







 
   
     
       
         A serious expostulation with that party in Scotland, commonly known by the name of Whigs wherein is modestly and plainly laid open the inconsistency of their practices I. With the safety of humane society, II. With the nature of the Christian religion, III. Their two covenants are historically related, and prov'd to be no sufficient warrant for what they do, IV. Their new doctrine of a pretended forfeiture, is prov'd to be groundless.
         Craufurd, James, 17th cent.
      
       
         
           1682
        
      
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         A34948
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         ESTC R4965
         12703493
         ocm 12703493
         65995
         
           
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             A serious expostulation with that party in Scotland, commonly known by the name of Whigs wherein is modestly and plainly laid open the inconsistency of their practices I. With the safety of humane society, II. With the nature of the Christian religion, III. Their two covenants are historically related, and prov'd to be no sufficient warrant for what they do, IV. Their new doctrine of a pretended forfeiture, is prov'd to be groundless.
             Craufurd, James, 17th cent.
          
           63 p.
           
             Printed for J.D. for Richard Chiswell ...,
             London :
             1682.
          
           
             Attributed to James Crawfurd. Cf. Halkett & Laing (2nd ed.).
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Covenanters.
           Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1660-1688.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           Serious
           EXPOSTULATION
           With
           that
           Party
           in
           SCOTLAND
           ,
           Commonly
           known
           by
           the
           Name
           of
           WHIGS
           .
        
         
           Wherein
           is
           modestly
           and
           plainly
           laid
           open
           the
           inconsistency
           of
           their
           Practices
           ;
        
         
           
             I.
             
               With
               the
               Safety
               of
               humane
               Society
               .
            
          
           
             II.
             
               With
               the
               Nature
               of
               the
               Christian
               Religion
               .
            
          
           
             III.
             
               Their
               two
            
             Covenants
             
               are
               historically
               related
               ,
               and
               prov'd
               to
               be
               no
               sufficient
               Warrant
               for
               what
               they
               do
               .
            
          
           
             IV.
             
               Their
               new
               Doctrine
               of
               a
               pretended
               Forfeiture
               ,
               is
               prov'd
               to
               be
               groundless
               .
            
          
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           by
           J.
           D.
           for
           
             Richard
             Chiswell
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Rose
           and
           Crown
           in
           St.
           Paul's
           Church-yard
           ,
           MDCLXXXII
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           A
           serious
           Expostulation
           with
           that
           Party
           in
           Scotland
           ,
           commonly
           known
           by
           the
           name
           of
           Whigs
           .
        
         
           WITH
           what
           horror
           must
           one
           look
           back
           upon
           the
           deplorable
           state
           of
           this
           wretched
           Kingdom
           these
           45
           years
           ,
           since
           the
           unhappy
           Principles
           of
           Subjects
           taking
           Arms
           against
           the
           Lawfull
           Magistrate
           under
           pretence
           of
           Religion
           first
           prevailed
           among
           us
           !
           Should
           I
           here
           impartially
           set
           down
           the
           strange
           Distractions
           that
           tore
           us
           in
           pieces
           ,
           the
           Rivers
           of
           Blood
           that
           were
           shed
           ,
           and
           the
           manifold
           Miseries
           that
           we
           and
           our
           Fathers
           for
           many
           years
           groaned
           under
           ,
           I
           might
           seem
           perhaps
           to
           affect
           the
           writing
           a
           Tragedy
           ,
           or
           the
           raising
           transports
           of
           passion
           in
           my
           Readers
           breast
           .
           But
           ,
           alas
           !
           the
           dismall
           effects
           of
           those
           Convulsions
           are
           still
           so
           visible
           ,
           that
           as
           they
           will
           justify
           all
           that
           can
           be
           said
           upon
           this
           Subject
           ;
           so
           at
           the
           same
           time
           they
           make
           it
           needless
           .
           When
           we
           had
           fought
           our selves
           into
           Bondage
           in
           the
           late
           unnatural
           War
           ,
           and
           had
           no
           way
           left
           to
           remove
           the
           just
           Scourges
           of
           Rebellion
           ,
           besides
           our
           prayers
           and
           tears
           ,
           which
           at
           length
           obtain'd
           of
           God
           the
           recovery
           of
           our
           ancient
           Government
           ,
           Rights
           and
           Properties
           ,
           it
           was
           to
           be
           hop'd
           that
           the
           fresh
           remembrance
           of
           what
           we
           had
           felt
           ,
           would
           have
           frighted
           at
           least
           the
           present
           Generation
           from
           all
           thoughts
           of
           renewing
           our
           Sufferings
           ,
           and
           have
           kept
           our
           Soveraign's
           Reign
           as
           free
           from
           Blood
           ,
           as
           God
           was
           pleased
           to
           make
           his
           Restauration
           .
           But
           wofull
           experience
           
           has
           prov'd
           how
           soon
           so
           great
           a
           deliverance
           was
           forgotten
           :
           before
           the
           cicatrice
           of
           the
           late
           Wound
           was
           well
           closed
           ,
           we
           made
           haste
           to
           open
           it
           again
           .
           Pentland
           Hills
           ,
           and
           
           Bothwell-Bridge
           will
           stand
           for
           lasting
           Monuments
           both
           of
           our
           Ingratitude
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           of
           our
           Disloyalty
           to
           his
           Vicegerent
           .
           Nor
           do
           we
           only
           adhere
           to
           those
           wicked
           Principles
           which
           have
           already
           cost
           the
           Nation
           so
           dear
           ,
           but
           even
           outdo
           them
           by
           new
           and
           more
           dangerous
           Positions
           .
           Our
           Fathers
           ,
           without
           casting
           off
           all
           reverence
           for
           the
           Government
           ,
           insisted
           only
           upon
           some
           pretended
           Excesses
           ,
           which
           they
           pretended
           to
           redress
           .
           But
           some
           among
           us
           of
           late
           ,
           by
           taking
           upon
           them
           to
           lay
           aside
           Him
           who
           had
           undoubted
           right
           to
           govern
           ,
           do
           strike
           at
           the
           very
           Root
           ,
           and
           endeavour
           to
           destroy
           the
           whole
           ancient
           Constitution
           at
           one
           blow
           .
           They
           set
           up
           for
           a
           further
           degree
           of
           Sanctity
           and
           Reformation
           ,
           which
           we
           have
           unhappily
           brought
           into
           such
           a
           corruption
           of
           Morals
           ,
           as
           has
           not
           been
           hitherto
           known
           among
           Christians
           .
           Are
           not
           Assassinations
           taught
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           practis'd
           among
           us
           ?
           and
           those
           who
           suffer
           for
           the
           basest
           of
           Murders
           ,
           are
           they
           not
           cry'd
           up
           for
           Martyrs
           ?
           Are
           not
           the
           minds
           of
           many
           debauch'd
           to
           that
           strange
           degree
           ,
           as
           to
           glory
           in
           Opinions
           ,
           and
           die
           for
           Doctrines
           ,
           which
           others
           cannot
           hear
           mention'd
           without
           horror
           ?
           Do
           not
           men
           ,
           pretending
           to
           no
           ordinary
           measure
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           every
           day
           commit
           and
           allow
           of
           actions
           whereof
           Heathens
           would
           be
           asham'd
           ?
           and
           in
           one
           word
           ,
           Can
           any
           thing
           be
           so
           wickedly
           contriv'd
           by
           those
           of
           the
           Party
           ,
           as
           not
           to
           be
           cloak'd
           with
           the
           specious
           title
           of
           Zeal
           for
           Christ
           ?
           Hence
           it
           is
           that
           Atheists
           and
           Profane
           persons
           take
           occasion
           to
           scoff
           at
           our
           holy
           Religion
           ;
           a
           reproach
           is
           hereby
           brought
           upon
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           which
           always
           charg'd
           Popery
           with
           Rebellion
           .
           The
           rest
           of
           Mankind
           look
           upon
           us
           as
           Enemies
           ,
           and
           Contemners
           of
           the
           most
           sacred
           ties
           of
           Religion
           and
           Society
           .
           Nor
           is
           it
           to
           be
           doubted
           but
           if
           we
           go
           on
           in
           such
           brutal
           tenets
           and
           practices
           ,
           our
           Land
           will
           again
           become
           a
           field
           of
           Blood.
           For
           can
           we
           
           expect
           that
           the
           Government
           will
           thus
           give
           way
           to
           its
           own
           Dissolution
           ?
           or
           suffer
           us
           to
           go
           on
           in
           courses
           so
           inconsistent
           with
           the
           publick
           safety
           ?
           When
           softer
           Methods
           prove
           ineffectual
           ,
           will
           it
           not
           be
           forced
           to
           defend
           it self
           by
           proceeding
           to
           the
           utmost
           severities
           ?
           And
           I
           dread
           to
           think
           how
           when
           the
           wrath
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           of
           our
           injur'd
           Prince
           ,
           shall
           at
           length
           pursue
           us
           for
           our
           unaccountable
           obstinacy
           ,
           we
           cannot
           any
           where
           expect
           either
           refuge
           or
           pity
           .
        
         
           This
           terrible
           prospect
           of
           what
           is
           most
           likely
           to
           come
           to
           pass
           ,
           has
           so
           wrought
           upon
           me
           in
           my
           retirement
           ,
           that
           notwithstanding
           the
           Circumstances
           of
           my
           present
           condition
           ,
           which
           secure
           me
           as
           much
           from
           any
           share
           in
           my
           Native
           Countrey
           's
           danger
           as
           my
           Conscience
           doth
           from
           its
           guilt
           .
           I
           am
           resolv'd
           to
           discharge
           the
           duty
           of
           a
           sincere
           Christian
           and
           of
           a
           faithful
           Patriot
           ,
           in
           laying
           open
           my
           thoughts
           upon
           this
           occasion
           .
           Now
           that
           those
           ,
           for
           whose
           sakes
           this
           discourse
           is
           undertaken
           ,
           may
           both
           the
           better
           understand
           ,
           and
           the
           less
           partially
           read
           it
           ,
           I
           shall
           endeavour
           to
           fit
           my
           stile
           to
           the
           meanest
           capacities
           ,
           and
           to
           avoid
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           possible
           ,
           all
           sharpness
           of
           expression
           ,
           being
           of
           my self
           most
           inclin'd
           to
           Lenitives
           ;
           and
           having
           often
           observ'd
           that
           gentle
           treatment
           is
           most
           apt
           to
           affect
           Noble
           Tempers
           ,
           I
           shall
           therefore
           beg
           of
           my
           Countreymen
           that
           they
           will
           be
           pleased
           to
           lay
           aside
           prejudice
           for
           a
           little
           while
           ,
           and
           consider
           fairly
           with
           me
           these
           four
           things
           .
        
         
           
             I.
             If
             such
             courses
             be
             not
             really
             inconsistent
             with
             the
             safety
             of
             any
             Government
             .
          
           
             II.
             If
             they
             be
             not
             contrary
             to
             the
             nature
             of
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             .
          
           
             III.
             If
             what
             is
             alledged
             from
             the
             obligation
             lying
             upon
             us
             by
             the
             late
             Covenants
             ,
             be
             a
             sufficient
             warrant
             for
             what
             we
             do
             .
          
           
             IV.
             If
             there
             be
             any
             ground
             for
             the
             new
             Doctrine
             of
             a
             pretended
             Forfeiture
             ,
             which
             some
             among
             us
             insist
             upon
             .
          
        
         
           
           
             First
             Consideration
             .
          
           
             It
             is
             necessary
             in
             all
             Civil
             Constitutions
             ,
             that
             the
             Actions
             of
             Particular
             Persons
             be
             directed
             towards
             the
             Publick
             Good.
             But
             most
             men
             being
             apt
             to
             steer
             their
             course
             only
             by
             the
             compass
             of
             Interest
             ,
             the
             Wisdom
             of
             no
             Government
             has
             hitherto
             found
             out
             a
             better
             way
             to
             support
             it self
             ,
             than
             by
             establishing
             such
             an
             Authority
             as
             might
             see
             to
             every
             man
             performing
             his
             part
             in
             relation
             to
             the
             Publick
             .
             This
             last
             resort
             of
             Power
             ,
             as
             the
             very
             life
             of
             the
             Government
             ,
             has
             still
             been
             accounted
             sacred
             and
             inviolable
             ;
             has
             had
             all
             the
             advantages
             of
             Laws
             in
             its
             behalf
             ;
             has
             every
             where
             been
             arm'd
             against
             the
             attempts
             of
             Malice
             ,
             Faction
             ,
             or
             Ambition
             ;
             nor
             has
             any
             thing
             been
             wanting
             that
             might
             enable
             it
             to
             answer
             the
             great
             ends
             of
             its
             Institution
             ,
             either
             to
             administer
             Justice
             ,
             secure
             Property
             ,
             or
             maintain
             Peace
             and
             Order
             .
          
           
             In
             whatever
             hands
             this
             Soveraign
             Power
             is
             lodg'd
             ,
             as
             with
             us
             it
             is
             undoubtedly
             in
             the
             King
             's
             ,
             there
             all
             must
             be
             ready
             to
             pay
             an
             humble
             deference
             ,
             not
             only
             to
             countenance
             Authority
             when
             it
             promotes
             our
             Private
             Interest
             ,
             but
             even
             when
             it
             seems
             least
             favourable
             to
             us
             ,
             to
             own
             that
             it
             has
             power
             to
             punish
             as
             well
             as
             reward
             ,
             there
             being
             no
             less
             reason
             for
             mens
             submitting
             to
             what
             Authority
             thinks
             proper
             to
             inflict
             upon
             their
             breach
             of
             the
             Laws
             ,
             than
             for
             their
             laying
             claim
             to
             Protection
             ,
             and
             other
             benefits
             ,
             while
             they
             observe
             them
             .
             No
             severity
             in
             the
             Prince
             can
             cancel
             the
             obligation
             that
             lies
             upon
             Subjects
             ,
             nor
             put
             them
             in
             Commission
             to
             make
             violent
             Resistance
             ,
             seeing
             this
             were
             a
             taking
             upon
             them
             to
             reject
             that
             Judge
             ,
             and
             deny
             that
             Authority
             ,
             which
             the
             Laws
             ,
             the
             Government
             ,
             and
             they
             Themselves
             as
             Members
             of
             it
             ,
             have
             already
             own'd
             to
             be
             Supream
             upon
             Earth
             .
          
           
             Nothing
             here
             below
             can
             be
             so
             perfectly
             contriv'd
             as
             not
             to
             retain
             some
             inconveniences
             ,
             and
             I
             shall
             grant
             a
             probability
             ,
             
             or
             a
             possibility
             at
             least
             ,
             of
             Particular
             Persons
             suffering
             sometimes
             unjustly
             ,
             to
             be
             an
             inconvenience
             which
             necessarily
             accompanies
             the
             chief
             Authority
             in
             all
             Governments
             .
             But
             if
             there
             be
             no
             other
             way
             to
             shun
             it
             ,
             than
             by
             allowing
             violent
             resistance
             to
             be
             lawfull
             in
             such
             cases
             ,
             the
             remedy
             will
             questionless
             prove
             much
             worse
             than
             the
             disease
             .
             If
             with
             the
             many
             Laws
             in
             the
             Prince's
             behalf
             ,
             there
             were
             but
             one
             to
             countenance
             resisting
             him
             ,
             this
             one
             would
             in
             a
             short
             time
             destroy
             all
             the
             rest
             ,
             and
             reduce
             his
             Authority
             to
             an
             empty
             name
             .
             Or
             if
             it
             were
             declared
             lawfull
             for
             Subjects
             only
             to
             resist
             in
             some
             cases
             ,
             who
             must
             judge
             when
             these
             fall
             out
             ?
             The
             Prince
             could
             hardly
             be
             brought
             to
             give
             Sentence
             against
             himself
             ,
             to
             wound
             his
             Power
             by
             releasing
             men
             from
             their
             Allegiance
             .
             And
             if
             it
             were
             left
             to
             the
             judgment
             of
             Subjects
             ,
             it
             is
             to
             be
             feared
             that
             the
             Determination
             would
             be
             highly
             partial
             on
             their
             side
             ;
             the
             case
             of
             lawfull
             Resistance
             would
             then
             turn
             frequent
             ,
             Obedience
             would
             be
             rare
             ,
             unless
             supported
             by
             Interest
             ,
             and
             Subjects
             would
             at
             this
             rate
             only
             be
             such
             to
             whom
             and
             when
             they
             pleased
             .
          
           
             This
             Principle
             of
             Resistance
             being
             once
             allow'd
             ,
             it
             necessarily
             opens
             a
             door
             to
             subvert
             all
             Authority
             ,
             and
             renders
             the
             whole
             design
             of
             Government
             ineffectual
             .
             How
             could
             the
             Publick
             Peace
             be
             secur'd
             ,
             if
             there
             were
             ways
             left
             for
             Particular
             persons
             lawfully
             to
             rebel
             ?
             Differences
             could
             never
             be
             decided
             but
             by
             granting
             a
             Sentence
             from
             which
             there
             is
             no
             appeal
             ,
             back'd
             with
             a
             power
             of
             executing
             without
             danger
             of
             opposition
             .
             There
             could
             be
             no
             order
             ,
             were
             it
             left
             to
             Private
             men
             to
             desert
             their
             stations
             ,
             to
             turn
             Judges
             where
             they
             are
             Parties
             ,
             and
             to
             call
             Rulers
             to
             an
             account
             of
             their
             Administration
             .
             If
             we
             leave
             Kingly
             Government
             ,
             and
             look
             upon
             the
             most
             Popular
             Constitutions
             ,
             which
             are
             raised
             but
             one
             step
             above
             Anarchy
             ,
             even
             there
             the
             chief
             Magistrates
             are
             only
             accountable
             to
             the
             whole
             Body
             for
             their
             actions
             :
             nor
             can
             any
             part
             of
             this
             Body
             ,
             without
             the
             concurrence
             of
             the
             rest
             ,
             
             meddle
             with
             those
             that
             have
             their
             Authority
             from
             all
             .
             Let
             us
             suppose
             Authority
             in
             some
             cases
             may
             be
             mistaken
             or
             biass'd
             in
             its
             decisions
             ;
             without
             doubt
             we
             might
             expect
             much
             greater
             errors
             and
             partiality
             ,
             were
             every
             man
             left
             to
             judge
             of
             his
             own
             performances
             .
             If
             we
             think
             it
             inconvenient
             that
             the
             Prince
             should
             be
             enabled
             by
             his
             Power
             to
             injure
             any
             Particular
             Person
             ,
             much
             worse
             would
             it
             be
             to
             put
             it
             in
             every
             Particular
             Person
             's
             power
             to
             be
             unjust
             to
             the
             Prince
             .
             To
             be
             short
             ,
             the
             Supream
             Power
             falling
             sometimes
             into
             no
             good
             hands
             ,
             doth
             not
             frustrate
             the
             chief
             ends
             of
             Government
             ;
             but
             if
             discontented
             spirits
             may
             find
             ways
             lawfully
             to
             make
             opposition
             ,
             nothing
             can
             keep
             it
             from
             being
             dissolved
             .
          
           
             It
             is
             most
             plain
             that
             Subjects
             Rights
             are
             rather
             secur'd
             than
             endanger'd
             by
             the
             Princes
             not
             being
             accountable
             for
             his
             Actions
             ,
             and
             that
             they
             would
             soon
             find
             themselves
             at
             a
             loss
             by
             being
             allow'd
             to
             resist
             :
             for
             as
             men
             are
             naturally
             apt
             to
             complain
             ,
             and
             are
             allways
             partial
             enough
             to
             think
             themselves
             most
             hardly
             dealt
             with
             ;
             so
             if
             they
             were
             at
             liberty
             to
             fall
             upon
             the
             Government
             ,
             in
             helping
             to
             weaken
             that
             they
             would
             wound
             their
             own
             Security
             .
             The
             whole
             Body
             must
             feel
             the
             blow
             which
             the
             Head
             receives
             .
             Life
             may
             be
             preserved
             with
             the
             hazard
             or
             loss
             of
             several
             Members
             ,
             but
             when
             the
             Head
             is
             affected
             ,
             every
             part
             languishes
             ,
             and
             with
             it
             all
             dies
             .
             The
             great
             foundation
             then
             of
             the
             Subjects
             Safety
             being
             shaken
             by
             violating
             the
             Prince's
             Rights
             ,
             Interest
             it self
             should
             teach
             us
             to
             be
             very
             tender
             of
             them
             ,
             and
             never
             to
             offer
             at
             destroying
             that
             which
             appears
             perhaps
             inconvenient
             in
             one
             respect
             ,
             but
             is
             useful
             and
             necessary
             in
             many
             .
             If
             it
             trouble
             us
             to
             be
             at
             the
             Prince's
             Mercy
             ,
             we
             may
             remember
             we
             are
             likewise
             under
             his
             Protection
             ,
             and
             so
             need
             apprehend
             none
             besides
             .
             And
             this
             I
             humbly
             conceive
             is
             a
             Condition
             much
             more
             desirable
             ,
             than
             by
             renouncing
             our
             Allegiance
             ,
             unhinging
             the
             Government
             ,
             and
             getting
             thus
             without
             the
             reach
             of
             an
             imaginary
             danger
             ,
             to
             draw
             upon
             our selves
             the
             violence
             
             of
             every
             one
             that
             hath
             strength
             or
             wickedness
             enough
             to
             hurt
             us
             .
          
           
             And
             truly
             our
             Countrey
             is
             at
             little
             beholden
             to
             us
             for
             resisting
             Authority
             ,
             as
             we
             are
             to
             our selves
             ;
             for
             in
             shaking
             off
             all
             duty
             to
             our
             Prince
             ,
             we
             encourage
             others
             to
             do
             the
             same
             :
             this
             must
             involve
             the
             Government
             in
             constant
             trouble
             ,
             and
             deprive
             us
             of
             the
             blessed
             fruits
             of
             Peace
             upon
             which
             we
             cannot
             set
             too
             high
             a
             value
             .
             If
             every
             one
             of
             us
             be
             resolv'd
             to
             make
             good
             our
             petty
             Rights
             ,
             can
             we
             imagine
             our
             Prince
             will
             tamely
             pass
             from
             His
             ,
             which
             are
             so
             great
             ?
             And
             at
             this
             rate
             there
             is
             no
             avoiding
             a
             Civil
             War
             ,
             with
             all
             its
             fatal
             Consequences
             ,
             which
             will
             fall
             much
             heavier
             upon
             the
             Publick
             ,
             than
             any
             thing
             that
             any
             Particular
             Man
             or
             Sort
             of
             Men
             can
             suffer
             .
             The
             Government
             of
             the
             worst
             of
             Princes
             is
             infinitely
             preferable
             to
             Anarchy
             and
             Confusion
             ,
             where
             Guilty
             and
             Innocent
             are
             equally
             obnoxious
             to
             Danger
             ;
             where
             no
             Man's
             Prudence
             ,
             Vertue
             ,
             or
             Merit
             can
             give
             him
             Sanctuary
             .
             Rome
             felt
             it self
             much
             more
             at
             ease
             under
             a
             Caligula
             ,
             a
             Nero
             ,
             a
             Domitian
             ,
             or
             a
             Commodus
             ,
             than
             amidst
             the
             terrible
             Alarms
             of
             a
             Civil
             War.
             This
             in
             a
             few
             Days
             spilt
             more
             of
             Rome's
             best
             Blood
             ,
             banish'd
             more
             Senators
             ,
             and
             ruin'd
             more
             Families
             ,
             than
             any
             of
             those
             Tyrants
             did
             in
             several
             Years
             .
             But
             if
             it
             went
             better
             with
             the
             Publick
             ,
             while
             such
             Monsters
             sate
             at
             the
             Helm
             ,
             who
             were
             themselves
             govern'd
             ,
             and
             govern'd
             others
             by
             no
             better
             Laws
             ,
             than
             what
             Cruelty
             ,
             Avarice
             ,
             Ambition
             ,
             and
             the
             rest
             of
             their
             unbridled
             Passions
             suggested
             ;
             I
             am
             willing
             still
             to
             believe
             ,
             That
             none
             of
             us
             are
             so
             much
             our
             own
             ,
             and
             our
             Countrey
             's
             Enemies
             ,
             to
             prefer
             Anarchy
             before
             the
             easy
             Yoke
             of
             our
             Indulgent
             Prince
             ,
             who
             's
             Reign
             has
             never
             yet
             been
             stain'd
             with
             one
             Act
             of
             his
             Cruelty
             ;
             Whom
             Envy
             it self
             cannot
             charge
             as
             gratifying
             his
             Avarice
             ,
             or
             Ambition
             ,
             at
             the
             Expence
             of
             his
             Subjects
             Fortunes
             or
             Lives
             ;
             but
             who
             on
             the
             contrary
             has
             hitherto
             made
             good
             ,
             what
             he
             has
             been
             pleased
             ,
             both
             in
             Publick
             and
             Private
             ,
             often
             
             to
             declare
             ,
             That
             he
             intends
             to
             govern
             according
             to
             the
             established
             Laws
             of
             his
             Kingdoms
             .
             And
             truly
             we
             must
             allow
             it
             reasonable
             ,
             that
             all
             his
             Subjects
             follow
             this
             Royal
             Pattern
             ,
             and
             make
             the
             Laws
             likewise
             the
             Sandard
             of
             their
             Actions
             ;
             or
             if
             they
             cannot
             be
             brought
             this
             length
             ,
             it
             is
             fit
             that
             at
             least
             they
             learn
             patiently
             to
             submit
             ,
             without
             taxing
             their
             Prince
             of
             Severity
             or
             Injustice
             ,
             for
             requiring
             them
             to
             observe
             those
             Rules
             ,
             by
             which
             he
             himself
             vouchsafes
             to
             be
             govern'd
             .
             But
             if
             nothing
             besides
             our
             own
             private
             Interest
             will
             influence
             us
             ,
             even
             this
             ought
             to
             make
             all
             tremble
             at
             the
             very
             Thoughts
             of
             disturbing
             the
             Publick
             Peace
             ,
             or
             of
             setting
             their
             Countrey
             on
             Fire
             ,
             lest
             they
             themselves
             be
             burnt
             up
             in
             its
             Ashes
             .
             As
             no
             Art
             can
             manage
             this
             Flame
             ,
             when
             it
             is
             once
             kindled
             ;
             so
             it
             has
             always
             been
             observ'd
             ,
             that
             the
             unhappy
             Instruments
             of
             such
             Tragedies
             have
             seldom
             escap'd
             ,
             or
             ,
             at
             best
             ,
             the
             issue
             has
             prov'd
             more
             grievous
             ,
             than
             any
             thing
             that
             could
             have
             befallen
             them
             by
             keeping
             to
             a
             dutiful
             Compliance
             .
             It
             must
             then
             be
             confest
             ,
             that
             Men
             are
             very
             ill
             advis'd
             ,
             to
             draw
             inevitable
             Calamity
             upon
             their
             Countrey
             ,
             and
             to
             sacrifice
             the
             Lives
             and
             Fortunes
             of
             so
             many
             thousands
             ,
             where
             the
             Injustice
             is
             so
             plain
             ,
             and
             the
             Success
             of
             the
             Undertaking
             so
             doubtful
             .
          
