Opinion in his Grand Declaration of Aug. 12. 1642. where he complains of the Tumultuous Assemblies of Brownists Anabaptists and other Sectaries Indep But still you will find in the same Page that These very People were Animated and Countenanced by Presbyterians and Acted as the Creatures and Servants of That Interest Presb. Can you say that the English or Scottish Preshyters did ever go about to Dissolve Monarchy Indep Yes And I do aver that the Nineteen Propositions of Iune 2. 1642. were as much a Dissolution of Kingly Government as the very Act it self of March 17. 1648. for Abolishing it And the Uxbridge Propositions were to the same purpose Presb. You know very well that after the New-Modelling of the Army the Presbyterians were able to do nothing and this was a good while before the King went to the Scots Indep Let us see then how the Presbyterians behaved themselves after his Majesty cast himself into the Protection of the Scotch Army before Newark in May 1646. Notice was Immediately given of it to the Two Houses by the Commissioners of the Army Importing their Adherence to the Covenant and Treaty and that they had no fore-knowledge of his Majesties Coming The English Army presently March'd with 5000 Horse and 〈◊〉 toward Newark and our Brethren fairly retreated with the Prey in the Foot toward Newcastle After This Both Parties stood at Gaze for several Months but not without a World of Tedious Papers betwixt the Scotch Commissioners and the Two Houses touching their Ioynt Right in Disposing of the Person of the King But in the Conclusion The Presbyterians Compounded the Controversie for the Sum of 400000l In May they took their Sovereign into their Protection In the December following they Sold him and in February they Deliver'd him up And All This According to their COVENANT Presb. They must needs Deliver him up when they could Keep him no longer Indep They had at that time the City of London to Friend a Balancing Vote in the House of Commons a Considerable Mixture in the Army Scotland behind them Entire if ever the Kings Interest came in Play And at least Ten Thousand Men in a Body The Royal Party over and above So that here was no visible Force to over-awe them And Lowdon himself acknowledged as much at a Conference Octob. 6. 1646. If any such Course shall be taken says he or any Demand made for Rendring of his Person which cannot stand with his Honour and Safety or which cannot consist with our Duty Allegeance and COVENANT nor with the Honour of That Army to whom in time of his Extreme Danger he had his Recourse for Safety It cannot be Expected that we can be Capable of SO BASE AN ACT And if to shun this and avoid occasion of Quarrelling between the Kingdoms He shall go to Scotland and resent his Expulsion out of England and crave the Assistance of That Kingdom for Recovery of his Right to This Crown He may in a short time raise such Forces in Scotland and Ireland as with the Assistance of Forreign Princes these Kingdoms may be made a Field of Blood c. By This it appears Evidently that They were under no Necessity of Delivering the King And you may now see their Opinion of the Action it self If it be Contrary say the Scotch Commissioners to the Law and Common Practise of Nations to Delivâ—…r up the meanest Subject fled to them though it be for the Greatest Crimes How much more would the World abroad condemn our Army for a BASE DISHONOURABLE Act if they should Deliver up their Head and SOVEREIGN having cast himself into their Hands to be Disposed of at the Arbitrâ—…ment of another Nation Presb. But yet you saw that they Condition'd for his Honour Freedom and Safety Indep That 's a Shuffle For upon such Terms did they render him that they might have cast a Sheep into a Herd of Wolves with as much Confidence and Likelihood of Safety You are here to distinguish the Fâ—…ction of Scotland from the Nation No Country affording greater Instances of Honour and Loyalty Nay I have heard even on This Occasion that upon the Kings Earnest Desire to go for Scotland It was carried in the Negative but by Two Voices Presb. Can you Imagine that if they had apprehended any Danger to his Râ—…yal Person they would not have ventur'd their Libes a thousand timeâ—… over to have sav'd him Indep No no But on the Contrary They Foresaw the Danger debated it and yet expos'd him Nay which is still worse they reserv'd him for it Were not his Majesties Friends kept from him by a strict Order at Newcastle Was he not Spied and Guarded for fear of an Escape And upon Information that He intended one Was not a narrower Watch set over him That they foresaw the Danger is confest by the Chancellor Himself Lest we should walk in the Dark says he upon Obscurity of Ambiguous Words I shall desire that the Word of Disposing of the Kings Person may be rightly understood For Dolus versatur in Universalibus For to Dispose of the Person of the King as Both Houses or Both Kingdoms shall think fit may in some sense be to DEPOSE or WORSE And in a Speech to his Majesty he goes yet further If your Majesty says he shall refuse to assent to the Propositions which God forbid you will lose all your Friends lose the City and the Country and All England will joyn against you as one Man And when all hope of Reconciliation is past it is to be feared they will Process and Depose you and set up another Government Upon your Majesties refusing the Propositions both Kingdoms will be Constreined for their mutual Safety to Agree and Settle Religion and Peace without you which to our unspeakable Grief will ruine your Majesty and your Posterity And if your Majesty reject our Faithful Advice and lose England by your Wilfulness your Majesty will not be permitted to come and ruine Scotland Presâ—… These Propositions I suppose were of Absolute Necessity to the Well-Being of the Publique they would never have been brought in Competition else with the Kings Freedom Life and Dâ—…gnity Indep The King was first to Iustifie the Prâ—…ceedings of the Two Houses and to deliver up to Death Beggery and Infamy his Whole Party 2. To Settle the Militia of England and Ireland in the Hands of the Parliament for Twenty Years giving them Authority to raise Men and Moneys 3. To make vâ—…id all Honours since 1642 and no Peers admitted for the future to Sit â—…nd Vote in Parliament but by Consenâ—… of Both Houses who were likewise To dispose of all Great Places and Offices of Honour in England and Ireland 4. His Majesty was to Swear and Sign the COVENANT and Command the taking of it throughout the Three Kingdoms Abolishing Episcopacy and Settling Religion as Both Houses should Agree Upon his Majesties Refusal to Sign These Propositions the Scotch Declaration of Ian.
Heedlesness of the Common-Souldier contributed in a High Measure to the General Fate Nay that his Late Majesty was oppress'd even by those that thought they fought for him before they understood what they did But yet let me Commend to your Observation that these relenting Intervals in the Heads of the Army did manifestly Vary according to the Pulse of their Affairs Which evinces that it was a Deliberation upon the matter of Convenience rather then upon a Point of Conscience But thus far however we are agreed That many of the Non-Conformists were engaged Whether upon Ignorance Interest or Faction take your Choice That is to say upon Which of These Three you will found the Merits of your Party We are next to Enquire How far your Principles and Actions will comport with the Duties of Society and the Ends of Government SECT IX The Non-Conformists Plea for Toleration from the Innocence and Modesty of their OPINIONS and PRACTISES C. IN the Question of Government and Obedience there are many Points wherein the Non-Conformists agree Many more wherein they differ and not a few wherein they are altogether Fluctuant and Uncertain We have Nothing to do in this Place with their Disagreements or Uncertainties save only in those Matters wherein they are United by Common Consent And to Determine what Those are will be a New Difficulty Unless you tell Us before-hand What Authorities we may depend upon Your Principles must be Known or they cannot be Examined Wherefore Pray'e Direct us Where we may find them N. C. Why truly in the History of the Reformation for This Controversie has been on foot from the very beginning of it to this Day C. If you speak of the Reformation beyond the Seas I do not find any thing there that comes neer our Purpose Here is first Pretended a Reformation of a Reformation Secondly A Conjunction of Several Parties and Perswasions at utter Enmity One with Another in a Confederacy against the Order of the Government Whereas in the Great Turn of Affairs Abroad I see little more then a Defection from the Church of Rome and People setling themselves in some other way as well as they could Muncer's Party in Germany had I confess some Resemblance of the Tumults here in England that usher'd in the late War both for the Medly and for the Rabble In Scotland indeed there was a Contest for the Reforming of a Reformation and it went high But it was only a Struggle for the Geneva-Discipline Which Humour was brought over to us too and driven on for a while under Q Elizabeth with much Contumacy and Bitterness But our Case in short was never known in the Christian World till the late Troubles and thither it is that we must resort for satisfaction to our present Enquiry Now whether you 'l be tried by the Declarations Votes Orders and Ordinances of that Pretended Parliament that carry'd on the Quarrel Or by the Undeniable Doctrines and Positions of your own Divines and those the very Idols of your Party is left at your Election N. C. As for the Parliament let them answer for themselves We had no hand in their Proceedings And for our Ministers They were but Men and may have their Failings as well as other People If you would know our Principles We are for Worshipping according to the Light of Our Consciences for Obeying God rather then Man and for yielding all due Obedience to the Civil Magistrate C. All This comes to Nothing