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
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
Primer in Politicks nor their Catâ—…hisme in Divinity I. 18 The Church of England is a True whorish Mother and they that were of her were base begotten and â—… astardly Children and she neither is nor ever was truly married Ioyned or United unto Iesus Christ in that Esponsal Baâ—…d which his True Churches are and ought to be but is one of Anti-Christs Nationall Whorith Churches and Cities spoken of Revel 16. 19. c. The Church of England is False and Anti-Christian and as she is a False and Anti-Christian Church she shall never make True Officers and Ministers of Jesus Christ As Iâ—…nnes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these Men also Resist the Truth Liâ—…urn Cited by Bastwick Indep c. P. 315. Yea when they write most mildly against the Presbyterians they call them Lyons Bears Wolves Tygers Baals Priests The Limbs of Anti-Christ the Anti-Christian Brood the Devils Ministers Presbyterants Ibid. P. 316. P. 19 The Independents are taken up in Biting and Devouring one another in Hatred Variance Emulations Wrath Strife Seditions Heresies Envyings c. Bastwick's Indep not Gods Ord. P. 330. I. 20 I Challenge our Brother for taking Christs name in vain when in stead of finding Christ set upon his Throne in their Congregations we find there no more then an Image such as Michal had made up instead of King David or as those that in Mockery made of Christ a Pageant King Stripping him and putting on him a Scarlet Robe and on his head a Crown of Thorns and in his hand a Reed Saluting him with Hail King of the Jews Burton cited by Bastwick Independency not Gods Ordinance P. 312. P. 21 I here present ye with a Catalogue or Black Bill of the Errors Heresies Blasphemies and practises of the Sectaries of this Time Broached and Acted within these Four last Years in England And that in your Quarters and in places under your Government and Power for which I tremble to think lest the whole Kingdom should be in Gods Black Bill Edwards Gangren 1646. Ep. Ded. to the Lords and Commons I 22 This whole Postcript of Bastwick is a very Cento and farrago or hodge-podge of Invectives Sarcasms Scurrilous Scoffs Incendiary Incentives to stir up the State and all sorts of People to root out and cut off all those that are of the Independent way as they call it Burtons Brief answer to Bastwick Postcript P. 23 Oh the Faithfullness Dutifullness Patience Long-Suffering Forbearance of the Presbyterians Their Dutifullness and Patience in waiting upon the Parliament their Faithfullness in not abating in their zeal and Respects to them Oh their Love Kindness and Tenderness to the Independents yea to other Sectaries also who have had something of Christ and Grace in them and have not fal'n into Errors and Blasphemies rasing their foundations But now on the other hand the Sectaries though a Contemptible number and not to be named at the same time with the Presbyterians have not waited upon the Parliament and Assembly for the Reformation but Preach'd against it and stir'd up the People to Embody themselves and to Joyn in Church Fellowship gathering Churches setting up Independent Government Re-baptizing and Dipping many hundreds c. Edwards Discovery P. 51. I. 24 Such an Oracle of Infallibility and sâ—…ch a Supremacy as 〈◊〉 True-bred-English-Christian can Interpret for other then Anti-Christian Tyranny And all under the name of a Christian-Presbyterian Church-Government Burtons Conformities Deformity P. 21. P. 25 Ambitious Proud Covetous men Libertines and Loose Persons who have a Desire to live in Pleasures and Enjoy their Lust and to be under no Government they are Fierce and Earnest for Independency and against Presbytery All wanton-witted Unstable Erroneous Spirits of all Sorts all Heretiques and Sectaries Strike in with Independency and Plead they are Independents Edwards Further Discovery P. 185. I. 26 Their Ordinary Councells the Presbyterians drive at two Main things yet both reduc'd to One Head to wit Tyranny The one Tyranny over our Bodies Estates Free-holds Liberties Laws and Birthrights of all English Free-born Subjects The other Tyranny over our Souls and Consciences Burtons Conformities Deformity Ep. Ded. 1646. P. 27 Independents are most Obstinate Rebells both in Opinion and Practise and Perfidious Violators of such a Main and Principal Foundation as will Inevitably Ruinate all other Fundamentals of True Religion if allow'd unto them Colemanstreet Conclave Visited Pref. 1648. I say and hold that all sorts of Independents among us Separating themselves into their Private Conventicles and Unwarranted Church-way as they call it against all Authority and Power