           
             And
             now
             me-thinks
             I
             hear
             some
             alledg
             ,
             That
             they
             only
             endeavour
             to
             maintain
             those
             Natural
             Rights
             and
             Priviledges
             to
             which
             every
             Man
             has
             an
             undoubted
             Title
             ,
             or
             that
             they
             only
             stand
             upon
             self-Defence
             ,
             which
             is
             enjoin'd
             them
             by
             the
             Law
             of
             Nature
             .
             But
             however
             plausible
             such
             pretences
             may
             appear
             at
             first
             view
             ,
             yet
             when
             narrowly
             look'd
             into
             ,
             they
             will
             not
             be
             able
             to
             bear
             them
             out
             :
             for
             neither
             the
             Defence
             of
             Natural
             Rights
             ,
             nor
             the
             Law
             of
             Nature
             ,
             will
             allow
             of
             any
             such
             monstrous
             Doctrine
             .
             As
             to
             things
             which
             are
             undoubtedly
             Natural
             Rights
             ,
             all
             Men
             ,
             who
             are
             Members
             of
             Societies
             ,
             and
             live
             under
             any
             Rules
             ,
             do
             every
             day
             part
             with
             several
             of
             them
             ,
             and
             find
             a
             real
             Advantage
             in
             so
             doing
             ,
             
             they
             freely
             resign
             some
             natural
             Rights
             into
             the
             hands
             of
             the
             Publick
             ,
             which
             thereupon
             ensures
             to
             them
             the
             rest
             .
             And
             tho
             by
             this
             means
             their
             Natural
             Liberties
             are
             brought
             under
             the
             Confinement
             of
             Laws
             ,
             and
             are
             in
             some
             measure
             abridg'd
             ,
             yet
             still
             their
             Condition
             is
             much
             more
             comfortable
             ,
             than
             if
             they
             continued
             single
             and
             independent
             Persons
             ,
             neither
             owing
             Obedience
             as
             Subjects
             ,
             nor
             as
             such
             receiving
             Protection
             ;
             for
             in
             this
             Case
             the
             Pleasure
             of
             enjoying
             all
             the
             Priviledges
             of
             Nature
             ,
             with
             the
             gilded
             name
             of
             entire
             Liberty
             ,
             would
             be
             sufficiently
             allay'd
             by
             the
             constant
             Terrors
             and
             Fears
             they
             must
             then
             live
             in
             .
             Their
             own
             natural
             Rights
             ,
             without
             any
             other
             Support
             ,
             would
             little
             avail
             them
             ,
             nor
             would
             their
             overvalued
             Freedom
             fail
             to
             determine
             in
             Slavery
             ,
             as
             soon
             as
             they
             met
             with
             any
             stronger
             than
             themselves
             .
             And
             thus
             by
             standing
             upon
             all
             the
             Priviledges
             of
             their
             Birth
             ,
             and
             every
             thing
             that
             Nature
             had
             given
             them
             ,
             they
             should
             be
             able
             to
             secure
             nothing
             .
          
           
             The
             greatest
             Lovers
             therefore
             of
             Freedom
             ,
             have
             in
             all
             Ages
             been
             wise
             enough
             to
             see
             an
             Interest
             in
             framing
             themselves
             into
             Bodies
             under
             certain
             Laws
             ,
             which
             limited
             ,
             but
             withal
             secured
             those
             Rights
             of
             Nature
             ;
             and
             the
             great
             Dangers
             from
             which
             this
             Union
             freed
             them
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             the
             Advantages
             that
             have
             arisen
             from
             it
             ,
             made
             Men
             agree
             ,
             to
             keep
             nothing
             back
             ,
             no
             not
             Life
             it self
             ,
             when
             the
             Publick
             required
             it
             :
             and
             this
             makes
             it
             evident
             ,
             that
             Self-defence
             is
             not
             enjoin'd
             by
             the
             Law
             of
             Nature
             ,
             because
             this
             Law
             is
             inviolable
             ;
             and
             if
             it
             absolutely
             required
             the
             Preservation
             of
             Life
             ,
             no
             Man
             could
             then
             venture
             it
             for
             his
             Countrey
             ,
             for
             his
             Parents
             ,
             nor
             for
             his
             Friends
             ,
             no
             Criminal
             could
             without
             Sin
             submit
             to
             the
             Execution
             of
             the
             Judges
             Sentence
             ;
             and
             not
             to
             meddle
             with
             Christ's
             Death
             ,
             the
             Glory
             of
             Martyrs
             would
             be
             their
             Crime
             ,
             for
             Violating
             the
             Law
             of
             Nature
             by
             their
             Voluntary
             Sufferings
             .
             I
             own
             Self-defence
             to
             be
             every
             Man
             's
             undoubted
             Birth-right
             ,
             one
             of
             our
             dearest
             Priviledges
             ,
             which
             we
             are
             
             not
             to
             forgo
             unless
             upon
             weighty
             Considerations
             .
             But
             the
             great
             Fallacy
             is
             here
             ,
             Men
             are
             apt
             to
             confound
             Natural
             Rights
             ,
             and
             the
             Law
             of
             Nature
             ,
             which
             vastly
             differ
             .
             The
             Law
             of
             Nature
             contains
             certain
             general
             Truths
             ,
             the
             Fruit
             and
             genuine
             Results
             of
             Reflection
             ,
             the
             very
             Impressions
             which
             God
             has
             immediately
             graven
             in
             our
             Souls
             ,
             which
             are
             not
             to
             be
             violated
             ,
             and
             which
             every
             Man's
             Reason
             must
             approve
             .
             Whereas
             the
             Rights
             of
             Nature
             are
             frequently
             dispensed
             with
             ,
             nor
             have
             we
             any
             further
             Title
             to
             them
             ,
             than
             the
             Laws
             of
             the
             Government
             ,
             whereof
             we
             are
             Members
             ,
             allow
             us
             .
             So
             that
             the
             whole
             Matter
             being
             rightly
             understood
             ,
             I
             may
             boldly
             say
             ,
             The
             Law
             of
             Nature
             first
             taught
             Men
             to
             give
             up
             their
             Natural
             Rights
             to
             the
             Publick
             ,
             as
             the
             wisest
             Bargain
             they
             could
             make
             ,
             seeing
             upon
             their
             committing
             their
             Lives
             ,
             Liberties
             and
             Fortunes
             to
             its
             Trust
             ,
             to
             be
             dispos'd
             of
             at
             all
             times
             as
             the
             Publick
             should
             think
             fit
             ,
             there
             is
             a
             sufficient
             Return
             made
             them
             by
             the
             Publick
             ,
             which
             in
             this
             Case
             undertakes
             their
             Protection
             against
             the
             whole
             World.
             
          
        
         
           
             Second
             Consideration
             .
          
           
             The
             great
             Design
             of
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             is
             to
             reform
             men
             inwardly
             ,
             to
             calm
             the
             Storm
             ,
             which
             Pride
             ,
             Malice
             ,
             or
             Love
             of
             Revenge
             are
             apt
             to
             raise
             ,
             which
             it
             effects
             by
             seasoning
             the
             Mind
             with
             Humility
             ,
             Gentleness
             ,
             and
             Patience
             .
             It
             was
             chiefly
             intended
             to
             remove
             Mens
             Thoughts
             from
             Temporal
             to
             Spiritual
             Objects
             ,
             teaching
             them
             in
             all
             Conditions
             to
             shew
             an
             entire
             Resignation
             to
             God
             ,
             grounded
             upon
             a
             sure
             Confidence
             of
             his
             Paternal
             Care
             and
             Protection
             ;
             and
             when
             Men
             are
             once
             arrived
             at
             this
             blessed
             Temper
             of
             Spirit
             ,
             it
             will
             discover
             it self
             in
             the
             whole
             Tenor
             of
             their
             Lives
             ,
             
             with
             Relation
             both
             to
             God
             and
             their
             Neighbour
             .
             Far
             from
             repining
             at
             the
             Divine
             Providence
             under
             the
             harshest
             Dispensations
             ,
             they
             will
             then
             be
             seen
             to
             rejoice
             in
             Afflictions
             ;
             they
             will
             cheerfully
             take
             up
             their
             Cross
             ,
             and
             ,
             notwithstanding
             all
             discouragements
             ,
             will
             keep
             on
             a
             steady
             Course
             towards
             Heaven
             .
             Nor
             is
             it
             to
             be
             imagin'd
             that
             ill
             Usage
             from
             Men
             will
             be
             able
             to
             discompose
             those
             ,
             who
             have
             put
             on
             the
             strongest
             Resolutions
             to
             be
             at
             peace
             with
             the
             whole
             World
             ,
             to
             forgive
             Injuries
             as
             soon
             as
             received
             ,
             to
             pray
             for
             their
             Persecutors
             ,
             and
             to
             return
             Good
             for
             Evil.
             
          
           
             Seeing
             the
             holy
             Religion
             then
             ,
             which
             we
             profess
             ,
             requires
             such
             a
             peaceable
             and
             gentle
             Disposition
             of
             Mind
             in
             the
             cross
             Occurrences
             of
             this
             Life
             ,
             and
             seems
             upon
             all
             Occasions
             to
             discountenance
             any
             thing
             that
             savours
             of
             Violence
             ,
             certainly
             it
             will
             never
             allow
             of
             violent
             Methods
             in
             what
             immediately
             regards
             it self
             .
             And
             as
             these
             are
             neither
             suitable
             to
             the
             Nature
             nor
             Design
             of
             Religion
             ,
             so
             it
             may
             be
             sufficiently
             secur'd
             without
             them
             ;
             and
             he
             who
             questions
             the
             Truth
             of
             this
             ,
             doth
             forget
             that
             Religion
             is
             an
             inward
             Principle
             ,
             fix'd
             in
             the
             Soul
             ,
             from
             whence
             no
             outward
             Force
             is
             able
             to
             remove
             it
             .
             Men
             may
             be
             spoil'd
             of
             their
             Goods
             ,
             depriv'd
             of
             their
             Liberties
             ,
             and
             suffer
             constant
             Persecution
             for
             Righteousness-sake
             ,
             without
             hazarding
             their
             Religion
             ,
             which
             is
             beyond
             the
             Reach
             of
             the
             strongest
             and
             most
             malicious
             Enemies
             .
             An
             undeniable
             Instance
             of
             this
             Truth
             we
             meet
             with
             in
             the
             Primitive
             Martyrs
             ,
             who
             ,
             tho
             they
             were
             oftentimes
             mean
             and
             contemptible
             Persons
             ,
             yet
             they
             held
             out
             against
             the
             whole
             Power
             of
             the
             Roman
             Empire
             .
             So
             that
             Religion
             may
             properly
             be
             term'd
             ,
             A
             precious
             Treasure
             ,
             of
             which
             no
             man
             was
             ever
             yet
             rob'd
             ,
             but
             by
             his
             own
             Fault
             ;
             and
             as
             we
             may
             laugh
             at
             any
             Attempts
             ,
             which
             are
             made
             against
             it
             ,
             so
             nothing
             can
             be
             more
             unreasonable
             ,
             than
             to
             use
             Violence
             in
             keeping
             what
             cannot
             be
             taken
             from
             us
             .
             We
             much
             undervalue
             its
             Power
             ,
             if
             we
             imagine
             that
             there
             is
             need
             of
             any
             thing
             
             of
             this
             kind
             to
             support
             it
             .
             Nor
             can
             there
             be
             a
             more
             certain
             Sign
             of
             the
             Spirit
             's
             being
             weak
             in
             us
             ,
             than
             our
             not
             daring
             to
             trust
             it
             without
             a
             Guard.
             In
             a
             word
             ,
             Religion
             has
             not
             throughly
             inflam'd
             those
             Souls
             ,
             which
             are
             not
             able
             to
             offer
             Sacrifice
             to
             God
             without
             borrowing
             strange
             Fire
             .
          
           
             The
             Precepts
             of
             Christianity
             do
             not
             seem
             plainer
             in
             any
             one
             Thing
             ,
             than
             in
             that
             unlimited
             Submission
             which
             ,
             as
             Subjects
             ,
             we
             ow
             to
             our
             Prince
             ;
             and
             if
             our
             Duty
             to
             God
             may
             sometimes
             justify
             our
             Refusal
             to
             pay
             an
             active
             Obedience
             ,
             yet
             in
             no
             Case
             are
             private
             Persons
             at
             Liberty
             to
             resist
             ,
             but
             must
             bear
             patiently
             the
             sharpest
             Tryals
             ,
             until
             they
             can
             ease
             themselves
             in
             a
             lawful
             ,
             that
             is
             ,
             in
             a
             peaceable
             way
             .
             If
             the
             Princes
             Edicts
             therefore
             should
             appear
             such
             as
             did
             infringe
             our
             dearest
             Priviledges
             ,
             and
             in
             our
             Judgment
             strike
             even
             at
             Religion
             it self
             ,
             we
             ought
             still
             to
             remember
             who
             we
             are
             ,
             and
             what
             we
             are
             concern'd
             for
             .
             We
             must
             not
             presently
             shake
             off
             our
             Allegiance
             ,
             and
             imagine
             that
             this
             gives
             us
             Authority
             to
             disturb
             the
             Publick
             Peace
             ,
             or
             that
             there
             is
             no
             Rebellion
             where
             Religion
             is
             the
             Cause
             we
             fight
             for
             .
             God
             doth
             not
             call
             us
             to
             put
             to
             our
             Hand
             after
             this
             irreverent
             manner
             ,
             to
             support
             the
             tottering
             Ark
             ;
             and
             the
             Sincerity
             of
             our
             Intentions
             ,
             or
             our
             Zeal
             for
             God's
             Glory
             and
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             will
             not
             excuse
             us
             in
             any
             indirect
             Courses
             .
             God
             is
             jealous
             of
             his
             own
             Honour
             ,
             and
             can
             easily
             compass
             his
             Ends
             ,
             without
             requiring
             such
             things
             at
             our
             hands
             .
             The
             Means
             he
             is
             pleased
             to
             recommend
             to
             us
             ,
             as
             fittest
             for
             this
             Purpose
             ,
             are
             our
             humble
             Addresses
             to
             our
             Soveraign
             ,
             whom
             in
             Conscience
             we
             dare
             not
             oppose
             ,
             our
             making
             known
             our
             just
             Grievances
             in
             a
             dutiful
             manner
             ,
             and
             laying
             modestly
             before
             him
             those
             Considerations
             ,
             which
             are
             most
             likely
             to
             remove
             his
             Prejudices
             ,
             and
             dispose
             him
             to
             entertain
             a
             better
             Opinion
             of
             Us
             and
             our
             Principles
             ;
             and
             when
             we
             have
             fought
             with
             these
             Arms
             ,
             which
             Heaven
             approves
             of
             ,
             we
             must
             back
             our
             Petitions
             with
             our
             Prayers
             to
             God
             ,
             that
             He
             ,
             who
             has
             the
             hearts
             of
             Kings
             always
             
             in
             his
             Hands
             ,
             will
             incline
             our
             Prince
             to
             grant
             our
             Requests
             ,
             and
             then
             ,
             if
             our
             Cause
             be
             truly
             good
             ,
             if
             it
             be
             God's
             as
             much
             as
             we
             are
             willing
             to
             believe
             it
             is
             ,
             then
             if
             we
             do
             not
             spoil
             it
             in
             the
             Management
             ,
             we
             need
             not
             in
             the
             least
             doubt
             of
             a
             most
             comfortable
             Issue
             .
          
           
             But
             as
             Things
             are
             now
             order'd
             ,
             it
             will
             be
             hard
             to
             persuade
             the
             World
             that
             we
             are
             acted
             by
             an
             Evangelical
             Spirit
             ,
             where
             the
             Practices
             of
             many
             are
             so
             apparently
             contrary
             to
             the
             Gospel
             .
             To
             have
             our
             hands
             still
             upon
             our
             Swords
             ,
             ready
             to
             draw
             as
             soon
             as
             the
             least
             Advantage
             is
             given
             us
             ,
             is
             a
             Posture
             ill
             befitting
             our
             Profession
             ,
             and
             is
             that
             which
             doth
             insensibly
             destroy
             ,
             but
             will
             never
             maintain
             Religion
             .
             What
             we
             would
             have
             pass
             for
             pure
             Zeal
             ,
             others
             look
             upon
             as
             Rage
             ,
             and
             love
             of
             Revenge
             ;
             and
             condemn
             our
             fomenting
             Tumults
             and
             Insurrections
             against
             Authority
             ,
             as
             flowing
             either
             from
             a
             Diffidence
             of
             God's
             Providence
             ,
             or
             from
             a
             Distrust
             of
             his
             Promises
             ,
             or
             at
             best
             from
             our
             Impatience
             to
             wait
             his
             good
             time
             .
             Look
             back
             upon
             the
             Contrivances
             of
             all
             Rebellions
             ,
             and
             you
             must
             reckon
             Craft
             ,
             Ambition
             ,
             and
             Hypocrisy
             have
             been
             always
             among
             the
             most
             innocent
             Instruments
             that
             are
             employ'd
             in
             hatching
             and
             carrying
             them
             on
             ;
             and
             yet
             these
             are
             so
             far
             from
             being
             Acts
             of
             Christianity
             ,
             that
             all
             Men
             who
             are
             concern'd
             to
             be
             thought
             strict
             in
             their
             Morals
             ,
             will
             be
             asham'd
             to
             own
             them
             .
             What
             then
             shall
             we
             say
             to
             the
             Falsehood
             ,
             the
             Cruelty
             ,
             the
             Oppression
             and
             Injustice
             which
             are
             so
             eminently
             conspicuous
             in
             the
             History
             of
             our
             late
             unhappy
             Rebellion
             ?
             Certainly
             for
             Men
             to
             pretend
             amidst
             so
             gross
             Enormities
             ,
             that
             what
             they
             do
             is
             to
             promote
             God's
             Service
             ,
             and
             to
             fight
             his
             Battels
             ,
             is
             a
             Sin
             much
             beyond
             all
             the
             rest
             ,
             and
             brings
             so
             great
             a
             Scandal
             upon
             our
             holy
             Religion
             ,
             that
             we
             see
             by
             woful
             Experience
             ,
             how
             it
             has
             help'd
             to
             set
             up
             that
             Spirit
             of
             Atheism
             which
             now
             abounds
             among
             us
             .
          
           
             The
             Arms
             with
             which
             true
             Religion
             delights
             to
             defend
             it
             
             self
             ,
             are
             of
             a
             quite
             different
             Nature
             ,
             as
             Justice
             and
             Integrity
             in
             Mens
             Dealings
             ,
             Innocence
             in
             their
             Lives
             ,
             Zeal
             without
             Hypocrisy
             in
             their
             holy
             Performances
             ;
             Willingness
             rather
             to
             receive
             the
             greatest
             ,
             than
             to
             do
             the
             least
             Injury
             ;
             Enmity
             against
             no
             Person
             ,
             much
             less
             against
             the
             Prince
             ;
             Constancy
             in
             suffering
             all
             manner
             of
             Inconveniences
             ,
             rather
             than
             to
             contract
             Guilt
             in
             removing
             them
             ;
             and
             lastly
             ,
             a
             sincere
             Abhorrence
             of
             offering
             to
             stain
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             ,
             by
             Shedding
             any
             Man's
             Blood
             in
             its
             maintenance
             ,
             while
             yet
             they
             are
             resolv'd
             by
             God's
             Grace
             patiently
             to
             sacrifice
             their
             own
             Lives
             ,
             rather
             than
             renounce
             it
             .
             These
             and
             the
             like
             were
             the
             innocent
             Methods
             which
             under
             God
             prov'd
             instrumental
             in
             converting
             the
             Heathen
             World.
             Christianity
             ,
             after
             a
             new
             kind
             of
             Warfare
             ,
             became
             Victorious
             by
             yielding
             ;
             planted
             ,
             't
             is
             true
             ,
             it
             was
             and
             grew
             up
             in
             Blood
             ,
             yet
             in
             such
             as
             was
             not
             spilt
             in
             the
             open
             Fields
             ,
             but
             upon
             Scaffolds
             and
             in
             Amphitheaters
             ,
             and
             always
             without
             Resistance
             .
             No
             other
             Arms
             than
             Prayers
             ,
             Tears
             ,
             and
             invincible
             Patience
             ,
             made
             it
             triumph
             over
             the
             Power
             of
             Heathen
             Rome
             .
             Holy
             Leagues
             ,
             Bonds
             of
             mutual
             Defence
             ,
             Cabals
             and
             secret
             Practices
             were
             not
             known
             in
             those
             Ages
             .
             Private
             Meetings
             indeed
             we
             read
             of
             ,
             which
             far
             from
             endangering
             the
             Peace
             of
             the
             Empire
             ,
             prov'd
             the
             best
             Seminaries
             to
             instruct
             Men
             in
             the
             Principles
             of
             Loyalty
             as
             well
             as
             Religion
             ;
             Nothing
             of
             Sedition
             was
             ever
             heard
             or
             taught
             in
             those
             pure
             ,
             tho
             Nocturnal
             Assemblies
             .
             No
             man
             thought
             fit
             to
             meddle
             with
             Authority
             ,
             or
             arraign
             the
             Government
             there
             ;
             the
             time
             was
             much
             better
             spent
             ,
             even
             in
             Exercises
             of
             Devotion
             ,
             and
             in
             pious
             Meditations
             ;
             seldom
             was
             the
             Emperors
             Name
             there
             mentioned
             ,
             except
             in
             the
             Prayers
             that
             they
             daily
             offer'd
             up
             for
             his
             Safety
             ,
             even
             when
             the
             Church
             groaned
             under
             his
             Persecution
             :
             and
             for
             the
             Truth
             of
             what
             is
             here
             alledged
             ,
             I
             dare
             appeal
             to
             the
             Doctrine
             and
             Practice
             of
             Christ
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             primitive
             Christians
             .
          
           
           
             If
             we
             take
             an
             exact
             view
             of
             the
             great
             Copy
             Christ
             has
             set
             us
             ,
             either
             in
             his
             Words
             or
             in
             his
             Actions
             ,
             in
             what
             he
             taught
             ,
             or
             in
             what
             he
             suffered
             ,
             every
             Part
             doth
             breath
             that
             Peace
             ,
             which
             ,
             as
             a
             Legacy
             ,
             he
             did
             bequeath
             his
             Disciples
             ,
             
               (
               John
            
             14.
             v.
             27.
             )
             Those
             who
             are
             gently
             and
             peaceably
             dispos'd
             ,
             have
             no
             small
             Share
             in
             the
             Blessings
             he
             pronounced
             in
             the
             beginning
             of
             his
             most
             Divine
             Sermon
             ,
             
               (
               Matth.
            
             5.
             v.
             7
             ,
             9
             ,
             10.
             )
             and
             if
             we
             urge
             his
             own
             Words
             to
             the
             contrary
             ,
             that
             he
             came
             not
             to
             send
             Peace
             ,
             but
             a
             Sword
             ,
             
               (
               Matth.
            
             10.
             v.
             34.
             )
             these
             shew
             us
             rather
             what
             he
             foresaw
             would
             be
             the
             unhappy
             Effect
             ,
             than
             the
             real
             Design
             of
             his
             Coming
             ,
             which
             was
             chiefly
             to
             make
             Peace
             betwixt
             God
             and
             Man
             ,
             and
             to
             make
             Men
             be
             at
             Peace
             with
             one
             another
             ;
             in
             Order
             to
             this
             he
             commands
             us
             not
             to
             resist
             Evil
             ,
             
               (
               Math.
            
             5.
             v.
             39.
             )
             or
             the
             evil
             Person
             ,
             as
             the
             Learned
             here
             observe
             :
             and
             if
             the
             Precept
             be
             general
             ,
             the
             Inference
             is
             strongest
             ,
             with
             Relation
             to
             our
             Prince
             ,
             who
             if
             he
             prove
             evil
             ,
             unjust
             or
             froward
             ,
             yet
             of
             all
             Persons
             is
             least
             to
             be
             resisted
             .
             I
             might
             bring
             the
             most
             Material
             Passages
             of
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             in
             Confirmation
             of
             this
             necessary
             Truth
             .
             But
             I
             shall
             for
             brevitie's
             sake
             confine
             my self
             to
             two
             or
             three
             Instances
             .
          
           
             When
             the
             Inhabitants
             of
             a
             Samaritan
             Village
             refused
             to
             entertain
             our
             Saviour
             ,
             
               (
               Luke
            
             9.
             v.
             54.
             )
             two
             of
             his
             Disciples
             not
             being
             able
             to
             bear
             this
             Affront
             ,
             ask'd
             leave
             to
             command
             Fire
             down
             from
             Heaven
             and
             consume
             them
             ,
             as
             Elias
             (
             2
             Kin.
             1.
             v.
             10
             ,
             12.
             )
             had
             done
             ,
             but
             we
             find
             he
             answer'd
             them
             with
             this
             sharp
             rebuke
             ,
             
               Ye
               know
               not
               of
               what
               Spirit
               ye
               are
               .
            
