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J THE
IGENERALL DEMANDS,
I
: Of the reverend Doctors of Divinitic^ and
Aiinifters of the Uotpcll in ABE RD EN E% CONCERNING
THE LATE COVENANT,
SCOTLAND
Together,
With the Jnfwercsffieplyes&tid Duply es that followed thereupon in the Year, 1.638.
Reprinted in one Book, by order of
, Cum PrivHegie*
Prov, 24, 21. Myfonjew tb*u the LORD snd the Kim a, mU mtlilc m with them that tare given tg change.
A B E- R DEN E, f rimed by John foKin$}jitm»Dam, i 6 6 0
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GENERAL!, DEMANDS,
Concerning the Late
m
S- COVENANT, I
ajb Propounded by the Minifters and
Profeffors of Divinity in ABER DENE:
To fome Reverend Brethren , who came thither
to recommend the late Covenant to them, and
to thofe who are committed to their charge;
TOGETHER
4tK With the Jnfweres of thofe reverend ■S%& Brethren to the faid Demands :
^ Asalfo-
^ ThtT{e])Iyesof the forefayd Mini- ^> fters & Profeffors to thdr J wfweres,
\ i.PET.3,15.1^ - •
SanBife the LORD GOD In your hearts, and be'readie alwayes to give an anfwere to every man that asketh yon a rtafon of the hofe that is in yon, with meekj-es and fe are :
^g Having a good Conference, that whereas they fteake evil of yon, as of evill doers , they may_ be aftarned that faljlie acQiifeyonr good converfatim in CHRIST,
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ABERDENE,
Reprinted by Jo hn Fqrbe s, Anno Dom.1661.
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(jenerall
GENE HAUL DEMANDS,
Concerning the late Covenant :
Together with Jnfweres to them5 and Eeplyes to thofe Jnfweres.
The Eirst De m a n b.
Y what Power, or Warrand,thefe cur Reverend Bre— . thren can fate of -us, or of our People>iubfcription to this late Covenant ;not being fern by his Maje st y, or by the Lords of Counfell , nor by anie Na- tionall Synode of this Kingdoms , nor by any Judi- catorie eftabliined ink? And,how they can enforce upon us, or upon our People , who are no waves fubject unto them, their- Interpretation of the Articles of the Negative Cmfejficn ? In refpeft whereof, as alfo in refpeel of that Band of muruall Defence againft all perfons what-fo-ever, this late Covenant is fubftantiallie different, from that which was fubferibed bythe King ^nd his Sub- jefts,. -4/ww 1580, and 1 581..'
( An'? whh';,
EE are not come hitherto nfurfe the Author i tie of tin?
Chill or Sflritmli Judicatories or to enforce upn oar
hz Reverend
4 General? Demands.1
Reverend Brethren, and the Peppk committed to their Charge, th fubfcription of the /^Covenant, or the Interpretation of the Ar-* tides of that Confeflion which is called Negative , or what-fo-ever elfe of that kynde: But are fent, to represent unto them,in all humility, the prefent Cafe mid Condition of this Kirke and Kingdoms, crying for help at. their handes alfo : and, in Br other lie love, te exhort , and intreat, that they will be pleafed,to contribute their be ft Endeavour s, for extinguishing the common Combnftion, which by joining with almoft the whole Kirke and Kingdom, in the Late Covenant, we trufl they way lawfully doe, without prejudice to the King's Majeftie, or to any lawfutl Judicathrie, or to that Confeflion of Faith above mentioned : Since the found Interpretation and Application there of, to the Err ours of our Times, can make no fubftantiall change, and the Band of Afu- tuall Defence, wherein we abliedge our felves,to defend the true Reli- gion, and the King's Majeftie s Perjon, and Authoritie, againft all perfons whatfoever, is joined, at fir ft, with the Confeflion of Faith. Lyke as his Maje flies Commifftoner objel~ling,That our Covenant was futfeVc, to be an unlawful Combination againft Authoritie, and to be the main hwderance of obtaining our defires , hath accepted, and was well pleafed with our Declaration; bearing, That we have folemnlie fwome,To the utterm^ft of our foy;erywith our Means' and Lives, to ftand to the defhite fifa King's Majefty , as ofG OD'S Vice-Ce- rent, fet over us. for the maintenance of Religion , and miniftrati&n ^Jultice.
\7~ V E have, Reverend Brethren, diffidently confidered and exa- mined your Anfweres to our Den\andes,by which we expect- ed full f uisfaction to all our Scruples and doubts concerning the lace Covenant : But truetie, in Modeftie and tfrorherlie Love, we tell you, that your Anfvveres ( wrnt-fo-ever yoil rhinke of them your felves ) hwc'no:^ ven us that iatisfa&ion which we expected . We know thai • -/. -ho raihly condemn? every thing which isfaid or written rary to the caiile which they mainrainc,will boldly fay of us, due
We
A N S f EKES and R,E;?LYE$ J
we have elofed our eyes againft a cleare and ingyring Light: But firft, -we fay with Job,Onr witnejfe is in Heaven^and our recorders on high, .That LORD who only Teeth the fecrets of hearts, knowetb, that we love His Trueth, and are ready Co foone as it {hall be ftiown unto us, to embrace and profeffe it before the World. Next , we appeale to the Confidences of all impardall Readers, who (hall have occaiion to ■vveyghand confider maturelie the weight of our Arguments, and of thele Anfweres which it hath pleated you to give us : wifhing them, yea , moft humblie and earneftiy intrearing them , to judge both of your writtings and ours, without prejudice , or any partial! refpec\ Yea, we are confident , that ye alio, of whofelove to the Trueth of GOD we are perfwaded , will after better advyfement , and more marure confideration of the matters debated , acknowledge, that we are not againft the Trueth , but for it. The LORD open your eyes, that you may clearly fee, that Trueth for which we ftand.
WEe objected to you, Reverend Brethren ,that you had not a Cal- ling to urge us to the fubfcnption of the late Covenant, from anie ac- knowledged Authority, or lawfull Judicatorie eftabliihed in this Church or Kingdome : to which Objection ye anfwere not here par- ticulate, as we expected. And whereas you fay, That you are come to exhort us, and our People, in all humilitie, to joyne with you; hovV is it, that without our content, and againft our will, not having law- full Authority which you feeme here not to acclaime to your felves, you have publicklie preached to our People, within our Congregation? which is a thing repugnant tothofe places of Scripture , in the which the Spirit of GOD recommendeth to Elders, or Paftors, the care of thofe Fiockes, Over which the holy Ghoft hath made, them overfeers, -Acts 20.28. 1 . Pet. 5. 2. as aifo telleth us, That the Paftors whom the Flo'ckc mutt know, and to whom they muft fubmit themfelves7 ■dogwatch over the Soules of that Flock^ and ma ft give account for them, 1 . Thejfal. '5,12. Hebr. 15.17. It is alfo contrane to the lawes of the Chriftian Church in all ages. For by the ancient Canons f Paftors are commanded , to containe themfelves within the limires of their own Charge? and no: toprelume to exercife Paftorail Office
B in an
£ General! D e u a $ d S!
in another Paftors Dioceffe, or Parioch,without leave : As alfo,they forbid Paftors, to receive to Divine Service,anie man of another Pa- riochin, that commeth in contempt of his own Pattor. Condi. Nicen. I. Oecum.i. Can. 16. Coital. 2. Oecum^Conftantinop. Can. 2. Condi. Carthag. 2. Can. 11. Condi. Carthag. 3. Can. 20. Condi. Chalced. Qecum. 4. Q». 13. Condi. Nicen. 2. Can. 10. Condi. Tribttr. Can. 28. CW/7. Nannet. Cap. i.& 2. f 2. We did not without reafon fay, That you , and others of your Confederation, enforce your In- terpretation of the Negative Confeffion upon others;feeing we heare, that feme Paftors and Prelates are forced to flee ro forraygne Coun- t-reyes, for fear of their lives, becaufc they have refufed the faid /«- terpretation-^nd thole who have ftayed in the Countrey, dare fcarce- lie appear in the high waves, or ftreets,and are threatned,that their Stipends (hail not be payed unto them , untiil they fubferive your Covenant, f 5. Whereas you doe in Brotherly love exhort* and en- treat us,to contribute our beft endeavours for extinguishing the com- mon Combuftion, we prayfmg^GOD, for your pious zeal e , and for the lovingneffe and modefty of yourfpeeches, (wherein, by GOD'S help, we ihall labour to keep correfpondence with you; that both we and you may (how ourfelves,to have learned of GHRIST,^/^^- vetfcy and lowlinejfe of heart ) we moft willingly promife to doe io, by all means which our confeiences will permit us to ufe , as alfo to joine our moft humble and hearty Prayers with yours , that it may pleafe GOD in this, dangerous exigent, to doe good in His good flea* Jure, to our Sien , and to bmldeupthe wallsofourjerufalem; f 4. We may juftly fay, that this new Covenant is fubftandally different from the Old, which was made Anno 1 581. in refpeft it not onlie containeth that Old Covenant, or Confeffion, which was allowed by two Generall Affemblies, but alio your interpretation of it, which, as yet, hath no fuch Authorities Approbation, f 5. No Band of Mu- Cuall Defence, Againft all perfons rvhat-fo-ever, is expreffed in the Covenant made 1 58 1. And altho it. were, yet the cafe is very unlike: For Subjects may make fuch a Covenant of Mutuall Defence, by Armes, with the confentof the King, who only, under GOD , hath the power of Armes, or of the Sword, in this Kingdome. But they who made this late Covenant , had not his confent, as that former or
olde
Answer is and Repl ye's^1 7
olde Covenant had : which is a thing fo evident, that no man can call it in queftion. f 6\As for that which you affirme here, that my Lord . Commifltoner his Grace was well fatisfied with your Declaration It becommeth not us, to pry narrowlie into his Graces doings : but truely we have more then reafon , to pry moft narrowlie into the words of a Covenant , which is offered unto us, to be fworne, and fub- fcrybed, left we abule, and prophane the Sacred Name of GOD,and tye our felvcs to the doing of any thing which is difpleafing unto him. Laft of all; whereas ye defire us, to joyne our felves to you , and to the reft of your Contederacie , who are ( as you a (firm e) almoft the whole Church and Kingdome^ truely we cannot but reverence fuch a multitude of our Reverend Brethren, and deare Countrey-men, and are ready to be followers ofthemy info farre as they are followers of CHRIST i But neithet can we doe any thing agaynfl the Trttethy nei- ther can we attribute fo much Authoririe to their multitude,as other- wife we would, in refpecl: there hath been fo much dealing for Sub~ fcriptionsy in all quarters of this Kingdome, and fo manie havebeene tbreauicd, to give their content, as we are moft credibly informed,
7 be Second Demand.
Whether or no we ought to fubfcry ve the forefaid Covenant, fee- ing all Covenants of mutuall Defence, by force of Armes, made a- mongft Subjects of any degree, upon whatfoever colour or pretence, without the King'sMajeftie or his Succeffoures privitie and con- fent, are expreflie forbidden by King Jam e s of bleffed Memorie, and rhe three Eftates of this Kmgdome, in theParliament hoiden at Linlithgow^ Anne 1585?
Answer e j
The Act of Parliament forbiddeth in the frfi 'part , Leagues and Bands of maintenance privilie madejuch as are called Bands of Man- rent y as the aft in Queen Mar J 55 i'mtj to which it hath relation^
doeth
2 Generall Demands: «
doeth be are. And In the fecund party only fuchy as tend to the public^ dlfturbance of the peace of the Realmey by moving f edition. B-tt no ath cf Parliament doeth d'fchargey nor can any 'US~t haw forbid, Conven- tions or Covenants In the generally or fuch Covenants in sfeciall as are made with G O D, and amongst our felves; not for any mam particu- lar, but for the common benefte of alb, not to move Sedition , but to preferve Peacey and to prevent trouble : which by all probabilltle had been to manyy before this tlmey too fenfibley if this courfe had not been taken. Conventions and Covenants ( In the judgement of JuflfcOiK- fulrs) are to be esteemed and judged of according to their diver fe endsygood or bad : which made King J A M E S of happy memory to take It for an undoubted maximey 1 hat pro axis & focis, & pro pa- tre patriae, the whole body of the Common-wealth (kcxld ftlrre at once : not any more as divided member 'j, but as one confolldate lnmpe0
In that fecond part of that Aft of Parliament holder* at Linl'thg^ 'Anno i 58 5. are forbidden, All Leagues or Bands of Mutuall De* fence y which are made without the prlvltle and confent of the KIJ\fG9 under the pain to be holden and execute as movers off edition and nn- qvletneffe, &c. Wherefore we can no vvayes thinke, that any Bands $r Leagues of Mutuall Defence % by force of Armes, are there per^ nutted, ( that is, not forbidden ) feeing firft the words of the Act are fo generall, for in it are difcharged All Bands made among Sub- jects of any degree , upon any colour what f never y without his Hlghnes% or his Sncceffoursy prlvltle and confent had and obtained thereunto* Next; Ail fuch Bands are declared tobeS^/nW, andpenurbative of the publicise Peace of theRealme: or, which is.all one, are ap- pointed to be elteemed io. And therefore, we can nor fe^ how any Bands of that kynde can be excepted , as ft they were no: (editions:. 2. We doubt nor,but the late Covenant being confidered,according to the rminc intention of thofe Pious and Generous Gentle-men, Bar-. roiv; and others our dear Countrey men, who mideit,efpecially ovr Reverend Brethren of die holy Minilkry, is a Covenant made with
GOP,
A n s w eres and Re * t V e $1 5
€0D, and proceeding from a zealous refpect to GOD His Glory, and to the preservation of the purine of the Got pell in rhis Church and Kingdome : But we cannot finde a Warrand in our Confciences, to grant, that fuch Covenants, in fo farre as they import mutuall De- fence, againfi all perfons what-fo-ever, none being excepted, no, not the Kin g, ( as it feemeth unto us, by the words of your Covenant^ bu&£ar*e more by the words of your late Proteftation^thc 28 of Jane ; Wherein you promife, mutual! Defence, aga'wfl all external! or inter- mlllnvafion , menaced in his Majefties laft Proclamation ) are not forbidden by any Band, norjuftiie yet can be forbidden. For, firft, we have already fhowne, that they are forbidden in the forefaid Ac~i €>f Parliament, Anna 1585. 2. No Warrefare ; and confequentlie, no Covenant , importing Warrefare, is lawful!, without juft Authori- se, which, we are perfwaded, is only in the fupreame Magiftrate, and and in thofe who have power and employment from him , to take Armes : Yea, fo farre as we know , all moderate men, who duely refpect Authoritie , will fay, that it is fo in all Kingdome $, and Mo- narchies, properly \o called : ( Of which nature is this his Majefties moft Ancient Kingdome , ) And, that it is altogether unlavvfull to Subjects in iuch Kkigdome$,to take Armes againft their Prince. For which caufe, that famous and moft learned Doc-tor RiveUis, in a late Treatife called Jefmta vapulans, fpeaking of the judgement of Bn- shannan, and others, who taught, that Subjects might take Armes a- £ ainft their Prince, in extraordinary Cafes, and extreame dangers, o£ the Religion, and Common-wealth, profeffeth firft , that he,and all 0therPm<rjW/,condemnefuch doctrine. Secondly; That this Er- rour did proceed from a mifiaking of the Governement of the Sco- tilliKingdome,as if it were nor truely & properly monarchical. Third- ly Thar the raihneis of tho e wry tters,is to be afcrybed parrlie to the bard and perilous times of perfection, wherein they lived, and parr- lie Scot irxm fr&fervido ingenio , et ad audendpim prompt*?. Thus he wrytet-h in the 1 3. Chap, of the laid Booke, Pag, a 7 4. and 27 5. anfwering to the recrimination of a Jefuit, who had affirmed, that Bwhaman, Ktnx, and G odm^n, had written as boldlie, for the Re- bellion of Subjects againft Princes, as any of their Order at any time lad done, A thing much to be noted by us at this time, left we any
C moie
r$ General! Demands*
more give that advantage to Jefmtes , to make Apologie for the& rebellious Doctrines and Pn&ifes. 3. Not only making of Cove- #^/\r, but alfo all other actions , are to be efteemed and judged off firft, by theequitieof thefubjeft, andmatter; then, bytheende: For if the matter pactioned ( that is, which the parties mutuallie doe promiie ) be jultlie forbidden v by a lawfull Authoritie ; and confe- quentiie be unlawfull in it felfe; then the goodnefle of the ende, or projeft^can not make the paclion^or Covenant^ be good, or lawfully
The Third Demand.