of the King and Parliament the Unquestionable Sovereign and Supreme Magistracy ordain'd by God himself and in resisting whose ordinance they apparently oppose and resist even the Lord God of Heaven Himself are not by any means to be admitted or permitted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—… 〈◊〉 is â—…heir Separation or Division from us to be so 〈◊〉 or so 〈◊〉 by us as to give any the least allowance to them Ibid. I. 28 Is Presbytery because Parochial Classical Provincial lâ—…ss Tyrannical then Episcopacy because many Rule in that and in this but One Or rather not more Tyrannical because One Tyrant is not so much as many together Evil in a Community is stronger and more diffusive then in Unity Saltmarsh'es Answer to Ley. 1646. P. 5. P. 29 Korah Dathan and Abiram rose up against Moses and Aaron as our Independents do now adays against the most Just and Righteous Authority of Parliaments and their Power in constituting under them for their assistance in matters of Religion the Synods or Assembly of Divines at Westminster Even as the Lord appointed and constituted Aaron under Moses in Holy things Coleman-street Conclave Parallell to the Reader 1648. I. 30 The Idolatrous Heathen sought to maintain their Idolatrous Religions by the same Stratagems Methods and Ways which the Ord'nance for the Preventing of the growing and spreading of Herefies proposeth for maintaining the Religion of Christ. Modest and Humble Queries Printed London 1646. p. 2. P. 31 The Apostles in many Places of their Writings speaking of Heretiques and false Teachers in their times and Prophâ—…sying of those in after times both the Popish Faction and the Sectarian speak of them as Apostates Antichrists False Prophets Seducers Deceivers Idolaters Blasphemers and their Doctrines and ways as Apostacy Idolatry Blasphemy worshipping of Devils Seducing and such like Edwards against Toleration 1647. P. 185. I. 32 In the Latter days False Christs and False Prophets shall arise saying Loe Here is Christ Or Loe there he is c. Wherfore if they shall say unto you see here how our Saviour Ingeminates the Caution as a thing of Serious Consideration Behold he is in the Desert Go not forth Behold he is in the Secret Chambers Mark her 〈◊〉 how near our Saviour comes to our Sectaries Practices and Rebellious Church-ways as they call them now adays Or he is in Shops Barns and such like Private Conventicles Believe it not
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
Abihu and Saul will intermeddle with Gods Warrant as she Q. Eliz. hath done with matters of Religion with God's matters she must think it no Injury to be Disobey'd Soldier of Berwick Cited by the Author of an Answer to a Factious Libel Entitled An Abstract of several Acts of Parliament c. 2 Kings no less then the Rest must obey and yield to the Just Authority of the Ecclesiastical Magistrates Ecclesiastical Discip. P. 142. 3 The Consistory may and ought to admonish the Magistrate which is negligent in Punishing Vice Danaeus Par. 2. Isag. li. 2. Cap. 62. And also may upon Knowledge of the Cause taken Excommunicate even the Chief Magistrate unto the which he ought to submit himself Ibid. ca. 67. 4 Princes must remember to subject themselves to the Church and to submit their Scepters to throw down their Crowns before the Church yea to Lick the dust of the Feet of the Church T. Cartwright P. 645. 5 Every Eldership is the Tribunal Seat of Christ. Beza de Presb. P. 124. 6 The Holy Discipline ought to be set up and All Princes to submit themselves under the Yoke of it What Prince King or Emperour shall Disanul the same he is to be reputed Gods Enemy and to be held unworthy to Reign above his People Knox Exhort to Eng. P. 91. c. 7 Our Church-History tells that Mr. Andrew Melvin that Faithful and Zealous Servant of Christ would not answer before the King and the Council for his Alledged Treasonable Discourse in a Sermon until he had first given in a Plain and Formal Protestation and the like was done by Worthy Mr. David Blake upon the like occasion and the Protestation was Approved and Signed by a good Part of the Church of Scotland 1596. Hist. Indul. P. 14. 8 The Irreligiousness Antichristianism and Exorbitancy of this Explicatory and as to some things Ampliatory Act and Assertion of the Kings Supremacy in Church-Affairs of Nov. 16. 1669 this Supra-Papal Supremacy Hist. Indul. P. 27. 9 The Accepters of the Indulgence are Chargeable with High Treason against the King of Kings our Lord Iesus Christ. Hist. Indul. p. 86. 