For you may make that Light what you please and Qualifie that due Obedience as you list What does all this Evasion and Obscurity signifie but that there is somewhat in the bottom more then you are willing to own There are a sort of People that tell us The War raised in 41 in the Name of King and Parliament was Lawful And That the Soveraignty was lodg'd in the Two Houses Nay in the People in Case of Necessity That Kings are but the Peoples Trustees Their Power Fiduciary and the Duty of Subjects only Conditional That Princes may be Depos'd Nay and put to Death in Case of Tyranny And That their Persons may be Resisted but not their Authority That the King is Singulis Major Universis Minor And that the People may Enter into Covenant for the Reformation of Religion without the Consent of the Chief Magistrate nay against his Authority and Propagate Religion by the Sword They make their Appeals from the Literal Construction of Law to the Equitable from the Law Written to the Law of Nature and Necessity A Man might ply You with fresh Instances upon this Subject till to morrow morning But here we 'l stop And pray'e speak your Opinion now of Granting a Toleration to a Party that Professes and Teaches These Principles and Acts accordingly N. C. What is all This to the Non-Conformists Who are already come to an Agreement that In the Question of Toleration The Foundation of Faith Good Life and Government is to be Secured C. Very Good So that what Party soever shall be found Guilty of the Positions aforesaid and of Actions answerable thereunto cannot reasonably pretend to a Toleration from the Innocency of their Opinions and Practises Now to Particulars The POSITIONS of Divers Eminent Non-Conformists I. The War raised by the TWO HOUSES in the Name of King and Parliament 1641. was Lawful I cannot see that I was mistaken in the main Cause Nor dare I repent of it Nor forbear the same if it were to do again in the same State of Things And my Iudgment tells me That if I should do otherwise I should be guilty of Treason Or Disloyalty against the Soveraign Power of the Land Pag. 486. A King abusing his Power to the Overthrow of Religion Laws and Liberties may be Controuled and Opposed This may serve to justifie the Proceedings of this Kingdom against the Late King who in a Hostile way set himself to overthrow Religion Parliaments Laws and Liberties P. 10. The Righteousness of the Parliament's Cause is as clear as the Sun at Noon-day And like the Law of God it self in These Excellent Qualifications of it That It is Holy Just and Good P. 6. II. The Lords and Commons are the Supreme Power Nay the People in Case of Necessity Parliaments may judge of Publique Necessity without the King If deserted by the King and are to be accompted by Virtue of Representation as the Whole Body of the State P. 45. Whensoever a King or other Superior Authority creates an Inferior They Invest it with a Legitimacy of Magistratical Power to Punish Themselves also in Case they prove Evil-doers P. 7. England is a mixt Monarchy and Governed by the Major Part of the Three Estates Assembled in Parliament P. 111. The Houses are not only requisite to the Acting of the Power of making Laws but Co-ordinate with his Majesty in the very Power of Acting P. 42. When as a Part of the Legislative Power resides in
were misâ—…ed by the Example may be set right again by the Retraction and Repentance This Conclusion pronounces All Those of the old stamp that abused the People formerly under Colour of Conscience and are now at Work again upon the same Pretext without a Publique Recantation to be in a State of Impenitency and gives Us reasonably to presume that if their Consciences can Swallow and Digest a Rebellion There is no great Danger of their being Choak'd with a Ceremony Another Thing is This You do not plead for Particular Iudgments In which Case a Plea of Conscience may be allowed But every Man urges the Equity in Effect of a Toleration for all the Rest. In which Number You your selves do severally and jointly acknowledge that there are a great many People of Insociable and Intolerable Principles such as in Conscience are not to be admitted And yet herein also You profess to be guided by Impulses of Tenderness and Piety although in Opposition to the whole Course of your former Declarations and Proceedings that rise up in Judgment against You. N. C. If you grant that there may be a Plea for Particulars I shall not much trouble my self about Generals C. That Point shall come on in due time But let us look a little further yet into the General Cause for if it be not Conscience it is Confederacy SECT XIII The Conjunct Importunity of the Non-Conformists for a Toleration is a Manifest CONFEDERACY C. THis appears First from the Method of their Proceedings Secondly from the Natural Prospect and Tendency of that Method Thirdly from the Nature and Quality of their Demands and Arguments Fourthly from the Way and Manner of their Addresses and Applications Lastly from their Agreement in Matters of Dangeroâ—…s Consequence upon the Peace of the Government As to their Method The Non-Conformists of This Age â—…read in the very steps of their Predecessors and This you may observe throughout the whole History of Them even from the first time that ever the Pretence of Popular Reformation set foot in his Majesties Dominions unto This Instant This is not a Place for a Deduction of Particulars at length But a Touch from Point to Point will not be much amiss Wherefore if you please Give me a Brief Accompt of the Non-Conformists First What kind of People they are Secondly What It is They would have Thirdly What will the Kingdom be the better for Granting their Desires Fourthly What are their Grievances as the Case stands with them at present Fifthly What are they for Number and Resolution N. C. They are a People Zealous of Religion Pa. 43. An Intelligent Sober sort of Mâ—…n and Numerous among all Ranks P. 25. Peaceable and Useful in the Commonwealth Sound in the Faith Men of Conscience Evident Opposers of all Errors Pernicious to the Souls of Men and of an Evil Aspect upon the Publique Peace C. Very Good And were not the Conspirators that Seiz'd King Iames at Ruthnen 1582. as much as all This amounts to If You will believe either Themselves or the Assembly at Edinburgh in their behalf The Reforming Non-Conformists under Queen Elizabeth were Unreprovable before all Men Her Majesties most Loyal Subjects and God's Faithful Servants Most Worthy Faithful and Peinful Ministers Modest Watchful Knowing in the Scriptures and of Honest Conversation Learned and Godly says the Admonitioner Pa. 25. And Martin Senior calls them The Strength of Our Land and the Sinew of her Majesties Government The Scotch Covenanters in 1638. out-did All This for Zeal to his Majesties Person and Authority The True Religion Liberties and Laws of the Kingdom And the Two Houses at Westminster In 1642. come not behind Them in their Professions for the Defence and Maintenance of the True Religion The King's Person Honour and Estate and the Iust Rights and Liâ—…erties of the Subject Here 's Your Character Now to Your Dâ—…mands What is it You would have N. C. A Reformation of Church-Government Liturgy and Ceremonies A Bearing with weak Consciences and A Relaxation of the Prescribed Uniformity C. And This you will find to have been the Constant Pretence of the Non-Conformists if you Consult their Story from One End to the Other Not to let loose the Golden Reins of Discipline and Government in the Church But to Unburthen the Consciences of Men of Needless and Superstitious Ceremonies Suppress Innovations and Settle a Preaching Ministry c. Put the Case now that you had your Asking What would the Kingdom be the better for it N. C. It will be the better for the King Church Nobility and Gentry And there is No Nation under Heaven wherein such an Indulgence or Toleration as is desired would be more Welcome Usâ—…ful Acceptable Or more Subservient to Tranquillity Trade Wealth and Peace C. Reformation no Enemy to Her Majâ—…sty and the State is the very Title of a Desperate Libel Printed 1590. against Both. And the Humble Motioner tells You that it is for the Advantage of the Queen Clergy Nobility and Commonalty That the Wealth and Honour of the Realm will be Encreased by it c. This was the Stile too of Our Reformers in 1642. The Securing of the Publique Peace Safety and Happiness of the Realm And the Laying the Foundation of more Honour and Happiness to his Majesty then ever was Enjoy'd by any of his Royal Predecessors Now speak your Grievances N. C. We are Excommunicated Outlawed Imprison'd Our Families Starved and Beggâ—…r'd P. 8. Proceeded against with Outward Punishments Pecuniary and Corporal Nay Death it self P. 9. And all this while Trade languishes Rents fall Money scarce P. 26. Never a greater Separation Never a more General Dissatisfaction P. 27. C. Pray'e say Was it ever better since Non-Conformists came into the World Was not King Iames a Favourer of the Enemies of God's Truth and of Dissolute Persons A Discountenancer of Godly Ministers A Promise-Breaker to the Church and a Perverter of the Laws Insomuch that No man could be assured of his Lands and Life Was it any better even under the Celebrated Government of Queen Elizabeth There were Citations Degradings and Deprivations Some in the Marshalsey Some in the White-Lion Some in the Gateâ—…house at Westminster Others in the Counter Or in the Clinke Or in Bride-well Or in Newgate How many Good Mens Deaths have the Bishops been the Cause of How many have they driven to leave the Ministry and live by Physique Or to leave their Countrey Poor Men have been miserably handled with Revilings Deprivations Imprisonments Banishments and Out of This Realm they have all the best Reformed Churches through Christendom against them If This Persecution be not provided for great Trouble will come of it How your Party demean'd Themselves toward the Late King of Blessed Memory in the matter of Calumny and Reproach You may read at large in that Grand and Infamous Libel The Remonstrance of