             They
             did
             imagine
             it
             fit
             for
             them
             to
             imitate
             the
             Prophet
             ,
             forgetting
             that
             they
             were
             now
             in
             the
             School
             of
             Christ
             ,
             and
             not
             in
             that
             of
             Moses
             .
             Many
             things
             were
             allow'd
             ,
             but
             especially
             to
             those
             called
             Zealots
             ,
             by
             which
             Character
             Elias
             then
             acted
             ,
             which
             could
             not
             take
             place
             under
             this
             new
             Dispensation
             .
             The
             Gospel
             was
             to
             be
             carried
             on
             with
             a
             Spirit
             of
             Lenity
             and
             Meekness
             ,
             Men
             were
             to
             be
             charm'd
             and
             not
             frighted
             into
             a
             
             good
             Opinion
             of
             it
             .
             Nor
             was
             it
             at
             all
             to
             be
             introduced
             with
             Violence
             ,
             or
             Hazard
             to
             their
             Lives
             ,
             seeing
             the
             Design
             of
             the
             Son
             of
             Man's
             Coming
             ,
             was
             not
             to
             
               destroy
               Men's
               Lives
               ,
               but
               to
               save
               them
               ,
            
             Luke
             9.
             v.
             56.
             
          
           
             The
             next
             Instance
             shall
             be
             that
             of
             St.
             Peter
             ,
             who
             when
             the
             Souldiers
             came
             to
             apprehend
             Christ
             ,
             
               (
               Math.
            
             26.
             v.
             51
             ,
             52.
             )
             drew
             his
             Sword
             ,
             and
             smote
             a
             Servant
             of
             the
             High-priest's
             ,
             and
             out
             off
             his
             Ear
             ;
             but
             instead
             of
             receiving
             Thanks
             for
             his
             Zeal
             in
             his
             Master's
             Defence
             ,
             he
             was
             commanded
             to
             
               put
               up
               his
               Sword
            
             ,
             with
             this
             Threat
             ,
             
               That
               all
               they
               who
               take
               the
               Sword
               ,
               shall
               perish
               by
               the
               Sword.
            
             Both
             Ancient
             and
             Modern
             Writers
             have
             urged
             this
             as
             a
             plain
             Argument
             against
             Subjects
             assuming
             to
             themselves
             the
             Power
             of
             the
             Sword
             to
             oppose
             Magistrates
             ,
             or
             those
             who
             act
             by
             their
             Commission
             ,
             and
             the
             Cavil
             which
             some
             make
             ,
             as
             if
             the
             Threatning
             were
             here
             directed
             rather
             to
             the
             Jews
             than
             to
             St.
             Peter
             ,
             will
             with
             impartial
             Persons
             always
             pass
             for
             a
             violent
             wresting
             the
             Words
             from
             their
             genuine
             Sense
             .
             An
             ancient
             Father
             
               (
               Theophilact
            
             )
             doth
             expresly
             say
             that
             Christ
             here
             taught
             his
             Disciples
             not
             to
             use
             the
             Sword
             ,
             tho
             by
             so
             doing
             he
             might
             seem
             to
             vindicate
             or
             defend
             God
             himself
             .
             Another
             of
             the
             Ancients
             
               (
               Origen
            
             )
             doth
             conclude
             from
             Christ's
             Command
             to
             Peter
             to
             put
             up
             his
             Sword
             ,
             that
             we
             must
             not
             draw
             it
             unless
             we
             will
             perish
             by
             it
             ,
             and
             that
             all
             those
             who
             are
             not
             inclin'd
             to
             Peace
             ,
             but
             are
             Movers
             of
             Sedition
             ,
             shall
             perish
             in
             the
             War
             which
             they
             occasion
             .
             And
             to
             give
             you
             the
             Comment
             of
             St.
             Austin
             here
             for
             all
             ,
             he
             saith
             that
             the
             Lord
             did
             in
             these
             Words
             sufficiently
             check
             St.
             
             Peter's
             Fact
             ,
             when
             he
             said
             ,
             
               Put
               up
               again
               thy
               Sword
               ,
               for
               he
               that
               useth
               the
               Sword
               shall
               perish
               by
               the
               Sword
               ;
               and
               he
               useth
               it
               ,
               who
               ,
               when
               no
               Superiour
               nor
               Lawful
               Power
               doth
               allow
               ,
               makes
               use
               of
               Arms
               against
               the
               Blood
               of
               another
               .
            
          
           
             It
             would
             be
             too
             tedious
             to
             set
             down
             the
             Words
             of
             the
             most
             eminent
             Modern
             Divines
             ,
             who
             agree
             that
             
             Peter's
             Action
             
             and
             Christ's
             Reproof
             ,
             ought
             to
             discourage
             all
             private
             Persons
             from
             rising
             up
             against
             Authority
             ,
             I
             shall
             only
             give
             the
             Words
             of
             one
             most
             learned
             and
             judicious
             Commentator
             
               (
               Grotius
               in
            
             26
             Math.
             )
             upon
             this
             Place
             ,
             and
             the
             rather
             ,
             because
             some
             have
             falsly
             challeng'd
             his
             Testimony
             from
             other
             of
             his
             Writings
             ,
             to
             weaken
             this
             Evangelical
             Doctrine
             of
             Non-resistance
             .
             
               This
               Admonition
               ,
               saith
               he
               ,
               doth
               not
               only
               belong
               to
               Peter
               ,
               but
               indeed
               to
               all
               Christians
               ,
               whom
               publick
               Authority
               offers
               to
               punish
               for
               their
               Profession
               .
               And
               it
               is
               the
               Will
               of
               God
               that
               we
               should
               then
               give
               Testimony
               to
               all
               the
               World
               of
               our
               Christian
               Patience
               ,
               and
               commit
               our
               Souls
               unto
               him
               ,
               as
               unto
               a
               faithful
               Creator
               ,
               1
               Pet.
               2.
               v.
               9.
               
               For
               what
               ,
               saith
               he
               ,
               can
               be
               more
               just
               ,
               than
               for
               us
               to
               lay
               out
               our
               Lives
               for
               the
               Honor
               of
               him
               ,
               from
               whom
               we
               had
               them
               .
               Nor
               must
               the
               Natural
               Right
               of
               Self-defence
               be
               here
               pleaded
               ,
               for
               there
               is
               great
               Difference
               ,
               saith
               he
               ,
               in
               using
               this
               Right
               against
               Robbers
               ,
               or
               such
               like
               Persons
               ,
               where
               we
               have
               the
               Law
               on
               our
               side
               ,
               or
               against
               the
               Commands
               of
               Authority
               ,
               which
               ,
               tho
               unjust
               ,
               are
               to
               be
               born
               with
               .
               For
               ,
               as
               he
               afterwards
               observes
               ,
               Men
               being
               apt
               to
               be
               partial
               in
               what
               immediately
               concerns
               themselves
               ,
               if
               once
               private
               Persons
               be
               allow'd
               to
               make
               violent
               Opposition
               ,
               when
               they
               think
               they
               are
               injur'd
               by
               the
               Magistrate
               ,
               the
               World
               will
               soon
               be
               fill'd
               with
               Tumults
               ,
               and
               the
               Force
               of
               Laws
               and
               Judicial
               Procedures
               will
               be
               made
               void
               .
               Reason
               ,
               therefore
               it self
               obligeth
               us
               to
               grant
               some
               Power
               which
               must
               not
               be
               resisted
               ;
               and
               it
               is
               certain
               ,
               saith
               he
               ,
               in
               Matters
               of
               Religion
               the
               Examples
               of
               the
               primitive
               Christians
               do
               teach
               us
               to
               suffer
               patiently
               any
               Violence
               offered
               us
               by
               those
               who
               are
               in
               Authority
               .
            
          
           
             Now
             considering
             all
             that
             might
             be
             said
             in
             behalf
             of
             St.
             Peter
             ,
             we
             shall
             scarce
             meet
             with
             such
             another
             Act
             of
             Hostility
             ,
             that
             may
             seem
             so
             excusable
             .
             Justice
             ,
             Duty
             ,
             Religion
             seem'd
             all
             to
             countenance
             what
             he
             did
             .
             Violence
             was
             here
             
             offer'd
             to
             a
             Person
             ,
             whom
             he
             knew
             to
             be
             most
             innocent
             ,
             and
             in
             whom
             no
             other
             Fault
             could
             be
             found
             ,
             than
             what
             Malice
             falsly
             suggested
             ;
             and
             therefore
             no
             wonder
             ,
             if
             Peter
             thought
             fit
             to
             do
             what
             he
             could
             ,
             to
             rescue
             him
             .
             What
             he
             did
             was
             in
             Defence
             of
             a
             Master
             ,
             and
             one
             ,
             who
             besides
             the
             common
             Ties
             of
             Duty
             and
             Gratitude
             ,
             which
             might
             prompt
             the
             Disciple
             ,
             had
             deserved
             likewise
             well
             of
             him
             ,
             by
             many
             special
             Acts
             of
             Love
             and
             Tenderness
             express'd
             towards
             him
             .
             And
             lastly
             ,
             there
             seem'd
             to
             be
             true
             Zeal
             for
             Religion
             in
             this
             Attempt
             ;
             for
             he
             saw
             they
             were
             going
             to
             put
             the
             Messias
             to
             death
             ,
             purposely
             to
             stifle
             the
             great
             Miracles
             they
             had
             seen
             him
             work
             ,
             to
             disgrace
             the
             heavenly
             Doctrine
             which
             he
             had
             taught
             ,
             and
             to
             render
             the
             whole
             Design
             of
             his
             coming
             into
             the
             World
             ineffectual
             .
             Besides
             ,
             there
             were
             other
             Circumstances
             to
             plead
             for
             him
             .
             As
             they
             were
             no
             Magistrates
             who
             came
             to
             seize
             upon
             Jesus
             ,
             so
             't
             is
             probable
             he
             understood
             not
             by
             what
             Authority
             they
             acted
             ;
             and
             tho
             I
             shall
             not
             with
             some
             alledge
             ,
             that
             the
             High-priests
             Commission
             under
             the
             Roman
             Government
             was
             not
             sufficient
             in
             such
             Cases
             ,
             yet
             't
             is
             most
             probable
             ,
             that
             Peter
             look'd
             upon
             those
             who
             came
             ,
             as
             the
             Peoples
             Emissaries
             ,
             and
             their
             coming
             to
             be
             an
             Act
             of
             their
             Popular
             Rage
             .
             Lastly
             ,
             for
             his
             Intention
             in
             what
             he
             did
             ,
             it
             clearly
             appears
             ,
             to
             have
             been
             only
             in
             Defence
             of
             Christ's
             Person
             ,
             without
             the
             least
             Design
             of
             giving
             any
             further
             Disturbance
             to
             the
             Government
             .
             And
             yet
             notwithstanding
             all
             that
             can
             be
             said
             for
             him
             ,
             his
             Attempt
             is
             censur'd
             by
             him
             ,
             whom
             he
             intended
             to
             serve
             in
             it
             .
             And
             that
             is
             recorded
             as
             a
             warning
             for
             all
             Christians
             ,
             to
             beware
             of
             resisting
             Authority
             ,
             even
             when
             their
             Actions
             aim
             at
             nothing
             but
             the
             Defence
             of
             Christ
             and
             the
             Gospel
             .
          
           
             The
             last
             and
             great
             Instance
             is
             Christ's
             own
             Carriage
             at
             his
             Tryal
             ,
             in
             which
             he
             fully
             answer'd
             the
             Character
             given
             him
             by
             the
             Prophet
             ,
             
               (
               Isa
            
             .
             53.
             v.
             7.
             )
             
               He
               suffered
               himself
               to
               be
               brought
               as
               a
               Lamb
               to
               the
               Slaughter
               ;
               as
               a
               Sheep
               before
               the
               Shearer
               ,
            
             
             
               so
               he
               opened
               not
               his
               Mouth
               .
            
             He
             question'd
             not
             the
             Authority
             of
             Pilate
             ,
             he
             summon'd
             not
             Legions
             of
             Angels
             to
             come
             to
             his
             Assistance
             ,
             but
             meekly
             and
             humbly
             submitting
             to
             a
             most
             unjust
             Sentence
             ,
             he
             has
             proposed
             himself
             as
             a
             Patern
             to
             Christians
             ,
             (
             1
             Pet.
             2.
             v.
             21.
             )
             For
             tho
             
               it
               behoved
               Christ
               according
               to
               the
               Scriptures
               to
               suffer
               ,
            
             yet
             what
             was
             necessary
             both
             in
             respect
             of
             God's
             Decrees
             ,
             and
             for
             the
             Benefit
             of
             Mankind
             ,
             must
             be
             acknowledged
             voluntary
             in
             respect
             of
             the
             Sufferer
             ,
             and
             ceases
             not
             to
             be
             imitable
             .
             If
             we
             will
             be
             his
             Disciples
             ,
             we
             must
             trace
             his
             glorious
             Footsteps
             ,
             take
             up
             our
             Cross
             ,
             and
             like
             faithful
             Souldiers
             follow
             the
             Captain
             of
             our
             Salvation
             ,
             when
             he
             calls
             us
             .
             What
             he
             requires
             at
             our
             hands
             is
             most
             reasonable
             ,
             for
             if
             we
             be
             not
             able
             to
             do
             great
             things
             for
             his
             sake
             ,
             sure
             it
             is
             in
             our
             Power
             to
             command
             our selves
             from
             doing
             Violence
             to
             any
             ,
             to
             forbear
             even
             acting
             against
             our
             Persecutors
             ;
             and
             by
             this
             means
             we
             become
             Sufferers
             with
             him
             ;
             He
             approves
             of
             no
             other
             resistance
             than
             what
             he
             made
             himself
             ,
             and
             what
             the
             Scripture
             
               (
               Heb.
            
             12.
             v.
             4.
             )
             mentions
             of
             ,
             
               resisting
               to
               Blood.
            
             Christ's
             Followers
             are
             only
             to
             fight
             his
             Battels
             in
             the
             noble
             Army
             of
             the
             Martyrs
             .
             And
             in
             this
             ,
             no
             doubt
             ,
             we
             perform
             a
             truer
             Act
             of
             Religion
             ,
             more
             acceptable
             in
             the
             Sight
             of
             God
             ,
             more
             agreeable
             to
             Christ's
             Doctrine
             and
             Practice
             ,
             than
             we
             are
             able
             to
             do
             by
             any
             other
             Service
             whatsoever
             .
          
           
             After
             our
             blessed
             Saviour's
             Ascensson
             ,
             the
             Apostles
             did
             carefully
             observe
             the
             Rules
             he
             left
             them
             ,
             their
             Carriage
             upon
             all
             Occasions
             was
             humble
             ,
             peaceable
             ,
             and
             gentle
             ;
             When
             they
             were
             brought
             before
             Magistrates
             and
             Governours
             ,
             they
             treated
             them
             with
             respect
             ,
             but
             did
             never
             call
             their
             Authority
             in
             question
             ,
             nor
             upbraided
             them
             with
             Cruelty
             and
             Injustice
             ,
             as
             we
             too
             frequently
             hear
             done
             in
             our
             chiefest
             Judicatures
             .
             St.
             
               Paul
               (
               Acts
            
             23.
             )
             having
             spoken
             irreverently
             to
             the
             High-priest
             ,
             who
             unjustly
             commanded
             him
             to
             be
             smitten
             ,
             while
             a
             Prisoner
             at
             the
             Bar
             ,
             before
             Trial
             or
             Sentence
             ,
             
             thought
             it
             his
             Duty
             to
             make
             an
             Apology
             ,
             declaring
             that
             he
             knew
             not
             the
             Quality
             of
             him
             before
             whom
             he
             stood
             ,
             and
             that
             Men
             were
             
               not
               to
               speak
               evil
               of
               the
               Ruler
               of
               the
               People
               .
            
             He
             stood
             indeed
             upon
             his
             Priviledg
             ,
             and
             appealed
             from
             an
             inferiour
             Magistrate
             unto
             
               Caesar
               ,
               (
               Acts
            
             25.
             )
             but
             in
             this
             he
             owned
             the
             higher
             Powers
             ,
             which
             some
             among
             us
             have
             learned
             to
             reject
             ,
             he
             pleaded
             not
             any
             Exemption
             by
             virtue
             of
             his
             Apostleship
             ,
             tho
             he
             could
             not
             reasonably
             expect
             much
             Favour
             ,
             where
             a
             Nero
             was
             to
             be
             his
             Judge
             .
             His
             Doctrine
             of
             Obedience
             and
             Submission
             is
             no
             less
             remarkable
             than
             his
             Practice
             ;
             so
             that
             if
             there
             were
             not
             one
             Word
             in
             the
             Writings
             of
             all
             the
             Apostles
             to
             this
             Purpose
             ,
             besides
             what
             St.
             Paul
             has
             in
             the
             first
             seven
             Verses
             of
             the
             thirteenth
             Chapter
             to
             the
             Romans
             ,
             we
             might
             there
             be
             sufficiently
             instructed
             in
             the
             Duty
             of
             Subjects
             :
             his
             Positions
             are
             so
             plain
             ,
             and
             the
             Arguments
             ,
             by
             which
             he
             enforces
             them
             ,
             are
             so
             convincing
             ,
             that
             had
             he
             lived
             in
             our
             times
             ,
             and
             heard
             all
             the
             Objections
             which
             are
             raised
             against
             the
             Doctrine
             of
             Submission
             ,
             he
             could
             not
             have
             answered
             them
             more
             clearly
             ,
             nor
             in
             fewer
             Words
             ;
             and
             no
             doubt
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             ,
             which
             did
             dictate
             what
             He
             ,
             and
             St.
             Peter
             ,
             and
             St.
             Jude
             did
             write
             upon
             this
             Subject
             ,
             had
             an
             Eye
             to
             the
             Degeneracy
             of
             latter
             Ages
             ,
             and
             design'd
             to
             lay
             such
             sure
             Grounds
             of
             Christian
             Obedience
             ,
             as
             the
             Wisdom
             of
             the
             World
             should
             never
             be
             able
             to
             shake
             in
             those
             ,
             who
             are
             resolved
             to
             regulate
             their
             Lives
             by
             the
             Scripture
             .
          
           
             Nor
             doth
             it
             add
             a
             little
             to
             the
             Weight
             of
             their
             Testimony
             ,
             when
             we
             consider
             the
             Circumstances
             under
             which
             they
             then
             were
             ,
             had
             the
             World
             in
             those
             Days
             been
             govern'd
             by
             Christian
             Princes
             ,
             who
             submitting
             their
             Scepters
             to
             the
             Cross
             ,
             had
             gloried
             in
             shewing
             themselves
             nursing
             Fathers
             to
             the
             Gospel
             in
             its
             Infancy
             ,
             their
             Doctrine
             might
             then
             have
             seem'd
             suitable
             to
             the
             Temper
             of
             those
             they
             had
             to
             deal
             with
             ;
             nor
             could
             they
             have
             allow'd
             too
             much
             to
             Princes
             ,
             who
             were
             like
             to
             use
             their
             Power
             for
             the
             Establishment
             of
             the
             Christian
             
             Religion
             .
             Or
             had
             their
             Princes
             ,
             tho
             Heathens
             ,
             been
             
             Nerva's
             ,
             
             Antonius's
             ,
             or
             
             Aurelius's
             ,
             Persons
             remarkable
             for
             their
             Justice
             and
             Clemency
             ,
             there
             would
             have
             been
             no
             great
             Inconvenience
             in
             this
             Doctrine
             ,
             but
             their
             preaching
             up
             Submission
             to
             such
             Monsters
             as
             Claudius
             ,
             or
             Nero
             ,
             under
             whose
             Cruelties
             the
             Roman
             Empire
             then
             groan'd
             ,
             doth
             clearly
             demonstrate
             ,
             that
             they
             were
             not
             govern'd
             by
             Political
             Maximes
             ,
             nor
             biass'd
             by
             any
             Worldly
             Consideration
             .
             But
             on
             the
             contrary
             ,
             that
             they
             laid
             down
             general
             and
             inviolable
             Rules
             ,
             to
             be
             observed
             at
             all
             Times
             ,
             and
             towards
             all
             Princes
             ,
             the
             froward
             as
             well
             as
             the
             gentle
             ;
             those
             who
             did
             unjustly
             persecute
             them
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             others
             that
             vouchsafed
             them
             Protection
             .
          
           
             And
             certainly
             in
             this
             ,
             and
             in
             no
             other
             Sense
             ,
             did
             the
             Primitive
             Christians
             understand
             the
             Apostle's
             Words
             ,
             and
             were
             therefore
             of
             all
             Subjects
             the
             most
             dutiful
             to
             the
             very
             worst
             of
             Princes
             ;
             no
             Barbarous
             Usage
             ,
             no
             Oppression
             could
             make
             them
             swerve
             from
             their
             first
             Principle
             of
             patient
             Submission
             ;
             they
             had
             always
             before
             their
             :
             Eyes
             the
             Pattern
             of
             their
             blessed
             Saviour
             ,
             in
             every
             Step
             of
             his
             Humiliation
             and
             Sufferings
             ;
             nor
             did
             they
             forget
             what
             he
             had
             taught
             them
             ,
             
               (
               John
            
             18.
             v.
             36.
             )
             
               That
               his
               Kingdom
               was
               not
               of
               this
               World
            
             ;
             and
             that
             they
             ,
             being
             his
             Servants
             ,
             were
             not
             therefore
             to
             fight
             ;
             they
             knew
             he
             intended
             no
             Prejudice
             to
             the
             Rights
             of
             Princes
             ,
             in
             setting
             up
             his
             Monarchy
             ,
             which
             is
             Spiritual
             and
             Eternal
             .
             And
             this
             puts
             me
             in
             mind
             of
             a
             remarkable
             Passage
             in
             a
             Fragment
             of
             Egesippus
             ,
             a
             most
             ancient
             Christian
             Writer
             ,
             how
             Domitian
             ,
             like
             another
             Herod
             ,
             being
             jealous
             of
             Christ's
             return
             to
             dethrone
             him
             ,
             raised
             an
             heavy
             Persecution
             against
             the
             Church
             ,
             giving
             particular
             Order
             ,
             that
             such
             as
             were
             of
             the
             Seed
             of
             David
             ,
             should
             be
             forthwith
             secur'd
             ;
             whereupon
             some
             ,
             that
             were
             related
             to
             Christ
             according
             to
             the
             Flesh
             ,
             being
             brought
             before
             him
             ,
             and
             examin'd
             first
             concerning
             their
             own
             Condition
             ,
             which
             they
             easily
             made
             appear
             
             to
             be
             mean
             and
             low
             ;
             and
             afterwards
             concerning
             the
             Nature
             of
             Christ's
             Kingdom
             ,
             they
             shewed
             so
             plainly
             ,
             that
             it
             was
             not
             of
             this
             World
             ,
             but
             commenced
             properly
             ,
             when
             others
             ended
             ,
             being
             Spiritual
             and
             Eternal
             ,
             that
             having
             satisfied
             the
             Emperour
             ,
             and
             freed
             him
             from
             any
             Apprehension
             of
             Christ's
             Design
             upon
             his
             Crown
             ,
             they
             themselves
             were
             set
             at
             Liberty
             ,
             and
             a
             stop
             was
             immediately
             put
             to
             the
             Persecution
             .
          
           
             The
             Behaviour
             of
             the
             Christians
             ,
             in
             those
             golden
             Ages
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             never
             gave
             any
             just
             ground
             of
             Jealousy
             to
             the
             Roman
             Emperours
             ,
             in
             all
             the
             Vicissitudes
             of
             that
             Empire
             ,
             in
             the
             frequent
             Rebellions
             against
             the
             Government
             ,
             or
             Conspiracies
             against
             the
             Emperour's
             Person
             ;
             the
             Christians
             kept
             constant
             to
             their
             Allegiance
             .
             When
             by
             siding
             with
             such
             Usurpers
             as
             
               Cassius
               ,
               Albinus
               ,
               Niger
               ,
               Parthenius
               ,
            
             &c.
             they
             might
             not
             only
             have
             freed
             themselves
             from
             bloody
             Yokes
             ,
             but
             have
             also
             in
             all
             probability
             made
             sure
             of
             large
             Immunities
             ,
             they
             could
             never
             be
             wrought
             on
             to
             take
             Arms
             against
             the
             establish'd
             Authority
             ;
             they
             were
             perswaded
             ,
             how
             ill
             soever
             the
             Emperours
             might
             manage
             their
             Trust
             ,
             yet
             that
             their
             Commission
             was
             seal'd
             by
             God.
             Nay
             sometimes
             the
             Christians
             brought
             upon
             themselves
             Persecution
             ,
             by
             refusing
             to
             join
             with
             Rebels
             ;
             as
             in
             the
             Reign
             of
             Adrian
             ,
             when
             Barochebas
             and
             the
             Jews
             ,
             not
             being
             able
             upon
             their
             Revolt
             to
             engage
             the
             Christians
             in
             their
             Party
             ,
             turn'd
             the
             Edge
             of
             their
             Sword
             against
             the
             Church
             ,
             killing
             most
             barbarously
             all
             the
             Christians
             that
             they
             met
             with
             ,
             and
             made
             them
             thus
             Martyrs
             ,
             for
             the
             next
             best
             cause
             after
             Religion
             ,
             if
             it
             is
             not
             to
             be
             called
             a
             Part
             of
             it
             .
          