If it be alleadged, that mext ream and mod dangerous cafes,fuc& Afts of Parliament may be contraveened, Qitntur, whether there be now fuch extream cafe, feeing we have his Majeftie, in his former Proclamations, avowing, protcfting, declaring, and in this laft Pro- clamation taking God ro witnelfe, that he never intended any Inno- vation of Religion; and alio feeing He hath 'removed already all that which made men feare Novations, to wit, Service Booke, Booke of Canons,and the alleadged exorbitance of the new high Commilliond
A N S W E R gg
If the removing of the Service Booke, Booke of Canons, and the Imitation of the vafi power of the high Commiilipn , contayning fa mvch (uyer(tition,and tyrrannle of Prelate s,be a benefite to this Kirkg end K'ngdome, we ought, under GOD, to afcrybe the fame to the peac- able Aleettings, humble Supplications , and religious Covenanting of the Subjetts; which have given information to his Majeftie, and have procured from his jnftice and goodneffe, fo great favour, as is thank? fullie acknowledged in the laft Proteftation : which doerh alfo exprejfe the many particular st wherein his Majesties late Proclamation is not fatisfattorie. And therefore, the Lords of his Ma etties Privie Conn- fell , upon the Supplication and Complaint of his hedges , were moved to refcind the Atl of the Approbation of the forefaid Procla- mation
An s were sand Reply es ii
Elation, and to rent the fubfcrybed Mlffwe^whlch was to fa fent there* with to hisMajeflie^ We are confident , that the Declaration where* with his Majesties Commljfioner wasfo well p leaf ed,wlll alfo give fa- tisf action to our Reverend Brethren ; and that they will not thinks It convenient for them to g'-ve further approbation to the Proclamation, then the Comfell hath d reyalthovgh all of us ought , with thanhf ninety to acknowledge his Majesties bcn'gnitie.
Beflye*
We will not- here difpiite what hath been the tmine or princfpafl eaufe moving h;s Tiered Majeftie to discharge the Service- B, ke,m& orher things which occasioned the prefenr perturbation of our Chi rebj nor yet wherherorno; his Mijefties P^chmation may give full la- tisf action to all the feares and do brs of his Sub; eels. For our felvest we profile, that upon his Majeffe Decl ration, and gnciousPro- mife contained in his Ma;eftiesb ft Proclamation, we believe, firiT, that his Majeftie never Intended Innovation In Rel'gl on: SecorJhey that he will maintain the true Protestant ReVgion, all the dayes of his life : which we pray GOD to continue long. 1 hirdlyy that all Ades made in favours of the Servlce-Booke^ &c. are discharged. Fourthly that he will never urge the receiving of xhzServlce Book B -ok^of Can- nons dec. or ante other thing of that Nature yhut byfch a f aire and le~ gal way^ai (hall fatlsfie all hi* S ubje els. hnd thence We doe coilec\that which we affirmed before,to wit,that ther is no fuch extraordinary or extream cafe,as might give occafion to Subjects to make fuch aBand, as is directly forbidden by the forelaid AcV ofc Parliamentary to con- traveane it in fuch a manner, as may feem to import a refitting p£ Authorise by force of Armes8.
The Fourth Demand*
Concerning that Interpretation of the Negative Confeffion^. Which is urged upon us,& wherin the Articles oH? earth &£piicopacy are declared to be abjured, as well as all the points of Popery, which.
are-
%i Generall Demands.1
are therein exprefly and diftin&ly mentioned 5 Qutritur, Who ale
the Interpreters of that Confefiion ? that is, Whether all the SubfcrU vers, or onely thofe Minitters conveened in Ed i n bur g h , in the end of Februarie, who fet it down ? If all the Subfcrivers; then what Kafon have we to receive an interpretation of that Confeffion from Laicks, ignorant people, and children ? If onely thofe Minifters con- veened then in E d 1 n bur g Hi then^ feeing no man fhould take an honour to himlelf, but he who is called of GOD, as Aaron, Hebr. 5. 4. what power and authorine had they over their Brethren, to give out a judiciall Interpretation of rhefe Articles of Faith 5 and to inforce their Interpretation of thefe Articles upon them.
Answers.
'The fuhfcrybtrs art here misinterpreted in two poyntes, very mate* rial I : One zV, that they pre] 'rime upon power, or A a horny, which thy have to give out a judiciall Interpretation of the Articles of the Con- feilion, and to enforce the fame upon others : whereas they one lie inten* ded, to make ktiowne their own meanings according to the mtnde of our Reformers', and in charity to propound and recommend the fame to o+ thers, who might he made willing to embrace it : Ah hough it he true alfo, that very great numbers of Minifters were conveened , and te- stified their cogent at that time ; and although the private judgement of thofe who are called Laicks, ought not to be mif -regarded : for it u confeffed, that an Interpretation, which is private rations perfonac, may he msre then prhat ratione medii. 7 he other, which being eb- ferved, will anfwere diver fe of the following Demands, that the Ar~ ticks of?zitti\,and of Epifcopal Government ,arc declared to be ab\i~ red,as points of :Popery, or as Pop i[h- Novations: wherat the words of the Covenant put a difference betwixt two forts of Novations: one is offuch, as are already introduced in the IVorfhip of GOD, and concer- ning thofe, whatfoever be the judgement of the Sub fery vers, which to every one is left free, by the woids of the Covenant, they are welle bound, to forbear the praffife of them, by reafon of theprefent exu genae of ' the KiAz}till they be try ed^ and allowed^ in a free General,
Affemblie
A n £ we re s and H. & i> £ k e sa.' 1 5
^ffembtie. Tfo other fort is of [neb Novations r as are particular lie [up plicated againft, and complained upon, as the Service-Booke, and Canons , &c. which are abjured, as containing points of Poperlc, And this we avouch, from our certain knowledge, to be the true mea- ning of the controverted words of the Covemnt.And therefore ,humbly tntreat that no man any more^pon this fcmpUytith-boldhis Tefiimony
%eplye.
As Cot the firft of thefe two mifs-takings : If you have not given mt that interpretation of iht Negative Confejfion judicially, but on- ly have made known your own meaning, according to the minde of the Reformers, as you alleadge, then, firft, your Interpretation hath no obligatory power over others; and confequently you ought nor to obtrude your Interpretation upon us more then we doe our Interpre- tation thereof upon you0 Neither ought any man to be molerted , or threatned, for not receiving your Interpretation ; chiefly feeing all who are of your Confederation have fo folemnly vowed, and prorni- fed, tohz good examples to others of all GodlmeJfe,Sobernes,& Righ* teonfneffe, and of every duty which yon owe toG O D and Man. Se* concly, as for the minde or judgement of our Reformers , we know no evidencie of it, having publicke Aurhoritie, to obliedge the Sub* jeils of this Kingdom, except that which is exprefled in our Natio* mil Confejfion of Faith, ratified in Parliament twentie yea res before the Negative Confejfion was penned: wherein we finde no warrand or ground of fuch Interpretation as you bring. Thirdly , The Inter- pretation of the Negative Confejfion, fee down in your Covenant, as it is not publicke ratione Perfona, (o alfo not ratione me ail : for it hath 110 Warrand, for oughr we could ever perceive,either from the Word of G O D , or from the Teftimony of the Ancient Church, or from the content of other reformed Chul*ches,or from our National! Con- fejfion, regiftfated in Parliament. As for the fecondMifs taking, or. Mfs-interpretation of the words of the late Covenant, firft, We mar- veil, that a Generall Covenant appointed to be fubfc rived by all,lear- Ded and unkarned2 Qxouid have been fee down by you in fuch ambi-
D .guous
1 4 Generall ' 0 e m a SF © ?2
guousriarmes. For, truely, all men here ,. even the moft jucSU cious, doe fo take your words, as if the Articles of Pe art h were iut them abjured. 2. Wee have again more attentively examined the words of the late Covenanted doe evidently perceive by them,That in the faid Covenant, the Articles of Pe arth, mdEpifcopacy, are. condemned, and abjured , as erronious , and damnabje corruptions* For where you profeffe, and before GOD, and his Angels, and the World, folemnlie declare , that yon (hall labour, by all means lawfully to recover the Liberty and purity, of th& GOSPEL L, as it was es~la~ hlifhed and profeffe d before the fore fold Novations : We aske you r what is. that period of time,tc which your words have reference, when you promife to labour , to recover the Puritie and Liberty of the. Gojpell,as It was. prof effed & eftablifhed before the forefaid novations} If you mean that period of time, when the Service-Booke , and Book, of Canons, were urged upon you; to wit,the laft year by-pail in Sum- mer, then you acknowledge,that all that time you enjoined the ?u* nty and Libert) of the GOSPEL L\ and confequenrly, that you yet enjoy it; for no new thing hath fince that time been publicklie recei- ved, and pradlifed in this Chur c h* If you meane ( as undoubr- edlie we thinke you doe. ) the time preceeding the bringing in of E+ pifcopacje, and the A &s of P earth, then you comprehend both Epif- copacie and the A£ts of Pe arth, under thefe Novations ; for the removing whereof, you promife, to labour, according to your power : and confequentlie doe dif-allow and condemne them , even before tbey be tryed in a Free Affemblie , and before they be heard who- maintain & approve them as iawfull. 3. We may evidenthe demon-* ftrate this, argument 0 ad hominem, as we fay in the Schooles : Fox thofe Rites and Ceremonies, which are abjured in the Negative Con* fejfion, are alfo abjured in your late Covenant*, which, as you fay, is all one with the Negative Confcjfion, or with the Covenant made 1581. But the Rites and Ceremonies which were concluded in Peart h Af- femblie, are abjured, as you fay, in the Covenant made 1 5 8 1. and therefore they are alfo abjured in this your late Covenant. The firft Proportion is evident: for in your late Covenant /peaking of the Oath contained in that olde Covenant, which was made Anno 1 58 1. you profeffe, Thai the prefent and fucceeding Generations in this Land%.
are fogvd
'An s Wbr es and Rei»l?$§ rs>$
m bound to kecf the foresaid Nationall Oath^s you call it>a#d Snb~ ftriptloH, HHvioIatle. The fecond Proportion alfo cannot be deny- ed by you : For, thefe twentie yeares by-baft, you have accufed thofe who conformed themleives to the Ordinances o£ Pearth , of Perju- ries and thatbecauie they had violated the Oath made Anno 1581,, in the which thofe Articles (asyOu alleadge) were abjured. But perhaps you wilL fay to us, that wee chinke. thofe things nor to be ab- jured in that Oath made Anno 1 58 1. and therefore wee may fwear, and fubfcrive your late Covenant; and, nor-with-ftanding of our Oath and Subfcription, be tyedonely to the Forbearance of the practice of V earth Articles for a time. We aniwere , firft.:. The words of an Oath ihould be cleare, and plain : or, if they be any wayes ambigu- ous, the true fenle of them ihould be fo declared , and manifefted v that all may know it. 2 .. An Oath is to be given, according to the minde and judgement of him that requireth it, Anckherefore,feeing. you who require this Oath of us, thinke the Rites or Ceremonies con- cluded at ? earth, to be abjured in that Oath made Anno 1581. how can wefweare andfubcrive your Covenant. which reneweth the fore- faid Oath, and bmdeth us :o it > 5. I£ we {hould fweare, and fub- fcrive the Negative Confeffun , as it is included in your Covenant ; then ye, who thinke the Articles of Pearth to be abjured, and con- demned in the Negative Confejjion, will thinke us tyed, by our own Perfonall Oath, to .condemne the Articles of Pearth* 4. Seeing this Covenant was penned by you, who have hitherto not conformed your lelves to Pearth AfTemblie, and have oppofed Epfcofacy, and feeing you all condemn Epfiofacy^ if it were that Popjh or wicked Jfo?vzr^,mentioned in the Negative Confejfio;zs alfo efteeme the. thinges concluded in Pearth A(Temblie,to be IdolatronsfK Safer stt- */W,how can we rhinke,that you in youriolemne vow made to God* for reformation of this Church, and refifting, in times to come,the Novations tc Corruptions of it, have paffed by thefe things,which are the onely Novations already introduced by Authority , and from, which, as-you affirme, the Church hath fo great need to be purged 1 chiefly ,feeing ye think them zsPofljh Superfltloiu U-Idolatrom^s ye doe thefe other Novatlonsy\yh\di are not as yet introduced. 5. If ur altvour Supplications., Plaints^ and Proteitations, yahave onelie
fought: '
rf& GenerafI D em and^
fought the removing and difcharging of the Service Booke \ ft&okp of CW»<?»j,and the new high Cornmiflion, not complaining of any other Novations; and feeing his Majeftie hath difcbargcd the firft two, 8c hath promifed to re&ifie the third, or laft of them; Then, what rea- fon have ye to thinke, that his Majefty hath not Satisfied your Suppli- cations? For, ail the Novations, upon which you complained, are re- moved by his Majeftie , and ye have his Princely Promife, that no further (hall be urged upon us, but by fuch a faire and Legall way, as may fatisfieall his Subjects. 6. As for that which your Covenant , by your own Confefliqn , requireth of us, to wir, The forbearance, and, abftwexce, for atimey from the fraftifwg the Articles of Pearthj We profeflefincerelte,andmthe fight of GOD,that our Confcience will not fuifer us, to fubfcrive that part of your Covenant ; and that becaufe Lawes being ftanding for them, and our lawfull Superioures requyring Obedience from us, by practicing them, to fweare Forbea- rance of the frablije of them js to fweare Dij 'obedience, and, to wrong their Authority. 7. How can we, with a good Confcience, abftaine prefenly from private Baptiime, and private Communion, being re- quyred thereunto by ficke perfons,and thofe Parents whofe Children cannot be carried to the Church commodtouflte with their lives; fee- ing we thinke it a thing very unlawfuU, in fuch cafes, to refufe to ad- miniftrate thofe Sacraments in private houfes. Nor that we thinke, that GOD hath tyed Himfelf, or His Grace, to the Sacraments; but becaufe He hath tyed us unto them, by His Precept : and, not to ufe the means appoyntedby GOD, when our People, or their Children •fland in need of them, is a contempt of the meanes, and a tempting of GOD.
The Fifth Demand.
Whether or no we can fmcerely , and with a good Confcience, fubfcrive the Negative ConfelTion, as it is expounded and interpret tc ! by the Contryvers or Authors of the Lite Covenant , feeing it ma- keth a perpetuall Law concerning the externall Rites of the Church* which GOD hath not made, as if thefe Rites were unchangeable ?