16. 1646. tells us That there would be a Ioynt Course taken by Both Kingdoms concerning the Disposal of His Majesties Person With Respect had to the Safety and Preservation of his Royal Person IN THE PRESERVATION AND DEFENCE OF THE TRUE RELIGION AND LIBERTIES OF THE KINGDOMS According to the COVENANT And According to the COVENANT His Majesties Person was Disposed of Presb. And do you believe that the Two Houses would have used the King any better if he had gone to Them They made it Treason Immediately and Death without Mercy for any Man to Harbour and Conceal the Kings Person upon a Supposition that his Majesty was then in London This was the fourth of May and on the sixth The Commons Uoted him to Warwick Castle which was Unvoted again upon the ninth In â—…une the Kings going to the Scots was Uoted A Design to Prolong the War And this was as much the Action of the Independents as the Other was of the Presbyterians Indep Pardon me there I beseech ye You see by the Voting Back and Forward that the House of Commons was upon a hard Tug but the Scottish Party was totally Presbyterian But will you hear the Kirk speak for it self after the putting of the King into English Hands They Exhort their COVENANTED BRETHREN the Assembly at Westminster to hold fast their Solemn League and Covenant to entertein a Brotherhood and Unity between the Nations Feb. 12. 1646. but not a Syllable of the King Again Iune 18. 1647. The General Assembly of the Kirk presses the Two Houses to a speedy Establishment of the Presbytery but not a Word again of his Majesty And in truth their Silence is a Favour considering how they order him when they speak of him As you may observe in a Resolve of theirs upon a Question Debated at Edinburgh If the King be Excluded from Government in England for not Granting the Propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and for not giving a Satisfactory Answer to the Remanent Propositions Whether in That Case it be Lawful for this Kingdom to assist him for the Recovery of the Government or whether it be not Lawful Being put to it We cannot but Answer in regard of the Engagement of This Kingdom by Covenant and Treaty NEGATIVE Resolved upon the Question 1. That the Kingdom of Scotland shall be Governed as it hath been these last Five Years All Means being used that the King might take the Covenant and Pass the Propositions 2. That the taking of the Scots Covenant and Passing some of the Propositions doth not give Warrant to assist him against England 3. That upon bare taking the National Covenant we may not receive him 4. That the Clause in the Covenant for Defence of the Kings Person is to be understood in Defence and Safety of the Kingdoms 5. That the King shall not Execute any Power in the Kingdom of Scotland until such time that he hath Granted the Propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and given a Satisfactory Answer to Both Kingdoms in the rest of the Propositions presented to him by both Kingdoms at Newcastle 6. That if his Majesty refuse to Pass the Propositions he shall be disposed of according to the COVENANT and Treaty 7. That the Union be firmly kept between the Kingdoms according to the Covenant and the Treaties Here 's PRESBYTERIAN LOYALTY If the King would have consented to give up his Crown Blast his Conscience Betray his Trust and Sacrifice his Friends he might perchance have been allow'd the Pageantry of a Court and some Mock-Properties of Royalty but upon other Terms the Kirk you see gives him no Quarter The King is now under the Care of his new Governours Holdenby is his Prison The Question is Matter of Church-Government and his Majesty is prest to an Alteration Some Two Months are spent in the fruitless Desires and Expectations of his Chaplains for his Advice and Comfort and any Two of Twelve in Nomination would satisfie his Majesty But That could not be they said No not a Common-Prayer-Book for his own Private Use. These were the Presbyterians still Upon the fourth of Iune 1647. Coâ—…not Ioyce with a Party of Horse took the King from Holdenby under colour of preventing other Secret Designs upon the Person of his Majesty The next day at a Rendezvouz near Newmarket was Read and Signed The Armies ENGAGEMENT compleining of the Two Houses and in particular of a Vote they had Past for Disbanding the Army Where Note that the Houses were still Presbyterian The Sum of their ENGAGEMENT was That they would Disband upon full Satisfaction received and not without it This Liberty was menag'd all this while with much Formality of Duty and Respect The Houses at every Turn advertis'd concerning the King's Motions and Iune the 9th consulted how further to Dispose of his Majesty Some Three days after the Army drew toward London and Alarm'd the City contrary to an Express Order of the Houses the very day before A Months Pay was their Errand and to save Carriage they made a step from Royston to St. Albans to receive it On Iune the 15 out comes a Terrible Representation with Desires from the Army Against all Arbitrary Powers and Interests whatsoever Pleading the Presbyterian Presidents and the Principles of the Two Houses in their Iustification The Parliament say they hath Declar'd it no Resisting of Magistracy to side with the Iust Principles and Law of Nature and Nations being That Law upon which we have assisted you and that the Souldiery may Lawfully hold the Hands of the General who will turn his Cannon upon his Army on purpose to destroy them They Demanded The Purging of the Houses and Retrenching the Power of Committees An Accompt for Publique Moneys A Period of the Present Session and Limits for the Future c. It could not chuse but Gall the Two Houses to see their Throats cut with their own Weapons but still they kept up their Greatness of Pretense and Stile and by an Order as Imperative as ever they commanded the Placing of his Majesty at Richmond in Order to a Treaty forsooth for a Safe and Well-grounded Peace But the Army had another Game to Play However what the Presbyterians would have done upon that Occasion may be seen in what they did afterward at the Isle of Wight in his Majesties last Distress and Extremity Presb. You are willing I find to pass over the Barbarism of the Independents toward his Majesty while they had him at Hâ—…mpton-Court but there is enough yet behind to make That Faction Odious to all Eternity Indep Truly no but I would not spin out a Debate to the length of a History As to the Barbarisms you speak of let his Majesty Himself be heard Colonel Whaley I have been so civilly used by You and Major Huntington that I cannot but by this parting Farewell acknowledge it under my Hand Nov. 11. 1647. And again from Carisbrook Castle to the General Nov. 27. 1647. The
Free Liberty which you willingly afforded us to have of the use of our Own Chaplains makes us at this time not only to Acknowledge your Former Civilities but c. So that His Majesties Condition appears to have been somewhat more easie at Hampton-Court then before it was at Holdenby Nay most certain it is that the Presbyterians even at That very Time did the Deadly Thing that brought the King to the Seaffold Presb. How could That be when the Two Houses by Purging and Modelling were Subjected Absolutely to the Devotion of the Army Indep Thus they did it His Majesty was at That time upon fair Terms with Cromwel and Ireton and not without large hopes of a Final Accommodation The Author of The History of Independency Pa. 35. is positive as to their Treating with the King While This was in Agitation the Presbyterians were at work on the other hand to break the King's Confidence in the Army by Imputations of Treachery and Levity to divert his Majesty to the Seeking of Relief elswhere with particular Undertakings of great Matters from Scotland and the City of London This way of Tampering might very well put the King to a stand which Cromwel no sooner perceived but he Immediately betook himself to a Course of Extremity Irritated over and above as is credibly affirmed by an Advise foom Argyle in confirmation of his Jealousie His Majesties next Remove was to the Isle of Wight Where for Ceremonies sake he was presented with Four Bills and upon his Refusal to pass them followed the Vote of NON-ADDRESSES In Passing these Bills His Majesty had not only divested Himself and His Successors of all Sovereignty but Subjected his People to the Basest and most Absolute Tyranny that ever was Excrcis'd upon Mortals Presb. You will not call This the Act of the Presbyterians I hope Indep No I will not But yet I must tell you that the Presbyterians upon this Juncture did every jote as much as this Amounts to So soon as the Parliament of Scotland was thoroughly Inform'd of the Distress and Danger of the King's Condition the Matter was presently Debated and a Resolution taken to Raise an Army for his Majesties Relief In which Proceeding they were violently opposed by the Genral Assembly without any regard at all to the King's Life at that time in Qâ—…estion See The Humble Desires of the Commissioners of the General Assembly to the Parliament Pag. 13. We desire that his Majesties late Concessions and Offers concerning Religion as they have been by the Church so may be by the Parliament declared UNSATISFACTORY March 22. 1648. And afterward Ian. 10. 