           
             Now
             without
             doubt
             the
             many
             Edicts
             which
             Emperours
             past
             in
             Favor
             of
             the
             Christians
             ,
             were
             grounded
             chiefly
             upon
             such
             Considerations
             ,
             seeing
             upon
             strict
             Enquiry
             they
             had
             never
             found
             them
             engag'd
             in
             any
             Plots
             against
             the
             State
             ;
             and
             't
             is
             particularly
             observ'd
             of
             Severus
             ,
             that
             the
             Kindness
             ,
             he
             
             shew'd
             to
             the
             Christians
             in
             the
             beginning
             of
             his
             Reign
             ,
             proceeded
             from
             a
             sense
             of
             their
             dutiful
             Carriage
             in
             difficult
             Times
             ,
             both
             towards
             himself
             ,
             and
             the
             former
             Emperours
             .
             In
             fine
             ,
             the
             most
             inveterate
             Enemies
             of
             their
             Religion
             could
             not
             deny
             them
             this
             Testimony
             ,
             That
             in
             the
             sharpest
             Persecutions
             ,
             when
             they
             were
             only
             suffered
             to
             live
             ,
             to
             prolong
             their
             Torments
             ,
             when
             a
             simple
             Death
             ,
             not
             accompanied
             with
             those
             horrid
             Cruelties
             ,
             which
             were
             then
             practised
             ,
             past
             for
             no
             small
             Favour
             ;
             When
             the
             Streets
             were
             filled
             with
             the
             Carcasses
             of
             Martyrs
             ,
             and
             the
             Rivers
             dy'd
             with
             the
             most
             precious
             Blood
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             they
             could
             never
             be
             tempted
             to
             rebel
             .
             Nor
             was
             there
             truly
             any
             thing
             ,
             in
             which
             their
             Enemies
             did
             more
             industriously
             labour
             ,
             than
             through
             Despair
             to
             draw
             them
             into
             Rebellion
             ,
             that
             so
             they
             might
             have
             had
             the
             better
             Excuse
             to
             cut
             them
             off
             .
             It
             grieved
             the
             Roman
             Emperours
             to
             employ
             their
             Axes
             and
             not
             their
             Swords
             ,
             and
             to
             give
             their
             Executioners
             so
             much
             Work
             ,
             while
             their
             Legions
             were
             idle
             ,
             and
             spill
             so
             much
             Blood
             with
             so
             little
             Reputation
             :
             but
             Christians
             knew
             their
             Duty
             too
             well
             ,
             to
             give
             them
             any
             Advantage
             in
             this
             Point
             ;
             for
             the
             Renouncing
             their
             Religion
             ,
             or
             their
             Alledgiance
             were
             the
             only
             Things
             ,
             wherein
             they
             could
             never
             be
             brought
             to
             gratify
             their
             Princes
             .
          
           
             It
             were
             easy
             to
             bring
             many
             Instances
             in
             Confirmation
             of
             what
             I
             say
             ,
             but
             I
             shall
             only
             pitch
             upon
             that
             famous
             History
             of
             the
             Thebean
             Legion
             ,
             which
             tho
             commonly
             known
             ,
             yet
             can
             never
             be
             either
             too
             much
             admired
             ,
             nor
             too
             often
             repeated
             :
             All
             the
             Officers
             and
             Souldiers
             of
             this
             noble
             Legion
             haveing
             been
             converted
             to
             Christianity
             by
             Zambdas
             Bishop
             of
             Jerusalem
             ,
             during
             their
             Winter-Quarters
             in
             those
             Parts
             ,
             were
             in
             the
             heat
             of
             the
             Dioclesian
             Persecution
             sent
             from
             the
             East
             ,
             to
             reinforce
             the
             Army
             of
             
               Maximianus
               Herculeus
            
             in
             France
             ,
             and
             understanding
             upon
             their
             Arrival
             in
             the
             Imperial
             Camp
             ,
             that
             a
             new
             Military
             Oath
             was
             to
             be
             given
             them
             at
             an
             Heathen
             
             Altar
             ,
             purposely
             to
             pollute
             them
             with
             Idolatry
             ,
             the
             whole
             Legion
             did
             thereupon
             retire
             from
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             Army
             :
             when
             Maximianus
             commanded
             them
             back
             ,
             Mauritius
             and
             Ex●perius
             the
             Chief
             Officers
             answer'd
             in
             the
             name
             of
             all
             ,
             that
             they
             were
             ready
             to
             return
             and
             fight
             against
             his
             Enemies
             ,
             but
             being
             Christians
             ,
             they
             could
             not
             offer
             Sacrifice
             to
             the
             Gods.
             This
             Answer
             did
             so
             enrage
             the
             Emperour
             ,
             that
             he
             sentenced
             every
             tenth
             Man
             of
             the
             Legion
             to
             be
             put
             to
             death
             ,
             which
             was
             accordingly
             done
             ,
             none
             offering
             to
             make
             the
             least
             Resistance
             ;
             and
             when
             the
             same
             cruel
             Orders
             were
             renew'd
             ,
             Mauritius
             had
             so
             prepar'd
             them
             by
             Applauding
             their
             former
             Behaviour
             ,
             that
             they
             all
             answer'd
             ,
             They
             were
             Caesar's
             Souldiers
             ,
             that
             they
             had
             never
             brought
             upon
             themselves
             the
             imputation
             of
             Cowardise
             ,
             nor
             deserted
             their
             Colours
             ;
             that
             they
             were
             ready
             to
             obey
             the
             Emperour
             in
             every
             Thing
             ,
             but
             in
             offering
             Sacrifice
             to
             Idols
             ;
             and
             that
             their
             Bodies
             he
             might
             dispose
             of
             as
             he
             pleased
             ,
             only
             their
             Souls
             they
             reserved
             to
             Christ
             :
             then
             Exuperius
             confirming
             them
             in
             their
             generous
             Resolution
             ,
             said
             ,
             That
             they
             did
             now
             engage
             in
             a
             new
             War
             ,
             and
             that
             they
             must
             not
             think
             to
             fight
             their
             Way
             to
             Heaven
             with
             their
             Swords
             ;
             
               Tell
               the
               Emperour
               ,
               says
               he
               ,
               that
               Despair
               it self
               shall
               not
               be
               able
               to
               engage
               us
               against
               him
               ,
               we
               have
               Arms
               ,
               but
               we
               will
               not
               resist
               ,
               because
               we
               are
               willing
               rather
               to
               suffer
               ,
               than
               conquer
               ;
               preferring
               much
               an
               innocent
               Death
               ,
               before
               a
               Life
               stain'd
               with
               Guilt
               .
            
             And
             afterwards
             making
             good
             their
             own
             and
             their
             Officers
             Words
             ,
             in
             Imitation
             of
             their
             blessed
             Master
             ,
             they
             suffer'd
             themselves
             to
             be
             led
             as
             Sheep
             to
             the
             Slaughter
             ,
             and
             received
             every
             one
             a
             glorious
             Crown
             of
             Martyrdom
             .
          
           
             If
             we
             compare
             the
             meek
             and
             Christian
             Behaviour
             of
             these
             stout
             Officers
             and
             Souldiers
             ,
             with
             that
             of
             our
             greatest
             Professors
             ,
             we
             have
             reason
             to
             bewail
             the
             Age
             in
             which
             we
             live
             ,
             as
             scarce
             retaining
             any
             Tincture
             of
             this
             primitive
             Spirit
             .
             What
             excuse
             can
             we
             bring
             for
             Men
             ,
             who
             pretending
             to
             embrace
             
             the
             sacred
             Function
             of
             the
             Ministry
             ,
             and
             to
             preach
             the
             Gospel
             of
             Peace
             ,
             have
             thought
             fit
             to
             appear
             in
             Arms
             ,
             surrounded
             with
             Troops
             in
             opposition
             to
             Christian
             Authority
             ,
             when
             we
             find
             the
             Officers
             and
             Souldiers
             of
             a
             Legion
             here
             throw
             down
             their
             Arms
             ,
             rather
             than
             oppose
             an
             Heathen
             Persecutor
             ?
             What
             could
             Mr.
             Welsch
             ,
             or
             the
             Captain
             of
             his
             Guard
             ,
             have
             alledged
             in
             their
             own
             behalf
             ,
             had
             they
             heard
             Maunitius
             upon
             the
             Head
             of
             his
             Legion
             rejoicing
             at
             the
             patient
             suffering
             of
             those
             ,
             who
             died
             in
             the
             first
             Decimation
             ,
             and
             Exhorting
             them
             that
             surviv'd
             to
             follow
             their
             Example
             ,
             and
             not
             to
             dishonour
             their
             Profession
             ,
             with
             the
             Guilt
             of
             Rebellion
             ?
             How
             much
             more
             Christian
             was
             the
             Death
             of
             Exuperius
             ,
             who
             stript
             himself
             of
             his
             Arms
             ,
             as
             soon
             as
             the
             Emperours
             Commission
             was
             produced
             ,
             than
             that
             of
             Mr.
             Cameron
             ,
             who
             died
             with
             a
             Sword
             in
             his
             Hand
             ,
             resisting
             his
             Prince
             ?
             I
             dare
             not
             say
             that
             Mr.
             Cameron
             and
             this
             noble
             Officer
             seem'd
             to
             act
             each
             others
             part
             ,
             seeing
             Exuperius
             truly
             perform'd
             his
             own
             ,
             and
             hath
             deserved
             to
             be
             celebrated
             by
             all
             Posterity
             ,
             for
             a
             Christian
             Hero.
             But
             I
             hope
             M.
             
             Cameron's
             greatest
             Friends
             will
             not
             be
             offended
             with
             me
             ,
             if
             I
             declare
             that
             in
             my
             humble
             Opinion
             ,
             the
             Manner
             of
             his
             Death
             did
             give
             no
             great
             Lustre
             to
             his
             former
             Actions
             ;
             for
             whatever
             Reputation
             it
             may
             be
             to
             a
             Man
             fighting
             against
             Turks
             and
             Infidels
             in
             Defence
             of
             Christianity
             ,
             to
             be
             said
             to
             have
             sold
             his
             Life
             at
             a
             dear
             Rate
             ,
             yet
             in
             giving
             the
             Character
             of
             a
             faithful
             Minister
             of
             Christ
             ,
             I
             cannot
             think
             it
             much
             for
             his
             Honour
             to
             mention
             that
             he
             died
             ,
             as
             we
             know
             M.
             Cameron
             did
             ,
             boldly
             fighting
             in
             direct
             Opposition
             to
             Authority
             .
          
           
             I
             am
             not
             ignorant
             how
             uncharitable
             some
             have
             been
             ,
             in
             affirming
             that
             the
             Submission
             pay'd
             by
             the
             ancient
             Christians
             ,
             flow'd
             chiefly
             from
             their
             want
             of
             Power
             ,
             and
             that
             they
             did
             not
             oppose
             their
             Domitians
             nor
             their
             Dioclesians
             ,
             because
             they
             were
             not
             in
             a
             Condition
             to
             carry
             on
             a
             Rebellion
             :
             but
             't
             is
             a
             most
             malicious
             as
             well
             as
             a
             false
             Suggestion
             ,
             only
             to
             sully
             
             the
             Glory
             of
             their
             Sufferings
             ,
             and
             to
             deprive
             many
             Martyrs
             of
             one
             of
             the
             most
             precious
             Jewels
             in
             their
             Crown
             ,
             by
             making
             that
             Submission
             forced
             ,
             which
             was
             most
             voluntary
             .
             This
             is
             directly
             to
             tax
             those
             sincere
             Christians
             with
             Disingenuity
             ,
             as
             if
             they
             had
             pretended
             Conscience
             ,
             for
             what
             proceeded
             chiefly
             from
             Fear
             or
             Weakness
             ;
             while
             indeed
             the
             Principles
             of
             their
             Religion
             made
             them
             good
             Subjects
             ,
             and
             taught
             them
             to
             be
             more
             afraid
             of
             the
             Guilt
             than
             the
             Punishment
             of
             Rebels
             .
             Those
             that
             were
             known
             to
             pray
             every
             Day
             ,
             for
             a
             long
             Life
             ,
             and
             a
             peaceable
             Reign
             to
             their
             Emperours
             ,
             could
             not
             be
             supposed
             to
             harbour
             the
             least
             Thoughts
             of
             giving
             them
             Disturbance
             ,
             and
             had
             their
             Inclinations
             been
             at
             all
             mutinous
             ,
             by
             joining
             with
             a
             disaffected
             Party
             ,
             which
             could
             never
             be
             wanting
             in
             so
             great
             a
             Body
             ,
             it
             was
             in
             the
             Christians
             Power
             at
             any
             time
             to
             have
             shaken
             the
             Empire
             .
             This
             we
             may
             learn
             from
             Tertullian
             ,
             who
             boasts
             much
             of
             their
             Numbers
             in
             his
             excellent
             Apology
             .
             Those
             who
             by
             deserting
             their
             Countrey
             must
             have
             depopulated
             it
             ,
             might
             certainly
             by
             fighting
             have
             broken
             the
             Government
             .
             In
             Cities
             where
             there
             were
             two
             Christians
             to
             one
             Heathen
             ,
             as
             in
             many
             then
             in
             Africk
             ,
             they
             needed
             not
             have
             suffer'd
             themselves
             to
             be
             so
             cruelly
             butcher'd
             ,
             had
             not
             their
             Consciences
             disarm'd
             them
             of
             all
             Weapons
             of
             Defence
             against
             the
             Emperour
             .
             The
             same
             we
             may
             gather
             from
             St.
             Cyprian
             ,
             in
             that
             Discourse
             of
             his
             addrest
             to
             Demetrianus
             ;
             where
             he
             fairly
             lays
             down
             the
             Grounds
             upon
             which
             Christians
             then
             walked
             .
             But
             granting
             there
             had
             been
             five
             Heathens
             to
             one
             Christian
             ,
             yet
             ,
             as
             Tertullian
             observes
             ,
             Christians
             readiness
             to
             sacrifice
             their
             Lives
             might
             have
             made
             up
             their
             Disproportion
             in
             Number
             ,
             had
             not
             their
             Religion
             obliged
             them
             rather
             to
             dy
             ,
             than
             by
             Drawing
             their
             Swords
             to
             kill
             others
             .
             And
             sure
             if
             the
             Christians
             were
             considerable
             so
             early
             ,
             as
             in
             
             Tertullian's
             and
             St.
             
             Cyprian's
             time
             ,
             no
             Question
             in
             the
             latter
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             third
             ,
             and
             the
             beginning
             of
             the
             fourth
             Century
             they
             wanted
             not
             Strength
             to
             defend
             
             themselves
             against
             the
             Violences
             then
             offer'd
             them
             under
             Dioclesian
             and
             his
             Colleagues
             ,
             had
             their
             Religion
             given
             them
             leave
             to
             resist
             .
          
           
             I
             cannot
             finish
             this
             Discourse
             ,
             without
             observing
             that
             many
             finding
             violent
             Practices
             in
             Matters
             of
             Religion
             ,
             utterly
             condemned
             by
             the
             Examples
             of
             Christ
             ,
             of
             his
             Apostles
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             primitive
             Christians
             ,
             retire
             to
             the
             old
             Testament
             ,
             as
             more
             favourable
             to
             their
             Design
             :
             but
             they
             never
             consider
             that
             ,
             as
             many
             Actions
             are
             there
             rather
             recorded
             than
             commended
             ,
             and
             which
             are
             not
             to
             be
             imitated
             ,
             tho
             there
             be
             no
             Censure
             an
             next
             to
             the
             Relations
             there
             delivered
             ;
             so
             several
             Things
             were
             Lawful
             under
             that
             Dispensation
             ,
             which
             the
             Gospel
             cannot
             admit
             .
             The
             Government
             instituted
             by
             Moses
             was
             a
             Theocracy
             ;
             where
             ,
             besides
             the
             establish'd
             Laws
             ,
             God
             did
             by
             immediate
             Inspiration
             give
             Commission
             to
             private
             Persons
             ,
             to
             turn
             Magistrates
             ,
             and
             to
             punish
             offenders
             ,
             without
             tying
             them
             to
             any
             formal
             procedure
             ;
             such
             was
             
               Phineas
               ,
               (
               Numb
            
             .
             25.
             )
             and
             after
             him
             the
             Zealots
             ,
             whose
             Actions
             were
             accounted
             most
             Heroical
             among
             the
             Jews
             .
             Yet
             when
             Christ's
             Disciples
             would
             have
             assumed
             this
             Priviledge
             in
             Imitation
             of
             Elias
             ,
             they
             met
             with
             a
             Check
             ,
             as
             I
             have
             already
             observ'd
             ,
             from
             their
             Master
             :
             And
             if
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             Opinion
             of
             some
             learned
             Men
             ,
             
             Peter's
             Action
             was
             of
             this
             kind
             ,
             we
             have
             still
             a
             further
             Testimony
             of
             Christ's
             Discountenancing
             such
             Methods
             ,
             as
             too
             violent
             for
             the
             meek
             Spirit
             of
             the
             Gospel
             .
             And
             tho
             the
             Actions
             of
             Phineas
             ,
             of
             Elias
             ,
             and
             of
             other
             Prophets
             ,
             while
             immediately
             directed
             by
             God
             ,
             were
             laudable
             ;
             yet
             afterwards
             ,
             when
             their
             Zealots
             were
             acted
             by
             heat
             of
             Passion
             ,
             and
             private
             Resentment
             ,
             more
             than
             by
             Divine
             Inspiration
             ,
             to
             what
             Excess
             of
             Cruelty
             and
             Injustice
             did
             they
             rise
             !
             Fury
             and
             Rage
             under
             a
             Cloak
             of
             Zeal
             pretended
             to
             an
             Authority
             to
             commit
             the
             worst
             of
             Actions
             .
             And
             Josephus
             informs
             us
             ,
             how
             those
             ,
             that
             went
             under
             the
             Name
             of
             Zealots
             then
             ,
             were
             the
             chief
             Instruments
             in
             the
             
             Ruin
             of
             the
             Jewish
             Nation
             ,
             and
             in
             the
             Destruction
             of
             Jerusalem
             .
          
           
             Now
             as
             no
             Religion
             nor
             Government
             could
             be
             safe
             under
             this
             latter
             Sort
             of
             Zealots
             ;
             so
             the
             former
             were
             never
             design'd
             as
             Paterns
             for
             Christians
             ,
             who
             have
             settled
             Rules
             to
             walk
             by
             ;
             who
             expect
             no
             other
             Revelations
             than
             the
             Oracles
             of
             God
             ,
             contain'd
             in
             the
             holy
             Scripture
             ;
             and
             must
             therefore
             condemn
             those
             that
             in
             our
             Days
             pretend
             to
             new
             Lights
             ,
             and
             extraordinary
             Commissions
             ,
             to
             curb
             Magistrates
             and
             reform
             Governments
             ,
             as
             seduced
             by
             a
             Spirit
             of
             Enthusiasm
             ,
             savouring
             more
             of
             Anti-Christ
             than
             of
             the
             blessed
             Author
             of
             our
             Religion
             .
             But
             tho
             we
             should
             allow
             Men
             were
             still
             at
             liberty
             ,
             to
             imitate
             those
             holy
             Zealots
             ,
             the
             publick
             Peace
             will
             not
             be
             much
             endanger'd
             by
             their
             Example
             ;
             for
             by
             what
             can
             be
             gather'd
             from
             most
             of
             their
             Actions
             ,
             they
             were
             rather
             terrible
             Neighbours
             to
             notorious
             Transgressors
             of
             the
             Law
             ,
             than
             undutiful
             Subjects
             to
             wicked
             Princes
             ;
             they
             had
             only
             Permission
             to
             do
             Justice
             upon
             meaner
             Offenders
             ,
             but
             as
             for
             the
             Sins
             of
             their
             Kings
             ,
             these
             were
             reserved
             Cases
             ,
             of
             such
             God
             himself
             thought
             fit
             to
             be
             the
             immediate
             Avenger
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             to
             ty
             Subjects
             up
             from
             medling
             with
             them
             ,
             until
             they
             had
             his
             particular
             Commission
             ,
             which
             was
             never
             granted
             against
             their
             Prince
             ,
             till
             God
             ,
             by
             the
             Authority
             he
             reserv'd
             to
             himself
             in
             that
             Government
             ,
             had
             first
             degraded
             him
             .
             In
             a
             Word
             ,
             let
             us
             consult
             the
             Jewish
             Annals
             ,
             and
             see
             ,
             if
             we
             can
             bring
             any
             good
             Authority
             thence
             ,
             for
             rising
             up
             in
             Arms
             against
             Magistrates
             ,
             upon
             the
             account
             of
             Religion
             ;
             or
             whether
             any
             of
             the
             Instances
             ,
             that
             are
             alledged
             to
             this
             Purpose
             ,
             be
             first
             in
             themselves
             justifiable
             ;
             and
             next
             ,
             If
             they
             be
             clear
             evidences
             in
             a
             Matter
             of
             so
             great
             Importance
             :
             for
             where
             the
             Question
             is
             ,
             If
             Subjects
             are
             to
             obey
             or
             resist
             ,
             the
             Proofs
             for
             Resistance
             ought
             to
             be
             as
             plain
             ,
             as
             those
             for
             Obedience
             ,
             before
             they
             venture
             to
             act
             ;
             and
             this
             I
             presume
             will
             hardly
             be
             made
             appear
             from
             Scripture
             .
          
           
           
             When
             Jeroboam
             placed
             his
             Calves
             in
             Dan
             and
             Bethel
             ,
             and
             
               made
               Israel
               sin
            
             ;
             we
             find
             the
             Prophets
             condemn
             his
             Idolatry
             ,
             and
             foretell
             the
             ruin
             of
             his
             House
             ,
             (
             1
             Kings
             13.
             v.
             14.
             )
             but
             they
             stirr'd
             not
             up
             his
             Subjects
             to
             Rebellion
             against
             him
             .
             Elias
             ,
             as
             a
             Prophet
             ,
             took
             upon
             him
             to
             reprove
             Ahab
             ;
             but
             ,
             as
             a
             Zealot
             ,
             he
             gave
             him
             no
             further
             Disturbance
             in
             his
             Government
             .
             Against
             all
             the
             wicked
             Kings
             of
             Israel
             and
             Judah
             ,
             who
             were
             enemies
             to
             the
             pure
             Religion
             and
             Worship
             ,
             which
             God
             had
             established
             ,
             the
             Prophets
             boldly
             denounced
             the
             Wrath
             of
             God
             ,
             but
             seldom
             help'd
             to
             execute
             it
             ;
             tho
             under
             the
             harshest
             Treatment
             ,
             when
             they
             were
             hid
             by
             fifties
             in
             a
             Cave
             ,
             they
             never
             employ'd
             their
             Popularity
             to
             raise
             Sedition
             ,
             or
             to
             involve
             their
             Countrey
             in
             a
             Civil
             War
             ,
             either
             in
             their
             own
             Defence
             ,
             or
             in
             that
             of
             their
             Religion
             .
             When
             from
             Idolatrous
             they
             fell
             under
             the
             Yoke
             of
             Heathen
             Princes
             and
             Strangers
             ;
             they
             preached
             up
             Duty
             and
             Allegiance
             to
             such
             ,
             being
             persuaded
             ,
             that
             these
             also
             derived
             their
             Power
             from
             God.
             And
             tho
             the
             Maccabees
             in
             opposing
             Antiochus
             are
             commended
             ,
             as
             the
             Restorers
             of
             the
             ancient
             Worship
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Liberties
             of
             their
             Countrey
             ;
             yet
             I
             conceive
             it
             may
             be
             prov'd
             ,
             that
             he
             was
             an
             Usurper
             ,
             and
             had
             no
             just
             Title
             to
             Judea
             ,
             and
             that
             the
             Jewish
             Nation
             had
             never
             ,
             by
             any
             Legal
             Act
             ,
             own'd
             him
             for
             their
             Prince
             .
          
           
             If
             notwithstanding
             all
             that
             has
             been
             said
             ,
             any
             among
             us
             should
             still
             insist
             upon
             some
             Actions
             of
             the
             Zealots
             ;
             which
             give
             countenance
             to
             Resistance
             ,
             as
             that
             of
             Elias
             ,
             in
             calling
             down
             Fire
             from
             Heaven
             ,
             to
             destroy
             the
             King's
             Commissionate-Officers
             .
             I
             shall
             only
             answer
             ,
             that
             they
             also
             may
             be
             allow'd
             to
             resist
             ,
             when
             Heaven
             appears
             as
             visibly
             in
             their
             behalf
             ,
             as
             it
             did
             here
             in
             the
             Prophet's
             .
             The
             World
             is
             uncharitable
             enough
             to
             believe
             ,
             that
             our
             Zealots
             would
             shew
             some
             Instances
             of
             their
             Severity
             ,
             had
             they
             the
             same
             Power
             with
             Elias
             ,
             to
             command
             Fire
             from
             Heaven
             ;
             and
             that
             the
             King's
             Troops
             ,
             that
             have
             at
             any
             time
             march'd
             against
             them
             ,
             had
             
             then
             died
             without
             Mercy
             ,
             after
             the
             same
             terrible
             Manner
             ,
             that
             King
             
             Ahaziah's
             did
             ,
             which
             were
             sent
             against
             the
             Prophet
             .
             But
             hitherto
             those
             ,
             that
             have
             appear'd
             in
             Arms
             against
             the
             King
             ,
             have
             been
             so
             far
             from
             giving
             any
             evidence
             of
             God's
             Fighting
             for
             them
             ,
             or
             authorizing
             their
             Proceedings
             by
             Miracles
             ,
             that
             he
             rather
             has
             seem'd
             to
             disown
             them
             ,
             by
             casting
             a
             Damp
             upon
             their
             Spirits
             ,
             when
             they
             stood
             most
             in
             need
             of
             some
             extraordinary
             Assistance
             ;
             I
             appeal
             to
             those
             ,
             who
             were
             at
             any
             of
             those
             unhappy
             Engagements
             against
             their
             Prince
             ,
             whether
             they
             did
             not
             find
             that
             Heat
             and
             Flame
             ,
             which
             upon
             other
             Occasions
             they
             were
             able
             to
             express
             ,
             suddenly
             quencht
             ,
             when
             they
             were
             just
             about
             to
             act
             ?
             have
             not
             some
             of
             their
             Teachers
             upbraided
             them
             in
             the
             Psalmist's
             Words
             ,
             that
             like
             the
             Children
             of
             Ephraim
             
               (
               Psal
            
             .
             78.
             v.
             9.
             )
             
               Being
               armed
               ,
               and
               carrying
               Bows
               ,
               they
               turn'd
               back
               in
               the
               Day
               of
               Battel
               ?
            
             Have
             not
             the
             Troops
             ,
             that
             were
             sent
             against
             them
             ,
             confess'd
             ,
             they
             could
             not
             much
             glory
             in
             their
             Victories
             ,
             because
             they
             were
             so
             easily
             obtain'd
             ?
             To
             be
             plain
             ,
             I
             am
             afraid
             ,
             we
             are
             become
             equally
             the
             Object
             of
             the
             World's
             Contempt
             ,
             and
             of
             its
             Hatred
             ;
             our
             late
             Behaviour
             having
             brought
             upon
             us
             the
             Imputation
             of
             Cowardise
             as
             well
             as
             Disloyalty
             .
          