And
'Answeres and Reuves] ff
And how they who both fweare the pofitive Confe&on, and the ne- gative, thus interpreted, can eichew contradiction , feeing the pc(i- tive Confeflion, Chap. 21. evidently declareth , that thefe Rites are changable , according to the exigencie of tirtie ; and confequently, that no perpetual! Law may or ought to be made concerning them? Likewife, we would know, how it can ftand with trueth, to abjure all thefe Rites, as Popiib, which are ufed in the Church, without divyne kiihtution, exprefled in GOD'S Word , feeing even thefe who urge the Covenant, pradtiie fome Ceremonies which are not mentioned in GOD'S Word,as the Celebration of Marriage before the Church, in the beginning, or at the end of divyne Service , with all the parti- culars of it, and the lHpulation of Fathers and God-fathers , for the Childe in Baptifme, which are not meere circumftances, as they life to diftinguifh, but alfo Ceremonies, properlie fo called >
A N S W E R i.1
r
*The late Covenant mtketh not a perpetual! Law concerning the eM ternall Rites of the Kirke, as if they were mchangable : but, Mwe lave fayde before, on lie bindeth us, for a t)mey to for be are the praEiife of Innovations already introduced, , and doth not determine whether they ought to be changed, or not. 2, According to. this true Interpre- tation, all appearance of contradiction betwixt the CorteflTicn of Faith infert in the A3 of Parliament, and the Utter Confejfion, is removed, fa fide that the Article 2 1 of the Confeflion or Faith , giveth ) power to the Kirke, in matters of ext email Policie, and order of thePVorfhip of GODyis expounded in the fir jl Bwke c/DiicipHne, di&ingmjh'wg betweene thinges necejfarie to be obferved in every Kirke, and t hinges 'variable in particular Congregations, -$.We declare againe, that the tovenanr doeth not abj we Peanh Articles, as Popifh, andthinketh not tymenow to diff ne of fignificant Cerem mies , or other holy Ritest lmd whether the two particulars named be Ceremonies , or not : (ince "the Confeflion condefcended upon on both fide s7 abjureth Rites, which W-9 added without the Word of GODa
. 8 .- Repi/t**
it General! DbmanSbI
Beplyel
Firft,wehave already told you, that we can notfubfcrive y®u£ Oath of Forbearance of the pra&ife of the Articles already introdu- ced, without violation of Authority, and of wronging our own Con- iciences, who thinke private Baptifme and Communion , not to be indifferent, but alio neceffarie, in fome cafes, not indeed, necejfitate medii, as if GOD'S Grace were tyed to the externall means, but, a£ we fay in the Schooles, necejfnate pr&cepti, becaufe we are comman- ded to ufe thefe means. 2. This late Covenant leadeth and bindeth us to the old Covenant, made 1581. and that old Covenant -bindeth us perpetually to that Difclpllne which was then; that is, ( as ye al- leadge ) to the whole Policie of the Church, comprehending all the externall Rites of it : and fo,i prima adultlmnm, this late Covenant bindeth us to the whole Policie of the Church , which was then; and confequentiie maketh a perpetuallLaWjConcerning external! Rites of the Church , as if they were unchangable, All partes of this Argu- ment are fure : for by your late Covenant , you profeffe your felves bound, to keepe the forefaid National! Oath ( as you call.it ) invio- lable : and xhitOath, or Covenant , bindeth us , to continue In the obedience not &-dj of the Da-Brine, but alfo of the Discipline of this Kirk*. Where by the Difcipline of the Kirks, ye underlhnd ( as ye iuye'in all your wrytings profelTed, elpecialie of late, in your Books entituled, A difpute, againji the Bnglifh Popifh Ceremonies. Part^ 4. Cap. 8. Sell. 6. ) the whole externall Policie of the Church, ask was at that tyme; to wit, Anno 1 581. Yea, you confefle, that no 0* tfaet thing can be underftood by The Difcipline of the Kirh, but that which vve have (aid already ;and confequently we ihall be tyed by that Oath which you requyre of us , to admit and pra6Ufe no other Rites and Ceremonies, but fuch as were then received in our Church. We cm no w.iyes paffe by trusteeing ever face the Alfemblie of Pearth, m your publicke Sermons, and printed Bookes, ye have mod: vehe- mently accused us of Perjury, as violating the Oath, or Covenant , ; Anno 1581, and that in refpsct we have admitted into the
Church
A ns were s and Re^iyes' s 9
Church, fome Rites, or Ceremonies, which were not In it the forefaid yeare of GOD. Is not this to make a perpetuall Lasv , concerning the cxternall Rites of the Church, as if they were unchangeable, and to abjure the pracMe of all Rites introduced in the Church fince that time; and confequently the pn£b"fe of the Articles of Peart b, and that not for a tidies onelie, but for ever ? 3, Seeing the Negative C^j^, according toyourminde, and conception of it, maketh the whole external Policie of the Church , as it was Anno 1 581 . to- be unchangable and on the. contra ne , the Confejfion infert into the • A£ts of Parliament, declareth, that the Rites belonging to the ex- ternal! Policie of the Church, are changable ; hew can you eicape a Contradiclion , if ye receive both thefe Confefyons ? 4. Whereas by that diftin&ion mentioned in your Anfwere, of things ne^effary to beobferved, and of. things variable in particular Congregations, ye infinuate that by the Keefing of the Discipline of the Krrkj as it was then, to which we are bound in the old Covenant, ye understand the observation of thofe things which are neceilary to be obierved ine- very Kirke, and not of t hinges variable in particular Congregations: We aske, Into which of the Members of this diftm&ton ye referre Eplfcopacle and the Articles of P earth ? that is, whether they mofl neceffarilie be omitted in ail Chirches,and at all times, or not ? If ye fay, that they mull be neceifarilie omitted, and that the Negative Confejfion, confirmed with an Oath , doth rye us to the omillion of them; then both ye would make us tofweare, and fubferive againft. our Consciences, ( tor we are perf waded , that thefe" things are *law- fuli ) as alfo ye would make us to abjure Epfcopaej, and the Articles oiPearth, wperpetuumiwhich is flatlie contrary to your Declaration in your Anfweres, 1.5. &c. If you fay on the other parr, that we are aottyed by the negative Confejfion, to the omiflion of thefe things; then, why have ye, in all your wrytings againft us, exprobrate to us. Per jane, in violating of the Oath contayned in the negative Confef- Jtm ? 5. We would gladly have known your minde, concerning the lawfulnefteofluch ic/w as are not of divyne Inftkution, exprefled in GOD'S Word. For we ingenuoufly profeiTe, that none of your Anfweres ( which hitherto we have feen ) to the Instances , or Ex- amples, brought by us> in our fife Demand ,of Rites ufed by your Selves
in your
ao - Grcnerall DemandS
in your Churches, as lawfiill, without divyne Inftitution, (towhiA we could adde many moe ) doe give us any iarisfaction : nor yet, as we thinke, can give fatisfaction to any indifferent man. As for ex- ample; is Blejfmg of 'Marriages ,a meerecircumftan.ee ? who can be fo impudent, as to fay fo ? or, if it be a Ceremony, what precept or practice .have ye of it in GOD'S whole word? If it be alleadged, that we have a warrandfrom that Blefling pronounced Gen. i. 28. upon Man and Woman,after their creation; .we aske, by what confequencfi can that Solemnitie of blejfmg of Marriages ui'ed in our Churches, with all the Ceremonies of it , be drawn from char effecluall and 0- perative Bleffmg of our firtt Parents, or rather of whole Man-kynde? Is there here an mftitution of a perperruall obfervance, or Rite, to be ufed in the Church, more then in the 22 verfe of the fame Chapter, when GOD bleffed the Fowles,and Fifhes,and laid, Be frnitfull^anA mitltiplieyand §11 the waters in the Seas)&c. If againe it be.anfwered, that Paftorall Benediction, is mentioned in Scripture , firft, what is that to Blejfmg of Marriages ? And fecondly , why are not all other pactions, as well as Marriages, blefled in the Church, chiefly , feeing Matnmoniall Blejfmg hath been, & is,abufed in the Rowane Church \9 which holdeth, that Marriage is a Sacrament; and confequently, Ma- trimoniall benediction ought, as it would feeme, to be f e eluded frorj£ •-the Church, rather then other Bleflings? „
The Sixth Demand. -
Whether or no it be fit to fubfcrlve fuch an Interpretation , as ii matters onawfullncile^andunlawfulneire; and confequently in mar-, ters of Faith, contradictec-h the Judgement of I'o many Divines, moft famous of the reformed Church, both Ancient and Modern 2 ( who did, and chz holde? that thefe Rites and Ordinances brought into this Church by the Aflemblie of Pearth, are in their own nature lawful!, and fuch as ought not to make a (Virre in the Church of GO D ) and slfo condemneth the venerable pracWe of the Ancient Church, and the mod eminent Lighrs of it,even in thofe pu'reft times, unto which we apeale againft the Papifts in our Difputes. . if
An s we re.-*
^nsweees and K^lvi's.1 ■£*
We trvfty that w found Divyne, Ancient or Modern?, vewU in this cafe denye the exfediencie of the forbearance of the paUife 0/ Pearch Articles, And further then this y nothing at this tyme is required.
Yourfilencejinnotanfwering that which we affirmed, conceit 7 aing the judgement ofDivynes, Ancient and Moderne, of the refor- sued Church , anent the lawfulneffe of the Rites and Ordinances* which were received in our Church, ,by the ordinance of the Affem« felie otPeartb; as alfo concerning the judgement and pracYifeof the ancient Church;doeth make us thinke,that ye acknowledge the trueth •f that which we affirmed there, a. We have already fhowne, that the Oath which ye requyre of us, importeth more then the forbea- rance of the pradtiie of Peart h Articles, for a tyme4 3 , The forbea- ranee of iome of them, feemeth to us , to be meerly unlawfull , and contrary to that Paftorallduetie we owe to our Flocke. 4. The for- bearance of any of them, confidered with a relation to the Authority enjoyning them, in our judgement, is plaine dilobedience,
ThefecPoenth Demand*
Whether it be agreabte to Charitie or Pietie, to requyre us to ab- jure thefe Rites as Popifh ; which in the finceritie of our hearts, fol- lowing the light of our Confcience, ( whereof we take G OD to wit* neffe ) we have hitherto pra£ifed, as lawfull, and laudablie following the fame light, doe yet prae\ife them ? but fuppofe this might be re- ^uyred of us by any; <Quaritur9 Whether or no it becommeth them fo peremptorilie, and upon fuc^i a fuddentie, to urge us to this, who thefe by-gone twenty yeares, liave defired earneftly to enjov the
F freedoms
*££ • General 1 Dem a k © ?*
freedome of their Confciences in their Minifterie , even in denyW obedience to thefe things, and.ftanding'Lawes for them $ and when they were urged to obedience, did fo often proteft, and earneftly re- queft, that they might have a tyme , to be well enfofmed , aadma- rurelie advyfed of the matter , which to the moft part of them was moft gracictiily granted } Let them, therefore , looke to that natu- lan Maxime, Qjfod tibi fieri non w, alteri nefeceris , and to our Sa- viour's Precept of the fame fenfe , and almofl of the fame worde$3. Matth. J.verfe 12.
An s w:e'r e'I
We hope, that fuch a Forbearance of the praftifc, will prejudge tfy liber tie of no mam Conscience \
; Reply el
It would much prejudge our Confciences, to fvveare and fubferive the negative Confeffion , taking it according to your conception and meaning, who requyre'our Oath. 2. How can we fvveare, tolabom^ {by all means lawfully ye require in your Covenant ) to expell thofe thinges, whereof we holde fome to be neceffary , and all the reit^ \%, be lawful!, and laudable ?
The Eight Demand*
Whether it be fitting to fvveare to defend the Kings Perfon and Authority, with this Limitation , In the defence and preservation of the true Religion, Lawes^and LibertiesyofthisK'mgdome > As if their Perfons ought not to be defended againft ail Enemies,although as yet they embraced not the Trueth : or having before embraced it , yet havefallenfiom it; or as if their Royali Authority were not to be
acknowledged^.
& n <S w b 5" U $ and B. e ■ ? l y f § %j
acknowledged, although commanding thinges unlawfull; and as if we were not fubje& thereto, in yeelding to fufter under them } when we give not aftive obedience to them ?
A N S W ERE-J
X. TA* Anfvpere of the fir ft Demand, may give fat isfaBisn here, ^J 7~&e Specification of the defending the Kings Perfon and Axthoritie, in the defence of the true Religion, Lawes,and Liberties of the King* dome, is warranted by the Confeffton ratified in Parliament , by other A$s of Parliament, by the ether Confeffton, and by the general I Band jojned with it. 3. No man willwith-holde his Subfcription ffem the Covenant, becaafe it doth not, as it intendeth not , to expreffe evert* dnetie we owe te the Kings Majefliey as if the mt naming^ were a dt? npng of the daetiea.
Rtyfyy.
What ye have replyed in your Anfwere to our firft Demand, we: have examined, in our Confutation of your Anfwere. 2. If ye con- fider well all the Circumftances of the making of your Covenant, ye will finde that it had not been arnuTe, at this time , to have expref- fed morefuilie the Loyaltie of your Intentions , to maintaine the KINGS Perfon and Honour. Next, it is neceffarie to expreile it yet more fully,for our caufe, whom ye require, to fweare & fubferive your Covenant', left we doe any thing, in this matter , with a doubt- ing Confcience, ( which is a grievous finne ) that is, Doubting whe- ther or no we are tyed by our Oath, to maintain the K I N G S Au- thority, onelie in fo farre, as- it is imployed in the Defence of the forefaid true Religion; or,at left,as it is not imployed againft it. For it feemeth to us unlawfull,. to iweare the maintenance of the KINGS Authority with this limitation precifely. And if ye be of a contrary sayndsj we are moft willing t© confer with you of this point,
The
54 Gene rail De«a n b' s£
The mmh Demand*
Wbcthercor no we can fmcerely fwear c to maintalne the Au* thoriry, trtielie and properlie Monarchical! of the King ; and withal! (weare alfo difobcdience to thefe Articles, which are authorized by his ftanding Lawcs , and to maintaine the meaneft of his Subje&es ggainft him, in their difobedience of his Lawes, as yet ftanding in vi- gour conce rning thefe' thinges ?
An swer Eo
«; The Anfwere to the firft Demand, is ufefuli here aHcx jg Forbearance of Pradiie, for a time, infnch a cafe% is rather Obedi- ence, then Difobedience : for example , Kneelling**^ thought ton* venient , becaufe all memorie of Superftition was paft, fhoptld it not therefore be forborne ^becattje Superftition is now revived^ and fia~ grant } They who praU'fe, keef the letter of the hm I but they who forbeare, keep the life and reafon thereof*
H*rb
e*
Your Covenant requifeth more of us, then the forbearance of the pn&ife of/ '-earth Articles, as we have often times declared. 2. We have alfo fhowne , that the forbearance of Obedience, to ftanding Lavves, without licience of Superiours, and contrarie to their com« Hiandement,efpecially ifit be done by deliberation, andifmentyc thcmfelves, by an Oath, to do fo, is manife ft Difobedience. 3, The Article otPearth, anent Kneeling, was not grounded onelie, nor yet principally^ upon that, Narrative which ye mention , but rather upon the convenience and decencie of the gefture of Kneeling, in the re- ceiving of the holie SACRAMENT: which real on doeth yet con- tinue; as alfo the other reafon. which ye mention , holdeth yet : foi the bodie of the People of this Church, were never Papists ; and,
consequently^
<f': , A n swbhs and Repl y $^ i §
$&nfequently,have no memorieof PopiLh Superftition, as thofevvho lived in time of Reformation. 4. We can not fee, nor conceive, how a Vow and Band, of maintaining the meaneftSubje& of this Kingdom, againft all perfons whatfoever; and confequently, againft the KING himfelf , as we have {howne in our f econd R eplyc, in dif- obedience of his Lawes, can confift with that love, reverence, and fubjedion, which we owe to our KING. Neither have ye brought any thing in your Anfwere, to fatisfie us in this point. And becaufe ye alleadge, as we heafe, chat ye aire miftaken in this point, and doe vindicate your felves , by thofe words of the Covenant , wherein ye promife to maintain the KINGS Authority ; we pray you to expreffe your minde more fully, concerning it; and to lhowe us, 1 . What ye meane by mantaining the KINGS Authority, in that part of your Co- venant, wherein ye exprelTe your loyall Intention , To maintain the KINGS Penon and Authority; and in fpeciail , Whether or no the maintaining of the KI N G S Authoritie,be taken by you, as it exclu- ded all refifting of his Authority, by force of Arm es, even although he fhould command thinges unlawfull, and contrarie to the Trueth? For fo we thinke it ftiould be taken : and that it ftiould be fo taken, we are ready to demonftrate. Neither can wefweareit in anie other fenfe. 2. Whether your promife, of mutuall defence , In the fame caufe of maintajning the true Religion, and his Majesties Authori- ty, &c. ought to be underftood, of the maintaining the Kings Autho- rity abfolutelie : that is , Whether he maintaine the true Religion, or vo ? Or, on the contraries if it ought to be underftood, of the main- taining the Kings Authority conditionally,infofarre as he maintaineth the true Rel'mon, and not any other wayes ? If you fay , that it is to be underftoode the firft way, we aflent to that part of your Covenant^ and have no more fcruple anent it, except that one , which we men- tioned in our Rep ly to your f econd Anfwere : to wit, that the words of your Proteftation, feeme to import more; and, that your TaUion^ or Covenant ^1% made without the Kings privitie, and confent. If ye fay, that it is to be underftood the {econd way, then we continue erging our forefaid Demand : to wit , how a man carumaintaine the Kings Authority, and withall maintaine the meaneft of His Subje&s, in refilling His Authority ? And how we can be faid, to ftand for the
G Kings
2€ Generall Demands.1
Kings Honour, when we vowe and promife, to doe that which hee himfelfe profefleth to be again!!: his Honour; and which, in the com- mon judgement of men, is thought to be fo ? The determination o£ this point, is more then neceffary, at this tyme : and, therefore, lee us in finceririe, and Brotherly love, conferre of it; thar the Confcien* ces of others who doubt of this, may receive fatisfattion,.
The Tenth 'IXemand*
Whether or no we ought to fweare to fuch a Covenant, which taketh away from us all hope of a free AiTerriblie , or Parliament, to judge of the matteres prefently debated? for how can thefe vote freely of any matter propounded to the deciiion and deliberation o£ the Church and Eftate ; who have aLready fwcrne to adheere to one part of the Queftion > and how can thofe who diflent from them, fubmit themfeives .to their judgement, chiefly feeing they are Pof- feifoures, and have LaweS Civill and EccleiiatUck , ftanding as yec for them?
Answers,
We perceive^ that this tenth Demand, is made of the Articles of Pearth; therefore we anfwere as before ; That we promife onety for* karancei which ean prejudge no mans liberty in a Generall Affembly,,
%eflye.
We have ihowne , that your Covenant and Oath> importeth a manifeft Abjuration of the Articles of Peart h : and therefore, the fvvearing.of it doeth manifeftly prejudge the liberty of Voting in a Nationall Affembly : For, how can they freely either reafon in an Affemblj, concerning Epifcopacy, and the Articles of P earth, or eke, give their judgement, without prejudice, concerning them who
have
A n s w e k e s and .Replie £ 27
bave already promifed,fworne, and vowed, firft, To adheere to the Difcipline of the Kirks ' that is, ( according to your Interpretation ) to the whole ext email 'folicie of the Churchy as it was 1 5 8 1. 2. To
labour , by all meanes lawfully to remove, and ex fell, all thofe Rites% and Ordinances, which have come into the Church fence the forefaid Tear of GOD; that the Church may be restored, to the Liberty, and Purity, wh'ch it then had. Whereby ye declare , that the forefaid Articles and Epifcopacy, are contrary to the Liberty, and Purity, of the Church; and confecjuently, ye are tyed, by your Oath, to vote a- gainft them, if ye be called to the intended Assemblie,
The eleventh Demand.