1648. That his Majesties late Concessions and Offers concerning Religion may by your Lordships DIRECTLY and POSITIVELY be Declared UNSATISFACTORY to this present Parliament And that there shall be no Engagement for Restoring his Majesty to one of his Houses with Honour Freedom and Safety before Security and Assurance be had from his Majesty by his Solemn OATH under his HAND and SEAL that â—…e shall for HIMSELF and his SUCCESSORS Consent and Agree to Acts of Parliament enjoyning the League and Covenant and fully Establishing Presbyterian Government Directory of Worship and Confession of Faith in all his Majesties Dominions and that his Majesty shall never make Opposition to any of these or endeavour any Change thereof This is Rivetted with a Mischief And pray'e shew me now the Material Difference between Precluding His Majesty by a Vote of NO ADDRESS or by a Resolution of NO AGREEMENT His Honour and Conscience being equally at Stake on either side To give you the Sum of all in short The Presbyterians began the War Pursu'd it made the King a Prisoner Sold him and in the Depth of his Calamity presented him with Templation instead of Comfort No Composition would be heard of but the Forfeiture of his SOUL for the Saving of his LIFE Presb. But the Independents however Crown'd the Wickedness with his Blood Indep Suppose it so They did only Execute the Sentence but the Presbyterians Pronounc'd it Neither did they Execute it as Independents or under colour of any Impulse of Religion or Conscience but upon Civil and Political Pretexts He was adjudged to be put to Death as a Tyrant Traytor Murtherer and Publique Enemy Not for Refusing to Enter into a Church-Covenant or Establish Liberty of Conscience but upon a Pestilent Motive of Diabolical Policy and State Whereas the Presbyterians persecuted him as PRESBYTERIANS and depriv'd him of his Royal Support Dignity Friends Freedom in Effect Life and all because he would not renounce his Reason and Conscience in favour of their Government And I am verily perswaded that you will have as little to say for your Principles as for your Actions SECT XXVI What Party soever DEMANDS a Toleration and yet Mainteins that It is Destructive both of Church and State to GRANT one Is an ENEMY to BOTH Indep AS to the Point in Question It lies Naturally before us to speak first to the Thing in it self and we may afterward consider it in the Consequences In the Desire of a Toleration the Independents ask no more then they would be ready to Allow I wish the Presbyterians could say the like Presb. In the large sense of Allowing all sorts of Libertines and Heretiques as the late Independent Government did I do confess you have out-done the Presbyterians Indep And yet Those very Libertines and Heretiques were Your White-Boys and Favourites so long as they serv'd Your Ends. They had none of this Language from you when they Tumulted against Bishops and Common-Prayer Ceremonies and Popish Lords While they were the Instruments of Your Ambition they were the Godly Well-affected Party So that Heretiques it seems will down well enough with your Politiques though not with your Consciences Provided they will content themselves to be Damn'd and let the Presbyterians alone to Govern Presb. The Independents made sweet work in Holland did they not And where was your Spirit of Toleration and Forbearance I beseech you in New-England Indep You cannot say that we gave any Trouble in Holland to the State or that we fell foul there upon Different Iudgments In New-England 't is true we excluded the Gortonists Familists Seekers Antinomians Anabaptists and Subjected them to the Censure of the Civil Power as People of Dangerous Principles in Respect both of Good Life and Government Which Proceeding of ourâ—… methinks might serve to disabuse those that call Independency the Genus Generalissimum of all Errours Heresies Blasphemies and Schisms and take the Church way of New-England for that sort of Independency They did also exclude Papacy and Prelacy The Latter perchance more out of Regard to a Temporary Convenience then upon any rooted Principle of Implacable Severity And I perswade my self the Episcopal Party will witness thus much on our Behalfs that as to the Freedom of their Meetings and way of Worship in the late Revolutions they had much better Quarter from the Independents
the Two Houses as also a Power to redress Grievances and to call into Question all Ministers of State and Justice and all Subjects of whatsoever Degree in Case of Delinquency It may be thought that a Part of the Supreme Power doth reside in Them though they have not the Honorary Title And This Part of the Supreme Power is indeed Capable of doing Wrong Yet how it might be guilty of Rebellion is more Difficult to conceive P. 49. The Delegates of the People in the House of Commons and the Commissioners on the King's behalf in the House of Peers concurring do very far bind the King if not wholly P. 112. And when These cannot agree but break One from Another the Commons in Parliament assembled are Ex Officio The Keepers of the Liberties of the Nation and Righteous Possessors and Defenders of it against all Usurpers and Usurpations Whatsoever P. 130. III. KINGS are but the Peoples TRUSTEES Their Power Fiduciary and the Duty of Subjects Conditional The King is but the Servant of the People and his Royalty is only a Virtual Emanation from them and in Them radically as in the first Subject So Rutherford Parker Goodwin Bridges Milton c. The People can give no other Power then such as God has given Them And God has never given a moral Power to do Evil. All Fiduciary Power abused may be repealed And Parliamentary Power is no Other Which if it be abused The People may repeal it and resist them Annulling their Commissions Rescinding their Acts and Denuding Them of their Fiduciary Power Even as the King Himself may be denuded of the same Power by the Three Estates P. 152. Princes derive their Power and Prerogative from the People and have their Investitures meerly for the Peoples Benefit P. 1. It is the King's Duty to pass all such Laws as Both Houses shall judge Good for the Kingdom Upon a Supposition That They are Good Which by them are judg'd Such If the Prince fail in his Promise the People are Exempt frm their Obedience The Contract is made Void and the Right of Obligation is of no Force It is therefore permitted to the Officers of a Kingdom either All or some good Number of them to Suppress a Tyrant P. 120 121. IV. Princes may be DEPOSED and put to DEATH in Case of Tyranny Every Worthy Man in Parliament may for the Publique Good be thought a fit Peer and Judge of the King P. 24. Where there is no Opportunity for the Interposure of Other Judges the Law of Nature and the Law of Nations allow Every Man to Judge in his own Gase P. 34. If a Prince wants such Understanding Goodness or Power as the People judge Necessary to the Ends of Government In the first place He is Capable of the Name but not of the Government In the Second He Deposes Himself In the Third The want of Power Deposes him Theses 135 136 137. It is lawful for any who have the Power to call to Accompt a Tyrant or Wicked King And after due Conviction to Depose and put him to Death if the Ordinary Magistrate have Neglected or Deny'd to do it It is not impossible for a King Regis Personam Exuere In a Natural Or MORAL Madness or Frenzy to turn Tyrant Yea Beast Waiving his Royal Place Violently Extrajudicially Extramagisterially to assault his Subjects as Saul did David In this Case Men think Nature doth Dictate it and Scripture doth Justifie a Man Se Defendendo Vim Vi repellere P. 23. The Real Soveraignty among Us was in King Lords and Commons and if the King raise War against such a Parliament The King may not only be resisted but Ceaseth to be a King Thesis 358. The Lord rent the Kingdom from Saul for sparing One Agag and for want of thorough Extirpation of all the accursâ—…d Things He lost both Thanks for What He had done and Kingdom also P. 27. Let no Law hinder Ye If Law be to be broken it is for a Crown and therefore for Religion Ye are set over Kingdoms to Root out Pull down Destroy and Throw down Do it quickly Do it thorougly By what Rule of Conscience or God is a State Bound to Sacrifice Religion Laws and Liberties rather then endure that the Princes Life should come into any Possibilities of Hazard by Defending them against those that in his Name are bent to suâ—…due them If he will needs thrust Himself upon the Hazard when he needs not Whose Fault is That There never was a Greater Harmony of the Laws of Nature Reason Prudence and Necessity to Warrant any Act then may be found and discern'd in that Act of Justice on the Late King P. 18. Touching the Righteousness of the Sentence past upon the King Doubtless never was any Person under Heaven Sentenc'd with Death upon more Equitable and Just Grounds P. 90. Praised be God Who hath delivered us from the Impositions of Prelatical Innovacions Altar-Genu-flections and Cringings with Crossings and All That Popish Trash and Trumpery And truly I speak no more then what I have often thought and said The Removal of those Insupportable Burdens countervails for the Blood and Creasure shed and spent in these late Distractions Nor did I ever as yet hear of any Godly Men that desired Were it Possible to Purchase their Friends or Money again at so dear a Raâ—…e as with the Return of These To have Those Soul-Burdening Antichristian Yokes re-imposed upon Us. And if any such there be I am sure that Dâ—…sire is no part of their Godliness and I profess my self in That to be None of the Number P. 23. V. The PERSONS of Princes may be resisted though not their AUTHORITY The Man who is King may be resisted but not the Royal Office The King in Concreto but not the King in Abstracto P. 265. He may be resisted in a Pitch't Battel and with Swords and Guns 324. That is His Private Will may be resisted not his Legal Will 269. Neither is He in the Field as a King but as â—…n unjust Invader and Grassator 334. If He chance to be Slain 'T is but an Accident and who can help it 324. He is guilty of his own Death Or let Them answer for 't that brought Him thither The Contrary Party is Innocent 273. The King's Authority is with the Two Houses though the Person of Charles Stuart be not there His Capacity was at Westminster when his Body was upon the Scaffold at Whitehall c. P. 18. VI. The King is SINGULIS MAJOR UNIVERSIS MINOR The King is in Dignity Inferior to the People P. 140. The Soveraign Power is Eminently Fontaliter Originally and Radically in the People 156. Detrahere Indigno Magistratum etsi Privati non Debeant Populus tamen Universus quin possit Nemo Opinor dubitabit It is not for Private Persons to Depose a