        
         
           
             Third
             Consideration
             .
          
           
             If
             the
             Persons
             ,
             for
             whom
             I
             undertook
             this
             Argument
             ,
             think
             fit
             to
             reade
             what
             has
             been
             said
             upon
             the
             first
             two
             Points
             ,
             I
             hope
             they
             will
             not
             give
             over
             here
             ,
             but
             will
             vouchsafe
             to
             consider
             with
             me
             ,
             in
             the
             third
             place
             ,
             whether
             any
             Obligation
             ,
             lying
             upon
             us
             from
             the
             late
             Covenants
             ,
             be
             a
             sufficient
             Warrant
             for
             what
             we
             do
             .
             Now
             the
             best
             Method
             I
             can
             propose
             in
             this
             ,
             is
             to
             give
             a
             brief
             Account
             of
             the
             Rise
             and
             Progress
             of
             both
             Covenants
             ,
             with
             some
             impartial
             Reflexions
             upon
             them
             ;
             in
             which
             if
             my
             Reader
             will
             not
             rest
             satisfied
             ,
             he
             
             shall
             have
             no
             occasion
             at
             least
             given
             him
             to
             think
             me
             tedious
             .
          
           
             Our
             late
             Soveraign
             being
             fully
             persuaded
             that
             no
             Church
             did
             approach
             so
             near
             the
             Primitive
             Purity
             in
             Worship
             and
             Discipline
             ,
             as
             that
             of
             England
             ,
             was
             resolved
             to
             make
             his
             Native-Countrey
             share
             in
             what
             he
             judg'd
             so
             great
             a
             Blessing
             ;
             and
             in
             order
             to
             it
             had
             a
             Liturgy
             ,
             and
             a
             Book
             of
             Canons
             ,
             published
             for
             the
             use
             of
             Scotland
             ;
             where
             he
             was
             unhappily
             made
             believe
             ,
             he
             should
             meet
             with
             Approbation
             from
             the
             better
             sort
             ,
             and
             with
             Complyance
             from
             all
             .
             But
             the
             Peoples
             insolent
             and
             mutinous
             Behaviour
             ,
             in
             affronting
             and
             disturbing
             the
             Persons
             who
             were
             ordered
             to
             read
             the
             Service
             in
             the
             Churches
             of
             Edenburgh
             ,
             did
             shew
             how
             ill
             they
             were
             disposed
             to
             receive
             it
             .
             This
             Popular
             Tumult
             the
             first
             Sunday
             ,
             was
             soon
             after
             back'd
             with
             Petitions
             and
             other
             Marks
             of
             their
             Dislike
             ,
             which
             obliged
             the
             Council
             to
             advance
             slowly
             ,
             until
             they
             gave
             the
             Court
             advice
             of
             what
             had
             past
             .
             And
             before
             the
             King
             could
             come
             to
             a
             Resolution
             in
             a
             Business
             of
             so
             great
             Importance
             ,
             such
             as
             were
             no
             Friends
             to
             the
             Government
             ,
             not
             only
             ventur'd
             to
             publish
             their
             Dissatisfaction
             ,
             and
             to
             enflame
             the
             Kingdom
             with
             strange
             Jealousies
             of
             Popery
             and
             Arbitrary
             Power
             ,
             but
             likewise
             formed
             themselves
             into
             several
             Tables
             (
             as
             they
             called
             them
             )
             of
             Noblemen
             ,
             Gentlemen
             ,
             Ministers
             ,
             and
             Citizens
             ,
             and
             by
             a
             new
             Authority
             took
             upon
             them
             ,
             to
             sum
             up
             all
             the
             Grievances
             which
             they
             intended
             should
             be
             redressed
             ;
             and
             tho
             his
             Majesties
             not
             urging
             the
             Liturgy
             upon
             that
             Kingdom
             ,
             when
             he
             saw
             it
             could
             not
             be
             done
             in
             a
             peaceable
             way
             ,
             might
             have
             quieted
             all
             their
             Minds
             ,
             yet
             finding
             their
             Party
             strong
             beyond
             Expectation
             ,
             they
             were
             loth
             to
             let
             slip
             so
             favourable
             a
             Juncture
             ,
             but
             boldly
             resolved
             to
             secure
             themselves
             against
             all
             Attempts
             of
             this
             kind
             ,
             by
             entering
             into
             a
             National
             Covenant
             ,
             in
             which
             they
             pretended
             only
             to
             renew
             that
             ,
             which
             had
             been
             sworn
             in
             the
             Reign
             of
             King
             James
             .
          
           
           
             Those
             who
             adhered
             to
             the
             King's
             interest
             ,
             could
             by
             no
             means
             allow
             of
             this
             manner
             of
             proceeding
             ,
             which
             appeared
             equally
             disingenuous
             and
             undutiful
             .
             The
             discontented
             Party
             alledged
             in
             their
             own
             behalf
             ,
             the
             President
             given
             them
             in
             the
             late
             Reign
             ,
             which
             the
             others
             thought
             did
             no
             ways
             favour
             their
             Cause
             ,
             seeing
             the
             Covenant
             then
             taken
             was
             stampt
             with
             Royal
             Authority
             ,
             whereas
             theirs
             now
             seem'd
             directly
             opposite
             to
             it
             ;
             for
             there
             could
             not
             be
             the
             least
             Pretence
             to
             the
             King's
             consent
             ,
             which
             they
             never
             so
             much
             as
             desired
             .
             'T
             is
             true
             ,
             it
             was
             upon
             the
             humble
             Motion
             of
             a
             general
             Assembly
             ,
             that
             the
             former
             King's
             Council
             had
             order'd
             the
             National
             Covenant
             to
             be
             taken
             the
             last
             time
             ,
             with
             a
             Bond
             to
             maintain
             the
             true
             Religion
             ,
             and
             the
             King's
             Person
             .
             But
             this
             instance
             of
             the
             General
             Assemblies
             Motion
             ,
             which
             they
             laid
             hold
             on
             ,
             was
             so
             far
             from
             justifying
             ,
             that
             it
             rather
             condemned
             their
             Proceedings
             ;
             in
             regard
             that
             the
             General
             Assemblies
             not
             enjoyning
             the
             Covenant
             ,
             till
             they
             had
             first
             obtained
             his
             Majesties
             Consent
             ,
             made
             it
             evident
             that
             in
             the
             Assemblies
             Judgment
             the
             Oath
             could
             not
             be
             renewed
             without
             that
             Authority
             which
             first
             imposed
             it
             ;
             Nor
             could
             they
             expect
             any
             Sanctuary
             from
             the
             Acts
             of
             Parliament
             ,
             for
             it
             had
             been
             declared
             by
             more
             than
             one
             ,
             that
             all
             who
             leagu'd
             themselves
             together
             ,
             without
             the
             knowledg
             of
             their
             Soveraign
             ,
             were
             to
             be
             punished
             as
             Movers
             of
             Sedition
             ,
             and
             Disturbers
             of
             the
             Publick
             Peace
             .
          
           
             Besides
             their
             want
             of
             Authority
             ,
             they
             laid
             themselves
             open
             to
             another
             most
             dangerous
             Censure
             ,
             while
             under
             colour
             of
             copying
             a
             Covenant
             and
             Bond
             allowed
             of
             in
             the
             late
             Reign
             ,
             it
             plainly
             appear'd
             they
             had
             not
             taken
             their
             measures
             by
             that
             Standard
             ,
             but
             had
             explain'd
             many
             things
             rather
             according
             to
             their
             own
             ,
             than
             King
             
             James's
             ,
             Mind
             ,
             and
             had
             also
             added
             several
             new
             Articles
             of
             most
             pernicious
             consequence
             ,
             both
             to
             the
             King's
             Person
             ,
             and
             the
             establish'd
             Government
             .
             The
             King's
             Person
             was
             endanger'd
             ,
             in
             so
             far
             ,
             as
             
             by
             their
             new
             Bond
             they
             enter'd
             into
             a
             mutual
             Defence
             of
             one
             another
             ,
             against
             all
             Persons
             whatsoever
             ,
             without
             excepting
             his
             Majesty
             .
             This
             the
             Royal
             Party
             said
             was
             in
             Effect
             to
             declare
             ,
             that
             if
             he
             offer'd
             to
             thwart
             them
             ,
             they
             must
             then
             oppose
             him
             ,
             by
             adhering
             to
             their
             Covenant
             .
             Nor
             were
             they
             more
             favourable
             to
             the
             established
             Government
             ,
             in
             which
             they
             made
             a
             wide
             Breach
             ,
             by
             taking
             upon
             them
             to
             cancel
             all
             the
             Acts
             of
             Parliament
             ,
             and
             of
             General
             Assemblies
             ,
             that
             authorized
             the
             high
             Commission
             ,
             the
             five
             Articles
             of
             Perth
             ,
             or
             the
             sitting
             of
             Bishops
             in
             Judicatures
             .
             Now
             by
             these
             and
             several
             other
             Instances
             of
             this
             kind
             ,
             it
             seem'd
             strange
             with
             what
             face
             they
             could
             make
             their
             Covenant
             and
             Bond
             pass
             for
             the
             same
             with
             the
             former
             Kings
             ,
             seeing
             it
             was
             not
             to
             be
             presum'd
             that
             the
             Father
             design'd
             to
             lessen
             either
             his
             own
             or
             his
             Son's
             Authority
             ;
             Nor
             to
             teach
             his
             Subjects
             how
             to
             combine
             without
             being
             Rebels
             ;
             nor
             yet
             to
             favour
             the
             extirpating
             the
             Articles
             of
             Perth
             ,
             and
             other
             Things
             after
             his
             Death
             ,
             which
             in
             his
             Life
             he
             had
             so
             industriously
             promoted
             .
          
           
             Whatever
             Influence
             these
             Pretences
             might
             have
             upon
             undiscerning
             People
             ,
             or
             such
             ,
             as
             gave
             an
             implicite
             Credit
             to
             whatever
             their
             Pastors
             taught
             them
             ,
             the
             World
             abroad
             had
             much
             different
             Thoughts
             .
             Nor
             could
             all
             the
             Endeavours
             that
             were
             used
             to
             win
             many
             of
             the
             Reformed
             Religion
             in
             France
             ,
             to
             a
             good
             Opinion
             of
             such
             Courses
             ;
             for
             they
             having
             long
             inveighed
             against
             that
             wicked
             Association
             at
             home
             ,
             call'd
             the
             
               Holy
               League
            
             ,
             found
             their
             Mouths
             now
             stop'd
             ,
             when
             the
             Protestants
             ,
             contrary
             to
             the
             Principles
             of
             our
             Religion
             ,
             did
             exactly
             follow
             so
             ill
             a
             Pattern
             ,
             set
             them
             by
             Papists
             .
             Besides
             ,
             they
             knew
             not
             what
             to
             think
             of
             Men
             ,
             who
             ,
             setting
             up
             for
             some
             further
             degrees
             in
             Reformation
             ,
             thought
             sit
             to
             communicate
             their
             Counsels
             with
             Cardinal
             Richelieu
             ,
             whom
             they
             in
             France
             look'd
             upon
             as
             the
             most
             dangerous
             Enemy
             then
             alive
             to
             the
             Protestant
             Interest
             ;
             and
             indeed
             how
             that
             Cardinal's
             Creature
             ,
             a
             bigotish
             Fryar
             ,
             whom
             he
             employ'd
             
             at
             that
             time
             in
             Scotland
             ,
             could
             go
             along
             in
             their
             Counsels
             ,
             and
             be
             so
             much
             in
             the
             Confidence
             of
             Men
             ,
             that
             pretended
             to
             root
             out
             all
             the
             Seeds
             of
             Popery
             ,
             is
             a
             Thing
             yet
             unaccountable
             ;
             and
             the
             more
             to
             alienate
             Peoples
             Hearts
             from
             the
             new
             Liturgy
             ,
             they
             did
             maliciously
             give
             out
             ,
             that
             it
             was
             forg'd
             at
             Rome
             ,
             and
             approv'd
             of
             by
             the
             Pope
             .
             Yet
             the
             King's
             Friends
             might
             have
             defied
             them
             ,
             to
             shew
             so
             much
             of
             Popish
             Counsel
             in
             the
             framing
             or
             introducing
             that
             mistaken
             Book
             ,
             as
             did
             appear
             in
             the
             Methods
             they
             made
             use
             of
             to
             oppose
             it
             .
          
           
             The
             King
             perceiving
             how
             successfully
             they
             carried
             on
             their
             Designs
             ,
             and
             gain'd
             many
             of
             his
             Subjects
             to
             their
             Party
             ,
             by
             frighting
             them
             with
             Popery
             and
             Arbitrary
             Power
             ,
             dispatch'd
             the
             Marquess
             of
             Hamilton
             into
             Scotland
             ,
             in
             Quality
             of
             Commissioner
             ,
             with
             Order
             ,
             to
             issue
             out
             a
             Declaration
             ,
             containing
             all
             the
             Assurances
             which
             could
             be
             desired
             of
             his
             Majesty's
             firmness
             to
             the
             Protestant
             Religion
             ,
             together
             with
             his
             Engagement
             upon
             his
             Royal
             Word
             not
             to
             enjoin
             the
             Liturgy
             ,
             nor
             think
             of
             any
             Innovation
             ,
             unless
             in
             such
             a
             fair
             and
             legal
             way
             ,
             as
             none
             could
             reasonably
             except
             against
             .
             Whereupon
             those
             of
             the
             other
             Party
             ,
             being
             apprehensive
             lest
             this
             might
             remove
             most
             of
             the
             Peoples
             Prejudices
             against
             the
             Government
             ,
             used
             their
             utmost
             Endeavours
             to
             hinder
             the
             Marquess
             from
             publishing
             the
             King's
             Declaration
             ;
             and
             when
             this
             could
             no
             longer
             be
             done
             ,
             got
             time
             enough
             to
             form
             a
             most
             bold
             Protestation
             ,
             by
             which
             they
             labour'd
             to
             evade
             all
             that
             was
             alledged
             against
             them
             ,
             and
             to
             justify
             their
             whole
             Conduct
             ,
             declaring
             roundly
             ,
             towards
             the
             Conclusion
             ,
             That
             if
             his
             Majesty
             did
             not
             allow
             of
             their
             Proceedings
             ,
             they
             were
             resolv'd
             of
             themselves
             to
             call
             a
             General
             Assembly
             ,
             which
             would
             be
             more
             favourable
             to
             them
             .
          
           
             The
             King's
             Declaration
             being
             thus
             in
             a
             great
             Measure
             rendred
             ineffectual
             ,
             and
             their
             Obstinacy
             ,
             in
             adhering
             to
             the
             Covenant
             ,
             growing
             still
             greater
             ,
             a
             way
             was
             thought
             on
             
             how
             Things
             might
             be
             accommodated
             ,
             without
             great
             Prejudice
             to
             the
             Crown
             ,
             and
             the
             Covenant
             be
             rendred
             tolerable
             ;
             The
             Royal
             Party
             therefore
             proposed
             ,
             that
             in
             the
             Bond
             of
             mutual
             Defence
             against
             all
             Persons
             whatsoever
             ,
             the
             Covenanters
             ,
             who
             stood
             so
             much
             upon
             their
             Loyal
             Intentions
             ,
             would
             vindicate
             them
             to
             the
             World
             ,
             by
             excepting
             his
             Majesty
             ,
             and
             declaring
             ,
             that
             in
             their
             Bond
             they
             never
             design'd
             any
             Opposition
             to
             his
             Authority
             .
             But
             this
             most
             reasonable
             Demand
             ,
             the
             Heads
             of
             that
             Party
             could
             by
             no
             means
             be
             brought
             to
             grant
             ;
             and
             no
             wonder
             ,
             if
             their
             rejecting
             so
             fair
             and
             so
             easy
             a
             Proposal
             ,
             gave
             those
             ,
             who
             were
             Enemies
             to
             their
             Covenant
             ,
             occasion
             to
             complain
             ,
             that
             their
             Practice
             now
             began
             to
             discover
             it self
             inconsistent
             with
             what
             they
             at
             first
             pretended
             ;
             for
             whereas
             in
             the
             Covenant
             they
             declared
             from
             their
             Heart
             before
             God
             and
             Man
             ,
             that
             they
             had
             no
             intention
             ,
             nor
             desire
             to
             attempt
             any
             Thing
             ,
             which
             might
             turn
             to
             the
             diminution
             of
             the
             King's
             Greatness
             and
             Authority
             ;
             it
             seem'd
             hard
             now
             to
             reconcile
             this
             and
             other
             such
             Expressions
             ,
             with
             their
             Threatning
             ,
             to
             assume
             the
             King
             's
             undoubted
             Prerogative
             ,
             in
             calling
             an
             Assembly
             ,
             and
             with
             their
             refusing
             to
             give
             the
             King
             the
             Satisfaction
             of
             excepting
             him
             in
             their
             mutual
             Bond
             ,
             even
             when
             by
             his
             Commissioner
             he
             so
             earnestly
             desired
             it
             .
          
           
             There
             remain'd
             yet
             one
             expedient
             for
             the
             King
             to
             ruin
             all
             they
             had
             done
             ,
             and
             this
             was
             to
             renew
             his
             Father's
             Covenant
             ;
             and
             by
             this
             means
             for
             ever
             to
             defeat
             their
             malicious
             Suggestions
             of
             his
             Inclinations
             to
             Popery
             ,
             which
             was
             there
             so
             plainly
             renounced
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             to
             make
             the
             whole
             World
             see
             ,
             how
             disingenuous
             they
             were
             ,
             if
             they
             offer'd
             to
             oppose
             that
             Covenant
             ,
             which
             from
             the
             Beginning
             they
             pretended
             to
             have
             sworn
             .
             His
             Majesty
             ,
             accepting
             of
             this
             Motion
             ,
             was
             pleased
             to
             give
             his
             Commissioner
             Authority
             ,
             that
             at
             the
             same
             time
             ,
             he
             recommended
             the
             Covenant
             ,
             he
             should
             absolutely
             revoke
             the
             Liturgy
             ,
             the
             Book
             of
             Canons
             ,
             and
             the
             
             high
             Commission
             ,
             forbid
             the
             Practice
             of
             the
             five
             Articles
             of
             Perth
             ,
             after
             a
             general
             Pardon
             to
             such
             of
             his
             Subjects
             ,
             as
             having
             been
             misled
             ,
             were
             willing
             to
             return
             to
             their
             Allegiance
             ;
             and
             lastly
             ,
             that
             for
             examining
             all
             their
             just
             Grievances
             ,
             he
             should
             declare
             his
             Majesty's
             gracious
             intentions
             to
             call
             a
             General
             Assembly
             and
             a
             Parliament
             ,
             where
             neither
             Bishops
             nor
             others
             were
             to
             be
             exempted
             from
             Censure
             ,
             but
             proceeded
             against
             in
             a
             due
             and
             legal
             Form
             according
             to
             their
             Misdemeanors
             .
          
           
             Upon
             the
             news
             of
             the
             King's
             Covenant
             ,
             which
             came
             thus
             accompanied
             with
             so
             many
             and
             so
             large
             Expressions
             of
             Kindness
             ,
             and
             with
             such
             undeniable
             Marks
             of
             his
             gracious
             Inclinations
             to
             purchase
             his
             Subjects
             Affections
             at
             any
             rate
             ,
             some
             who
             before
             despair'd
             of
             a
             good
             Issue
             ,
             and
             others
             ,
             who
             began
             to
             shake
             in
             their
             Allegiance
             ,
             were
             again
             confirmed
             ,
             nothing
             doubting
             ,
             but
             that
             the
             Way
             to
             heal
             the
             dangerous
             Breach
             was
             now
             found
             out
             ,
             and
             that
             the
             Jealousies
             of
             Popery
             and
             Innovation
             being
             sufficiently
             remov'd
             ,
             all
             Parties
             would
             henceforth
             concur
             in
             expressing
             their
             Duty
             to
             his
             Majesty
             .
             But
             it
             proved
             much
             otherwise
             with
             those
             ,
             who
             were
             deeply
             engaged
             in
             the
             Covenant
             ,
             whom
             no
             Indulgence
             could
             sweeten
             ,
             nor
             Concession
             satisfy
             ,
             with
             Contempt
             did
             they
             reject
             the
             proffer
             of
             Pardon
             ,
             because
             accepting
             thereof
             might
             have
             perhaps
             argued
             Guilt
             ,
             and
             a
             tacite
             yielding
             the
             Point
             ,
             when
             they
             were
             resolved
             to
             insist
             upon
             the
             Merits
             of
             their
             Cause
             ;
             the
             King's
             Covenant
             ,
             which
             had
             been
             so
             dear
             to
             the
             Nation
             in
             the
             former
             Reign
             ,
             and
             under
             the
             shadow
             of
             which
             their
             new
             Covenant
             had
             first
             taken
             Root
             ,
             was
             now
             cryed
             down
             as
             an
             hellish
             Contrivance
             to
             destroy
             Religion
             ,
             and
             the
             Power
             of
             Godliness
             ,
             and
             all
             that
             subscribed
             it
             ,
             were
             declared
             perjur'd
             ,
             tho
             they
             had
             made
             their
             own
             hitherto
             pass
             with
             the
             common
             People
             for
             the
             same
             ;
             to
             be
             short
             ,
             all
             being
             now
             at
             stake
             ,
             and
             they
             like
             to
             be
             ruined
             by
             their
             own
             Arts
             ,
             it
             was
             high
             time
             to
             pull
             off
             the
             Mask
             .
             
             Finding
             then
             that
             they
             could
             no
             longer
             pretend
             the
             late
             King's
             Authority
             ,
             they
             fled
             to
             a
             greater
             ,
             protesting
             their
             Adherence
             to
             the
             new
             Covenant
             ,
             as
             immediately
             sealed
             from
             Heaven
             .
             Had
             they
             been
             able
             to
             give
             any
             Evidence
             for
             that
             Seal
             ,
             no
             wonder
             if
             they
             still
             made
             good
             their
             Party
             ;
             but
             when
             their
             prevaricating
             was
             already
             so
             plain
             ,
             People
             were
             extreamly
             credulous
             to
             rest
             satisfied
             in
             this
             upon
             their
             bare
             Word
             .
             I
             shall
             only
             adventure
             to
             say
             ,
             it
             was
             no
             Argument
             of
             their
             having
             the
             Seal
             of
             God
             ,
             because
             they
             wanted
             that
             of
             his
             Vice-gerent
             ;
             which
             was
             indeed
             a
             strong
             Presumption
             against
             them
             ,
             and
             questionless
             the
             most
             zealous
             Espousers
             of
             that
             Interest
             ,
             whatever
             Assurances
             they
             seemed
             to
             have
             of
             God's
             approving
             what
             they
             then
             did
             ,
             will
             be
             so
             ingenuous
             as
             to
             own
             it
             a
             Thing
             of
             dangerous
             Consequence
             ,
             for
             all
             established
             Governments
             to
             give
             Encouragement
             to
             Pretences
             of
             this
             Nature
             ,
             seeing
             at
             this
             rate
             all
             ,
             who
             design
             to
             impose
             upon
             the
             World
             ,
             may
             easily
             seign
             a
             Warrant
             from
             God
             ,
             and
             so
             set
             up
             in
             Opposition
             to
             Authority
             .
          
           
             That
             very
             Resolution
             of
             adhering
             to
             their
             Covenant
             ,
             which
             made
             them
             fiercely
             oppose
             the
             King's
             ,
             and
             reject
             his
             Act
             of
             Grace
             ,
             prompted
             them
             to
             join
             with
             his
             Motion
             for
             a
             General
             Assembly
             ,
             because
             from
             thence
             they
             were
             sure
             to
             draw
             some
             Advantage
             ;
             and
             tho
             the
             King
             might
             justly
             have
             refused
             to
             make
             good
             his
             Proffers
             ,
             when
             they
             had
             so
             undutifully
             rejected
             the
             greatest
             Part
             of
             them
             ;
             yet
             being
             willing
             to
             gratify
             his
             Subjects
             in
             every
             Thing
             ,
             the
             Commissioner
             had
             Order
             to
             appoint
             the
             Time
             and
             Place
             .
             No
             sooner
             were
             they
             sure
             of
             an
             Assembly
             
               (
               at
               Glasgow
               ,
               the
               21st
               of
               November
               ,
            
             1638.
             )
             but
             Engines
             were
             set
             on
             work
             to
             dispose
             Things
             for
             the
             Advancement
             of
             the
             Cause
             :
             The
             Marquess
             of
             Hamilton
             being
             to
             preside
             there
             for
             his
             Majesty
             ,
             proposed
             some
             Preliminaries
             to
             regulate
             Elections
             ,
             and
             to
             prevent
             such
             Disorders
             and
             Disputes
             ,
             as
             were
             like
             to
             arise
             ,
             if
             they
             observed
             not
             one
             and
             the
             same
             Method
             every
             where
             ;
             these
             the
             Tables
             
             would
             not
             hear
             of
             ,
             alledging
             that
             nothing
             of
             this
             kind
             could
             be
             done
             ,
             without
             encroaching
             upon
             the
             Liberties
             of
             Christ
             and
             of
             his
             Church
             .
             While
             at
             the
             same
             Time
             that
             the
             King's
             Commissioners
             Preliminaries
             were
             rejected
             ,
             they
             themselves
             durst
             adventure
             to
             agree
             upon
             eight
             Articles
             or
             Directions
             to
             Presbyteries
             ,
             wherein
             they
             determin'd
             the
             Members
             that
             were
             to
             be
             chosen
             ,
             the
             Matters
             that
             were
             to
             be
             handled
             ,
             and
             the
             Manner
             they
             were
             to
             proceed
             in
             the
             Assembly
             ,
             in
             every
             one
             of
             which
             all
             indifferent
             Persons
             thought
             the
             Tables
             guilty
             of
             a
             more
             open
             Encroachment
             upon
             Christ
             and
             the
             Liberties
             of
             his
             Church
             ,
             than
             could
             be
             charg'd
             upon
             the
             Marquess
             ,
             for
             his
             modest
             and
             reasonable
             Proposals
             .
          
