—…se practices are recommended to the multitude as the Inspirations and Duties of the Gospel And it is not Common Blood will serve their turns neither nor any thing less than the Sacred Life of their Sovereign to appease their Holy Wrath Section 13. and to Attone for the sins of the Nation And in the Last Section as if it were to put themselves beyond the Possibility of Repentance and to Preclude the ordinary course even of God's Boundless Mercies they pass an Approbation upon the whole Tract of their proceedings and ascribe to Almighty God one of the most execrable acts of Cruelty and Injustice that ever was committed upon the face of the Earth since the Crucifixion of his Blessed and only Son New as to the Contrivers the Principal Actors and Asserters of this Unexampled Wickedness what clearer Evidence can ye desire then what is here deliver'd unto ye in their own Words and Writings THE END Presbyterian