Wicked Governour But that the Universality of the People may Lawfully do it I think no Body questions Fixum Ratúmque habeatur Populi semper esse debere Supremam Majestatem P. 9. VII The People may enter into a Covenant for Reformation without the Consent of the Chief Magistrate There is much Sin in making a Covenant on Sinful Grounds and there is more Sin in Keeping it But when the Preservation of true Religion and the Vindication of Just Liberties meet in the Ground Ye may Swear and not Repent Yea if Ye Swear Ye must not Repent P. 18. Not only is That Covenant which God hath made with Us founded in the Blood of Christ but That also which We make with God P. 33. The Breach of the National Covenant is a Greater Sin then a Sin against a Commandment or against an Ordinance 158. A Sin of so high a Nature that God cannot in Honour but be avenged upon 't 159. VIII RELIGION may be Propagated by the SWORD The Question in England is Whether Christ or Anti-Christ shall be Lord or King Go on therefore Couragiously Never can ye lay out your Blood in such a Quarrel Christ shed all his Blood to save You from Hell Venture All Yours to set Him upon his Throne P. 23. Cursed be he that withholdeth his Sword from Blood that spares when God saith Strike that suffers those to escape whom God has appointed to Destruction P. 24. In the 10 of Numbers you shall read that there were Two Silver Trumpets and as there were Priests appointed for the Convocation of their Assemblies so there were Priests to sound the Silver Trumpets to Proclaim the War And likewise in the 20 of Deuteronomy you shall find there that when the Children of Israel would go out to War the Sons of Levi one of the Priests was to make a Speech to Encourage them And certainly if this were the Way of God in the Old Testament certainly much more in such a Cause as This in which Cause Religion is so entwin'd and indeed so enterlac'd that Religion and This Cause are like Hippocrates his Twins they must live and dye together You have vowed in This Covenant to Assist the Forces raised by the Parliament according to your Power and Vocation and not to Assist the Forces raised by the King neither Directly nor Indirectly P. 45. Now let me exhort you not only to chuse to serve God and to serve his Church and his Cause in this most Iust Defensive War c. 46. In vain shall you in your Fasts with Josua ly on your Faces unless you lay your Achans on their Backs In vain are the High Praises of God in your Mouthes without a Two-edged Sword in your Hands P. 31. The Execution of Iudgment is the Lords Work and they shall be Cursed that do it Negligently and Cursed shall they be that keep back their Sword from Blood in this Cause You know the Story of Gods Message unto Ahab for letting Benhadad go upon Composition P. 26. Whensoever you shall behold the hand of God in the Fall of Babylon say â—…rue Here is a Babylonish Priest crying out Alas Alas My Living I have Wife and Children to Maintein I but all this is to perform the Iudgment of the Lord. P. 30. Though as Little Ones they call for Pitty yet as Babylonish they call for Iustice even to Blood IX There lies an Appeal from the Letter of the Law to the EQUITY of it And from the Law Written to the Law of NATURE The Commander going against the EQUITY of the Law gives Liberty to the Commanded to refuse Obedience to the Letter of it There is a Court of Necessity no less then a Court of Justice and the Fundamental Laws must then speak and it is with a People in this Extremity as if they had no Ruler P. 113. The People have given the Politique Power to the King and the NATURAL Power they Reserve to Themselves 151. All Humane Laws and Constitutions are made with Knees to bend to the Law of NATURE and NECESSITY P. 85. Here is more then enough said already and to go on as far as the Matter would carry us there would be no End on 't You are now at â—…berty either to deny These to be the Positions of the Non-Conâ—… or to justifie the Positions themselves or to lay down your Plea for Toleration upon the Innocency of their Principles N. C. I am no Friend to These Positions Neither can I yet quit my Claiâ—… unless you make it out that These are the Principles of the Party which I take to be only the Errours of Individuals C. Shew me the Party and let me alone to prove These to be Their Principles But if you will not acknowledge a Party they are as you say but the Errours of Individuals though all the Non-Conformists in the Three Kingdoms should own them under their Hands You call your selves Non-Confermists and so were they that both began and carried on the Late War Great Apprehensions they had of the Designs of the Popish Party So have you Mightily offended they were at the Immoderate Power of the Bishops You again Petitioners for the taking away such Oppressions in Religion Church Government and Discipline as had been brought in and Fomented by them Your very Picture still And for Uniting all such together as joyn in the same Fundamental Truths against the Papists â—…hy removing some Oppressions and Unnecessary Ceremonies by which Divers weak Consciences have been scrupled and seem to be divided from the rest The very Platform of your Comprehension Thus far You march Hand in Hand I need not tell you what followed upon 't but Your Parts are so much alike that it looks as if We were now again upon the first Seene of the same Tragedy For a Conclusion Conformity or In-Conformity seem'd at first to be the Sum of the Question and the Discipline of the Church was made the Ground of the Quarrel The Ruâ—…ing Party in the Pretended Parliament were Non-Conformists The Army Non-Conformists The Preâ—…ended Assembly of Divines were Non Conformists The City-Ministers and Lecturers Non-Conformists And by the Solâ—…mn League and Covenant every Man that took it was to be a Non-Conformist upon pain of Damnation Now take Your Choice since Non-Conformists you are Whether you 'l Range your selves under the Parliament Your Army Your Assembly Your City-Ministers Or Your Solemn League and Covenant And let me bear the Blame if I make it not as clear as the Day That the Principles charg'd upon You are the Principles of Your Party As to your PRACTISES They haue been suitable to your POSITIONS and All those Violences have been Exercised upon the Government that were first Dictated in the Pulpit The Lawfulness of Popular Insurrections Of Deposing and Putting Kings to Death under the Cloak of Reformation has been vented as the Doctrine of Iesus Christ even
must the Whole go Scot-free for some Particulars Would you have me open my Door to a Troop of Thieves because there are four or five Honest Men in the Company That there are divers Conscientious and well-minded Men among the Non-Conformists I make no Question But I am yet Positive in This that the Non-Conformists in Conjunction are in a Direct Conspiracy and that when they come once to agree in a Publique Complaint It is no longer Conscience but Faction This by the By. Now to the Matter before Us I have given you a Breviate of your own Proceedings in the very Case of your Present Complaints Lay your Hand upon your Heart and bethink your self who are the Persecutors N. C. Let the Persecution rest where it will I am fully perswaded that there is no Settling of this Kingdom in a State of Security Peace and Plenty without an Indulgence or Toleration SECT XVI The Non-Conformists tell us That Liberty of Conscience is the Common Interest of This Kingdom but REASON and EXPERIENCE tell us the CONTRARY C. THat We may not spend our selves in Repetition Cavil or Confusion Take Notice that 't is the General Cause of the Non Conformists which is coming under Dâ—…bate For That Toleration which the Whole Party desires must needs be a Toleration of the Whole Party And That I Oppose in Confidence that I have Reason and Experience on my side We have spoken already as to the Unlawfulness and somewhat likewise to the Dangerous Consequences of it Together with the Unruly Opinions and Practices of several of the Pretenders to it We are now to look a little further into it with a more Immediate regard to the Common Interest of the Kingdom which we may place in the Concernments of Religion Government Peace and Plenty To begin with Religion I do not Understand how That which delights in Unity shall be advantaged by Division and Fraction N. C. As if there could be no Unity of Doctrine without Uniformity of Discipline The Precept is One Lord One Faith One Baptism And not One Way One Form of Worship C. I might tell you that it is of Ancient and Unreprovable Practice for every National Church to appoint its own Platform of Service and Ceremonies And to require Obedience and Conformity to That Model and to Those Rites respectively from all its Members But This I shall not insist upon There is no Precept you say for any One Way or Form But can you shew me that an Uniformity of Service and Rituals is any where forbidden N. C. Not in Particular But in the General Prohibition of all Uncommanded Worship Pag. 26. C. The Matter in short is This. Either We have a Rule in the Gospel for the Manner of Our Worship Or we have None If there be No way of Commanded Worship left us by Christ and his Apostles And all Uncommanded Worship be as you say forbidden There must be No appointed Worship at all and Then every Man is at Liberty Not only to Worship after what Manner he pleases but effectually to Chuse Whether he 'l Worship or No Which brings in all sorts of Heresies and Blasphemies and Countenances even Atheism it self Now on the other Hand If there be any Particular Manner of Worship Prescribed in the Word of God from That Particular Manner we must not presume to Vary by a Toleration of any other Way then That or of More then One. Besides that it undermines the Foundation of all Communities to deny the Civil Authority a Right of Interposing in such Cases as are Neither Commanded nor Forbidden by God Let us next Consider the Probable Effects of a Toleration in respect of the Parties pretending to it Which are either Presbyterian Or in a Sense of Contradistinction Independent The Former are for a Subordination in Churches The Other