           
             Amongst
             other
             unwarrantable
             Methods
             ,
             none
             was
             more
             remarkable
             than
             their
             directing
             Lay-elders
             from
             every
             Parish
             ,
             to
             be
             present
             at
             the
             several
             Presbyteries
             ,
             to
             vote
             in
             the
             Election
             of
             Members
             for
             the
             Assembly
             ;
             Nor
             could
             these
             ruling
             Elders
             fail
             to
             carry
             the
             Elections
             as
             they
             pleased
             ,
             if
             we
             consider
             ,
             that
             six
             Ministers
             being
             declared
             Candidates
             in
             every
             Presbytery
             ,
             were
             obliged
             to
             retire
             ,
             as
             having
             no
             Vote
             in
             choosing
             or
             rejecting
             themselves
             ,
             and
             then
             the
             remaining
             Ministers
             being
             lessen'd
             after
             this
             Manner
             in
             Number
             ,
             were
             plainly
             out-voted
             everywhere
             by
             the
             Elders
             .
             Surely
             this
             was
             the
             first
             Time
             that
             ever
             Secular
             Men
             had
             the
             naming
             an
             Ecclesiastical
             Assembly
             ;
             nor
             needed
             they
             have
             questioned
             the
             Success
             ,
             where
             the
             Business
             was
             to
             be
             manag'd
             by
             no
             other
             than
             their
             own
             Creatures
             ;
             yet
             contrary
             to
             the
             Practice
             of
             former
             Assemblies
             in
             Scotland
             ,
             contrary
             to
             the
             Practice
             of
             all
             Churches
             and
             Ages
             ,
             they
             took
             upon
             them
             to
             go
             and
             sit
             Members
             themselves
             in
             the
             Assembly
             ,
             not
             only
             to
             advise
             in
             Matters
             of
             Discipline
             ,
             for
             which
             they
             might
             perhaps
             have
             brought
             a
             President
             ,
             but
             also
             to
             decide
             controverted
             Points
             in
             Divinity
             ,
             for
             which
             ,
             to
             say
             no
             worse
             ,
             many
             of
             them
             were
             very
             ill
             qualified
             by
             their
             Education
             .
             And
             now
             let
             the
             whole
             World
             judge
             if
             it
             were
             not
             an
             Act
             of
             Partiality
             ,
             
             not
             to
             be
             paralell'd
             ,
             for
             them
             to
             cry
             out
             upon
             Bishops
             and
             Clergy-men's
             medling
             in
             Secular
             Affairs
             ,
             and
             do
             now
             raise
             such
             an
             outery
             against
             the
             King's
             Supremacy
             ,
             pretending
             that
             it
             is
             inconsistent
             with
             the
             Nature
             of
             Spiritual
             Things
             ,
             to
             bring
             them
             under
             the
             Government
             of
             the
             Secular
             Power
             :
             When
             they
             themselves
             ,
             who
             were
             Secular
             Persons
             ,
             did
             so
             manifestly
             invade
             the
             most
             undoubted
             Prerogative
             of
             the
             Ministry
             ,
             heavy
             Complaints
             were
             given
             in
             ,
             of
             the
             insupportable
             Yoke
             of
             Prelacy
             :
             but
             in
             truth
             that
             of
             Secular
             Men
             ,
             lording
             it
             then
             over
             God's
             Inheritance
             ,
             was
             much
             more
             grievous
             than
             the
             former
             .
             Nor
             were
             the
             wiser
             Sort
             of
             Ministers
             among
             them
             insensible
             of
             this
             Usurpation
             ,
             only
             they
             were
             asham'd
             to
             complain
             much
             of
             the
             Uneasiness
             of
             those
             Chains
             ,
             wherewith
             they
             had
             help'd
             to
             fetter
             themselves
             .
          
           
             If
             the
             brevity
             ,
             which
             I
             propose
             ,
             would
             allow
             me
             ,
             it
             might
             be
             suitable
             enough
             with
             my
             Design
             ,
             to
             give
             a
             full
             Account
             of
             what
             past
             in
             that
             memorable
             Assembly
             ,
             and
             shew
             how
             they
             confirm'd
             the
             Covenant
             there
             by
             the
             same
             Methods
             ,
             by
             which
             it
             was
             at
             first
             set
             on
             foot
             ,
             and
             had
             hitherto
             been
             carried
             on
             .
             But
             it
             is
             sufficient
             at
             present
             to
             observe
             ,
             that
             the
             certain
             Prospect
             of
             a
             fatal
             Issue
             ,
             both
             to
             King
             and
             Government
             ,
             if
             not
             timely
             prevented
             ,
             obliged
             the
             King's
             Commissioner
             to
             dissolve
             the
             Assembly
             within
             a
             few
             Days
             after
             their
             Meeting
             .
             And
             when
             he
             expected
             Compliance
             ,
             he
             found
             them
             ready
             with
             a
             Protestation
             to
             continue
             their
             Sessions
             ,
             till
             such
             Time
             as
             they
             had
             finished
             the
             glorious
             Work
             for
             which
             they
             met
             ;
             however
             ,
             their
             refusing
             to
             obey
             the
             King's
             Commands
             ,
             signified
             to
             them
             by
             his
             Commissioner
             ,
             was
             perfectly
             inconsistent
             with
             what
             the
             most
             eminent
             among
             them
             had
             said
             ,
             some
             days
             before
             at
             the
             opening
             the
             Assembly
             ;
             for
             then
             they
             exprest
             in
             several
             Harangues
             their
             Sense
             of
             the
             King's
             Bounty
             and
             Tenderness
             in
             bringing
             them
             thither
             :
             and
             who
             can
             deny
             but
             he
             ,
             who
             only
             had
             Authority
             to
             call
             them
             ,
             could
             also
             dissolve
             them
             at
             Pleasure
             ?
             and
             tho
             both
             are
             equally
             
             Royal
             Prerogatives
             ,
             yet
             undoubtedly
             our
             Princes
             have
             Reason
             to
             set
             the
             highest
             Value
             upon
             their
             Power
             of
             Dissolving
             ,
             which
             has
             been
             useful
             to
             them
             upon
             many
             Occasions
             ;
             nor
             did
             ever
             the
             Crown
             receive
             so
             deep
             a
             Wound
             ,
             as
             when
             our
             late
             Soveraign
             parted
             with
             this
             choice
             Prerogative
             ,
             and
             so
             lay
             at
             the
             Mercy
             of
             a
             Parliament
             ,
             which
             the
             Fears
             of
             Dissolution
             could
             only
             have
             bridled
             ,
             and
             kept
             them
             within
             some
             Compass
             .
             But
             to
             return
             to
             the
             Assembly
             :
             When
             so
             great
             a
             Contempt
             was
             put
             upon
             the
             King
             ,
             they
             went
             on
             in
             a
             most
             violent
             and
             illegal
             Manner
             ,
             to
             excommunicate
             some
             of
             the
             Bishops
             ,
             and
             to
             depose
             all
             the
             rest
             ;
             many
             Acts
             of
             Parliament
             were
             rescinded
             ,
             the
             Determinations
             of
             forty
             Years
             Assemblies
             were
             declared
             void
             ;
             all
             Persons
             were
             enjoin'd
             to
             take
             the
             Covenant
             under
             pain
             of
             Excommunication
             ;
             and
             to
             give
             the
             World
             a
             lasting
             Instance
             of
             their
             Modesty
             ,
             they
             concluded
             with
             a
             Letter
             to
             his
             Majesty
             ,
             justifying
             their
             whole
             Procedure
             ,
             and
             entreating
             him
             ,
             that
             he
             would
             look
             upon
             them
             as
             good
             and
             dutiful
             Subjects
             ,
             and
             be
             satisfied
             with
             what
             they
             had
             done
             .
          
           
             No
             wonder
             if
             Provocations
             of
             so
             high
             a
             Nature
             did
             beget
             suitable
             Resentments
             in
             the
             King
             ,
             who
             after
             so
             much
             abus'd
             Indulgence
             ,
             had
             no
             Way
             left
             to
             maintain
             his
             Right
             but
             by
             Arms
             ;
             nor
             did
             the
             Covenanters
             decline
             a
             Breach
             ,
             having
             made
             early
             Preparation
             for
             it
             ;
             so
             that
             ,
             before
             the
             King
             came
             to
             any
             Act
             of
             Hostility
             ,
             they
             seized
             upon
             his
             Castles
             ,
             levied
             Troops
             ,
             impos'd
             Taxes
             ,
             and
             cast
             off
             all
             manner
             of
             Allegiance
             ;
             and
             even
             when
             his
             Majestie
             's
             Aversion
             from
             shedding
             his
             Subjects
             Blood
             ,
             made
             him
             ,
             upon
             the
             Head
             of
             a
             brave
             and
             numerous
             Army
             ,
             yield
             to
             terms
             of
             as
             great
             Condescension
             as
             Necessity
             could
             have
             extorted
             ,
             and
             send
             them
             home
             gratified
             in
             all
             their
             Demands
             ,
             without
             fighting
             ;
             yet
             new
             Grievances
             arm'd
             them
             again
             ;
             and
             whereas
             at
             first
             they
             stop'd
             on
             the
             Borders
             ,
             now
             most
             boldly
             they
             march
             into
             England
             ,
             force
             their
             Passage
             at
             Newburn
             ,
             and
             refuse
             to
             return
             ,
             until
             
             the
             King
             agreed
             to
             come
             into
             Scotland
             ,
             there
             to
             pass
             all
             his
             Concessions
             into
             Acts
             of
             Parliament
             .
          
           
             His
             Majesty
             failed
             not
             to
             make
             good
             what
             he
             promised
             ,
             and
             having
             purchas'd
             their
             Allegiance
             at
             so
             dear
             a
             rate
             ,
             might
             justly
             have
             challeng'd
             their
             entire
             Obedience
             upon
             the
             Principles
             of
             Gratitude
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             Duty
             ;
             but
             upon
             the
             woful
             Rupture
             ,
             which
             soon
             after
             followed
             ,
             betwixt
             him
             and
             his
             English
             Parliament
             ,
             the
             Spirit
             and
             Temper
             of
             our
             Covenanters
             did
             discover
             it self
             more
             than
             ever
             .
             Far
             from
             being
             satisfied
             with
             the
             great
             Trouble
             they
             had
             occasion'd
             at
             home
             ,
             or
             with
             the
             Settlement
             procur'd
             to
             their
             Hearts
             Desire
             ,
             they
             cherish
             the
             two
             Houses
             in
             their
             unreasonable
             Demands
             about
             Religion
             ;
             and
             ,
             as
             it
             is
             most
             ingenuously
             observed
             by
             a
             late
             Writer
             of
             our
             Nation
             ,
             shew
             themselves
             now
             as
             violent
             in
             pressing
             England's
             Uniformity
             with
             Scotland
             ,
             as
             they
             were
             formerly
             in
             condemning
             the
             Design
             of
             bringing
             Scotland
             to
             an
             Uniformity
             with
             England
             .
          
           
             'T
             is
             not
             my
             Task
             to
             meddle
             with
             the
             Differences
             betwixt
             the
             King
             and
             his
             English
             Parliament
             ,
             which
             I
             leave
             to
             the
             excellent
             Pens
             of
             that
             Nation
             ;
             but
             sure
             I
             am
             ,
             there
             was
             not
             the
             least
             Reason
             for
             
             Scotland's
             espousing
             the
             Parliaments
             Quarrel
             ,
             or
             for
             fomenting
             their
             Jealousies
             of
             a
             Prince
             ,
             who
             had
             so
             lately
             given
             us
             such
             undoubted
             Marks
             of
             his
             transcendent
             Bounty
             ,
             in
             yielding
             to
             all
             that
             our
             Covenanters
             demanded
             ;
             besides
             ,
             by
             the
             Explication
             of
             the
             Covenant
             ,
             we
             obliged
             our selves
             to
             assist
             his
             Majesty
             in
             every
             Cause
             that
             concern'd
             his
             Honour
             ;
             and
             so
             ought
             to
             have
             been
             thankful
             for
             his
             Majesty's
             Condescension
             ,
             in
             suffering
             us
             to
             continue
             neutral
             ;
             yet
             notwithstanding
             these
             Obligations
             ,
             The
             Parliament's
             Interest
             was
             so
             dear
             to
             our
             Commissioners
             then
             at
             London
             ,
             that
             forgetting
             the
             Quality
             of
             Mediators
             ,
             in
             which
             they
             first
             appear'd
             ,
             they
             sided
             openly
             with
             the
             Houses
             against
             the
             King.
             Nor
             were
             our
             Ministers
             at
             home
             less
             partial
             ,
             our
             Pulpits
             did
             ring
             with
             Curses
             against
             some
             ,
             who
             
             were
             for
             a
             Neutrality
             ,
             as
             Enemies
             to
             the
             Cause
             of
             Christ
             ,
             and
             the
             Reformation
             of
             England
             ;
             all
             were
             invited
             to
             join
             in
             so
             meritorious
             a
             Work
             ,
             and
             at
             length
             all
             Sense
             of
             Duty
             was
             so
             entirely
             cast
             off
             ,
             that
             the
             chief
             Promoters
             of
             those
             Designs
             adventur'd
             to
             assume
             to
             themselves
             a
             most
             undoubted
             Prerogative
             of
             the
             Crown
             ,
             in
             summoning
             a
             Convention
             of
             Estates
             without
             the
             King's
             Leave
             .
          
           
             From
             a
             Convention
             call'd
             without
             Authority
             ,
             there
             was
             no
             reason
             to
             expect
             any
             legal
             Proceedings
             ,
             or
             Complyance
             to
             the
             King
             ,
             who
             yet
             vouchsafed
             to
             approve
             of
             their
             Meeting
             ,
             upon
             Condition
             ,
             they
             would
             observe
             such
             Limitations
             ,
             as
             were
             prescrib'd
             in
             his
             Letter
             .
             But
             the
             Business
             of
             England
             ,
             and
             the
             raising
             an
             Army
             ,
             being
             the
             only
             Things
             ,
             which
             he
             forbid
             them
             to
             meddle
             with
             ,
             were
             the
             first
             which
             fell
             under
             their
             Consideration
             ;
             and
             Commissioners
             being
             sent
             from
             the
             Parliament
             of
             England
             to
             treat
             about
             an
             Army
             ,
             our
             Convention
             of
             Estates
             ,
             notwithstanding
             the
             King
             's
             special
             Command
             to
             the
             contrary
             ,
             received
             them
             with
             open
             Arms
             ,
             agreed
             readily
             to
             their
             Demands
             ,
             and
             exprest
             such
             an
             hearty
             Desire
             of
             a
             strict
             Union
             betwixt
             the
             two
             Kingdoms
             ,
             that
             their
             warm
             Consultations
             did
             in
             a
             few
             Days
             hatch
             the
             solemn
             League
             and
             Covenant
             .
          
           
             It
             was
             strange
             to
             see
             a
             League
             ,
             which
             so
             highly
             concern'd
             a
             King
             ,
             two
             Kingdoms
             ,
             differing
             much
             in
             Laws
             and
             Constitutions
             ,
             and
             two
             Churches
             ,
             differing
             no
             less
             in
             Worship
             and
             Discipline
             ,
             so
             easily
             and
             suddenly
             concluded
             .
             It
             was
             first
             seen
             ,
             afterwards
             approved
             ,
             and
             lastly
             sworn
             in
             the
             General
             Assembly
             ,
             all
             within
             the
             short
             Period
             of
             three
             Days
             .
             The
             Ministers
             made
             this
             wonderful
             Unanimity
             pass
             with
             the
             People
             for
             an
             undeniable
             Testimony
             of
             the
             Divine
             Approbation
             ;
             tho
             others
             ,
             who
             could
             never
             be
             convinced
             that
             the
             former
             Covenant
             received
             its
             Seal
             from
             Heaven
             ,
             entertain'd
             no
             better
             Opinion
             of
             this
             ,
             but
             did
             attribute
             their
             Agreement
             only
             to
             the
             dexterous
             Management
             of
             the
             Leaders
             ,
             
             who
             had
             such
             a
             powerful
             Influence
             and
             Authority
             over
             the
             rest
             ,
             that
             they
             seldom
             fail'd
             in
             any
             Thing
             they
             proposed
             .
          
           
             The
             whole
             Negotiation
             ended
             without
             any
             Debates
             .
             Yet
             there
             was
             apparent
             jugling
             on
             both
             Hands
             ;
             for
             the
             English
             Commissioners
             had
             a
             great
             mind
             to
             carry
             with
             them
             a
             Scotish
             Army
             ,
             but
             had
             no
             liking
             at
             all
             to
             our
             Presbytery
             ;
             and
             therefore
             consenting
             to
             a
             Reformation
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             ,
             told
             one
             another
             that
             they
             understood
             well
             enough
             what
             to
             make
             of
             that
             at
             home
             ;
             the
             Scotish
             on
             the
             other
             Hand
             designing
             to
             get
             Presbytery
             establish'd
             in
             England
             ,
             cast
             in
             the
             Words
             of
             
               Reforming
               ,
               according
               to
               the
               Practice
               of
               the
               best
               reformed
               Churches
               ,
            
             hoping
             this
             made
             sure
             for
             theirs
             ,
             as
             the
             most
             perfect
             Model
             that
             could
             any
             where
             be
             found
             ;
             our
             Ministers
             were
             likewise
             for
             abjuring
             Episcopacy
             as
             simply
             unlawful
             ;
             but
             neither
             the
             English
             Commissioners
             then
             in
             Scotland
             ,
             nor
             the
             Parliament
             or
             Assembly
             of
             Divines
             at
             Westminster
             ,
             thought
             fit
             afterwards
             to
             declare
             that
             Institution
             unlawful
             :
             whereupon
             the
             Article
             was
             conceived
             to
             import
             only
             an
             abolishing
             of
             Episcopacy
             ,
             as
             it
             was
             then
             in
             England
             ,
             without
             condemning
             what
             the
             Primitive
             Church
             had
             allow'd
             in
             all
             its
             Purity
             .
             To
             describe
             all
             the
             subtile
             Arts
             which
             were
             used
             ,
             the
             manifest
             Elusions
             and
             Breaches
             wherewith
             we
             charged
             England
             ,
             and
             England
             us
             ,
             together
             with
             the
             fatal
             Consequences
             of
             this
             Covenant
             in
             both
             Nations
             ,
             would
             require
             much
             pains
             and
             leisure
             .
             It
             will
             suffice
             at
             present
             to
             make
             some
             brief
             Reflections
             ,
             which
             may
             serve
             to
             cool
             our
             too
             great
             Fondness
             of
             it
             .
          
           
             All
             that
             could
             be
             alledg'd
             against
             the
             National
             Covenant
             was
             of
             force
             against
             this
             ;
             besides
             many
             Material
             Circumstances
             to
             render
             it
             yet
             more
             inexcusable
             ;
             for
             if
             we
             never
             find
             Subjects
             lawfully
             united
             among
             themselves
             ,
             without
             the
             Prince's
             leave
             ,
             much
             less
             could
             the
             Subjects
             of
             one
             Nation
             take
             upon
             them
             to
             make
             a
             League
             with
             those
             of
             another
             ,
             contrary
             to
             the
             King's
             Command
             ,
             and
             in
             Prejudice
             of
             his
             
             Authority
             .
             Ought
             we
             not
             to
             have
             been
             contented
             with
             the
             Enjoyment
             of
             all
             we
             could
             desire
             at
             home
             ,
             without
             medling
             in
             the
             Concerns
             of
             another
             Nation
             ,
             who
             generally
             did
             not
             appear
             fond
             of
             an
             Alteration
             ,
             and
             never
             were
             fitted
             for
             our
             Church-discipline
             ?
             Was
             there
             no
             more
             regard
             due
             to
             a
             Soveraign
             ,
             who
             had
             deserv'd
             so
             well
             at
             our
             hands
             ,
             than
             even
             to
             pursue
             him
             out
             of
             his
             native
             Countrey
             ;
             and
             grudge
             him
             that
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
             in
             England
             ,
             which
             he
             had
             graciously
             yielded
             to
             us
             in
             Scotland
             ?
             We
             read
             of
             many
             Nations
             that
             engag'd
             in
             Wars
             for
             the
             Enlargement
             of
             their
             Soveraign's
             Empire
             ,
             or
             Authority
             over
             Strangers
             ,
             we
             alone
             shall
             be
             known
             to
             Posterity
             as
             guilty
             of
             helping
             Strangers
             to
             shake
             off
             the
             Allegiance
             due
             to
             a
             Prince
             born
             among
             our selves
             .
             But
             besides
             these
             general
             Reflexions
             ,
             every
             one
             of
             the
             six
             Articles
             ,
             whereof
             this
             Covenant
             consisted
             ,
             lay
             open
             to
             several
             Exceptions
             .
             As
          
           
             I.
             It
             seem'd
             hard
             ,
             that
             every
             ignorant
             Person
             in
             Scotland
             should
             be
             obliged
             by
             Oath
             to
             endeavour
             the
             Reformation
             of
             England
             ,
             according
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             and
             the
             Practice
             of
             the
             best
             reformed
             Churches
             .
             What
             knowledg
             ,
             alas
             !
             could
             Persons
             of
             so
             mean
             Capacity
             or
             Education
             be
             presumed
             to
             have
             of
             Differences
             among
             reformed
             Churches
             ,
             of
             which
             they
             were
             to
             judge
             upon
             Oath
             !
             how
             could
             they
             weigh
             the
             Advantages
             of
             Holland
             above
             Geneva
             ,
             of
             France
             above
             Holland
             ,
             or
             of
             Scotland
             above
             France
             ,
             and
             accordingly
             endeavour
             the
             Reformation
             of
             England
             ?
             truly
             't
             is
             to
             be
             doubted
             that
             more
             was
             here
             required
             of
             the
             meanest
             and
             weakest
             of
             the
             People
             ,
             than
             many
             of
             our
             ablest
             Ministers
             could
             well
             have
             perform'd
             :
             how
             could
             such
             Persons
             examine
             nice
             Questions
             about
             Church-Government
             according
             to
             Scripture
             ,
             which
             have
             divided
             the
             learned
             World
             ?
             and
             yet
             the
             Vulgar
             were
             to
             judge
             of
             such
             ,
             seeing
             by
             those
             Rules
             they
             swore
             to
             proceed
             .
             Nor
             do
             I
             see
             any
             shift
             ,
             unless
             we
             allow
             them
             to
             resign
             their
             Judgment
             by
             an
             implicite
             Faith
             in
             their
             Teachers
             ,
             
             which
             makes
             no
             decent
             Evasion
             for
             a
             Reformed
             Church
             .
          
           
             The
             second
             Article
             was
             lyable
             to
             the
             same
             Exceptions
             with
             the
             former
             :
             They
             swore
             ,
             
               To
               extirpate
               Popery
               ,
               Prelacy
               ,
               Superstition
               ,
               Heresy
               ,
               Schism
               ,
               Profaneness
               ,
               and
               whatsoever
               should
               be
               found
               contrary
               to
               sound
               Doctrine
               ,
               and
               the
               Power
               of
               Godliness
               .
            
             This
             I
             take
             to
             have
             been
             a
             very
             hard
             Task
             for
             every
             one
             to
             perform
             ,
             and
             more
             certainly
             ,
             than
             ought
             to
             be
             required
             of
             any
             Man
             ,
             in
             Things
             which
             are
             not
             plain
             beyond
             controversy
             ,
             as
             all
             such
             Points
             were
             not
             then
             amongst
             them
             :
             for
             we
             find
             ,
             that
             one
             Minister
             did
             often
             inveigh
             against
             Opinions
             ,
             as
             savouring
             of
             Popery
             ,
             which
             another
             as
             positively
             deny'd
             ,
             charging
             the
             contrary
             Opinions
             ,
             as
             leading
             to
             Schism
             ;
             and
             ignorant
             Persons
             ,
             who
             under
             pain
             of
             Perjury
             were
             equally
             engag'd
             against
             Schism
             and
             Popery
             ,
             must
             have
             found
             strange
             Storms
             ,
             raised
             in
             their
             Minds
             ,
             and
             their
             tender
             Consciences
             dreadfully
             rack'd
             ,
             while
             they
             could
             not
             understand
             ,
             which
             of
             the
             opposite
             Opinions
             they
             might
             safely
             embrace
             .
          
           
             Tho
             the
             former
             Part
             of
             the
             third
             Article
             concern'd
             Things
             of
             a
             quite
             different
             Nature
             ,
             yet
             the
             Objections
             are
             much
             of
             the
             same
             kind
             ,
             by
             that
             all
             were
             engag'd
             to
             defend
             the
             Rights
             and
             Priviledges
             of
             Parliament
             :
             But
             ,
             alas
             !
             who
             could
             expect
             that
             common
             People
             should
             be
             put
             to
             determine
             such
             ,
             when
             we
             hear
             of
             Debates
             started
             frequently
             concerning
             Priviledges
             ,
             which
             the
             Wisdom
             of
             our
             greatest
             Senators
             is
             scarce
             able
             to
             accommodate
             ,
             and
             seldom
             is
             it
             so
             done
             ,
             as
             to
             answer
             all
             Objections
             ,
             or
             satisfy
             every
             Member
             .
             Suppose
             a
             Parliament
             so
             divided
             ,
             that
             it
             comes
             to
             a
             Breach
             ,
             to
             what
             Party
             must
             the
             People
             then
             adhere
             ,
             who
             are
             not
             able
             to
             judge
             ,
             which
             of
             the
             two
             really
             maintains
             their
             Priviledges
             ,
             where
             both
             with
             Confidence
             pretend
             it
             ,
             and
             back
             their
             Pretences
             with
             plausible
             Reasons
             .
             Nothing
             could
             have
             been
             more
             for
             the
             Peace
             of
             the
             World
             ,
             than
             that
             a
             greater
             Reverence
             had
             been
             kept
             up
             for
             Vows
             and
             Oaths
             ,
             by
             not
             making
             
             them
             too
             common
             :
             But
             seeing
             our
             Fathers
             would
             not
             be
             satisfied
             without
             engaging
             Persons
             of
             all
             Ranks
             in
             Oaths
             ,
             't
             is
             to
             be
             wish'd
             that
             ordinary
             People
             had
             only
             been
             bound
             to
             live
             peaceably
             in
             their
             Stations
             ;
             to
             obey
             those
             who
             by
             the
             Laws
             of
             the
             Land
             were
             set
             over
             them
             ;
             not
             to
             countenance
             Division
             and
             Faction
             ,
             nor
             turn
             States-men
             and
             Censurers
             of
             their
             Superiours
             :
             for
             in
             these
             and
             the
             like
             Engagements
             there
             had
             only
             been
             a
             further
             Ty
             laid
             upon
             them
             to
             perform
             easy
             ,
             plain
             ,
             and
             necessary
             Duties
             ,
             suitable
             to
             their
             Capacities
             ,
             without
             medling
             in
             Matters
             beyond
             their
             reach
             .
             Whereas
             our
             late
             Covenants
             did
             unadvisedly
             raise
             such
             Persons
             above
             themselves
             ,
             injoin'd
             them
             Things
             they
             could
             not
             discharge
             ,
             and
             ,
             contrary
             to
             all
             reason
             ,
             spurr'd
             those
             on
             to
             be
             troublesome
             ,
             who
             stood
             more
             in
             need
             of
             a
             Bridle
             to
             check
             their
             natural
             Fierceness
             ,
             and
             the
             ill-grounded
             Opinion
             they
             had
             of
             their
             own
             Sufficiency
             .
          