10 Christ breaks and moulds Commonwealths at his Pleasure He hath not spoke much in his Word how long they shall last or what he intends to do with them Only this That all Kings and Kingdoms that make War against the Church shall be broken a pieces and that in the end All the Kingdoms of the World shall be the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Saints and they shall reign over them Marshal to the Commons June 15. 1643. p. 47. 11 What was our Posture and Practice after we had so stupidly stood by till we saw the whole work overturn'd without offering to Interpose effectually to prevent its ruine or to fall with it Hist. of Indulgence Pref. 1678. Speaking of the Action of Bothwell-Bridge 12 The Father having given to Christ all Power both in Heaven and in Earth and the Rule and Regiment of this Kingdom he hath Committed to Monarchies Aristocracies or Democracies as the several Combinations and Associations of the People shall between themselves think good to Elect and Erect God leaves People to their own Liberty in this Case Case on Isaiah 43. 4. p. 26. 13 They were carrying on a Malignant Interest to wit The Establishing the King in the Exercise of his Power in Scotland and the Re-investing him with the Government in England when he had not yet Abandoned his Former Enmity to the Work and People of God and the securing of Power in their own hands under him Gillespies Useful Case of Conscience p. 66. 14 There was a sin in the Peoples Joyning because few or none of those who did Joyn did give any Testimony against the Magistrates Employing of the Malignant Party Ibid. 15 After the Treaty was brought to some close the King did before his coming to Sea Receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper from one of the Prelatical Chaplains and according to the Service-Book c. notwithstanding the Commissioners of the Kirk did represent the Evil thereof to him Gillespies Useful Case of Conscience Discuss'd p. 56. Another Exception That the King did not think his Father Guilty of Blood Ibid. 16 Was there not Cause to Scruple at the taking of this Oath of Allegeance which would have Imported 1. A Condemning of the Convention of Estates in Scotland 1643. 2. A Condemning of the Parliaments An. 1640. 41. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. As also the Committees and Parliaments thereafter An. 1649. 1650. 1651. 3. A Condemning of all the Acts made by These Parliaments 4. A Condemning of all the Meetings Councils and Conventions of the Subjects at the beginning of the Late work of Reformation 5. A Condemning of the League and Covenant 6. A Condemning of Scotlands Joyning with and Helping of England in the day of their streight 7. A Condemning of the Renewing of the National Covenant 1638. 1639. 8. A Condemning of the General Assembly 1638. and several others thereafter 9. A Condemning of Scotlands Rising in Arms in their own Defence against the Popish Prelatical and Malignant Party 10. A Condemning of their seizing upon Forts and Castles in their own Defence An Apolâ—…getical Relation of the Sufferings of the Scotch Ministers 1665. p. 127. 128. 17 We ought to consider the Conditions of the Kings Letter of Indulgence to the Kirk Iune 7. 1669. what is accounted living Peaceably and Orderly by such as propose this Qualification And that sure to speak it in the smoothest of Terâ—…s is a Negative Compliance with all their Tyranny Oppression of Church and Country Blood-shed Overturning of the Work of God Establishing Iniquity by Law Perjury Apostacy Re-establishing of Perjur'd Prelates and Abjured Prelacy Hist. of Indulg p. 7. 18 We Remarque further that the Letter saith that none of these Ministers have any Seditious Discourses or Expressions in Pulpit or Elsewhere And what is understood here by Seditious Discourses or Expressions we cannot be Ignorant But now what Conscientious Ministers can either Tacitly promise such a thing or upon the Highest Peril forbear to Utter such Discourses Or who can think that any such thing can be yielded unto who considereth what God requireth of Ministers in Reference to a Corrupted and Apostatized state And what the weight of the Blood of Souls is Hist. Indul. p. 11. 19 The Unparallel'd Perfidy and Breach of Covenant The most Abominable Irreligious Inhumane and Tyrannical Acts made for Establishing of this Wicked Course of Defection Hist. Indul. p. 12. 20 Christ and his Apostles were the Greatest of Conventicle Preachers and almost Preached no other way wanting always the Authority of the Supream Magistrate and yet not waiting upon their Indulgence Hist. Indul. p. 17. 21 They have power to Abrogate and Abolish all Statues and Ordinances concerning Ecclesiastical matters that are found Noysom and Unprofitable and agree not with the time or are abused by the People 2 Book of Discipline cap. 7. To
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
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