Whether our fubfcriving, together with our People, to the Con- feflion of this Nation, which is ratified and regiftrated in Parliamer, <4tm. 156 j. may give full fatisf action to all who doubt of the fin- cerity of our Profeffion, if fobe they have no farrher aime, but only to know and fee our willingneffe, and conftant refolution, to adheere to the Religion preiently profefled, and to oppofe ail Erroures con- trary to it, to our lives end ? Now,feeing we are willing to doe this, as we take GOD to witneife, we are, how are we hated, maligned, and traduced as Enemies of theTrueth, only becaufe our Confcien- ces doe not furTer us. to fubfcrive to that Interpretation fef the Nega- tive Confeflion infert in the Covenant , ( concerning which we can fee no warrand of the trueth of it, nor lawfull Authority binding us to it ) and to the Politicke,or rather Military part of that Covenant, which is a thing without the compaffe of our Calling, and not be- longing to that contending for the faith once delivered to the Saints, of which S. J fide fpeaketh in his Epiitie*
Ans.werS
i
Since no other meane could be found fo effectually for holding otft ifPoperie, and forbearing of dangerous Novations in Religion, fuch
1 asth?
tZ Gcnerall Dema^dS
as the Service Booke, and Canons, which at yet are onelie dlf charged^ till in a faire and legall way they may be Introduced I and are by n* word of the late Proclamation dij 'allowed- although the Service Book, by the Proclamation, February 19.be highlie pralfed, as ferving to e- difcationyattd to beat out all Superftition: and nothing In thisApphca* tion is abjured, but what was abjured Id the former; why (hall we fo~ be are to xfe a meane [0 jxsJ7 andfo power full, for the preservation of the fur hie of Religion ?
Here ye doe not par ticularlie anfwete to our Demand, and feefft unwilling to give that Teftimony of us, Your Brethren, concerning ourfincerity in profefling of theTrueth; which , all who know and judge unpartially of us, doe thinke to be duetto us. It is fufficicntlie knowne, what pames we take, in difputing and writing againft Pa- pists, in confuting their Erroures in our Pulpits , in leading proceffe againft them, according to rhe Order of the Chutch, and in doingjall thinges againft RomiiTi erroures , which can be expected from the moft zealous Proteffoures of the trueth. If ye, or anie other of our reverend Brethren, doubt of theiincerity of our Profefliors,then pofc us concerning any Article contraverted, and we {hall be moft rea- dy to declare our minde concerning it before all men, and give a fuf- ticient proofe to the worlde, that we have pryed as narrowlie into the mifteries of Romifh Erroures, for refutation of them, as any of thofe who impioufly, and uncharitablie traduce us, as favourers of Pope- rie. 2. We have other means, more etfecl:uall,and lawfull, (whereas vve thinke this your Meane to be unlawf ull ) for holding out of Pope- rie : and in which we ought to confide more, then in all the promi- fes and vowes of men; yea, alfo, more then in all the United Forces of all the Subjects oi this Land : to wit, diligent preaching, and tea- ching of the Word, frequent Prayer to (JOD, humbling of our felvs before him,amendemcnt of Dur livcs,and converfattons,and arming our felves againft orr Advcrlaries, by diligent fearching of the Scrip- cures, and uiing all other Means, wnereby we may encreafe in the
knowledge
% n s w e £ ss and R. i 1 1 y e jE -29
knowledge of the Trueth, and in ability, to defend it againft the ene- mies of it. 3 . The Siibje&s of this Kingdom, at leaft a great pare of them, either by their own inclination , or by the perfwaiion of o- thers, have fuch an hard conceit, of the Service Boske , and Canons^ that if his Majeftieufea faire andlegall way of bringing them into this Church, efpecially fuch a way, as may give fatisfa&ion to all his Subje#s,m all appearace,we need not to fear the in bringing of them„
The Twelfth Vetnand*
Whereas weheareof diverfe Diforders3and violent rnifcariage?, <:M thofe who have fubferived the Covenant, againft our Brethren o£ the holie Miniftrie, who continue in their obedience to the Lawes of the Church and Kingdome ; which milcariages being done without all form of Juftice,or legall proceedings re an exerciiing of Revenge, by private Authority,and confequently are forbidden in the fixe com- mandement; which is one of the reafons which moveth us, not to joyne our felves unto their focietie : we Would gladely therefore know of our reverend Brethren, who have come hither , to recom- mend the late Covenant unto us; firft, whether or no they doe allowe thefe diforders ? a. If they allowe them, what reafon have they fo to doe ? and if they allow them not, how is it, that thefe Diforders and mifcarriages, are notpublickly by them, and other Paftors of their Confederacie, condemned , and fharplie rebuked in their Pulpits ? Why are the A&ors of them not tryed , and cenfured > And why doe they delay to give out fome publicke Deciaration5euher in Prine ar writ, to this effect, being long (tnce exhorted to doe fo ?
Ans
WERE
1. HardUe eana z,ealom 'people afembled in a Kirks f°r *M ^°r-* pip of GOD*, he kept from tumult \when Books s^and a Worfnip which they either kpowr or conceive to be Popijh , are fuddenlie , and impe- tiottflic obtrndedfifen them bj the Leaders ; and how fane the keep**
H wg
<%&■ Generall D "e m a ki> $i
ing efthe mater tali Kirkes fiom the pollution ofWorfhifa helongetktt the People , and communitie of he Faithfully fhould be conftdered^ 1 . Violence done in other places , and upon other occasions j we m more allow^thenwe doe approve the afperftons of 'Perjurie, Rebellion^ &«. which feme men doe put upon us m
Replye*
It belongerh not to the People, oe community of the Faithful!; to contemne Authority, and the LORDS Service, done in his owne, boufe, on his owne Day, f o farre as to put violent hands in Prelates^ and Paitors, in time of Divyne Worship, while they are practicing thofe things which are enjoined by the King, and his Counfell. Such Diforders,and contemptuous carriages, doe not befeem thofe whom CHRIST inviteth to come.ro him, and to learn of him, meeknefle, and iowlinefle of heart; chiefly, feeing there are many other waves*.. whereby People may reftifie their .averfarion of thofe Bookes-7 and Worfcip, which they conceive to be Popijh 0 . If it be a finne in Pa- rents, to provoke their Children to wrath ; much more is it a finne in Children, to provoke their Parents, efpecially Patrem PatrUy the common Father of the Countrey, fo to wrath. a.. . The keeping o£ GODS houfe,f rom the pollution of Worfhip,belongeth to thofe who are cloathed with lawfull Authority. 3. We not onely asked of you, Whether or no ye did allowe the Mifcarriages -towards our Brethren of the holy Miniftery, mentioned in our Demand ? but alfo, fuppo-. fing that ye dot not. allowe them, we asked , How is it , that thofe Disorders, and MifcarriageSj are not pubiicklie by you condemned; and rebuked ? Why are the Actors of them not tryed, and cenfur* ed ?.- And why doe ye not givefome publick Document to the world, of your averfation of fuch Mifcarriages ? chieflie, feeing they are, as we have fhowne , a manifeft tranfgreflion- of the fixe Commande- menr. We can not. ftfficiently marvell, that ye have keept up your myndes in this matter, and not anfwered to fo important , and ne- celTi rie a Demand. As for your Complaint,of Perjure and Rebel- lion, &c. if ye mean the Warning lately written to the Subjects in Settled, ye ihall knowe, that the Author thereof himfelfe is much
difpleafed.
An.swE r e s and Re * l y- e si ji
difpleafed with any offehfive afperitie , which hath beene found in fome written Copies thereof, and hath already done that, for remo- ving of that offence : which, we hope, ihall give full fatisfac^ion to all metv
The Thirteenth Demand.
How can vyc fubfcrive that Covenant , without incurring many grievous Scandals; as rirft, the Scandal! of Diftenting f rom other re- formed Churches, and famous Divynes ,. thechiefe Instruments of the Reformation of the Church iiiEurope , who did hold, thefe Rites which are abjured in this late Covenant , as meerly unlawful!, Popifh, and Idolatrous-, to be in their own nature,lawfull. Second- ly, thefcandallof differing from Antiquitie, and vilipending it al- together in matrersof the externall Poiicie of the Church; which vvc knoW, and have found by frequent experience, to be a thing that ma- keth "manic Papifts more avene from our Profeflion, then otberwife they would be, , Thirdly, the icandall of Perjurie , which fome of pjfc cannot efcape, who did tweare obedience to the Articles dLVearth%y and to our ordinarie, at our Admiflion to the Miniftrie.
Ans n E R Ea-
That threefold fcandall ceajfeth ufpn t he right interpretation, of tht tldttfe of the forbearance of the Novations already Introduced,
T{ef>lye.
We have (liown your interpretatio of the claufe of forbearance^ to be righr, and have refuted it,we thinke, by the very wordes of your Covenant'-, fo that none of thefe three fcandalls can be efchewed by us, if we fubfcrive to your forefaid Covenant. 2. Suppofe the other two might be efchewed , kby. that interpretation of the claufe of forbea- rance^
^ z Crenerali Demak ill
ranee, yet the third can not be efchewed , feeing at our Admiflfch vve have fworne obedience to the Articles of PtArtL andto our Or- dinarie: Wherefore, . ye muft either prove the Articles of Pemk, and Efifnfacj, to be unlawful!, or elfe, we can not,withouc violation of our O^/?, made at our Admiffion, forebeare the pra&ife of the forefaid Articles, againft the will of our Qrdinark,and other our law- . full Superioures.
»
The Fourteenth Demand.
Laft of all^ We pray thefe Reverend and Worthy Brethren, to fconfider impartially, and charitably, feeing we have all thefe fcruplcs in our minds concerning theirCovenant,as alio feeing we are yet rrioft confident, and aflured, of the lawfulnefle of the Articles of Peart h, together with the lawfulnefle and venerable Antiquitie of Epifcopali Government, how we can, with a fafe Conscience, give our content that they fhould preach in our Pulpits^who come profefledly to with- draw our People from that which we in the inmojft thoughts of our foules doe embrace as lawfull; and from that obedience which they doe owe to their Gracious and Pious Soveraigne therein; Whofelaft Proclamation hath given full latisfaetion to us all, and much rejoic- ed our hearts, in refpe6t he hath therein- moft folemnly , and by his Oath declared, not onely his fincerity in profiling the Trueth, but alio his pious Refoiution, to continue therein, and maintaine it con- ftamiy to his lives end, molt gracioufly and wifeiie removing thefe things which have occafioned the late perturbation of our Church. Wre wilh them like wife, to confide r, how they can requyre this of us, feeing they would not ( We appeaie their ovvn Conferences ) be content that they fliould be fo dealt with themfelves; we meane, that any ihould goe up to their Pulpits, and condemne their Do- ctrine, and practife, and with-draw their People from that which hath been before recommended unto them as Trueth.
We conclude : Exhorting earneftlie, entreating lovingly, and charging modefily, thefe, and all others , our Reverend Brethren,
before
Answer es and Re'Flyes' 33
More GOD, and the LORD JESUS CHRIST , nho fliall judge fhe quicke and the dead at his appearing in his Kingdom, if the re be any confolation in CHRIST , if any comfort of love, if any f ellow- Chip of the Spint,if any bowelis of mercies, to looke narrovvlie to their own Confciences, in thefe weighty matters; remembring that of Je- remiah, The heart is deceit full above all things \and differ atly wlc~ kjd, wh can know it : To judge charitably of us their Brethren^ re- membering that of our Saviour, Judge not, that ye be not judged? To deale with us in love and meeknefl e, ( if fo be they thinke us to hive gone aftray from the Trueth; which, GOD knovverh , we no wayes doe perceive ) remembering that of S. Paul, If a man be o+ vertakfn in a fault, ye that are spiritual, reft ore fuch a one with the ifirit ofmeekpejfe : as alfo that of S. Jam e s , The wlfdome that h from Above, is first pure, then peaceable , gentle, and eajie t o be en* treated; full of mercy, and gwd fruits, &c. And laft of all, Tofeek Peace,and ^o co follow after it; that this our deare native Conntrey be notexpofed to a dangerous Warrefare > and to all the wofull Confe- quents thereof; of which our hearts can not thinke, without trcai- bliag and honour,
Answ ere*
1. Nothing In the Interpretation of the Covenant, again 0 the lm~ fklneffe of Pearch Articles, and of Eplfcopall Government, z. V/e never intended to draw the meanefl of the SubjeEls, from that Loyalty ef Obedience, which they owe to their Soveraigne, and ours. 3 . The Counfell hath refclnded the Approbation of that Proclamation, q. His Majesties RellgUus and Righteous Dljpo^tion, hath been to us a Ground^ and chief e Argument , of our hope of the hearing of all our Petitions. $," We have no defire to wrong our Reverend and wort hie Brethren; but rather to pajfe , in (ilence^ the wrongs which we have fufiainedby them : and would approve our f elves unto our GOV, and prove faithful in the imployments put upon m: earnestly defiring,that every eye may perceive the wwderfull worke ofGODm this Landt Ust my of m fa r found fighting against GOI>i and, that 41$ w may
I joke
£4 Gencrajl 0i ma3 &$.
jo'we Heart and Band^ for the Purity and Tease of the Rirk$ of o&r LORD JESUS CHRIS Tr SUffed for ever.
J^ila1* Mr* ALEXANDER HENDERSONy
Minifter at Leuchars,
Mr. DAVID DICKSON, Minifter at Iming*
Mr; ANDREW CANT, Minifter at Petflig*.
There is too much, as we thinke, in your Covenant , again/I rfee lawfullneife of F earth Articles. 2. Your Band of Mutnalh De« fence t again ft all perfons whatfoever , may draw Subjects, perhaps to take Armes againft their-King, ( which G O D avert ) and con-, fequenrly f r )m that Loyalty of Obedience , which they owe to.their Soveraignc, and ours; except ye ceclare, & expiaine your felvesber- ter, then ye have hirher-to done., 3. What the moft honourable Lords of His Ma jefties Privy Counfell, have done concerning the Kings Majefties laft Proclamation , is not Efficiently known to us, and farre lefle upon what Grounds and Motives they have ( as you fay ) refcinded their Approbation of the late Proclamation. 4. His Majefties Religious and Righteous Difpofition , hath been to us, and is,a maine ground wherefore we reft and relye upon his gracious Pro- clamation, periwading our felves , that he intendeth not, nor never intended, any Innovation in Religion. 5. We fhall labour, by all m*anes, to efchew every thing, which in the leaft degree may wrong you, our Reverend and worthy Brethren. As for the Wrongs al- ready done by us to you, (as yee pretend) when-fo-erer it fhall
pleate
pleafe you to fpccifie them, we hope to give you full fatisfacYion, and to cleare our i'elves of that Imputation. 6. The worke of G CD towards any Nation, how ftrange and wonderfull fo-ever it feetn to be, is never contrary to his Word :• and, therefore, we feare net to be found fighting againft GODS Worke , fo long as we fight net a- gainlt his Trueth, revealed in his Word. That all-feeing LORD knoweth, that we mentaine his Trueth according to the light of our Gonfciences , and are ready to joyne Heart and Hand with you, for the Purity and Peace of this Chur;h, in every lawful! way3& courfe^ as uncere lovers of Trueth and Peace
And nowj Brethren, before we conclude , againe we entreat y«% and all others our deare Countrcy-men , efpecially our reverend Bretheren of the holy Miniftrie,to judge charitablie of us, and of our proceedings at this time ; and in particular, of thefe our Demandes, and Replyes; which, G O D is our witneffe, neither hatred of any mans perfon, nor love of Contention, nor any worldly refpeel ; but only the Confcience of our Calling hath drawn from us. And as for our Arguments for not Subfcriving, which are taken from our due fubje&ion and obedience to our Soveraigne, and his Lawes, we pro- reft, and declare* that they ought not to be fo interpreted ^ as if we intended to accufe you, or others, our dear Countrey-men , of Dif- loyakie towards our moft Gracious King ; or, as if our purpofe were to lay any fucn Imputation upon you : for they are only ufed by us, to (how what the wordes of the Covenant feem to us to import, and how we conceive of them ; as alfo , what maketh us fo to con- ceive of them. We doubt not , reverend Brethren , but ye know, that as we owe to you, and to your Proceedings, the favourable judg- ment of Chmtie ; fo we ought to judge of thofe thinges> which wc are to iweare , and fubferive , with the ftri£fc and inquifrtive judge- ment of Veritie ; and confequently, we ought to ponder duely, and to propound particularly and tully to others, (efpecially to thofe ©horequyre our Oath andSubicription^ and undertake to-fausfie
$6 General! D e m a n !hi£
our ConfcUnces there-anent ) all the doubts and reafons wEcfe mate u§ unwilling or afnyde to give our Subfcripcion thereunto,
f QBN FORBES OF CORSE,
Poftor and Profeffor of Divinitie
in ABERDENBL
ALEXANDER SCROGIE, Miniiter at Old ABERDENE, D. D*
WILLIAM LESLIE, D. D.
and Principal! of the Kings Colledge, in Old ABERDENE*
ROBERT BARON,
Doftor, and Profeffor of Divinitie, and Miniiter at ABERDENE,
TAMES SIBBALDy Dodor of Divinitie, and Mimftef at ABERD£NEC
ALEXANDER ROSS,
Doctor of Divinitie, and Miniftet atABERDENH,
i8i &£ &$ &$ %ft CZf &$ &$ i>*o% €TZ CO c^S $" &S £fe &*5
Dtt THE m
t ANS VVERES &
H OF SOME BRETHREN || OF THE MINISTERS §#■
TO THE
* REPLYES
«$g Of the Minifters and Profeflbures SS81 •^ of DiviNiT v in ABERDENE;
igo CONCERNING
JP THE LATE COVENANT
«°
^ 2. Chron. 15. 15.