           
             By
             the
             latter
             Part
             of
             the
             third
             Article
             the
             Subjects
             Allegiance
             to
             the
             King
             was
             limited
             to
             the
             Preservation
             and
             Defence
             of
             the
             true
             Religion
             ;
             as
             if
             Princes
             Rights
             ,
             whatever
             they
             are
             ,
             ought
             not
             to
             be
             maintain'd
             without
             any
             manner
             of
             Restriction
             ;
             this
             was
             a
             clear
             Diminution
             of
             the
             King
             's
             just
             Power
             and
             Greatness
             ,
             and
             consequently
             ,
             inconsistent
             with
             what
             they
             swore
             before
             in
             the
             National
             Covenant
             :
             But
             how
             ill
             they
             intended
             from
             the
             Beginning
             to
             maintain
             the
             King's
             Power
             and
             Greatness
             ,
             their
             Positions
             as
             well
             as
             their
             Practices
             do
             declare
             .
             If
             we
             look
             critically
             into
             the
             History
             of
             that
             Time
             ,
             we
             see
             manifest
             Gradations
             in
             their
             Encroachments
             upon
             the
             Royal
             Authority
             :
             At
             their
             first
             entring
             into
             the
             National
             Covenant
             ,
             it
             was
             alledg'd
             ,
             that
             the
             Body
             of
             the
             Nation
             ,
             consisting
             of
             Church
             and
             State
             ,
             might
             unite
             to
             resist
             the
             King.
             Some
             Years
             after
             ,
             when
             the
             Union
             betwixt
             the
             two
             Kingdoms
             was
             so
             vehemently
             carried
             on
             ,
             it
             was
             declared
             lawful
             to
             assist
             our
             Neighbours
             in
             extorting
             from
             our
             Soveraign
             the
             same
             Terms
             for
             them
             ,
             which
             of
             his
             
             Royal
             Bounty
             he
             had
             formerly
             vouchsafed
             to
             grant
             us
             .
             At
             last
             ,
             we
             advanced
             a
             Step
             higher
             ,
             and
             boldly
             maintain'd
             ,
             That
             a
             few
             Associate
             Counties
             might
             take
             Arms
             against
             the
             Authority
             both
             of
             King
             and
             Parliament
             ;
             and
             that
             ,
             having
             Power
             ,
             they
             wanted
             not
             Right
             ,
             upon
             all
             Occasions
             ,
             to
             curb
             the
             Excesses
             of
             Government
             .
             Now
             here
             we
             may
             observe
             that
             the
             extravagant
             Proceedings
             of
             some
             Western
             Counties
             ,
             upon
             these
             seditious
             Principles
             ,
             fix'd
             upon
             them
             the
             Name
             of
             Whigs
             ;
             which
             contemptible
             Mark
             of
             Distinction
             was
             for
             many
             Years
             appropriated
             to
             us
             ;
             till
             of
             late
             that
             ,
             to
             the
             Grief
             of
             all
             Men
             ,
             it
             is
             become
             more
             universal
             ,
             and
             has
             now
             unluckily
             crept
             into
             the
             next
             Kingdom
             ;
             and
             ,
             notwithstanding
             its
             infamous
             Rise
             ,
             is
             there
             too
             liberally
             bestow'd
             upon
             some
             ,
             and
             too
             much
             gloried
             in
             by
             others
             .
             Thus
             the
             Barbarous
             Name
             of
             Guelphs
             ,
             which
             had
             for
             a
             long
             Time
             been
             given
             to
             those
             in
             Germany
             that
             oppos'd
             the
             Emperour
             ,
             was
             at
             length
             fatally
             transplanted
             from
             its
             native
             Soil
             into
             Italy
             ,
             a
             warmer
             Climate
             ,
             where
             it
             took
             deeper
             Root
             ,
             and
             became
             ,
             for
             many
             Ages
             ,
             the
             Fomenter
             of
             terrible
             Disorders
             .
             But
             I
             hope
             our
             Prince's
             Wisdom
             will
             think
             fit
             to
             give
             an
             early
             and
             effectual
             Check
             to
             this
             and
             all
             other
             Names
             of
             Faction
             ,
             which
             insensibly
             undermine
             the
             Government
             ,
             alienate
             Mens
             Affections
             from
             one
             another
             ,
             make
             wicked
             Men
             more
             desperate
             ,
             when
             they
             see
             themselves
             discover'd
             ,
             especially
             when
             by
             the
             same
             Means
             they
             are
             enabled
             to
             discover
             the
             Strength
             and
             Number
             of
             their
             Party
             ,
             besides
             many
             other
             unforeseen
             Inconveniences
             ,
             which
             may
             help
             to
             bring
             us
             back
             into
             our
             former
             dreadful
             Confusion
             .
          
           
             The
             fourth
             Article
             did
             ,
             in
             the
             Judgment
             of
             many
             ,
             set
             up
             a
             new
             Inquisition
             ,
             sufficient
             to
             make
             all
             tremble
             that
             were
             disaffected
             to
             the
             Cause
             ;
             and
             't
             is
             plain
             their
             violent
             Courses
             gave
             too
             much
             ground
             for
             this
             Complaint
             :
             such
             as
             out
             of
             real
             Conscience
             towards
             God
             ,
             or
             Sense
             of
             Duty
             towards
             their
             Prince
             ,
             refused
             to
             sign
             the
             Covenants
             ,
             were
             ,
             after
             a
             
             strange
             manner
             ,
             declared
             Enemies
             to
             God
             and
             the
             King
             ,
             proceeded
             against
             as
             Traitors
             ,
             and
             forced
             either
             to
             undergo
             Banishment
             ,
             or
             languish
             in
             Prison
             ,
             while
             their
             Estates
             became
             a
             Prey
             to
             those
             ,
             who
             appeared
             most
             zealous
             in
             persecuting
             them
             .
             This
             inevitable
             Danger
             obliged
             many
             to
             disguise
             themselves
             into
             a
             seeming
             Compliance
             ,
             to
             what
             in
             their
             Hearts
             they
             did
             detest
             .
             And
             these
             Methods
             being
             then
             made
             use
             of
             to
             settle
             the
             Purity
             of
             the
             Gospel
             among
             us
             ,
             no
             wonder
             if
             there
             were
             more
             of
             Hypocrisy
             than
             of
             the
             Power
             of
             Godliness
             in
             our
             Profession
             ;
             or
             ,
             if
             God
             were
             thereby
             provok'd
             to
             disown
             us
             and
             our
             Cause
             ,
             and
             to
             leave
             the
             Nation
             for
             many
             Years
             to
             groan
             under
             an
             heavy
             Bondage
             .
          
           
             The
             fifth
             Article
             ,
             which
             was
             for
             executing
             Justice
             upon
             all
             wilful
             Opposers
             ,
             falls
             under
             the
             same
             Exceptions
             with
             the
             former
             ,
             and
             might
             be
             illustrated
             with
             too
             many
             Instances
             of
             Cruelty
             ,
             which
             those
             Times
             afford
             us
             :
             How
             were
             our
             Scaffolds
             dy'd
             with
             the
             Blood
             of
             our
             Nobility
             and
             Gentry
             ,
             who
             oppos'd
             the
             Torrent
             ,
             and
             stood
             up
             for
             the
             Royal
             Interest
             !
             How
             were
             Prisoners
             of
             War
             most
             unhumanely
             sentenc'd
             ,
             and
             put
             to
             Death
             ,
             and
             all
             ,
             that
             were
             like
             to
             create
             them
             any
             trouble
             ,
             destroy'd
             without
             Mercy
             !
             I
             need
             not
             descend
             to
             any
             Particulars
             ,
             which
             are
             still
             too
             well
             known
             ;
             and
             indeed
             as
             I
             am
             loth
             to
             make
             Strangers
             acquainted
             with
             them
             ,
             so
             I
             wish
             there
             could
             be
             a
             Curtain
             drawn
             to
             hide
             such
             Tragical
             Pieces
             from
             the
             View
             of
             After-Ages
             .
          
           
             Their
             sixth
             and
             last
             Article
             was
             a
             Bond
             of
             mutual
             Defence
             against
             all
             Opposers
             ,
             without
             excepting
             the
             King
             ;
             and
             this
             alone
             might
             serve
             to
             render
             the
             whole
             void
             :
             for
             if
             the
             Oaths
             of
             Subjects
             without
             the
             Prince's
             Consent
             ,
             in
             Things
             relating
             to
             the
             Publick
             ,
             can
             never
             bind
             ,
             much
             less
             then
             ,
             if
             they
             directly
             encroach
             upon
             his
             Authority
             .
             If
             a
             Vow
             could
             absolve
             Subjects
             from
             their
             Duty
             ,
             or
             deprive
             the
             Prince
             of
             his
             Right
             ,
             then
             we
             should
             only
             be
             Subjects
             ,
             till
             we
             vow'd
             
             the
             contrary
             ;
             and
             thus
             the
             World
             might
             find
             a
             compendious
             Way
             to
             shake
             off
             all
             Dependance
             .
             But
             as
             the
             Vowing
             the
             Violation
             of
             any
             Man's
             Property
             ,
             doth
             not
             give
             us
             a
             Title
             to
             do
             it
             ,
             but
             only
             renders
             our
             Oath
             unlawful
             ;
             so
             where
             it
             is
             in
             Prejudice
             of
             the
             Prince
             ,
             every
             Circumstance
             helps
             to
             condemn
             us
             .
             When
             those
             ,
             who
             retain'd
             any
             Principles
             of
             Loyalty
             ,
             insisted
             upon
             this
             ,
             they
             did
             fly
             to
             their
             sincere
             Intentions
             towards
             the
             King
             :
             but
             nothing
             can
             so
             well
             explain
             their
             Meaning
             ,
             as
             their
             Practices
             afterwards
             ;
             which
             ,
             for
             the
             Honour
             of
             our
             Nation
             ,
             ought
             either
             to
             be
             buried
             in
             eternal
             Oblivion
             ,
             or
             else
             so
             clearly
             manifested
             to
             the
             World
             ,
             that
             the
             Guilty
             might
             only
             be
             infamous
             to
             Posterity
             ,
             while
             the
             sounder
             Part
             of
             the
             Kingdom
             recover'd
             to
             it
             its
             native
             tincture
             of
             Honesty
             and
             Loyalty
             .
          
           
             Having
             given
             some
             short
             Hints
             of
             the
             manner
             of
             entering
             into
             both
             Covenants
             ,
             of
             their
             Nature
             and
             Design
             ,
             I
             am
             persuaded
             there
             needs
             no
             further
             Evidence
             of
             their
             Unlawfulness
             from
             the
             Beginning
             ,
             or
             of
             their
             many
             other
             Nullities
             ,
             to
             prove
             that
             they
             could
             lay
             no
             Obligation
             upon
             those
             very
             Persons
             ,
             who
             subscrib'd
             them
             ;
             and
             if
             not
             upon
             them
             ,
             much
             less
             upon
             us
             ,
             who
             are
             their
             Children
             ,
             to
             stand
             to
             what
             they
             then
             did
             .
             Nor
             do
             I
             indeed
             find
             any
             formal
             Ty
             upon
             Posterity
             mention'd
             in
             either
             Covenant
             :
             for
             what
             is
             alledged
             from
             the
             former
             ,
             where
             't
             is
             declared
             ,
             
               That
               they
               are
               convinced
               in
               their
               Minds
               ,
               and
               confess
               with
               their
               Mouths
               ,
               that
               the
               present
               and
               subsequent
               Generations
               in
               this
               Land
               are
               bound
               to
               keep
               that
               National
               Oath
               and
               Subscription
               inviolable
               ;
            
             may
             prove
             perhaps
             that
             such
             was
             the
             Opinion
             of
             our
             Fathers
             ,
             but
             can
             never
             make
             it
             obligatory
             with
             us
             ,
             seeing
             the
             granting
             this
             were
             to
             put
             it
             in
             every
             Man's
             Power
             to
             entail
             his
             Opinions
             upon
             those
             who
             come
             after
             him
             :
             to
             which
             none
             of
             us
             ,
             I
             presume
             ,
             will
             be
             willing
             to
             yield
             .
             But
             allowing
             matter
             of
             fact
             ,
             and
             that
             there
             had
             been
             a
             positive
             Oath
             made
             by
             them
             in
             the
             name
             of
             their
             Posterity
             :
             Yet
             this
             
             Oath
             being
             by
             Authority
             declared
             unlawful
             ,
             and
             we
             forbidden
             to
             observe
             it
             ,
             the
             Compliance
             we
             ow
             to
             those
             whom
             God
             has
             set
             over
             us
             ,
             cancels
             all
             Obligations
             of
             this
             kind
             ,
             that
             our
             Parents
             could
             lay
             upon
             us
             .
             I
             shall
             therefore
             conclude
             ,
             that
             seeing
             our
             Covenants
             were
             in
             so
             many
             respects
             unlawful
             from
             the
             Beginning
             :
             and
             seeing
             there
             was
             neither
             any
             formal
             Obligation
             laid
             upon
             us
             by
             our
             Parents
             to
             obscure
             them
             ;
             nor
             yet
             their
             Authority
             in
             this
             Case
             allowable
             ,
             as
             interfering
             with
             the
             Laws
             of
             the
             Land
             ,
             there
             the
             least
             shadow
             of
             Reason
             cannot
             be
             brought
             in
             behalf
             of
             any
             that
             presume
             now
             to
             renew
             those
             Covenants
             ,
             when
             the
             contrary
             is
             so
             plainly
             enjoin'd
             us
             by
             our
             rescissory
             Act
             of
             Parliament
             ;
             but
             as
             such
             Persons
             proceed
             not
             upon
             rational
             Grounds
             ,
             so
             it
             is
             in
             vain
             to
             think
             of
             reclaiming
             them
             by
             Force
             of
             Arguments
             ;
             the
             Government
             must
             deal
             with
             this
             frenzy
             ,
             and
             in
             its
             Wisdom
             find
             out
             a
             Cure
             suitable
             to
             so
             dangerous
             a
             Distemper
             ,
             before
             the
             Infection
             spreads
             it self
             wider
             .
          
        
         
           
             Fourth
             Consideration
             .
          
           
             I
             should
             be
             glad
             to
             make
             an
             end
             here
             ,
             without
             mentioning
             the
             last
             Objection
             ;
             not
             that
             I
             apprehend
             any
             Difficulty
             in
             undertaking
             to
             answer
             it
             ,
             but
             because
             I
             really
             blush
             to
             publish
             the
             pernicious
             and
             traiterous
             Principles
             ,
             which
             some
             among
             us
             have
             of
             late
             taken
             up
             ,
             and
             are
             not
             now
             asham'd
             to
             own
             ,
             That
             our
             Soveraign
             has
             forfeited
             all
             Right
             to
             his
             Crown
             ;
             and
             that
             his
             Subjects
             are
             absolv'd
             them
             their
             Allegiance
             .
          
           
             'T
             is
             plain
             that
             Princes
             Persons
             and
             Authority
             are
             more
             effectually
             secur'd
             by
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             ,
             than
             by
             all
             the
             Contrivances
             of
             humane
             Policy
             .
             Fear
             or
             Interest
             among
             Heathens
             were
             the
             chief
             Motives
             to
             keep
             Subjects
             within
             the
             Bounds
             of
             their
             Duty
             ,
             and
             made
             them
             submit
             ,
             because
             they
             durst
             not
             rebel
             .
             Princes
             had
             outward
             Obedience
             pay'd
             
             them
             ,
             which
             was
             all
             they
             could
             then
             either
             challenge
             or
             expect
             .
             But
             the
             Doctrine
             ,
             taught
             by
             our
             blessed
             Saviour
             and
             his
             Apostles
             ,
             did
             fasten
             their
             Crowns
             much
             surer
             ,
             gave
             them
             a
             new
             Title
             to
             reign
             in
             their
             Subjects
             Hearts
             ,
             made
             Subjects
             dutiful
             ,
             more
             out
             of
             Conscience
             than
             Fear
             ;
             and
             by
             forbidding
             Resistance
             under
             pain
             of
             Damnation
             ,
             laid
             a
             much
             stronger
             Ty
             upon
             Men
             ,
             than
             the
             Hazard
             of
             Lives
             and
             Fortunes
             ,
             or
             all
             other
             humane
             Penalties
             could
             ever
             have
             done
             :
             And
             ,
             no
             question
             ,
             had
             the
             Roman
             Emperours
             understood
             how
             much
             they
             were
             beholden
             to
             Christianity
             ,
             instead
             of
             endeavouring
             to
             extirpate
             it
             ,
             they
             would
             have
             protected
             and
             encourag'd
             it
             ;
             for
             as
             long
             as
             Christians
             suffer'd
             themselves
             to
             be
             govern'd
             by
             the
             Maximes
             which
             Christ
             left
             them
             ,
             Princes
             were
             truly
             happy
             in
             such
             Subjects
             .
          
           
             Christ
             did
             indeed
             put
             a
             Sword
             into
             his
             Ministers
             Hands
             ,
             to
             punish
             notorious
             Sinners
             ,
             when
             he
             gave
             them
             Power
             to
             excommunicate
             ,
             or
             cut
             Men
             off
             from
             being
             Members
             of
             the
             Church
             ,
             in
             depriving
             them
             of
             the
             Benefits
             and
             publick
             Exercise
             of
             their
             Religion
             :
             and
             there
             being
             no
             Exemption
             granted
             to
             any
             Person
             ,
             Kings
             and
             Emperours
             themselves
             were
             to
             fall
             under
             this
             heavy
             Censure
             ,
             when
             their
             Offences
             deserv'd
             it
             .
             But
             tho
             Ministers
             had
             the
             Courage
             to
             shut
             them
             sometimes
             out
             of
             Church
             ,
             as
             St.
             Ambrose
             did
             
               Theodosius
               the
               Great
            
             ,
             yet
             they
             did
             not
             pretend
             to
             thrust
             them
             off
             their
             Thrones
             ,
             or
             wrest
             their
             Scepters
             out
             of
             their
             Hands
             .
             They
             knew
             that
             their
             Authority
             was
             only
             Spiritual
             ,
             and
             did
             not
             therefore
             meddle
             with
             those
             Priviledges
             ,
             which
             they
             enjoy'd
             as
             Princes
             ;
             but
             readily
             obey'd
             ,
             in
             all
             other
             Cases
             ,
             those
             whom
             they
             excluded
             from
             their
             Assemblies
             ;
             and
             thus
             they
             kept
             within
             the
             Limits
             ,
             prescrib'd
             by
             Christ
             ,
             for
             near
             a
             thousand
             Years
             .
          
           
             When
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Christianity
             was
             afterwards
             quite
             spent
             ,
             and
             Religion
             had
             put
             on
             a
             new
             Face
             ,
             the
             Riches
             
             and
             Ambition
             of
             the
             Roman
             Hierarchy
             made
             them
             stretch
             their
             Authority
             further
             than
             Christ
             design'd
             it
             ;
             and
             then
             did
             they
             begin
             to
             declare
             ,
             that
             Princes
             ,
             falling
             under
             the
             Censure
             of
             Excommunication
             ,
             did
             forfeit
             their
             Crowns
             and
             all
             other
             their
             Temporal
             as
             well
             as
             Spiritual
             Priviledges
             .
             The
             great
             Advances
             
               Gregory
               the
               seventh
            
             and
             his
             Successors
             made
             in
             several
             attempts
             of
             this
             kind
             ,
             and
             their
             Vanity
             to
             see
             themselves
             on
             a
             sudden
             raised
             to
             an
             universal
             Monarchy
             ,
             made
             them
             vigorously
             pursue
             such
             Courses
             ,
             and
             thunder
             their
             Sentences
             of
             Excommunication
             and
             Forfeiture
             so
             liberally
             ,
             that
             ,
             upon
             every
             slight
             Occasion
             ,
             Princes
             were
             laid
             aside
             ,
             Subjects
             absolv'd
             from
             their
             Allegiance
             ,
             and
             Crowns
             and
             Scepters
             freely
             dispos'd
             of
             ,
             when
             and
             to
             whom
             they
             pleased
             ;
             so
             that
             under
             Colour
             of
             maintaining
             Christ's
             Prerogative
             ,
             they
             refus'd
             to
             give
             unto
             Caesar
             what
             was
             
             Caesar's
             ,
             far
             from
             paying
             Tribute
             ,
             as
             Christ
             had
             done
             ,
             Kings
             were
             forced
             to
             turn
             their
             Tributaries
             ;
             and
             ,
             by
             setting
             up
             a
             new
             Power
             in
             every
             Kingdom
             ,
             they
             made
             Princes
             ,
             contrary
             to
             the
             Intention
             of
             Christ
             and
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             great
             Losers
             by
             the
             Christian
             Religion
             .
          
           
             Under
             these
             heavy
             Pressures
             had
             the
             Christian
             World
             for
             several
             Ages
             groan'd
             ,
             when
             God
             raised
             up
             a
             Spirit
             of
             Reformation
             in
             our
             Fathers
             ,
             who
             ,
             among
             the
             manifold
             Corruptions
             of
             Rome
             ,
             observ'd
             the
             ill
             Treatment
             Princes
             had
             there
             met
             with
             ,
             and
             resolv'd
             that
             ,
             in
             restoring
             to
             Christianity
             its
             ancient
             Lustre
             ,
             Princes
             should
             again
             be
             possest
             of
             the
             Prerogatives
             entail'd
             upon
             them
             by
             the
             Gospel
             .
             This
             made
             the
             first
             Reformers
             inveigh
             so
             bitterly
             against
             the
             Usurpations
             of
             that
             See
             ,
             and
             enforce
             upon
             Subjects
             Allegiance
             and
             Submission
             as
             Duties
             ,
             from
             which
             none
             upon
             Earth
             could
             absolve
             them
             ;
             and
             we
             have
             Reason
             to
             believe
             that
             the
             Justice
             ,
             then
             done
             to
             Princes
             ,
             prov'd
             under
             God
             an
             effectual
             Means
             to
             rescue
             many
             Nations
             from
             the
             Roman
             Yoke
             .
             Nor
             was
             Duty
             to
             Princes
             only
             preacht
             up
             at
             first
             ,
             but
             it
             has
             ever
             
             since
             continued
             as
             a
             fixt
             Principle
             in
             the
             best
             reformed
             Churches
             ,
             where
             ,
             next
             to
             the
             Purity
             of
             their
             Doctrine
             and
             Worship
             ,
             relating
             immediately
             to
             God
             ,
             they
             have
             all
             along
             gloried
             most
             in
             the
             Loyalty
             of
             their
             Religion
             ,
             for
             laying
             indispensible
             Ties
             of
             Obedience
             upon
             Men
             towards
             his
             Vicegerent
             .
             So
             that
             ,
             as
             it
             passes
             with
             many
             for
             a
             Maxime
             ,
             that
             Papists
             ,
             acting
             according
             to
             the
             Principles
             of
             their
             Church
             ,
             can
             hardly
             be
             good
             Subjects
             ,
             't
             is
             most
             certain
             that
             Protestants
             ,
             who
             are
             not
             conscientiously
             dutiful
             and
             loyal
             ,
             swerve
             from
             the
             Principles
             of
             the
             Reformed
             Religion
             ;
             and
             tho
             there
             are
             ,
             alas
             !
             too
             many
             Instances
             of
             such
             ,
             both
             at
             home
             and
             abroad
             ,
             yet
             their
             corrupt
             Practices
             must
             not
             stain
             the
             Purity
             of
             the
             Doctrine
             ,
             by
             which
             they
             stand
             condemned
             .
          