for an Independency according to their Denomination These are for Gather'd Congregations The Other for Parochial I will not trouble you with the Argumentative Part of the Differences betwixt them About the Subordination or Co-ordination of Churches The Redundance or Defect of Church-Officers The Receptacle of the Power of the Keys and the like But Nakedly and Briefly shew you the Kindness they have for One Another The Regards they have for Christian Charity in the Menage of the Quarrel and Then leave you your self to Judge what may be the Event of such a Toleration as to RELIGION The Sectaries says Edwards in his Gangraena agree with Iulian the Apostate P. 54. They are Libertines and Atheists P. 185. Unclean Incestuous P. 187. Drunkards P. 190. Sabbath-Breakers Deceivers P. 191. Guilty of Gross Lying Slandering Iuggling Falsifying their Words and Promises Excessive Pride and Boasting P. 192. Insufferable Insolences Horrible Affronts to Authority P. 194. There never was a more Hypocritical False Dissembling Cunning Generation in England then many of the Grandees of those Sectaries They Encourage Protect and Cry up for Saints Sons of Belial and the Vilest of Men P. 240. Gangraena's Second Part 1646. See Now the Other Party doe as much for the Presbyterians The Presbyterian Government is Anti-Christian Tyrannical Lordly Cruel a worse Bondage then under the Prelâ—…tes A Bondage under Task-Masters as the Israelites in Aegypt A Presumptuâ—…us Irregular Consistory which hath no Ground in the Word of God Barrow P. 79. A Vexatious Briery Thorny Persecuting Preâ—…ytery Pulpit Incendiary P. 26. Fâ—…rmidable to States and Free Kingdoms Mr. Nye The Assembly is Antichristian Romisâ—… 〈◊〉 the Plague s and Pâ—…sts of the Kingdom Baal's Priests Gangraena's Second Part 230. The Seed of God in This Nation has had Two Capital Enemies The Romish Papacy and the Scotch Presbytery Sterry's England's Deliverance P. 7. An Anabaptist said that He hoped to see Heaven and Earth on fire before Presbytery should be settled Edwards his Gangraena Barrow calls the Consistorians Dangerous and Pestilent Seducers Ravening Wolves which come to Us in Sheeps Cloathing This is enough to shew you the Mutual and Implacable Enmity and Opposition of the Two Grand Parties which you are now perswading your self might be gratified by a Common Indulgence Let me further Mind you that the Strife ended not there Neither but proceeded to Blood And that so soon as they had Master'd the Government in a Combination under the Masque of Reformation and Conscience They parted Interests and Upon the Very same Pretext Engaged in a Second War and fell foul One upon the Other Wherein they sufficiently Manifested to the World that they fought not for Forms and Ceremonies but for Booty and Dominion No less to the Scandal of the Religion of England then to the Ruine of the Monarchy N. C. You are not to stop my Mouth with Instances of Tumults and Factions in a Peaceable Plea for Religion and Conscience C. Do not you know that Toleration is as good as an Issue in a Government All the Vicious Humours in the whole Body flow that way But Suppose it Conscience Are the Dissenters ever to
the Effects of a Relaxation which abundantly satisfies me That UNIFORMITY is the true Interest of This Government and not TOLERATION N. C. Uniformity is the Interest of This Kingdom as it is of any other where there is any fair Possibility of Procuring it But the Principles of Dissent have taken such Root in this Land that you may as well think of Depopulating the Nation as of Uniting it upon the Points in Question C. But I am otherwise perswaded and that the Party of Non-Conformists is not so considerable as you make it SECT XVIII The Party of Scrupulous and Conscientious Non-Conformists is neither NUMEROUS nor DANGEROUS C. I Am apt to believe that Party is not so Numerous as you represent it for many Reasons First I take English Mens Consciences and their Neighbours to be much of a Make And I do not find the Subject of Our Controversie to be made Matter of Conscience by any other sort of Christians whatsoever out of his Majesties Dominions N. C. 'T is well we have Good Authority to the Contrary The Preface to the Directory assures us that The Liturgy used in the Church of England hath proved an Offence not only to the Godly at Home but also to the Reformed Churches Abroad And Smectymnuus tells the Parliament Pag. 10. that there is such a vast difference between It and the Liturgies of all other Reformed Churches as that it keeps them at a Distance from us C. We 'l talk of That anon and in the mean time with your good leave pursue what we have now before us Another thing that peswades me the Conscientious number of Dissenters cannot be very great is This. The Law has made an Ample Provision for their Relief Leaving every Houshold with Four more at Liberty to Worship according to their own way So that the Laity has no Pretense of Compleint Especially those that plead for the Ordination of their own Ministers and maintein that Seven Persons make a Full Ministerial and Completely Organiz'd Church A Man might make an Exception to your Accompt too upon the score of Old Reckonings for you have ever had the faculty of Multiplication Your Thousands at Hampton-Court came to a matter of Nine and Forty And we remember very well your old way of Personating Petitions from Multitudes of the Godly and Well-affected in both City and Country when effectually the poor Innocent Papers never Travell'd farther then from the Close Committee to the Lobby N. C. If you will not Credit Report believe your Eyes Do you not find our Meetings Thronged and many of your Churches Empty C. Somewhat of Both I must Confess but yet I am likewise inform'd that you shew divers of these Meetings as Peters did his Rings and Bodkins at several Places several times over and over to make a Noise ond increase the Reputation of your Party To contract the Discourse There is a loud Clamour and the Ministers make it And These too that stickle in the Cause none of the most Conscientious neither unless they have a Gospel we never heard of to Iustifie Disobedience in Themselves the Provoking of it in Others The Disturbing of the Publique Peace and the Sowing of Dissention betwixt Prince and People Which is manifestly the Scope of their Writings and Designs N. C. That Undertaking goes somewhat too far to pronounce upon their Designs Do you pretend to know their Hearts then C. Yes and with very good Authority If a Man may be allow'd to judge what Reasonable Men aim at from deliberate Words and Actions that lead naturally to such and such Certain Ends. And this Humour I tell ye of Aspersing the Government and Teizing the Multitude runs through all their Papers I durst appeal to your own Soul Whether you your self can Imagine that a Twentieth Part of the present Plaintiffs in Matter of Conscience are truly acted and possest with that Scrupulosity they pretend to Alas Alas You talk of Conscience 'T is not what every Man Thinks or Says that is presently Conscience We are impos'd upon by Phansie Artifice or Delusion Some Deceive Themselves and Others Cousen Us. In one Word Whatsoever is not of Conscience in this Medly is Faction And undoubtedly the Conscientious Party has but a slender share in the Mixture As That Party is not Numerous so neither is it Dangerous upon a Principle of Honesty and Religion No Man of Conscience can either desire to Embroyl the Kingdom or expect to be the Better for 't But still have a care how ye take every thing for Gold that Glisters Conscience was the Subject of the last Quarrel Religion the Pretext Popery the Bug-bear And the Issue of it was Dreadful Consider with your selves You have many of the same Persons to lead you on And They have the very same Matter too to work upon You meant no hurt to the last King you say And yet you ruin'd him You may perchance Intend as little Harm to This and yet do him as much And what amends is it when the Government is laid again in Dust and Desolation to cry You were Overseen If you had thought it should ever have come to This you would have cut off your Hands or Tongues and I know not what Look Back and Tremble at the Course you are now upon for you are Questionless in the very Track of the late Rebellion And one may without Breach of Charity conclude that No Man that was an Active Instrument in the last War can acquit himself of a most Prodigious Impiety and Ingratitude in reviving and prosecuting the same Interest and Method now against the SON by which he notoriously contributed toward the Death of the FATHER SECT XIX The Non-Conformists Appeal from the Government and Discipline of the Church of England to the Judgment and Practise of the Reformed Churches BEYOND THE SEAS Examined and Submitted to Censure C. IT is observable that throughout the whole Quarrel against the Orders and Government of the Church of England the Non-Conformists still fly for Countenance to the Iudgment of the Reformed Churches Abroad And so likewise in the Question of Toleration they Insist much upon the Practise and Tenderness of Other Churches As if the Ecclesiastical State of This Kingdom were as Singular for Tyranny and Corruption as in Truth the Litigants Themselves are for Contumacy and Disobedience In the Answer of the Two Houses to the Scots Declaration 164â—… This Government by Arch-Bishops Bishops c. is Declared to be Evil justly Offensive and Burdensom to the Kingdom a great Impediment to the Reformation and Growth of Religion and Resolved it is that it shall be taken away With a Regard to the Introducing of another Government more apt to procure an Union with the Church of Scotland and OTHER REFORMED CHURCHES ABROAD And the Ministers in the Petition for Peace sing the same Note too If Men say they must be cast out of the Church and Ministry because they are not wiser then the Pastors of