_$ And all Jufarejoyced at the Oath : For they hadfworne with all their he art , and fought Him with their whole defire : and He was found of them*
m
c
f^ «£$ &&* «*SS S§> &J&3 <ty?,' Tt£j '&
To the Chriftian Reader?
T Bat you may know our Proceedings, bow we we brought ufiHI the Stage y and contrary to our expectation, are put inVrmti
Comm'wg z-oAberdene,0/z Fry day ) the after-noon, we recei- ved the Demands of our re verend Brethren,, that night late; andfor the greater expedition; without delay, we returned ourfummarie An* fweres on Saturday at night. On the LO RDS Day following., we. de fired to expreffe our f elves to the People in pre fence of it he Mini (I e* rie, but the Pulpits and Kirkj were altogether refufed; and therefore in the mosl convenient place we could have , fub dio , and at fuch homes 04 were vacant from the ordinary exercifes of publicke Wor- fl?ip, we delivered our Meffage in the audience of many. After our last Sermon, towards Evening, we, found that our labour was not in. vain in the LO RD :for dyverfe per f ones, of Ifeciall note, both for place and mfdome, with willing heart, and great readinejfe ofmwde^ did publlckjie put their hands to the^ Covenant £ Having the weekg following feene f owe parts of the Countrey, \ where be fides the Prefm byteries AlfotdQ and Deere, who had fubferived before, the Modera- - tor, and dyverfe of the Prefbyterie of A-BErlene^/x? Prefbyterie and People of Turreff, after they were fatisfedin- fome fcruples , did dfo fubfcriye~\ we returned the next Saturnday to Ab e r x> e n e: where finding that fome others had fubferived that weeks, we refolved to preach upon the morne. That night we received a Reply e , unto which before our retume homey we have made an Anfwere. All thefc we defire may.be unparti ally confidered: d'ifit'fhallpleafe the LORD, that any light (hall come from our Labour unto thy Minde,let it bee areryved not unto us,{ who neither had time nor helps for fuch a tafke ) but t§ the brightneffe of the Trueth , and Caufe it felfe , and to thh Father of Lights : t$ whome be all Glork,
t4
TV mt Reverend Brethren! iTfce Doctors and Minifters old her dene.
Hat our Anfweres ( reverend and beloved Bre* thren ) have not given you full fatisf action, as it may be imputed to our weaknefle , in the de- fence of ibgood a caufe, felt may proceed alfo from your own prejudice againft what could b€ faid by us which we have tome reaibn to iufpe£fe for two caufes, one is, that your Demands which We conceived to have been intended meerly for us, and were fent un- to us from you in write,were published before our comming,in Print, like as ye have now printed and published your Replies before ye had feen our Anfweres unto that which we received from you iaft in write* we having promifed to the bearer,, to returne an Anfwere ihordy ere we departed the Conntrey. This may feem rather to be a feek- ing of victory from prejudice.then a iearch of veritie for fatisfa&ion. The other caufe of ourluipicion , is, that the groundes of our An- fvperes to you, have proven fatisfa&orie to others, who for Age and gifts of Learning and Understanding-, are 'pry me men in- this Kirke and Kingdome,and to whom modeftly will not furTer you to preferre yourfelves. But whether our weakneffe or pur prejudice be the caufe, muft be now judged by others,to whofe view ye have brought us : whom therefore we with you heartilie defire impartially to con^ fider our firit and fecond Anfweres; wiihing and hoping that partia- lity, prejudice, and all worldly refpecls and feares , laidealide , the. &aked Trueth ftiall be feen of all her lovers. Concerning your con*
>jc Answer f*?
fidence of us, as we in love judge, that ye tbinke not your felv^s m be ftry ving againft the Trueth; fo may ye conceive , that vve can n* more bee brought to your mynde , then wee can bee dravvne from the profetfion of our Religion , as it hath "been reformed, fworne , and confirmed by the late and preceeding Covenants , and from following the example of our religious Reformers, and the ma* nie Worthies fucceeding them in this Kirke , who would have been glad to have fcen the dayes which we now doe fee : and for which we pray, that both yee and wee may be thankefull, fo (hall it not be imputed unto us, that we have not difcernedand ufedtheday of the LORDS vifitation: fofhall we ail rejoice together in the Day of the LORD,
jFa the FirSi T^epl^el
YOur experience in your Difputes againft the common Advert fary, wherein ye fay ye areio frequent, hath (no doubt) taught you , how eafie a matter it is to multiply Objections againft cheTrueth, and Caufc of GOD : and your felves knowe, that your Objection againft our Calling, and the Warrand of our comming to you, was framed, and published in Print , before it was propounded unto us, and ere our Anfwere could be had ; but fo foone as we did heare your Demands, we anfwered incontinent, in the humilitie and trueth of our mindes, that we were to obtrude nothing upon you, or your flock, by any particular Authority, Civill or JEcciefiafticke; but that wc did come, in all meeknefl e,to repreferit unto you the prefent cafe of this Kirke, and in love to intreat you, to joine with us, for the peace thereof; for which we truft, without wronging any lawfull Authority,we may claim the warrand of the higheft and greateft Au- thority, although we had nor been fent from almoft the whole Kirke and Kingdom, lawfully conveened at this time, for the prelervation of Religion, and of the Liberties and Lawes of this Kingdom, fo fore {hokcn, by the ufurpation of the Prelates, and their Favourers. Lee us confidcrone another, to provoke unto love, and to good works, '&c. fayeth the Apoftle , Hcbr. 10. 24. And where ye object ,
thac
To the R. e 3 l y i s7 41
' tfiat without your leave we preached within your congregation; which is aggravated by you , as a heinous fault, both againft Scripture,and againft the Canons of ancient Counfels , which ye have laborioufly quoted againft us; we intreat you, to be more f paring, left the guilti- nefle, if there be any, reflex upon your f elves : For your Pulpits and Kirks being denyed us ( not from any injurie done by us, but by your ©wn determination, before ourcomming ) a neceflity was laid upon us, to deliver our meffage in fuch places, as your courtefie did per- mit; wherein no man will find, that we have failed , if he confider , fiift,That there is as wyde difference betwixt Ecclefia turbata cr fa- cat a, the troubled and peaceable eftate of a Kirk , as is betwixt Ec- clefia confthuenday & conftituta, and many things are neceffary in the one, which perhaps are not expedient in the other. Ye fpeake of the Conftitution of the Kirke this yea re, as if ye had beene fpeak- ing thereof many yeares before this time. 2. That the Word of GOD, and the Canons of Counfels , will have Paftors fo to care for their own e flockes, that they forbid them not, to care for the whole Kirke, efpecially in the time of a common Combuft ion. When the houfe is on fire, every man ought to runne to all rowms, where hee may quench it : when a laik ftricketh up in a Ship, every Mariner, yea, every Paflenger, ought to labour to ftop it . Even he who is not univerfall Paftor of the Kirke, is Paftor of' the univerfall Kirke : 6c the Apoftle hath taught us, That we are members one of another, Kom% 12. 4. As all the members of one bodie being many, are one body; foaifo is CHRIST, 1 Cor. 12. 12. That the members ihould have the fame care, one for another, verf. 2 5. If fome members of this Kirk had not cared more kindly, in this time of comon danger, then other fome have done, the whole body had been ere now dan- geroufly, if not defparatly difeafed. 3 . That we made choife of fuch houres,for delivering our Meffage,that the people might attend your ordinary times of publick worfhip; which maketh your charge, of the peoples contempt, or ours, of your Miniftery, to be moft unjuft.
In the fecond part of your Re f lye to our Anfwere to your firft Demand, ye might have made choife of words witneffing more re- fpe& to the moft part of the Kingdom now,:and to the Kirke in for- > Oier times, then of a Confederation, and negative Confelfion : we
L knowe
42, Answekes*
know no o:ber Confederation at this time, but this fame Laudable Covenant^ which our Progenitors, and many yet living, made wirk GOD, and amongft themfelves, at the Commandemcnt of Autho- rity, and. according to the example of the people of GOD in former times. Neither is that ihorc Ccnfejfion meerly Negative, fince the beginning thereof is afrlrmative,and doeth virtually containe thefirft large Cotifcjfion ratified in Parliament, 1567. a. No Pallors, in our knowledge,havc either been forced to flee to foraigne count reys, or have been threatned with the want of their Stipends, for the re- futing their Subfcripticn : but this we have heard, that fome of them have of their owne accord, gone to Court, for procuring of protecti- ons againft their Creditors , and againft the Lawes , and duety of good Subjects, have made lies between the King and his People. Others vvc know have wilfully refufed, to abide with their flock; arid, being earneftly intreated by them, to attend their Charge, have left them, and have gone oit of the Countrey, for no reafon, but becaufe the people had fubferived; and, as ye knowe, that Arguments have been taken from augmentation of Stipends, to hinder Subfcription ; fo ye may knowe, That fear of worldly loffe , rather hindereth men to fubferive, then fcruple of Confcience. The Prelates flight, feem- eth rather to have proceeded from inward furies of acctifing Confer- ences, or for fear o; a ftorme, (which being procured by their owne doing, may be eafily prognofticated by them) then from the inforc- ing of lublcriptionof the Covenant, which in our knowledge was ne- ver required of any of the Prelates, although they be grofsly guilty of the breach of the Covenant y which they did iweare & lubf crive before,, 3. Your help, by your prayers, and other means, for extinguifhing o£ the prefent Combuftion, we ftill defire, but with all intreat, that you would borh joyn with the reft of rhe Kirkcs of the Kingdomc , in publtcke humiliation andtafting , which the LORD himfelfe doeth proclaime and call for at this time; fo fhould your prayers be the more efte&uall, and alfoyebe good inftruments, according to your ♦ power, with your own people, and the countrey about , to joine in the Covenant^ fo fhould ye firide the worke of Pacification the more eafie. 4. The reafons which we touched in our jinfvperey for prov- ing, that ye might, without juft offence to any, joine with us, in futu
fcriving
Tothe Replies? 4$
fcryving,arenotyet anfwered : for, firft, a found interpretation o£ the Covenant, although proceeding from a private pcrfon , and alto- gether voide of externall Authority, cannot make a fubftantiall dif- ference : and if the interpretation be unfound, although it were con- firmed by Aurhorky,k maketh not a fubftannall coincidence. -2. Wh y is itdenyed, that the former Covenant contamerh mutuall defence, fince all are obliedged thereby to defend Religion, according to their vocation and power, and the Kings perfon and Authority , which can no: poffiblie be done, without mutuall defence : and fince that claute of the Covenant, is fo expounded, and applied upon grounds of perpetual reafon,in the general Band drawn up,& Printed by Authori- vj^Aa, 1590.3 .Ye mult either prove t\\\%Covenant to be fubftantially different from the former, which is impoftble, or ye muft acknow- ledge this to have the fame Authority with the former , fince we arc really obliedged in the former Coven^nt^nd virtually the fame war- rand of Ki n g, Counfell, and aflemblie, remaineth , and was never yet difcharged : by venue whereof the Covenant might have beene renewed yearly, by all the fubje&s of the Kingdome, no leile then k hath beene fubferived yearly by fuch as pafle degrees in Colledges, and fuch as were fufpe& of Papiftrie, from rime to time. 4. What was done by his Majefties Commiflicner, was nor done in a corner, that it needeth to be pryed into, or doubted of, and what was allowed by his Grace, who had fo great power from his Majefty , to declare his Majt iVies will, and to receive Declarations from his fub je£ts, and who was in every poync fo zealous and tender of his Majeflies fer- vice and honour : who are ye , that it {hould be diflailowed by you > Ye will have the Kingdome guilty of combination againft Authority, and will not have the Ki n g to be fatisfied , when they have decla- red- themielves to the contrary, and their Declaration is accepted by bisMajefties Commiflioner. This manner of dealing,is more furablc toPapifts, and fuch Incendaries, then for you, who defire to prove food Patriots , in ufing all means of Pacification. 5 . We are fory, that ye fheuld be the firft, who have accounted our Covenant to be a confederacie againlt the Trueth , fince fome of your felves , and all every where have been conftrained, to acknowledge, that they aimc atite faac end with iisf to maintains the Truetb. And for rhac
Tvhicl
44 Ans wires
which difpleafeth you in our way f that we deale after fuch a mannll with people, to come in, we anlwere^that we have feenin this Land, the Day of the LORDS Power, wherein his people have moft wil- lingly offered themlelves in multitudes, like the dew of the morning : that others of no (mall Note, have offered their fubfcriptions , and have been refufed, till tyme lhould try, that they joine in fincerity, from love to the caufe, and not from the feare of men : and that no threatnings have been ufed, except of the deferved judgement of . GOD; nor force,except the force of reaibn,from the high refpe&s which we owe to Religion, to our Ki n g , ro our native Countrey, to our felves, and to the Pofterity; which hath been to fome a grea- ter conftrainr, rhen any extetnall violence ; and we wifh , may pre- vaile alio with you.
To the Second,
TTT TEe perceive, that ye pafle in filence, that which we an- y Y fwered concerning the pteveming of trouble, which by all appearance had been too fenfible to many before this time, if the Conventions cenfured by you , had not been kept; we defire, that ye ' would here declare your felves, whether ye would have lather recei- ved the Service Books, Books of Canom,ivA other trafh of that kind, tending to the fubverhon of Religion , and to the prejudice of the Liberties of the Kingdom, then to h.rve conveened in a peaceable manner, to prefent Supplications to his Majeftie, for averting of fo oreat evils. Neither doe ye fpeak a word of the faying of K. James, which ought to be regarded, bo»-h for the witneffe fake, who is of fo «reat authority, and for the reftimony which containeth fo great rea- fon. For^all not the whole body bfa Kingdom ftirre fro arts & fr.ds ? or (hall our Religion be rained, and our Light be put out, and all men holde their peace ? We told you alfo, that the firft part o£ the Aft of Pa-liament, 1 58 5, is relative to another A.& in Qreeiv Mar'.es time, which fpeciheth. what lore of Leagues and Baaads are^ \\ and fettcth us free from the breach of the A& : but yee<
have;
To the Repli'iS 5T5
bave anftvered nothing to this, and ftill difpute from the A£l of Par- liament, rather then from other grounds , better befeeming your Profeffion, and ours; and in this will fo precifely adhere to the letter -e£ the Law, that you will have no meetings, without the Kings confent, even in the cafe of the pref ervation of Religion, of his Ma- jefties Authority, and of the liberties of the Kingdome, which we are fure muft be contrary to the reafon and life of the Law ; fince the fafetieof the People is, the SoveraigneLaw. Although it be true alio that for our Covenant , we have the confent of Authority pref- ■fing upon all the fubjeets in the general Band,and confetfion of Faith, formerly fubfcrived for maintenance of the Religion , their fubfcrip- tion and Oath as a note of their foundneffe in Religion, and of their loyakie and fidelitie to the King, and his Crown, wherein Juris- confabs , more f killed in this kinde, then we need to be , have given their Refponfes and Verditts, in favours of us, and of our caufe.
i. The poynt touching Authority's fo full of Thornes and Rocke^ ufech to be fo vehemently urged, to procure envye againft the Gof- peli of CHRIST, and canfo hardly be difputed and difcuffed , ex- cept in a large Treatife, to the fatisfa6tion of Kings and Kingdomes; and all having intereft, that for the prefent we only wifh you to heare the teftimonies of two grave Divynes, the one is Whttak§r, in his Anfwere t^lafter Reynolds preface, pag. 6. Stirres and Tumulrs formatter of Religion, Rejmld rehearfeth, that hath been in Ger- rname, France, Bohemia, as though it were fufficient for their con- demnation , that they once refitted, and did not by and by admit whatfover violence was offered, either to GGDS Trueth,or to them- felves, contrary to Promife , to Oath, to publicke Edicts , to Law, whereby they were warnnded to doe as they did : more of this mat- ter, will I no: anfwere, being of anoiher nature,and cleared long fince from the cryme of Rebellion, not only by juft defence of their doe- ing, but alfo by the Proclamations and Edicts of Princes themf elves, The other is Bllfmy in his Booke of Cfariftian fubje&on , in defence of the Proreftanrs in ot h : r Couhtreys , againft the objection of the Jefmt, fag. 3 32. affirming, thatfubjec~ls may defend their ancient and Chrlftun liberals covenanted and agreed upon by thofe Princes xo whom they fitftiubiiuttedthernCelves, and were ever fince con-
U firmed
4& 'A N S' W; E R E §3
firmed and allowed by the Kings ttoat have fucceeded, they may rel quyre their own right , fave their own lives, befeech, that they be- not ufed as flaves, but like fubje&s ; like men, not like beafts ; that they may be convenred by Lawes, before judges; not murdered' in corners, by Inqufttors . This is alfo the judgement of Rivttus ia> his Commentarie, Pfal. 68. which being looked upon by you, will furniih a full anlwere to what ye have cited at length from 4iis feM fuhaVtifHUns. For betwixt Jefuiticall treafonable and pernitious. do&rine,and praclifes againft Princes and Magiftrats,refuted by him, and the loyal! and found doctrine of Protectants, your felves know the difference and opposition , like as it is cleare as the Sunne , by that thort Confeflfion, by the Application thereof , to the times in this prelent Confeflion, by our publicke Proteftation, and by the De- claration exhibited to- his Majefties Commiflioner , thatwemeane: not only mutuall concurrence, and afiftance in the caufe of Religion, bat alfo to the uttermoft of our power, to defend the Kin g s Ma- jeftie his Perfon and Authority. We would be glade , that ye and ■ others were witneffes to our private Prayers , and the moft fecrec - of our thoughts and atfeclions , concerningour loyaltie to our* dread Soveraigne ; fo fhould ye either ceafe to write in this fort againft us, or be forced to write againft your own Confciences.