           
             But
             while
             I
             ascribe
             to
             the
             Reformed
             Religion
             the
             Honour
             of
             reestablishing
             Princes
             in
             their
             Rights
             ,
             I
             am
             sorry
             any
             of
             my
             Countreymen
             should
             renounce
             their
             share
             in
             it
             ,
             by
             pretending
             that
             our
             Soveraign
             has
             forfeited
             his
             Crown
             ,
             and
             that
             we
             are
             freed
             from
             our
             Allegiance
             .
             These
             ,
             alas
             !
             are
             Words
             not
             hitherto
             known
             amongst
             Orthodox
             Protestants
             ,
             but
             as
             they
             meet
             with
             them
             in
             impious
             and
             condemned
             Writers
             .
             Let
             us
             consult
             the
             Confessions
             of
             all
             the
             Reformed
             Churches
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             and
             see
             if
             any
             of
             them
             teach
             this
             Doctrine
             .
             Let
             us
             send
             an
             impartial
             Account
             of
             our
             Case
             ,
             with
             the
             Nature
             of
             our
             Monarchy
             ,
             to
             all
             the
             Protestant
             Universities
             abroad
             ,
             whether
             in
             
               England
               ,
               France
               ,
               Germany
               ,
               Holland
               ,
               Switzerland
               ,
            
             or
             Geneva
             ,
             and
             try
             if
             we
             can
             have
             the
             Testimony
             of
             any
             one
             Society
             to
             confirm
             us
             in
             this
             Tenet
             .
             Let
             us
             see
             if
             we
             can
             meet
             with
             one
             eminent
             Protestant
             Divine
             ,
             one
             single
             Person
             of
             Credit
             and
             Learning
             ,
             that
             will
             own
             himself
             of
             this
             Persuasion
             .
             If
             we
             look
             back
             to
             the
             Doctrine
             or
             Practice
             of
             the
             Church
             in
             the
             Primitive
             Times
             ,
             we
             can
             find
             nothing
             there
             that
             makes
             for
             our
             Purpose
             .
             Neither
             Heresy
             nor
             Idolatry
             in
             those
             Days
             did
             make
             void
             Princes
             Right
             to
             govern
             .
             Constantius
             ,
             an
             Arrian
             ,
             and
             Julian
             ,
             a
             Renegade
             ,
             
             were
             own'd
             for
             Emperours
             by
             those
             ,
             who
             detested
             their
             Impieties
             ,
             as
             much
             as
             Jovianus
             or
             Theodosius
             ,
             who
             were
             Orthodox
             .
             The
             more
             degenerate
             Ages
             ,
             and
             the
             most
             corrupt
             part
             of
             the
             Church
             first
             taught
             us
             the
             Principles
             ,
             upon
             which
             some
             of
             us
             now
             go
             .
             We
             must
             look
             no
             higher
             than
             Hildebrand
             ,
             and
             apply
             our selves
             only
             to
             prostitute
             Canonists
             and
             Jesuits
             for
             Testimonies
             and
             Arguments
             to
             prove
             that
             Princes
             can
             so
             easily
             forfeit
             their
             Crowns
             ;
             for
             I
             know
             there
             are
             many
             well-meaning
             Papists
             ,
             if
             not
             whole
             National
             Churches
             ,
             that
             will
             utterly
             reject
             this
             monstrous
             Doctrine
             .
             And
             truly
             then
             't
             is
             hard
             that
             we
             ,
             who
             look
             upon
             our selves
             as
             the
             most
             thorowly
             Reform'd
             ,
             should
             contemn
             the
             Pattern
             set
             us
             by
             the
             Ancients
             ,
             diffent
             from
             all
             our
             Brethren
             ,
             and
             side
             with
             the
             greatest
             Enemies
             of
             our
             Religion
             in
             a
             Point
             ,
             for
             which
             they
             have
             been
             so
             much
             expos'd
             .
          
           
             Now
             no
             wonder
             if
             we
             run
             into
             strange
             Absurdities
             ,
             when
             the
             whole
             Matter
             is
             granted
             upon
             false
             Suppositions
             :
             First
             ,
             we
             will
             have
             the
             King
             's
             Right
             to
             commence
             only
             from
             the
             Time
             of
             his
             Coronation
             :
             then
             we
             will
             have
             the
             Coronation
             a
             Compact
             or
             Agreement
             with
             the
             People
             ,
             by
             which
             the
             Prince
             forfeits
             his
             Right
             ,
             if
             he
             do
             not
             duly
             perform
             his
             Part
             :
             and
             lastly
             ,
             we
             seem
             to
             make
             the
             late
             Covenant
             pass
             for
             the
             Coronation
             Oath
             :
             all
             which
             are
             inexcusable
             Mistakes
             .
             First
             ,
             our
             Laws
             admit
             of
             no
             Interregnum
             ,
             but
             date
             the
             Beginning
             of
             one
             King's
             Reign
             from
             the
             very
             Instant
             that
             another
             expir'd
             ,
             it
             being
             an
             Axiom
             with
             us
             ,
             and
             in
             all
             other
             Hereditary
             Monarchies
             ,
             that
             the
             King
             never
             dies
             .
             The
             fatal
             Blow
             ,
             that
             depriv'd
             us
             of
             our
             late
             Soveraign
             ,
             put
             the
             Crown
             immediately
             upon
             his
             Son's
             Head
             :
             From
             that
             Minute
             we
             were
             obliged
             to
             pay
             the
             same
             Duty
             to
             our
             present
             Soveraign
             ,
             which
             till
             then
             we
             ow'd
             to
             his
             Father
             ;
             and
             they
             ,
             who
             resisted
             him
             before
             his
             Coronation
             ,
             were
             Rebels
             as
             well
             as
             these
             who
             have
             done
             it
             since
             .
             Whatever
             therefore
             a
             Coronation
             might
             have
             been
             anciently
             ,
             't
             is
             now
             only
             look'd
             
             upon
             in
             the
             Nature
             of
             an
             Instalment
             ,
             upon
             which
             our
             Prince's
             Title
             to
             reign
             doth
             no
             ways
             depend
             ;
             else
             it
             would
             be
             the
             first
             Thing
             they
             would
             go
             about
             :
             whereas
             it
             is
             ordinarily
             put
             off
             till
             such
             Time
             ,
             as
             it
             can
             be
             performed
             with
             the
             most
             Solemnity
             .
             In
             the
             second
             place
             it
             appears
             by
             this
             ,
             that
             the
             Coronation
             is
             no
             such
             Compact
             as
             destroys
             the
             Prince's
             Title
             ,
             if
             he
             fail
             in
             his
             part
             ;
             for
             where
             he
             has
             his
             Crown
             by
             Inheritance
             ,
             his
             Coronation
             is
             the
             Effect
             of
             his
             Title
             ,
             but
             not
             his
             Title
             of
             his
             Coronation
             ,
             which
             can
             never
             make
             him
             lose
             what
             it
             did
             not
             give
             him
             ;
             nor
             yet
             weaken
             the
             Right
             ,
             which
             he
             had
             upon
             his
             Predecessor's
             Death
             .
             As
             our
             King
             ows
             his
             Crown
             to
             his
             Birth
             ,
             and
             not
             to
             any
             Suffrage
             or
             mutual
             Agreement
             with
             his
             People
             ;
             so
             't
             is
             ridiculous
             to
             imagine
             that
             his
             Coronation
             alters
             his
             Right
             ,
             and
             makes
             that
             conditional
             ,
             and
             capable
             of
             being
             lost
             ,
             which
             was
             before
             absolute
             and
             hereditary
             .
             In
             a
             word
             ,
             if
             the
             Reign
             of
             our
             Princes
             commenced
             only
             from
             the
             Time
             of
             their
             being
             crown'd
             ,
             they
             would
             be
             in
             uneasy
             and
             dangerous
             Circumstances
             till
             that
             were
             over
             :
             but
             ,
             on
             the
             other
             hand
             ,
             if
             their
             Coronation
             limited
             their
             Birth-right
             ,
             or
             made
             ,
             their
             Title
             more
             precarious
             ,
             they
             would
             contrive
             to
             have
             this
             Solemnity
             among
             the
             last
             Performances
             of
             their
             Lives
             .
          
           
             Lastly
             ,
             in
             the
             Business
             of
             the
             Covenant
             there
             is
             a
             double
             Fallacy
             ;
             first
             ,
             in
             making
             it
             pass
             for
             the
             Coronation
             Oath
             ;
             and
             secondly
             ,
             in
             inferring
             a
             Forfeiture
             of
             the
             Crown
             ,
             where
             the
             Coronation
             Oath
             is
             broken
             .
             When
             we
             complain
             of
             the
             King
             's
             not
             making
             good
             the
             Covenant
             ,
             we
             affirm
             that
             he
             has
             thereby
             cancell'd
             his
             Right
             to
             govern
             ,
             which
             yet
             ,
             according
             to
             our
             own
             Supposition
             ,
             is
             not
             true
             ,
             unless
             we
             allow
             the
             Covenant
             to
             be
             the
             Coronation
             Oath
             .
             But
             this
             is
             absurd
             ,
             seeing
             the
             Covenant
             
             is
             a
             new
             Thing
             ,
             never
             heard
             of
             by
             his
             Majestie
             's
             Royal
             Ancestors
             ,
             who
             did
             all
             take
             an
             Oath
             at
             their
             Instalment
             ;
             and
             as
             his
             Title
             to
             the
             Crown
             differ'd
             in
             nothing
             from
             his
             Father's
             and
             his
             Grandfather's
             ,
             so
             ought
             his
             Coronation
             Oath
             to
             have
             been
             likewise
             the
             same
             .
             But
             if
             we
             took
             upon
             us
             to
             alter
             it
             ,
             or
             to
             add
             the
             Covenant
             as
             a
             new
             Clause
             ,
             no
             wonder
             if
             his
             Majesty
             question'd
             what
             we
             did
             without
             Authority
             ,
             and
             refus'd
             to
             confirm
             since
             ,
             what
             was
             extorted
             from
             him
             during
             the
             Rebellion
             .
             This
             is
             certain
             ,
             that
             had
             our
             Representatives
             in
             Parliament
             considered
             the
             Covenant
             ,
             either
             as
             a
             part
             of
             his
             Majestie
             's
             Coronation
             Oath
             ,
             or
             as
             an
             Oath
             lawful
             in
             it self
             ,
             and
             lawfully
             impos'd
             upon
             the
             King
             and
             his
             Subjects
             ,
             they
             would
             never
             have
             order'd
             it
             to
             be
             abjur'd
             ,
             nor
             have
             declar'd
             that
             there
             lay
             no
             Obligation
             either
             upon
             Prince
             or
             People
             to
             observe
             it
             .
             Secondly
             ,
             a
             Forfeiture
             of
             the
             Crown
             doth
             not
             follow
             upon
             a
             Breach
             of
             the
             Coronation
             Oath
             ;
             because
             ,
             as
             I
             already
             observ'd
             ,
             the
             King
             has
             his
             Crown
             by
             Inheritance
             ,
             not
             by
             Election
             ;
             and
             his
             Right
             ,
             being
             of
             a
             more
             ancient
             Date
             ,
             can
             never
             depend
             upon
             what
             followed
             .
             The
             King
             was
             oblig'd
             to
             be
             a
             just
             Prince
             ,
             and
             we
             to
             be
             dutiful
             Subjects
             ,
             before
             that
             pretended
             Agreement
             at
             his
             Coronation
             ;
             and
             if
             he
             should
             have
             fail'd
             in
             his
             part
             ,
             yet
             we
             were
             bound
             to
             make
             good
             ours
             ,
             even
             before
             we
             swore
             any
             Oath
             of
             Allegiance
             .
             I
             confess
             the
             King's
             Oath
             is
             a
             further
             Confirmation
             of
             his
             Duty
             ,
             and
             if
             he
             were
             guilty
             of
             any
             such
             Breach
             ,
             it
             would
             much
             aggravate
             his
             Sin
             ;
             but
             God
             ,
             before
             whose
             Tribunal
             he
             must
             stand
             ,
             can
             only
             call
             him
             to
             an
             Account
             for
             it
             :
             He
             is
             the
             Minister
             of
             God
             ,
             acts
             by
             his
             immediate
             Commission
             ,
             and
             he
             alone
             can
             cancel
             it
             .
             To
             God
             he
             forfeits
             his
             Crown
             ,
             if
             he
             should
             be
             found
             to
             manage
             it
             ill
             ;
             and
             in
             this
             Case
             we
             were
             patiently
             to
             wait
             till
             Heaven
             thought
             
             fit
             to
             remove
             him
             ,
             remembring
             that
             the
             greatest
             Injury
             and
             Breach
             of
             Trust
             was
             to
             God
             who
             employ'd
             him
             .
             But
             supposing
             a
             Forfeiture
             ,
             how
             come
             the
             People
             to
             claim
             the
             Benefit
             of
             it
             ,
             or
             to
             pretend
             themselves
             his
             Heirs
             ?
             In
             some
             extraordinary
             Cases
             ,
             such
             as
             Frenzy
             ,
             or
             the
             like
             ,
             the
             Safety
             of
             the
             Kingdom
             may
             require
             an
             extraordinary
             Remedy
             ,
             as
             at
             present
             in
             Portugal
             ,
             yet
             even
             where
             the
             King's
             insufficiency
             makes
             him
             unable
             to
             govern
             ,
             Subjects
             are
             not
             freed
             from
             their
             Allegiance
             ;
             if
             there
             remain
             any
             that
             have
             Right
             to
             govern
             as
             Administrators
             in
             his
             Name
             ,
             their
             Station
             is
             still
             the
             same
             ;
             no
             personal
             Fault
             nor
             Defect
             in
             the
             Prince
             can
             dissolve
             the
             Government
             ,
             nor
             leave
             People
             to
             an
             entire
             Liberty
             of
             choosing
             whom
             they
             will
             obey
             .
          
           
             Now
             after
             all
             ,
             we
             are
             as
             little
             able
             to
             prove
             a
             Breach
             upon
             the
             King's
             Part
             ,
             as
             we
             are
             able
             thence
             to
             infer
             a
             Forfeiture
             .
             His
             Majesty
             did
             swear
             to
             govern
             according
             to
             the
             fundamental
             Laws
             of
             the
             Kingdom
             ;
             nor
             can
             we
             shew
             where
             ever
             he
             has
             broken
             them
             .
             Has
             he
             not
             ,
             in
             Matters
             of
             Difficulty
             ,
             vouchsafed
             to
             recur
             to
             his
             Great
             Council
             ?
             has
             he
             not
             suffer'd
             the
             Laws
             to
             have
             their
             free
             course
             ?
             has
             he
             ever
             invaded
             any
             Man's
             Property
             ,
             or
             deny'd
             any
             Man
             Justice
             ?
             has
             he
             ever
             delighted
             in
             Bloodshed
             ,
             or
             given
             us
             one
             Instance
             of
             his
             Cruelty
             ?
             So
             far
             has
             he
             been
             from
             giving
             Occasion
             to
             these
             cursed
             Aspersions
             of
             Tyranny
             and
             Oppression
             ,
             which
             the
             Enemies
             of
             our
             Peace
             do
             with
             equal
             Malice
             and
             Falsehood
             cast
             upon
             his
             Government
             ,
             that
             if
             ,
             without
             Breach
             of
             Duty
             ,
             we
             durst
             complain
             of
             our
             Prince
             ,
             it
             should
             be
             of
             his
             too
             great
             Indulgence
             ,
             which
             has
             hurt
             both
             himself
             and
             us
             :
             for
             't
             is
             plain
             that
             factious
             Spirits
             have
             adventur'd
             to
             disturb
             our
             quiet
             ,
             out
             of
             hopes
             of
             Impunity
             .
             But
             he
             has
             arrogated
             to
             himself
             ,
             say
             some
             ,
             King
             Jesus's
             Right
             ,
             in
             offering
             to
             
             meddle
             with
             Spiritual
             Affairs
             .
             After
             this
             manner
             did
             
               Gregory
               the
               seventh
            
             charge
             the
             Emperour
             
               Henry
               the
               fourth
            
             ,
             when
             he
             only
             maintain'd
             the
             Prerogatives
             of
             his
             Crown
             .
             Has
             he
             meddled
             more
             with
             Spiritual
             Affairs
             than
             other
             Princes
             have
             done
             ?
             Eusebius
             thought
             it
             for
             the
             Honour
             of
             Constantine
             to
             set
             down
             his
             Words
             in
             an
             Assembly
             of
             Bishops
             ,
             where
             he
             called
             himself
             a
             Bishop
             appointed
             by
             God
             ,
             to
             see
             to
             the
             outward
             Settlement
             of
             the
             Church
             :
             and
             must
             it
             be
             an
             Encroachment
             upon
             Christ
             in
             his
             Majesty
             ,
             to
             do
             what
             was
             so
             much
             commended
             in
             that
             great
             Emperour
             ?
             Did
             his
             Majesty
             arrogate
             to
             himself
             Christ's
             Right
             ,
             in
             rejecting
             that
             Form
             of
             Government
             which
             was
             brought
             in
             by
             Rebellion
             ,
             or
             in
             restoring
             that
             Order
             and
             Decency
             ,
             which
             were
             then
             banish'd
             ?
             did
             he
             arrogate
             too
             much
             to
             himself
             ,
             in
             being
             zealous
             to
             perform
             his
             martyr'd
             Fathers
             Will
             ,
             or
             to
             suppress
             Schism
             ?
             In
             these
             Things
             ,
             sure
             ,
             he
             acted
             rather
             in
             the
             quality
             of
             a
             nursing
             Father
             ,
             and
             discharg'd
             no
             small
             Part
             of
             his
             Trust
             ;
             for
             what
             more
             acceptable
             Service
             could
             he
             have
             done
             to
             Christ
             ,
             than
             to
             interpose
             his
             Royal
             Authority
             ,
             in
             promoting
             a
             blessed
             Uniformity
             amongst
             us
             ?
          
           
             There
             remains
             yet
             one
             strange
             Article
             against
             his
             Majesty
             ,
             such
             an
             one
             as
             I
             'm
             confident
             the
             World
             has
             not
             hitherto
             been
             acquainted
             with
             ,
             and
             that
             is
             the
             Sentence
             of
             Deposition
             lastly
             past
             upon
             him
             in
             a
             pretended
             Convention
             of
             Estates
             ,
             as
             we
             learn
             from
             the
             Lanrick
             Declaration
             .
             But
             seeing
             we
             have
             so
             lame
             an
             Account
             of
             this
             Business
             ,
             I
             hope
             they
             will
             be
             pleased
             to
             tell
             us
             ,
             when
             ,
             where
             ,
             and
             by
             what
             Authority
             that
             Assembly
             was
             call'd
             ,
             of
             whom
             it
             consisted
             ,
             what
             Lords
             Spiritual
             and
             Temporal
             sate
             there
             :
             for
             without
             them
             ,
             in
             our
             Government
             ,
             there
             can
             be
             no
             Convention
             of
             Estates
             :
             who
             presided
             there
             in
             his
             Majestie
             's
             Name
             ;
             it
             being
             also
             necessary
             that
             he
             should
             have
             
             had
             his
             Representative
             .
             In
             the
             mean
             Time
             ,
             before
             an
             Answer
             be
             returned
             to
             these
             Enquiries
             ,
             we
             are
             fully
             satisfied
             ,
             that
             as
             they
             met
             without
             the
             King's
             Authority
             ,
             and
             upon
             a
             most
             wicked
             Design
             ,
             so
             their
             Rebellious
             Conventicle
             must
             not
             be
             called
             a
             Convention
             of
             Estates
             :
             It
             was
             a
             second
             high
             Court
             of
             Justice
             ,
             and
             another
             Bradshaw
             no
             doubt
             was
             their
             President
             ;
             this
             arraign'd
             the
             King
             ,
             as
             the
             former
             did
             his
             Father
             ;
             nor
             could
             he
             have
             escap'd
             their
             barbarous
             Cruelty
             ,
             had
             he
             been
             within
             their
             Reach
             .
             The
             extravagant
             Proceedings
             at
             Westminster
             against
             our
             late
             Royal
             Martyr
             ,
             have
             neither
             been
             so
             much
             for
             the
             Glory
             of
             our
             Neighbours
             ,
             nor
             for
             our
             own
             Interest
             ,
             as
             to
             tempt
             any
             among
             us
             to
             follow
             their
             black
             Example
             ,
             and
             act
             the
             second
             Part
             of
             a
             Tragedy
             ,
             which
             nothing
             ,
             in
             Modern
             nor
             Ancient
             History
             ,
             can
             parallel
             ;
             and
             upon
             which
             it
             was
             hop'd
             Posterity
             would
             have
             look'd
             back
             with
             Horrour
             .
             But
             the
             Members
             of
             the
             late
             mock-Convention
             among
             us
             ,
             have
             ,
             to
             their
             eternal
             Infamy
             ,
             approv'd
             of
             what
             was
             done
             in
             the
             high
             Court
             of
             Justice
             ,
             by
             their
             attempting
             to
             renew
             it
             :
             and
             when
             all
             true
             Protestants
             and
             good
             Subjects
             would
             be
             willing
             to
             buy
             off
             the
             Guilt
             and
             Ignominy
             of
             that
             atrocious
             Crime
             at
             any
             rate
             ,
             these
             Men
             would
             help
             to
             transfer
             it
             upon
             us
             ,
             or
             at
             least
             would
             have
             us
             engag'd
             in
             a
             Villany
             of
             the
             same
             kind
             .
             Our
             own
             History
             furnishes
             us
             already
             with
             too
             many
             Instances
             of
             Kings
             either
             assassinated
             ,
             poison'd
             ,
             or
             kill'd
             in
             open
             Rebellion
             ;
             but
             never
             ,
             till
             of
             late
             ,
             were
             we
             known
             to
             put
             off
             all
             Sense
             of
             Modesty
             as
             well
             as
             Duty
             ,
             and
             ,
             in
             Contempt
             of
             Divine
             and
             Human
             Laws
             ,
             to
             trample
             upon
             the
             Throne
             ,
             arraign
             our
             Soveraign
             before
             us
             as
             a
             Criminal
             ,
             and
             ,
             by
             a
             sacrilegious
             Usurpation
             of
             God's
             Right
             ,
             pass
             Sentence
             of
             Deposition
             upon
             him
             .
          
           
             What
             Apprehensions
             must
             the
             moderate
             Protestants
             
             abroad
             have
             of
             our
             Zeal
             ,
             when
             they
             hear
             of
             this
             dreadful
             Sentence
             of
             Deposition
             ,
             and
             that
             of
             Excommunication
             issu'd
             out
             by
             Cargil
             ,
             in
             the
             Name
             of
             the
             
               true
               Presbyterian
               Kirk
               of
               Scotland
            
             ?
             the
             former
             forbidding
             us
             to
             obey
             the
             King
             ,
             and
             the
             latter
             to
             pray
             for
             him
             .
             With
             what
             Amazement
             will
             it
             strike
             them
             ,
             when
             they
             see
             the
             utmost
             Extent
             of
             these
             Sentences
             ,
             which
             begin
             with
             the
             King
             ,
             but
             bring
             in
             the
             best
             Part
             of
             the
             Kingdom
             ,
             all
             Officers
             of
             the
             Crown
             ,
             Privy
             Councellors
             ,
             Judges
             ,
             Magistrates
             ,
             Officers
             of
             the
             Army
             ,
             Guards
             ,
             and
             other
             Souldiers
             ,
             who
             are
             more
             immediately
             mark'd
             out
             for
             Destruction
             ,
             as
             being
             either
             Persons
             in
             trust
             ,
             or
             Adherers
             to
             the
             Government
             ?
             Nor
             are
             the
             Orthodox
             Clergy
             ,
             men
             everywhere
             sacred
             by
             their
             Profession
             ,
             to
             be
             here
             exempted
             ;
             with
             them
             they
             have
             begun
             ,
             and
             shew'd
             in
             the
             Person
             of
             our
             late
             most
             reverend
             Metropolitan
             ,
             what
             the
             rest
             may
             expect
             ,
             if
             the
             Malice
             of
             that
             Party
             be
             once
             arm'd
             with
             Power
             :
             so
             that
             before
             these
             Sentences
             be
             executed
             according
             to
             their
             full
             extent
             ,
             we
             are
             like
             to
             be
             in
             the
             lamentable
             Condition
             of
             the
             Egyptians
             ,
             we
             shall
             not
             have
             an
             House
             without
             some
             one
             or
             other
             dead
             in
             it
             ;
             only
             in
             this
             we
             differ
             ,
             the
             Angel
             of
             the
             Lord
             destroy'd
             their
             First-born
             ,
             whereas
             we
             are
             design'd
             to
             destroy
             one
             another
             .
             It
             is
             really
             strange
             how
             Men
             ,
             that
             have
             thus
             shaken
             off
             all
             the
             Ties
             of
             Religion
             and
             Nature
             ,
             and
             own
             such
             bloody
             and
             desperate
             Principles
             ,
             are
             not
             sometimes
             afraid
             ,
             lest
             our
             Neighbours
             ,
             when
             these
             Things
             are
             published
             abroad
             ,
             should
             take
             the
             Alarm
             ,
             and
             join
             with
             those
             in
             danger
             at
             home
             ,
             to
             cut
             them
             off
             as
             avow'd
             Enemies
             to
             their
             Native
             Prince
             ,
             their
             Country
             ,
             and
             their
             Friends
             ,
             and
             consequently
             to
             all
             Mankind
             :
             But
             as
             they
             appear
             yet
             to
             be
             only
             Persons
             of
             mean
             Quality
             ,
             and
             not
             very
             numerous
             in
             respect
             of
             the
             rest
             of
             the
             Kingdom
             ,
             so
             
             the
             Pitch
             of
             extravagance
             ,
             which
             they
             are
             now
             arriv'd
             at
             ,
             secures
             them
             in
             a
             great
             Measure
             from
             Vengeance
             ,
             and
             makes
             them
             the
             Objects
             of
             Pity
             ,
             as
             Persons
             distemper'd
             with
             a
             violent
             Phrenzy
             ,
             and
             who
             ,
             for
             the
             publick
             Safety
             ,
             are
             to
             be
             kept
             in
             Chains
             ,
             rather
             than
             destroy'd
             ,
             and
             treated
             as
             brainsick
             Persons
             ,
             till
             they
             recover
             .
             And
             truly
             it
             may
             be
             worth
             our
             Governours
             Time
             to
             consider
             ,
             whether
             any
             so
             proper
             Method
             has
             been
             yet
             thought
             of
             for
             such
             ,
             as
             to
             remove
             them
             from
             Prisons
             to
             Houses
             of
             Correction
             ;
             not
             to
             do
             them
             the
             Honour
             to
             bring
             them
             before
             Judicatures
             to
             revile
             the
             higher
             Powers
             ,
             nor
             to
             Pillories
             nor
             Scaffolds
             ,
             to
             confirm
             the
             rest
             of
             their
             Party
             by
             their
             obstinate
             Sufferings
             ;
             not
             to
             condemn
             them
             to
             dy
             as
             Martyrs
             ,
             but
             to
             continue
             under
             severe
             Task-masters
             ,
             till
             Time
             ,
             hard
             Labour
             ,
             and
             the
             seasonable
             Discourses
             of
             discreet
             Persons
             ,
             appointed
             for
             this
             Purpose
             ,
             may
             ,
             by
             God's
             Blessing
             ,
             prove
             the
             effectual
             Means
             to
             cool
             their
             Heats
             ,
             remove
             their
             Scruples
             ,
             and
             restore
             them
             again
             to
             their
             right
             Wits
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
  