then ever they had from the Presbyterians There was no Persecuting of Men for Covenants and Directories So that Thus far the Independents have made their Professions of Liberty good by their Practise Presb. And are not the Classical Presbyterians as much for a Lawful Liberty as the Congregationals Lâ—…t there be a Toleration in Religion excepting to Blasphemy Treason or Gross Errours Bear with the Weak Tolerate the Tolerable and for the Intolerable we beg not your Toleration â—…ere's the Sense and Destre of the Presbyterian Divines that were Commission'd about the Review of the Service-Book Indep This is only a New Song to an Old Tune The Presbyterians have just the same need of the Independents at this day that they had some nine and twenty Years ago The Author of The Discourse of Religion has many good Remarques upon the Papists that may be very well applied to the Presbyterians and This for One. Things past says he may afford Prognostiques of things to come So that we are to gather what you intend now from what you did after saying the same things before Or if you had rather come to a Tryal upon the Evidence of your own Manifestos and Declarations then upon the History of your Practises I shall make use of no other Testimony against you The Presbyterians press the Demand of a Toleration as a very reasonable Request and yet they Themselves have pronounc'd Judgment against it as a thing against Conscience Destructive of Publique Order both in Church and State and of the Peace of Common Society Toleration says Mr. Edwards cannot be Condescended to without a Breach of Oath and Covenant It is the Depth of Satan this Design of a Toleration He does not move for a Toleration of Heresies and Gross Errours but an Allowance of a LATITUDE in some LESSER DIFFERENCES with Peaceableness This is Candidus ille Diabolus That White Devil c. The London Ministers Letter to the Assembly in 1645. declares it Repugnant to the Solemn League and Covenant The Commissioners of the Kirk of Scotland do Protest and Declare against it as Inconsistent with and Repugnant to the Word of God As to the Influence of a Toleration upon Church and State Mr. Edwards tells us that The Party Tolerated will never rest Working till they get the upper hand and Suppress the Other Rutherford is positive that such Opinions and Practises as make an Evident Schism in a Church and set up two Distinct Churches of Different Forms and Government are NOT to be Tolerated For by their Principles they labour each the Destruction of the other and this Toleration destroys Peace and Unity Again The London Ministers are of Opinion that it will produce causless and unjust Revolts from the Ministry and Congregations The Peoples Minds will be Troubled and in Danger to be Subverted Heart-burnings will be Fomented and Perpetuated to Posterity The Godly Peinful and Orthodox Ministers will be Discouraged and Despis'd The Life and Power of Godliness will be eaten up by Frivolous Disputes and Ianglings And the whole Church of England in short time will be swallowed up with Distraction and Confusion The Kingdom will be wofully weakned also by Scandals and Divisions The Power of the Magistrate will not be only weakned but utterly overthrown by the Anti-Magistratical Principles and Practises of the Independents And the whole Course of Religion in Private Families will be interrupted and undermined Not to multiply Authorities more then necessary This has been the strein of all your Proceedings Imperiously and Inexorably Strict and Rigorous in Imposing upon Others and as Shamelesly Importune and Clamorous for Liberty to Your selves But what have I more to do then to pass Sentence upon you out of your own Mouths You cannot in Conscience desire a Toleration if you understand it to be Against Conscience to Grant it And the very Asking of That which you believe would draw a Destruction upon Church and State is Ground enough for a strong Presumption that you Intend it Presb. That which was a Reasonable Cause of Refusal from the Presbyterians to the Independents will not hold good from the Church of England to the Presbyterians Either in respect of the Stability of our Government or of the Sobriety of our Principles SECT XXVII In Case of a Toleration or Indulgence to be Granted Whether has the fairer Pretense to it The CLASSICAL Way of the PRESBYTERIANS or the CONGREGATIONAL Way of the INDEPENDENTS in Respect of their Form of Government Indep THe Presbyterians you say are rather to be Tolerated then the Independents in regard of the Stability of their Government and the Sobriety of their Principles To speak in this Place to the Matter of their Government I think your Argument is very ill grounded For in Deliberations of this Nature the Cautions that occur to all Magistrates are chiefly These Two First in case of an Indulgence that it may be placed upon a Party which in Probability would not disturb the Publique if they could But Secondly to make sure however for fear of the worst that they shall not be able to do it if they would So that whether a Stable and United or a Loose and Distracted Interest may with more Security be Indulged is the Question Presb. You may as well ask Whether Order or Confusion be more Tolerable in a Government Indep That Order which is Necessary in the Government it self is Dangerous in the Enemies of it But deliver your Exceptions to the Toleration of those which you call Independents in Regard of their way of Government Presb. You have already in a good part sav'd me that Labour But a Man shall not need to go further for an Exception then to the very Denomination of them which Imports an Exemption from all Iurisdiction both Eclesiastical and Civil Indep But what will become of That Exception when I shall tell you that those People are no more Independent then the Presbyterians We depend upon the Magistrate for Civil Government and Protection and upon Christ and his Word for the Rule of our Administrations Nay we insist upon it that the Congregational Way is the only true Original Presbytery which is Peculiar to every Particular Church of Christ. But if you call us Independent as in distinction to Subordinate we are not only ready as such Independents to defend our selves but by virtue of That very Independency we pretend to claim an Advantage over the Presbyterians Presb. I could tell ye of your Church-Covenants and Defensive Leagues against the Commands of Authority Indep But I could speak homer to you of your National Leagues and Covenants which all the World knows are the grand Engines to disjoynt Communities and remove the Foundations of Government And I do not much wonder at it where the Act of a General Assembly Influences the Consciences of a whole Nation As to any Covenants and Leagues against the Magistrate neither do the Independents practise
most of the REFORMED CHURCHES c. As who should say The Church of England is the only Protestant Church in the Christian World that pretends to This Way of Proceeding and the Protestants Abroad are all of the Non-Conformists side Let this Matter be fairly Examin'd I beseech you and we shall quickly see where the Fault lies In the first Place What is the Judgment of the Reformed Churches abroad touching the English Episcopacy N. C. You may read their Iudgments in their Practises Or 't is but looking into the Reformation in France Holland and the Neighbourhood and you may resolve your self in that Point C. Truly I find nothing at all to your Advantage which way soever I look Luther himself distinguishes betwixt Popish Tyrants and True Bishops and professes to Condemn them as Popish not as Bishops The Authors of the Augustane Confession profess that they would willingly preserve the Ecclesiastical and Canonical Politie if the Bishops would cease to Tyrannize over their Churches Bucer declares himself wholly for Bishops and Metropolitans And Melancthon to Luther You would not Imagine says he how some People are Nettled to see Church-Polity restor'd as if it were the Romish Sovereignty again Ita de Regno suo non de Evangelio dimicant Socii nostri As if the Quarrel were Dominion not Religion Calvin acknowledges that the Ancient Government by Arch-Bishops and Bishops and the Nicene Constitution of Patriarchs was for Orders sake and Good Government And delivers himself to Cardinal Sadolet with an Anathema upon the Opposers of that Hierarchy which submits it self to Jesus Christ. Zanchie the Compiler of the Gallican Confession observes a Change of Name rather then of Office throughout most of the German Churches As Super-Intendents and General-Super Intendents in the place of Bishops and Arch-Bishops Acknowledging that by the Consent of Histories Counsels and the Ancient Fathers Those Orders have been Generally allowed by all Christian Societies Where they are in Exercise let them continue and where by the Iniquity of the Times they have been abolish'd they ought to be restor'd Beza the rigid Successor of Calvin in excuse to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for meddling beyond his Sphere We do not charge says he all Arch-Bishops and Bishops with Tyranny The Church of England hath offorded many Learned Men and many Glorious Martyrs of That Function If That Authority be there still may a perpetual Blessing go along with it This in the Name of the whole Church of Geneva and Addressed To the Primate of all England Totius Angliae Primati Saravia arguing for the Hierarchy out of the Apostles Canons Beza returns him This Answer This is no more then what we wish might be restor'd to all Churches Quid aliud hic statuitur quam quod in omnibus locis Ecclesiis restitutum cupimus The Three Kingdoms of Swede Denmark and Norway as Mr. Durell observes retein the Order still of Bishops and Arch-Bishops In the Protestant Cantons of Switzerland there is also a Subordination of Ministers And so in the Palatinate in Hessen the Duke of Brandenburgh's Territories Anhalt Bremen Poland Lithuania c. Come we now into France Holland and Geneva And first hear Mr. du Bosc of the Reformed Church of Caen. Well-ordered Episcopacy hath most Important and Considerable Utilities which cannot be found in the Presbyterian Discipline Mr. Gaches one of the Ministers of Charenton The best Men in our Churches