3. When we juftifie our Conventions and Covenants jprom their - purpofedends , we meane not only the laft andmoft remote ends, but the neareft and immediate , and if nothing in thefe can merite juft cenfure, the Conventions and Covenants no more in that which ye> call the Object, nor in their ends, can be culpable : what AfperfionS' have been put upon our Reformation, and Reformers, by the malice of out Adverfaries, can not be unknown to you* But we wifh, that • your engynes and penns may be better imployed, then to joine with them in fobad a caufe , which we expeSt alfo from your prudence,:, confidering the people and place where ye live* .
To the Third.:
YEe doe well and wifely , thatyefearch not curi#ufly into the myndes of Princes, and Reafons of Sues ; but whether all his?
To the Re p ' l V e' si 47
Majefties fubje&s be fatisfied with the laft Proclamation, needeth no deep fearch. For although polliblie fome had been more plealed with a Proclamation, commanding the Service Books > fuch efpecially who neither will fee no errours in it, or have publickly profeffed, that- they have been groaning for it , yet the Proteftation of the Suppli- cants againft it, as it giveth moft humble and hearty thanks to His gracious Majeftie, for what is granted; fo it teftifiern upon undeny- ableeviden;es^ that the Proclamation is not a fatisfa&ion of our jufl defires : for, firft, the Proclamation ftippofeth the Service Books to be no Innovation of Religion. 2, That it is not contrary to the Pro- teftant Religion.. 3. That the Proclamation giveth not order fat-" difcharging. all the Acts made in favours of the Service Book/, efpe- cially that of the 19 of fV^r/wr^which giveth unto it fo high Appro- bation, as ferving for mantaming the true Religion, and to beat out all Supervision, and no wayes to be contrary to the Lawes of this Kingdom; but to be compyled and approved for the univerfall ufe and edification of ail. His Majefties Subjects* 4: It is fo farre from, difallowmg the faid Booke, that it putteth us in feare, that it fhall be preft itra faire and legal way,and therefore,notwithftanding the Pro- clamation, theneceflity of Covenanting , which containeth nothing; contrary to the A&s of Parliament,nor to the duety of good Subjects, but is the krgeft Teftimony of our Fidelity to G OD, and loyaltie to our Kin G,(whatfoever it may feem to you to import) doeth yec continue, that His Majeftie may be pleafed, to grant the full fatis- faction of our reafonable Petitions, and that our Religion, and Liber-, ties, may be preferved for afterwards. , Whofoevet profeflfe them— felves, to be perfectly fatisfied with the Proclamation, doe proclaim in the ears of ail the Kingdom, that they are better pleafed with the. Service Books and Canons^ then with the Religion , as it hath beens proiefled m this Land fince the Reformation^ .
To the Fourth*
/E* were affured* that your Ttemmd proceeded from fc iVL- Y Mistaking, and therefore, according to our knowledge, ,
4& Answeres
did ingenuoufiy, for your facisfacKon, expound unto you the mindg of the Subfcrivers; but finde now, that we have laboured in vain, ac your hands, from which we have received this -Re fly ; unro which, concerning the firft Mils-interpretation, we anfwere : ;i. That al- though we doe neither ufe threatnings, nor obtrude our Interpretati- on upon you, as bearing any obligatory Power, yet pardon us , thac we march you not, and put you not in the Ballance with the greateft pare of the Kingdom,both Minifters, and others, in whole name we recommend this Interpretation unto you , by all faire Means , and force of Reafon : and in fo doing, wee are lo farre from the breach -©: our Solemne Vow , and Promife , that we efteeme this to be no fmall proofeof that godlinefle, and righteoufneiTe , wherein we are bound, by our Covenant, to walke. 2. The autorkative judgement of our Reformers, and Prediceffors , is evidenced, not onely by the Confeffion of Faith, ratified in Parliament , but alfo by the Books of Difcipline, Acts of Generall A{femblies,and their own Writs; where- in, if ye will, ye may find warnnd for this Interpretation; and in re- fpecl: whereof , it is publick ratlone medll, befides thofc midies of Scripture, of Antiquity, and of the Confent of the Reformed Kirks, which are named for midfes by you.
Concerning the 2 Miisconftru&ion , it is no msrvell that Pre-. judices, and Preconceived Opinions, potfeiTmg the mirlie, make men to fall upon Interpretations of their own; but in the South patti of the Kingdom, where many learned and judicious men, both Pa- llors, and Profeffors, were a&mbled, at the firft fubferiving thereof, we remember of none that did fall into that Mustake. And the two forts of Novations, fuch as are already introduced , and fuch as arc fupplicated againft, are fo punctually diftinguiihed, that there is no place left ro Ambiguirie : but on the contrary, the Novations which we promife to forbeare for a time onely , cannot befuppofed in the following words, to be abjured for ever, as Popifh Novations. 2. U- pon a new examination of the words, ye perceive, that the Articles of Fearth% and Epifcopacy , are condemned as erronious Corrupti- ons, becaufe we promile, t£ Lib r, to recover the former purity Sc Sbercie of the Gofpell : into v\iiich our Anfwere is^hatitappearerh,- foe you will have all the Covenanters againft their intention, and
whether
To the R i ins & ^5
: jrhether they will or not, to difallow, and condemn, the Articles of Tearthy and Epifcopall Government, lei* they be tryedin a Gene* rallAffcmbly:butitisknowneto many hundreds, that the words were purpofelie conceived , for fatisfa&ion of Inch as were of your judgement, that we might all joine in one heart, and Covenant^ for eftabliihing Religion, and • oppofing Erroures. ' And for your Argu- ment, whether the Articles of Peartb>and Epifcopacy, be againft the purity and liberty of the Gofpel, or not, which is not determined by thefe words of the Covenant : but it cannot be denyedjfirft, That if in a Free Affembly, they be found to be againft the purity and liber- ty of theGofpell, they ought to be abolished : in the meane time,it being left free, by the words of the Covenant^ all, who will, to ihnd to the defence of their iawfulneife. Secondly, how can it be denied, that many corruptions, contrary to the purity and liberty of the Gofpell, were they never fo innocent in themfelves , have accom- panyed thefe Novations, fuch as the fuperftious obfervation of Daies, feriation and cefiation from worke , on thofe dayes , Feafting , •Guyfing , &ce many groffe abuifes have entered in the Sa- crament, upon Kneeling before the Elements, and upon the lawlefle wfurpauonof Prelates : in refpecl: whereof, even they who allow of Pearth Articles, and Epifcopacy, may fwear to recover the purity of the Gofpell. And thirdly, who can be fo great a ftranger at home, as to deny, that many corruptions of Popery, and Arminianifm, have entredin, intheKirke, and have been vented, and defended, in fchooles, and PulpitSj by reafon whereof, we are bound, every one o£ tis, according to the meafure of our light, to labour for recovery of out former Purity ? And therefore, if you* had caft your eyes upon the condition of this poore Kirke, as ye have pryed narrowly,into the ex- preflions of the Covenant y ye might have fpared both your owne la~ bour, and ours, and not laboured to fkarre both your feives and others, with this fhadow.
In your Argument, ad hominem, you fliould have confidered, that whatsoever be our judgement, as we are particular perfons , yet, at this time, we were to be taken, as Commiffioners, from the whole company of Subfcrivers,who, about this point,are of different judge- ments; and if fome of your own judgement, had either come alone * |sj in out
'50 Answer es2
in our place, ©r had been joined in Commiflfion with us, we had anti- cipate your Objection. : and this ye have been forced ro fee; and fo your f elves , in propounding your Objection , have anfvvered yout own Syilogifme, in making us to fay , that ye may fweare and fub- fcrive feeing ye thinke not the! e things to be abjured in that Oath made Am? i 5 8 i .• neither was it for you, to inquire in our private Opinion , nor neceffary for us, to make it knowne, but to have con- ceived of our minds, according to our Comr&itfion , and the will of thofe who fent us. Your Arguments need to be no impediments un- to your fwearing o£ the Covenant. For upon your grounds, ye woalj not have fworne the fhort Confejfion, any time by pall : yea, ye can not iweire the Confeilion of any Kirke; nay, not the Articles of the Creed, becaufe of the diverfe Interpretations of the Article of Chrifh defcent into Hell', or fwearing them in Scotland* and England, ye be- hoved to fweare them in diverfe lenfes. There be fome words of the Lords Prayer ,aS Give us this day our daily breaded of the ten Conu mands, as the words of the fourth Command, which are diverfly un- derftoodi muftChriftians, therefore, forbeare to joine in faying the Prayer, or iwearing Obedience to the Commandements •?. Neither for this doe we admit any Ambiguity, or Equivocation : the words certainly have but one true fenfej and fignification, but diverfe per- fons conceive and underftand them, according to the different mea- fures of their light. Since then your Difputation isbuilded uponfuch a Suppofition, it muft either fall to the ground , or hardly can any Confejfion of Faith, or religious Covenant^ be fworne. Offend not, therefore, if we in modefty, prefent unto you, _ a diili of your owne drelfing; we meane, the like Argument, ad hominem. The Rites and Ceremonies, which are not abjured in the negative Confejfion, are not abjured in this late Covenant. But the Rites and Ceremonies,which were concluded in Pearth Affembly, are not abjured, as ye fay, in the negative Confejfion, made Anno 1 581 : therefore, they are not ab- jured in this hzcCovenant. The firft Proportion is evident,becaufe in the late Covenant we are bound nofurder , concerning the nega- tive Confejfion, but to keep it inviolable : and therefore, what Rites are not abjured there, are not abjured here. The fecond Proposition cannot be denyed by you j for thefe twenty years by-gone ye have
bought.
To the Repl v e ST* |i
diouhgt your felves free of rerjury, notwithftanding of the Oath in 1581 , and of your conforming your felves , to the Ordinances of Peart h. And whereas ye all eadge, afterward, as before, that our Supplications are fatisficd, the contrary is known e, by our publicke Proteftation, and by our laft Supplication,and Complaint, prefented to his MajefHes Commiffioner. And urging of the Servies B$okf9 ms a fufficient reafon, for forbearance of V earth Articles, till an Af- fembly; at which time it may be determined, whether it be expedi- ent, that this Kirke be any more troubled with them. Neither ne&- deth your Confcience to hinder you to fubferive the forbearance d thefe Novations, as if fwearing of forbearance , were a fwearing difobedience to Authority : firft,Becaule the fwearing of forbearance of a thing in your opinion, indifferent, in the cafe of Scandall, and o£ fenfible fea re in others, of Superftition, is the fwearing of Obedi- ence the Commandement of GOD, which forbiddeth us, to deftroy him/or whomChrift died,akhough man fhould comand the contrary, 2. Becaufe the Articles of Peart b were concluded, for latisfying the Ki h g, and not to prefle any man with the praclife of them, as was openly prof effed unto the Opponents , before the face of the whole Affembly : and becaufe the Ac\ it felfe giveth warrand , to forbeare the praclife at this time,when the memory of fuperlHtion is revived which maketh us to thinke , that they who have forborne the pra- clife of thefe Articles,(tnce the fuperftitious fervice Booke was corrw plained upon, make ffloft truelie confcience of obedience of the A& ©f Peart h^nd Parliament,ratifying the fame, and are moft conforme unto the Confeflion of Faith , ratified in Parliament , declaring^ that Ceremonies ought to be changed, when they rather fofterfu- perftition, then edifie the Kirke , ufing the fame. Laft of all 5 Ys fay, ye can not fweare forbearance, becaufe ye can not abftaine from private Baptifme, and private Communion; where we perceive, that m your judgement, private Baptifme and Communion, are not any more things indifferent, but mczttarf^neceffitate pracepti, in fo farro?, that the not ufing of them, is a contempt of the means, and a tempt- ing of GOD. By this your Doctrine, firft, The Rate of the Que- ftion, anent Pearth Arncles, is quite altered, for ye, and your Affo^ dates, did ever, to this time, ajieadge the Queftion,to be of thinges
jndiifcrea*.
%% &NS WE RE'S
indifferent : but novv ye finde fome of them fo neceffary, that alth& the general! AtTembly of the Kirk, {hould difcharge them,yet ye be- hoved ftill, for confcience of the Commands ment of GOD, to pra- ctife them. If ye have the fame judgement of kneeling before the Elements, and of feftivall dayes , it commeth to paffe amongft us, which hath been incident to the Kirke, in former Ages, that thinges have been firft brought in, as indifferent, then urged as neceffary. If confirmation alfo in your judgement, be not indifferent , but ne- ceffary, wedefire tounderftand, with what confcience it hath beenc .flighted, and utterly neglected by the Prelates, thefe 20 yearespaft ? and how it is, that ye have carried fo fmall regard to the Canon c£ the Kirke, and A6t of Parliament, and to the benefits of young Children, as not to requyre, urge, andpreffethe pracHe thereof, both in your own charge , and throughout the whole Kirke ? This 'Would feem to be partial! dealing , topreffefome Ceremonies , and neglecl: other fome; while both by the fame Canon of the Kirke, and A& of Parliament , are appointed, 2^ Ye doe hereby- condemns the pra&ife of the Kirke of Scotland^ from the time of Reformation, till ? earth Affemblie, and put no fmall guiitineffe upon other refor- med Kirkes, who ufe not that at all , but rather abftaine from it, as dangerous, which ye novv doe profeffe, to be fo neceffary. 3. We Willi you wifely to confider , whence it is , and what can be the true •caufe, that ye living in that part of the Kingdome , fliould be more preffed by the people, wirh the pradtife of private Baptifme , and Communion , then all the Kirkes in the Kingdome befide , where thefe twenty yeares pall, rarely any fuch motion hath been made : is it not becaule that Popery prevaiieth there, and the people have a fuperftitious conceat of Baptifme and Communion, as abfolutely ne- ceffary to Salvation ; as if GOD had tyed his. grace to the Sacra- menrs; and children dying without Baptifme', and others wirhout their hit Vimcum, did perilli } Thus ye minifter the Sacraments in private, as neceffary, Necejfitatc .pr&cepti; and the people fee me to defire, and receive them, as neceffary, Neceffitatc medik anEviil very curable, in that citie where the Affemblies of the people, for publicke worfhip, are frequent , wherein the Sacraments might be ttifaflred i r&jugnriy enough, with great folemniry , and edification.
4. And
To the R e v l i i si j j
4I And though we doe not deny, butBaptifme privatlle miniftredjby the Minifter of CHRIST, according to the Institution, be true Bap- tifme, and,that a childe thus privately baptizcd,be not to be baptized againe, ( although it be true alio, that private Baptifme maketh way to this Errour of Re-baptizing : ) yer we hold, that the neceflitie of the Commandement, ftandeth only fo? Baptifme in publick, (ince no precept requyreth Baptifme , but when the miniftration thereof can be had orderly^ with all the circumftances requifice ; whereof this is one, that: it be miniftred in the prefence of that vifible kirke, where- of the children are to be members : for not only the minifter of Baptifme, and the parents of the children, but the Congregation alfo hath intereft in the baptifme of every member that entereth in their communion : which therefore, ought to be a publick action , no leffe then the cutting off of a rotten member,by Excommunication, ought to be done publickly. 5. It is known , that private Baptifme hath bred , and foftred the opinion of abfolute neceflitie of Baptifme, of Baptifme by Women, and private perfons, of Baptifme by fuppofi- tion, &c. and, that the miniftration of the Sacraments , in private' places, hath been, and is, the ready way to bring people to the con- tempt and neglecl: of the Sacraments in publicke, and to the propha- mtion thereof in private. 6. When all the forms of miniftration of Baptifme, fhall be compared,both that of the ancient Kirke, keeping Eattery and Pentecost , for the folemne times of Baptifme, and the other of thePopiih kirke? and other kirkes, not well purged of the dregs of Popery, miniftring Baptifme and Communion at all times, in private places, and before few perfons; it fhall be found , that n® better courfe could be taken, then thac which hath been wifely ap- pointed and obierved, in the Kirke of Scotland, (ince the Reforma- tion; that the Sacraments be mmiftred in the ordinary meetings of GODS People; unto which they had regard, and not unto the places of materiall Kirkes : which we adde, left any ftiould thinke, that we entertained any fuperftitious conceat of places.
o To
54
Answeres;
To the Fifth*
TO the Erft Exception, we have even now anfwered, and need toadde no tardea concerning private Baptilme and Commu- nion. 2. We looked, that your Argument;, ad hominewy had beene clofed in the fourth Reply, and wifh, what ye had to fay , againft the Difpute,o£ Popifh Englifh Ceremonies, or any other Treatife of thac kinde,or any of us in particular, had been keept to another time : for, would any of us,refufe to fweare the fliort Confejfton, becaufe ye have expounded fome Articles thereof,contrary to our minde ? Ourdefire is, that ye keep your own meaning of the negative Confejfion, and we. keep ours, according to our diverfe meafures of light; and, that both , (ides promiie , Forbearance, as is required in the Covenant , which may very well ftand both with your meaning,and ours : of ours,there is noqueftion; and of yours, there needexh none' to be moved by you, fince ye thinke them indifferent : and therefore, in fuch a cafe, may, promife, to forbeare them. From this ground , and from the diffe- rent ufe of the word Dtfcipline, and Policy, it is eafie to anfwere, both your Sorites, and Dilemma : for the late Covenant bindeth you to keep the former, according to the common meaning of the Sub- fcrivers; and not according to your Interpretation or ours , in parti- cular : and the horns of your Dilemma,, may be turned about againft your felves : for we aske of you, Unto which of the members of the Diftin&ion doe ye referre Epifcopacy , and the Articles of Peanh ? if they were abjured for ever, before Peart h Affembly, how is it that ye have admitted and praclifed them, fince that time; for this were Perjury ? And if they were not abjured, but by the fhort Confeffion were left indifferent, why may ye nor, for any impediment ye have from that Confeffion% forbeare now the practife of them } We look- ed not for Veiitations of this fort, which the change of Commillio- ners fent unto you, might have prevented, but for fome folide and grave reafons, why ye could not fubferive the Covenant,whct\\zt£tz- fented from our hands, or the hands of others, our Learned and reve- rend Brethren , of your praftifc and judgement, who might have
beene
To the REPLYBi: ||
fceVne Tent unto you in our place. In the meane time, becauf e ma- nie are inrangled with the word of Dif cipline, and Policie, we defire the Reader to. remember, that fometimethe word is taken for the Rule of Government of the Kirke, and cenlure of Manners, by Of- ficebearers appointed by Chrift; and thus it is unchangeable : fome> times for the confritut'ions of Counfels, and Ac-ts of Parliament, a- bout matters of Religion; and thus it is alterable, or conftant, accor- ding to the nature of particular Obie&s : and thirdly, it is takefjfo* the ordering of the circumftances, to be obferved in all actions Di- vine, and Humane; and thus it is variable, Ws appeale with you, to the indifferent Reader, who is judicious, whether it be neceffarie for your Subfcription, to know our Opinion of fuch Rites and Cere- monies, as are not of Divine ihftiturion. We have reafon, [ for any thing that ever we heard to the contrary, thefe twenty years paft ] to cleave unto the words of the Covenant^ concerning fuch Rites as are brought into the Kirke without, or again!* the word of G OD. The Blemng of Marriage ( now the fecond time inftanced ) we conceive, aeither to be circumftance, it being neither time, place, order of doing, nor any [uch thing, nor a Ceremony properly f o called, more then theBiefling of the People, commanded in the Law, and pra£li- fed before the Law, or praying for a Blefling upon the Ordinance o£ GOD, that it may be fan&ified unto His People : we neither exalt Marriage fo high, as with thePapifts, to thmke it a Sacrament; nor doe we abafe it fo low, as to thinke it a padion or contract, meerely Civill, it being the Covenant of GOD, which cannot be dif olved by content of the parties, as other civill Contracts may be r and/there- fore, as we will not ufe it fuperftitioufly, according to the prefcripc of the Service Book?; fo will we not for the abufe of Popery, although it were a Paction meerely civill, it being fo important , with-holde &*cleftafticke Benediction from it.
s
To the Sixth
Itence ca-rrieth fometimes the appearance of confent, fomerime ; ids from weakneflej and finceyeeknowalfo, that itmayac
' femetimq
$<$ Answer:?. Si
fometimcs come from wifedome ,. and moderation"; why doc ye nor rather keepe filence your felves,then make fuch an interpretation of ours ? We deny not, but Divines, both ancient and moderne, are againft us, concerning the lawfulneffe of the thinges contravened :: but we withali affirme, firft, that Divines,both ancient and moderne, are againft you alfo; and both may be true , for* both are but propor- tions indefinite, in a matter contingent. 2. That almoft all Divines univerfally are for us, and for the forbearance of thinges indifferent, in fuch a cafe, which is the point urged by us , and cleared before. Secondly, we deny not,but the Oath contamech many other Articles but concerning that of the Novations already introduced, if ye could have believed us, and fo many thoufands as have fubfcrived , it con- tained no more, but the forbearance of them,for a time; neither can any farther be extorted from the tenor of the Covenant it (elfe, ac- cording to your grounds. If ye will interpret it according to the meaning which ye thought it had the laft year, and which we urge you not to. change . and to promife forbearance, can neither be con- trary to that duety which ye ow to your flock, nor be difobedience to Authority, but a meane to edifie GODS people j and obedience c# GOD.
To the Seventh.
FIrft, The reafon propounded in the feventh Demand, for refufe- ihg your fubfcription, becaufe ye fuppofed Pearth Articles to have beene abjured, as Popiih , is anfwered to the full , and impediment put out of your way. This other that ye propound, con- cerning our conception and meaning of the fhort Confejfion, may be as eafily removed, if ye will once believe, that we urge not upon you our meaning, but leave you to your own, "till the matter be examined ' in an Atfcmblie. 2. Ye call fome of thofe Novations, receffarie; but without warrand of that Affembly which concluded then, as in- different, and all the reft you will have to be laudable : thus by pro- greffe of time, things formerly indifferent, become ncceflary*; and what was but lawful! before, and had much .adoe togaine that repu-..,
tation, is*
t|So^ I« bow become laudable; where ye plainly dUc&ver the caufe of fouruiivviliingneffe tofubi'crive , not Co much co be thecommande- menc of Authority,as the necetfity and excellency of the things com- manded. Till ye, therefore, change this opinion, ye cannot promife forbearance, neither upon our dealing, nor at the commandement Df Authority, although forbearance ihould fetve for she peace of tte Kirke, and Kingdoms
Tg the Eight*
FIrft, we Semit the reader to our Anfotre, and your Repfy,whk% we hope, (hall be found no confutation. 2. We obierve,thac ye have not anfwered our Argument, for our fwearing the de- fence of the Kin o, and his Authority, with a fpecification , whicla ye call a limitation; wherein we have followed theConfeflion of Faith, ratified in Parliament , the K 1 n g s Confeflion , and aft of Parlia- ment; upon which ye will not doe well , to fatten fofoule Imputa- tions, and put fo hard conttruclions, as ye dee, upon us, for inferring In our Covenant , what they have faid before us. If our fpecification be right, why cenfure you it ? If it be wrong, why fatten ye not youc cenfiires upon the fountaine from which it is derived ? the loyalty of •our intentionSjto maintain the Kings Per(on,and Honour,is fo fully expreffed , that it hath given content to thofe who are neareft his Majefty : and we ftiould wrong, not only them,, but aifo the Cow- nanty and the fubferivers thereof , if we fhould make new Declare tions to others, of greater diftance, who wrong both the K 1 n g, and themfelves,in craving them. $■. To doe with a doubting Confcience, Is a grievous finn^j but to make and mukiply doubts, for hindring a good worke,and to oppofe againft a fhining light,is no leffe grievous. Yefpake before of a limitation, and now ye have added precifly; as if the mming 0? one duety, vVere the excluding of all other duetiesa We all, by owtOath of Alleadgeance, by his Majefties laWes, and by other obligations, acknowledge, that we owe many other dueties t& the Ki n g, which were very impertinent to expres in this Cwenant.. 4. What kynde of conference ye meane, whether by word or write, we know not; but ( while we were among you) ye know what notice
p jm
yw were pieafed to cake of us; and wc hare no defigfo n fcfeBM# I> the Ninth*
FlrU, We areafliamed, to draw this.Rug-faW of contention, t£ and Fro, in a continual! Reciprocation, concerning theforbea* ranee 01 Peart h Articles : and therefore, forbearing to doe to any more,we referre the Reader to our former Anfweres. 2. We doe not affirme, that the only reafon , why kneeling was appointed , wag becaufe all memory of fuperftuion was pa(t, There be indeed othei rcafons expreffed in the Act, but fuch as the Authors thereof ma jJbfe afhamed of,as both perverting the Text, Pfal. 9 5. as making kneel* ing to be neceiTary, in every part of GODS Worfhip, and as giving matter to many Treatifes, proving kneeling before the Elements, to be Idolatrie, according to the A61,unt6 which we now referre you; but this we fay , ( which is manifeft by the Acl: it felfe ) that in the cafe ofprefent iuperftition,orfeare rhereof,ail other realons had not beene forcible, toenforce kneeling then, nor can have force to con- tinue kneeling now, Thisfeare hathbeene great , this year by paftj,, throughout the Kingdom, by reafon of the many fuperftitions of the Service Booke , which, it may be, ye no more acknowledge, then yc ioe thefuperftitious difpofino of the people,becaufe they are not that which they were at the time of Reformation. '" gf. We would heare. what malice it felfe can fay againii the words of the Proteftation, That it (ball be lawfiill unto us, to defend Religion , and the KiN G 8 Authority, in defence thereof, and every one of its of another , in that canfe of maintaining Religion , and the Kin g s ferefaid Authority, and to appoynt, and hold meetings >to that end; like as our Proceedings kave beene in tbemfelves moft neceffary and orderly mcans,agreable. to thelawes and pTatSife of this Kirke and Kingdom, to be conten- ded, as reall duties of faithfull Chriilians,loyall iubiecls, and.fenfible members of the body of the Kirke , and Kingdome , and tende to n© •^her end, but to. theprefervation of Religion, and maintainance of the Kin g s Authority. To your inrerrogatoures, ( which ye feeme io propone, rather robe fnares to us, then for 1 atisfa&ion to your felves ) we anfwere £>nce for all in generall,-that if this were the op- portunity
'~ - To the &£»£*¥§: M
fBfeunitie of chat difputation, we (Kail be found to deny nothing untfe Authority of that which the word of GOD, the lav? of Nature, and Nations, the A&s of Parliament, thefe.Royalifts, found Divines,and loyall Subjects, give unto Kings and Princes GODS Vice-G events on
Earrh; and that not from refpect to our felves, but to rhe Ordinance. of GOD, by whom Kings reigne. But feeing fo oft and fo inftantly^ you prefte us in this point,yc force us mutually to propone to you fuch. Q^eltions, as, it may be, ye will have no great delight toanfwere*. J. Wedefire to underftand of your whether ye allow, or diial!ow,the- Scrv'ce Bjoke^ and booke of ( anons } if yadifallow them, as an in- novation of Religion, why have ye not either joined in fupplicatioa with the reft of the Kingdome, or made a fupplication of your own , againft them , or iome other way teftified your Diflike ? Next; whether it be pertinent for men of your place and Qualitie, to move Queftions of State,. touching the Power ok Princes, and Li- beries of Subjects , after His- Majetties Commiflioner , and wife States-men, have received Satisfaction of the Subjects,' for fuppref- fing fuch motions as yours ? 3. Whether doe the Subfcrivers more tender His Ma jetties honour, by fuppofing his conftancy, in profefli- •n of Religion, and equitable Difpofition, in miniftration of Juftice* •r yc, who fuppofe he fhall fall upon his Religious and Loyail Subl jects^ with force of Armes,contrary to both ? 4. Whether the joyi*. ing of rhe whole Kingdom, in the Subfcription of the Covenant , os- the entertaining of Divi(ion,by your writing, preaching, and threat- aing of your People, otherwife willing to joine, be a more readie meane to fettle the prefent- Commotions of the Kirke, and King-. dom ? 5. If the Prelates, and their Followers, labouring to intro- duce Popery in the' Land, make a Faction by themfelves, or as the Gwftans in France , did abufe His Majefties name, in execution of the bloody Decrees of Trent , ( which GOD forbid ) we aske, Whether ' in Tuch a Cafe, the.lawfull defence of the body of the Kingdom , a- gaintt fuch a Faction, be.a. refitting of the Magi fixate , and a taking- Armes againft the King > If ye affirme it to be, is not this to take * part with a Faction , feeking their own ends, againft the common- •■ Wealth of the Kirke, and Kingdom, and honour of the Ki n g ? If ye fey no:, Why then finde ye fault with our Proteftatioa , of defending-* ; ite.
die RdigiGtj, liberties, and Lawcs of fteKingd6ni,of thdKIrigs AS*1' tbority,in defence thereof,arid every one of usof another,and irithat caufe , as if it were an unlawfull Combination againft Authority $ 6. Whether dot ye think Chriftian Magiftrats to t>e of fo abfolute ■&■ unbounded power, norwithftanding of any promife or paSton made" with the Subje&s at their Coronation, or of any Law madefor efta- blilliing their Religion and Liberties, that there is nothing left, but futferingof Martyrdome , in the cafe of publick Invafion , of their' Religion and Liberties } If ye thinke, that any defence , is lawful!, why miiconftrue yee the Subfcri vers of the Covenant > If not,ho#' can ye be free of Flattery ,and of rtirnng up Princes againll their loy- all Subjects, for fuch ends as your felves know bell ? We verily be- lieve, tine ye (hall reporc fmall thanks, either of fo good and juft a Kino, oroffo duetifull Subjects, for entering within thefe Life. It is enough, that fuch Queftions be agitated in the Schooles , and lhac with as great prudency, and as circurafpe&ly as may bc0
7i the Tenth.
FIrft, ye take us in mt fourth Replje to be the penners 6f the &* venant^ and yet will rather wreft the words of it, to your owne meaning, then receive the Interpretation thereof from us : for we$ prejudge nor your liberty of conception of that {hort Confelfion, but permit it to your felves) whatfoever may be the private meaning <& feme who have lubicrived; yet there is nothing in the late Interpre- tation that cendemneth the Articles diP earthy and Epifoopacy , as PopifoNovuions. Ye may voice and reafon in anAffemblie as free- . ly concerning them, and give your judgement of them, without pre- judice^ wirhftinding of your Oath,according to your own grounds, as you would have done at the Alterably of Peartb. z. We hope ye be nor fo ignorant of the eftate of the Kirke,neither will we judge fo unclnri ably,as to thinke you fo corrupt,thar in your opinion there is nothing hath entred in the Kirkc >(ince that time, defigned by you, befide £pifcopacy, and the A rtkles of Peartb, which can be thought prejudicial! to the Liberty and Purity, of the Gofpell.
T9
To the K E?t i es; JFg
Tithe Eleventh.
FXrft, ye finde fault with us, that we have not upon this ©eeafion, given you that teftimony which we owe to you, of your fince- rity, in profeffing the trueth; and therefore, to fupplie our de- fe^s,have taken an ample Teftimony to your felves, of paines in dif- puting, in wrytting , and preaching againft Popery , in procefTmg of Papifts, and in doing all thinges which can be expected from the moft zealous, of frequent prayer to GOD, of humbling your felves before him, of yourholinefleof Life , and Convention, &c. which have made us who were defirous to heare that Teftimony, rather at the mouths of others, that we might be no more challenged as deiicienc inthatkinde, bur give unto you your deferved praife, to inquire in matters ; whereupon, if we would believe the report of others , wee heare, chat for all your pains, Papifts, and Perfons Popifhly affected, are multiplied, and Papiftry increafed in your towne , more then in any oiher town of die Kingdom;& no lefle under yourMiniftrie,th en any time before, fincethe Reformation; that there be in private koufes Meffes,Crucifixes, and other monuments of Idolatry; that ye have not many converts from Popery; that Jefuits, and Priefts; are countenanced there; that your People at home, and your Magiftrats abroad,complain, that ye are but too 1 paring of your pains in preach- ing, and often fill your places with Novices : but this we are fparing to believe, and wifti, that the not imploying of your Tongues3 and Pennes, in the defence of the Service Booke and Canons , which are fo peftred with Popery, [if the feeds of Romifli He'refie, Superftition> Idolatry , and Papall tiranny, come under that cenfure ] and your wiliingneffe to joyne with the Kifke and Kingdom , in Fafting and Humiliation , had been alfo Testimonies of your fincerity againft Popery. a. The laudable means of Preaching, Praying, Sec. which We Willi may be (till in all faithfulnefle ufed by you , may very well agree with the renewing of our Covenant with GOD; and both being joined, have, in a &ort time paft, produced more powerfull effects, to the comfort of many thoufands, then all our Prayers and Preach- ing hath done for a long time before : which te#ifie , That , as h is
Q^ warranded
*6$ Answer es?
warrandedby the Word of GOD; fo the motion bath preceedet from GOD. All the Arguments and Subtilties that can be devifeds will never make a People,(who at this time have found GOD dwell. lag, and working in their hearts ) to thinke. the contrary. 3,, The naturall inclination of people to Popery,and the perfwafiun of others, of their difpofinon, may make the people to conceive other wayes 0f the Service Boekey and Canons , that ere it be long, they may be brought in, in a faire and legallway : and therefore, it is necetiary, for preventing of thole, and orher Evills of that kinde, that the Sub* je£ts joine in a Covenant, both for themfelves, and their Pofterity.