says he have honour'd the Prelates of England The Name of Schism may do more harm to the Church in one Year then the Excâ—…ss of Episcopal Authority can do in an Age. And again Sin hath brought in the Necessity of Government and the Failings of Ministers make the Order of Bishops Necessary Mr. le Moyn of Rouen pronounces it to be want of Prudence and Charity if any seek the Ruine of Bishops I trust that his Majesty will be sure to re-establish the Authority of the English Church and use his Power for a perfect Re-union of all the Reformed Churches which that be may Effect His Majesty must preserve his Bishops I hold it impossible says Mr. Gayon of Bourdeaux that England can ever be quiet and flourish but under the Episcopal Government In Holland Bogermannus the President of the Synod at Dort upon a Suggestion from the Bishop of Landaff how fit a Remedy Episcopacy would be for the Suppression of Heresies and Schism made this Reply Domine non sumus adeò foelices We are not so happy My Lord. And for Geneva we have the Voices of the Principals of that Church also for the Authority and Advantage of Episcopal Government So that if you be no better Seconded against our Ceremonies then you are against our Bishops you have the whole Stream of Protestant Divines against you This is according to what I have formerly had occasion to deliver upon This Subject N. C. We do dissent upon just Reasons from the Ecclessastical Hierarchy 〈◊〉 Prelacy DISCLAIMED IN COVENANT as it was Stated and Exercised in These Kingdoms yet do 〈◊〉 nor ever did renounce the True Ancient Primitive Episcopacy as it was Balanced or Menaged by a Due Commixtion of Presbyters therewith C. We are not here to Debate the Qualifications and Limits of the Episcopacy you pretend to but to proceed having made it appear that the Hierarchy which under Colour of Reduction or Commixtion you formerly rooted out and are now again undermining is That very Hierarchy which you have now heard Reverenced and Recommended by so many Venerable Testimonies Or if after all This you can but produce one Publick Act of any Protestant Church beyond the Seas in favour of your Claim do it and save your Party the Credit of not being Single and Particular in your Schism What have you next to say against our Ceremonies N. C. All the best Reformed Churches of Christ who only are Competent Iudges in this Case and to whose Iudgment and Example we ought rather to Conform our selves in Ceremonies then to the Synagague of Anti-Christ do esteem those Ceremonies Needless Inexpedient and Fit to be Abolished How the Churches of other Countries approve of them may appear sufficiently by this that they have banished the use of them out of their Assemblies C. Are they only NEEDLESS INEXPEDIENT and FIT to be Abolish'd then I thought you would have found them absolutely UNLAWFUL IDOLATROUS and upon pein of DAMNATION not to be RETEINED According to This Measure What will become of the whole Frame of our Government if it shall take you in the head to say the same thing of every Law and Constitution of the Land Ceremonies will not down with you because they are Needless Inexpedient c. I beseech you shew me the Needfulness of Killing and Plundring or the Expedience of Dissolving Publique Laws and Depopulating Kingdoms And yet These are Matters you can Swallow even without Chewing Needless And Inexpedient Soâ—…ly I beseech you
you are for teaching your Governours more WIT as well as more Religion and Conscience N. C. â—…eep to your Text I pray'e for we are not now upon the Lawfulness of the English Ceremonies but upon an Enquiry What Enterteinment they receive in the judgment and Practise of other Reformed Churches without engaging our selves in any other Consideration of their Reason and Convenience I say they are banish'd out of their Assemblies and you are at Liberty if you can to prove the Contrary C. Let us first see how far we agree upon the Allowance of any Ceremonies at all and where to place the Right and Authority of Imposing them The Church of England thinks it convenient that every Country should use such Ceremonies as they shall think best to the setting forth of God's Honour and Glory c. Which is according to the sense of Other Reformed Churches as appears by their several Confessions With Us agrees first the Church of Helvetia Churches have always used their Liberty in Rites as being things Indifferent which we also do at this Day That of Bohemia likewise Humane Traditions and Ceremonies brought in by a Good Custom are with an Uniform Consent to be reteined in the Ecclesiastical Assemblies of Christian People at the Common Service of God The Gallican Every Place may have their Peculiar Constitutions as it shall seem meet for them The Belgique We receive those Laws that are fit either to cherish or maintein Concord or to keep us in the Obedience of God That of Auspurgh Ecclesiastical Rites which are Ordein'd by Man's Authority and tend to Quietness and Good Order in the Church are to be Observed That of Saxony For Order sake there must be some Decent and Seemly Ceremonies That of Swethland Sueh Traditions of Men as agree with the Scriptures and were Ordeined for Good Manners and the Profit of Men are worthily to be accounted rather of God then of Man N. C. The Question is not about an Agreement in Ceremonies that may be Exercised without Offence either to God or Man according to your Instances but about their Liking or Dislike of Those in Practise among Us As the Surplice Kneeling at the Communion The Cross in Baptism and the like C. As to the SURPLICE Mr. Durell tells you that the Churches that Conform to the Confession of Augsburgh have the very same Ceremonies with the Church of England And Surplices in many Places And further that a National Assembly at Charenton Anno 1631. hath declared that there is neither Idolatry nor Superstition in That Worship The Protestant Ministers also in Bohemia Lithuania Prussia make no Scruple at all of Preaching in Surplices whensoever they are called upon to Preach where Surplices are used Nay Calvin himself does not approve of Hooper ' s violent Inconformity in that Point De Pileo Veste Linea maluissem ut illa etiam non probem non usque adeo ipsum pugnare Idque nuper suadebam And let Mr. Baxter pin the Basket Some Decent Garment is necessary either the Magistrate or Minister himself or the Associated Pastors must determine what If the Magistrate or Synod tie all to one Habit Suppose it Indeoent yet this is but an Imprudent use of Power and the thing it self being Lawful I would Obey and use that Garment N. C. You only make mention where it has been used and permitted but you take no Notice where it has been Rejected And then the Personal Authorities you cite in favour of it declare their Iudgments to be still against it C. But only so against it as not to Allow of a Separation upon That Scruple Now whereas you object the Refusal or Rejection of it elsewhere It does not follow that every Church disallows what it does not Practise And it shall content me to find the Practise of so many Churches for us and None against us As to KNEELING at the Communion the Bohemian Churches use that Posture and so do the Churches of Poland With whom the French and Dutch do so far agree as In hoc Ritu suam cuique Ecclesiae Libertatatem salvam relinquere To leave every Church at its own Freedom in that Particular Mr. Baxter in his Five Disputations does also profess that rather then disturb the Peace of the Church he would Kneel too How hardly soever he may think of the Imposition So that in the Case of Kneeling likewise we have several of the Reformed Churches that joyn with us in the Practise of it and not so much as any one of them that appears in our Condemnation Touching the Use of the CROSS in Baptism beside the undeniable Antiquity of the Custom you may hear from Mr. Durell that The Reformed Churches of the Confession of Augsburgh do for the most part use it and that at Paris many Children of the Church of Charenton have been Baptized in the Chappels of the English Embassadours there according to the Rites of the Church of England And moreover that only the Nonconforming English and Scotch oppose it I could enlarge my self upon very good Authority to the justification of our way of Worship throughout in every Particular of your Exceptions but I will rather chuse to encounter all your Objections at once by proving that the Protestant Churches Abroad have as great a Reverence for the Authority Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England in the whole Frame of the Constitution as they have a Kindness for the several Parts of it which they do severally Exercise among Themselves I must still be beholden to the Industry of the Reverend Durell who has much obliged us with a clear and Methodical Manifestation of the Agreement of the Church of England as it is now Established by the Act of Uniformity with other Reformed Churches beyond the Seas Sir Iohn Colladon one of his Majesties Physicians in Ordinary had the Honour to Congratulate his Majesties Restauration from the City and Church of Geneva and from the Protestant Cantons in Switzerland Upon his Departure he put this Quaere to the Rulers of the said Church Whether he might Lawfully Joyn with the Church of England in Publique Worship and receive the Holy Sacrament according to the usual Rites thereof It was Answer'd That he might and that it was not to be Question'd Here is also A whole French Reformed Congregation that hath Conformed to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England to the great Satisfaction of the Divines of Rouen Paris Geneva Bourdeaux c. And since the Establishment of This Church divers Ministers have come over from Geneva France Germany Poland Lithuania Piemont Students Elders Private Persons And none of them ever yet refused either to Assist or to Conform Mr. de Laune Minister of the Wallons Church at Norwich and Mr. Calendrin one of the Ministers of the Dutch Church in London have divers times Officiated in English Congregations according to the Book