To the Twelfth*
FIrft; we have ever preached according to our meafure,and ha^ given example of reverence to Authority, and the L O R D S Service : but we neither acknowledge the ufurped Authority •f prelates, for lawfull. Authority, nor the Service Booke£ot the Lords Service. And therefore, it was i'o much the more intolerable tor the Prelates, without Authority from the Kirke, or Parliament, to bring in the Service Books into GODS own houfe, upon the LORDS own Day. Which maketh it nothing ftrange , that people zealous of the Trueth, and of the Service of GOD, were ftirredup,. to oppof e : and we are very confident,. that thefe who have, oppoied , doe beare as loyall refpeSt to the Kin gs Majefty,and will be as loath to provoke him to juft wrarh, as their oppofites are. In the meanerime, why doe ye not acknowledge,that the children were higher provoked to wrath* by the Prelates, whom.ye account reverend and holy Fathers? 2. As the prefer vation of our own private Poffeffion, from Invnfion of 0- thers,belongeth to our fclves, under the Kings Protection; foihe keeping of GODS Houfe, from Pollution, and Supcrftition, belong- eth to Authority, to the community of the Faithfull,and to every one in his own place, and order. 3. We told you before, that we did n« mots allow violences of that kinde, nor.we did allow the foule afper- fions of RebeUion,Herefie,Schii'me,and Penury, put upon the Noble- niesi, ( and remnant Covenanters. ) And where ye ?skeof us, Why rbefe tumults are net publickly by us condemned, and rebuked ? we
aske
To the Ke PL? E Si 6j
aslce againe of you,why ye did not condemne and rebuke fuch dealing, fince that is no lefle tranfgreflion , both againft the (ixt and nyntM Command, then the other is againft the fixt ? And whereas ye are now fo peremptorie, in drawing a Declaration from us, anfwearable to that which ye have given concerning the forefaid Afperfions and Calumnies, we having no commihfion , to declare the mindes of o« thers in this point, or to give DocumentS,for our own private judge- ment, doe heartily difallow every wrong of that kynde. As for the Apologie of D. J o h n F o R b e s of Gr/>,feeing the wrong hath been done not unto tome few particular perfons, fuch as ye lay have been , wronged by fome of the people ; but unto the body of the King- dome, confifting of Noble-men, Barons, drcwho are highly offended thereby, it were in us Preemption , and without the bounds of our Calling , to take upon us , to receive any Declaration of that kinde , efpecially wherein fo many thinges are reprovable ; as firft, That his bitter ipeaches were occaiionedby fome printed Bookes, affirming, that Epifcopacy, and Fearth Articles,were Anti- chriftian, and abominable. Suppohng it were true, did he thinke the Noblemen,and whole Covenanters,to be the Authors of thofe Books? And was this dealing agreabletp that Chnftian meeknefle fo much Required of us before ? The Writers of thofe printed Books, are not the firft who have fpoken fo : For Mafter Knox fpared not, ( in a Letter of his) to call this kneeling, A Viabolicall Invention.. Se- condly;Tbe fwearing of Forbearance of the practife of Fearth Ar- ticles, and the Confirmation of the faid Doctrine, which we neither deny, nor ifltirme, to be imported in the (Adz Covenant, but only in the Interpretation thereof, we declare, That Promife is only made, roforbearefor a time, doth not delerve fo bitter a Cenfure as this a- pologie beareth upon us. 3. If the Ki n g s Majefty , Counfell, or the Subjects of Scotland, had asked his opinion,and advice, he might have ufed the greater liberty. 4, It is ill apolodzed,to call it a holie. indignation, and worfe defended, fince it is fucna wrath, as worketb not the rrghteoufnefie of GOD*. 5. Whereas he defireth to be ac- counted in the number of theie, qui frofisiendo fsribant, & [cribend* froficiwt , we could wifh, that he had profited better by writ- ing, then he hash done by writing his Inmcum firft, and now this his
Warning
AnsweiueS?
Warning, after his Irtmcum : for which if he make no Setter ApotoJ gie, then conceding Afperity of words, proceeding from an holy in- dignation, it will come to paffe of his Apology , as it fared with his Jrenlcnm , unto which was apply ed fitly, what was fpokenin thq like cafe,
Ant f ahum force ft, ant ars Ignore fefeltit
Up*wv volmt cadere cudit «^y, 6. Whereas ye defire us, to doe the like, if ye meane of us perfonal- lie, we have declared our judgement,and (hall be carefull to approve our felves to G O D, and the confciences of ail men, in every luck duety : and if ye meane us, and thofe thatfent us, we ihall not faill r© report unto them, what ye defire,although our Commiilion from you had been the more acceptable, if ye had fpoken more reverently o£ cutConfeffion and Covenant , then ye have been pleafed to doe, in the words of your defire,and had put your hand unto the Covenant whick would prefently have joined us in a greater Affection, and made way for union in judgement, and perfect peace, which is the defire ©f #i^ Soules.
To the Thirteenth.
^C7*Ee pretended a threefolde Scandall,which fhould follow upoa j l your Sublcription : i. The Scandall of DilTenting from othet Reformed Kirks, and famous Divynes. 2. The Scandall of Diffenting from Authority „ 3. The Scandall of Perjury. We an* fwered, That thecontraverted words of the Covenant being rightly conceived, and interpreted according to their true meaning, and noc after the gloffe which ye have put upon them,doe put you out of dan- ger of all the three Scandalls, which yefeem to acknowledge of the hrft two, and miy by the like reafon acknowledge of the third, of Perjury. We dilpute not of the lawfulneffe of the Oath given at youE AdmiiIion,by what Authority it was exacted , with what conlciencQ it was given, nor how ye can anfwere for the Scandall rifen thereu- pon : but conceiving it according to your own grounds, none of you will fay, that ye have fworne the perpetuall approbation and pradlife ®f thefe things which ye eftecme to be indifferent, whatfoever bad
confetjuene
To the & e"? l V e si § §
confequent of Popery, and Idolatrie, Superftjtion,or Scandall fliould follow thereupon: we fpcake here only of things indifferenr, in yous own judgement; for ye have declared before, that ye thinke the Minu ftration of the Sacraments in private places, no more indifferent : 8c therefore, can not forbeare the praclife of thefe , although your Or- dinary ,and other lawfull Superiours,&ould will you to doe io; where- in V earth Aflembly , for which you ftand, is wronged by you two waves: i. That ye differ in judgement from them, about the indif- ferencie of the live A nicies : and next, that at the will of your Or- dinary, and we know not what other lawful! Superiours, ye are ready to forbeare the praclife of thefe things which the Aflembly hath ap- pointed to be obferved. What Oaths ye have given at your admif- hon, we know not, becaufe there is no Ordinance made , Civill, or Ecclefiaftick, appointing any fuch Oath,and becaufe the Prelats, who arrogated that povver,prefented to the intrants diverfe models of Ar- ticles, to be fubfcrived, dealing with fome more hardlie, and with o- thers more favourably,according to their own diverfe motivs,6c con- siderations. For fome immediatly after Peart h Aflembly, without any warrandfrotn the Kirke or Parliament,were made to fweare at their Admiflion, that they thould both in private and publick maintains; Epiicopall Jurif diction, and in their private and publicke Prayer?, commend the Prelates to G O D S mercifull Protection; that they {houldfubjeclthemielvesto the Orders that prefently were in the Kirke, or by the confent of the faid Kirke ,'fhould be lawfully efta- blifhed. The word lawfully , was not in the Principal 1 firft fubfcri- ved, [as we have learned] and if it had been expteft, it is all one,for the Superiours were judges to this lawfulneffe and unlawfulneiTe. We will not labour to reconcile every Oath given by Minifters , at their entry with the prefent Covenant; but wifli, and exhort rather , that they may be recalled, and repented of, as thinges for which they can boc anfwere before a general! Aflembly.
i
To the Fourteenth
V the Words of the Covenant be plaine, concerning the meere for- bearance, and fpeake nothing of the unlawfulneffe , no many R, thoughts
&£ Answer es?
thoughts can make a change. 2. Ry this Reply ye wrong your felves, informing from the words of the Covenant -, impediments, and draw- ing ftumhling blockes in your own way, to hinder your fubfcription s ye wrong the fubfcry vers, in changing the Hate of the queftion, and in making a divorce betwixt Religion and the Kin os Authority ,whicb the Covenant jomzxh together, hand in hand: and, moftofall, ye wrong the Ki n g s Majefty, in bringing him upon the ttage, before his Subje&s, in whole mindes ye would beget, and breed, fufpicions of oppoftng the trueth,of making innovation of Reiigion,and of deal- ing with his Subjects, contrary to his Lawes and Proclamations, and contrary to the Oath at his Coronation. We are not here feeking infchia x(*c9'n*i" > or ttarting hole of ignorance , or of the Imalleft difloyalty of atfe&ion ; but would willingly decline that for the pre- fent, which neither his Majefties wifdome,nor the prudence of Stats- men, nor the modefty of good iubjects , will allow you or us-to dis- pute. The Crowns and Scepters of Kings , would be more tenderly touched, then the ordinary fubje&s of Schoole dii'pures. The naked naming, and bare propofall ofcertame f oppositions, fuch(asfome are made by you ) can not but reflex upon Authority,and found harlla in the eares of all his Majefties good fubje&s,who willi, that he may long and profperoufly reigne over us. 3. His Ma jetties mott honou- rable privy Counfell, hath proven more favourable to this caufe of maintaining the reformed Religion, then many Paftors , whom by reafon of their place and Calling , it beieemed togoe before others; and although according to their wonted cu(tome,f hey gave warrand^ to make his Majefties Proclamation , yet on good groundes-, remon- ttrated unto them by the Supplicants , they willingly refilled their approbation thereof; hoping that his Majefty ihould be moved m give greater fatisfaclion thereafter : and this is not our faying , but a putoicke doing, before many honorable witneffes; of whichnumber fotne were directed unto you; whofe report ye have no reafon to call in queftion. 4. It becometh us, to judge charitably of the intentions of or Superiours; and moft of all, of the intentions of onr dread So- veraigne. Yet, if that hold good which the Applicants have offred to prove, that the Service Booke^ and Canons , containe a reall inno- vation of Religion, we muft judge oihervviie, de conditwe oferuy o£
the mat-
To the Repl*es7 67
the matters contained'in the Booke, then de wtenUoneoprAntu^ o£ bis Majefties intention; although the intention of thePrelates,& theit Aflbciates,the Authors & contrivers of the Bookes,be moft juftly fuf- pefted by us. % It is no delight to us,and can be but fmali comfort to. you, to mention the wrongs, which by you are done to us all who have joined in this Covenant > and doe adhere to the Religion as it was re- formed in this land; in your etiiraation & writings,we are Rebellious, perjured, hereticks, fchiimaticks,blind guydes,feducers,miferable in- terpreters,ignorants:rti;ti fuch men as thefe be your revere 'dBmhren. Is this your meekneffe and charity? Is this the duety ye expect from us ? But letting theie afide, ye have wronged us, in with-holding youi hand and help from fa good a Caufe, of purging Religion, and refor- ming the Kirke, from fo many grolTe abuies, and oppofing all thofc' who have, modeftly laboured for Reformation,. Your (peaches in pri- vate, in your chambers, beds of ficknefle , and in your muTives, and in publicke, at tables, and in Synods, which are come to our know- ledge; we wifti rather fhould be remembred , and repented of, by. your felves, then be recited by us, who delire not to worke you any trouble. 6. Although there be a perpetuall harmony betwixt the Word and Works of G O D, far contrary to that which we finde tf> be amongft the Children of men ; yet often it commeth to paffe , that the Word and Warnings of G O D, which we heare with our ears, are not believed, till we behold with our eyes , the plaine C3~ mentaries thereof, in His Works, Many Proofs, and notable Do- cuments, have been obferved of the Finger of G O D, in the Worke in hand, the Characters of the great Works of G O D S, more then ordinary Providence, fince the beginning, are legible here. Then did the- LORD begin this work, when the Adversary was raifed to a great highc, and become intollerably infolent. The beginnings were fmali, and in the eyes of the World, contemptible; fach as ufe to be the beginnings not of the works of men, but of the Magnificke works of G O D : the power of G O D fenuble in the hearts of many, and maniferted by the joy; the tears and cries of many thoufands, at the folemne renewing of this Covenant ^ hath been a matter of admira- tion, and amazement, never to be forgotten, to many wife and an- fient Paftors, and Prof effors, who did alio finde an unwonted flame,
warning
m
A NS WE RE 's3
warming their own breafts; the plots, and workings of the Advetfe* rjr, have wrought againft their own Projects, and have ferved for ouc ends, more then all that have been thought, or done by our felves; that We may juftly fay, what they devifed,tor evill, the LORD hath turned to good; many thoufands conveened , diverie times, in one place, have been keept in fuch order, and quietneffe , without the fmalleft trouble, in fuch foberneife, and temperance without exceffe or ryot,that hardly can Hiltory furnilh a Paralell : and what effects there be already throughout the Land, of Piety in Domefticke wor- (hip, in oblerving the exercifes of Religion, in publick, of fobernefs in dyet and appareil, and of Righteouineffe and Concord, we trad fliall be fenfible by the BleflTings of G O D upon us, and fhall be ex- amplary to the Posterity. Thefe we prefent unto you, and unto all, as a Commentary, written by the L O R D S own Hand; wifaing a- gain, that neither ye nor others , be found fighting againft G O D. Whofo is wife, and will obferve thefe thugs, even they jhall under* ft and the loving kjndneffe of the LORD, Pfal. 107. 43. LORf)t when thy hand is lifted uf, they will not fee; but they fhaU feey and h afbdmedrfor their envy at the People, Iiai. 26.11.
Matter Alexander Henderson, Miniiter at L,enchars.
Mafter David Dxcksoi* Minifter at /nwV»
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*95
DUPLYES
Of the Ministers and Professors of ABERDENE,
T O
The fecond Jnfmres of iome
Reverend Brethren 5 CONCERNING THE LATE
COVENANT
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Honour all men : love the Brotherhood : feare GOD » Honour the King. i.Pec. 2, 17,
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To the Unpartiall Reader.
T may be you have not,as yet, heard the true relation of our proceedings,and carri3ge,tow? rds thofe two re- verend Brethren, who came lately hither, to recom- mend to us, and our People , the late Covenant i We declare therefore to you,that we hearing of their com- ffiing, and intention, and being of a contrary minde, refolved, that before we fhould give confent5that they Should preach to our people , we would propone to them, by way of cercaine Jte- mandsyihs. chiefe reafons which made us to be averfe from their pro- ceedings; promifing to admit them ro our pulpits,if they fhould give us fatisfaction , concerning the late Covenant. We intended no: to print thefe Demand? at the nrft ;■ but afterwards confidering how much our people might be confirmed. by them, in that pious refolu- tion which they have , to conrinue in the obedience of the Lawes of this Church and Kingdome, concerning Epifcopacyy and thofe things which were concluded in Peart h Affembly ; we thought good to put them to the PreiTe, but determined not to make ufe of them, by di- vulgating them, except we (aw that our people ftaod in prefent need ©f them; which indeed came to paffe : for upon Fryday, the twenty otjxllle laft, thefe reverend Brerhren came to this Town, and hav- ing that fame night received our Demands in writ , they returned their Anfaeres unto them on Saturday following,late in the evening: but they came not to our hands, who replyed unto them , untill Sun- day in the morning. Neither had we leafure to reade , or confider, untill bo.:h the Sermons were ended in our Churches. Wherefore we did meet together that day, at foure houres afternoone,that we might perufe them. And at that fame time , hearing that thefe reverend Brethren had preached in audience of dyverfe of our people, con- vened in the court of a Noble-man his lodging,not having obtained our content thereto,and in their Sermons had ufed a forme of anfwer- ing to our Demandes, which they did prblickly reade, affirming, that they had given full fatisfadtion to is, in a written copie of their An- JW#, which they had fent to us ; and by that means 7 had laboured
S a. to diflwaefe-
^a To the Reader.1
to diffwade and draw our People from their obedience unto the A£ tides of Pearth , and the Lavves of this Kingdome ratifying them : we knowing how inefficient zhtn Anfweres were,togive iatisfa&ion to any, who would diiely ponder our Demands , gave licence to the Printer to devulgate them, and the next day did write our Reply es to their Anfrveres, intending to put them to thcPrelTe on tuefday. But; we were earneftly entreated by a noble Man , to fend backe to them the copie of their Anfaeresjhit they might revife and perfect them, and alio to delay the printing of our Replies untill Fryday following. Which we willingly granted. 'But wherefore this was defired*of us5 you may conjecture; feeing they neither added, nor diminifhed , nor altered any thing in their Anfweres. Upon the next Friday at nighr, we gave our Reply es to the Printer t and to thefe reverend Brethten, who returned not to this Citie, untill Saturday following, we fent a copie of our Reply es in write, on the LORDS Day : unco which we received not their Avfweres , untill they came from the Preffe , to wit, on Tuefday the fourteenth of Ajguft : :hat is, eyghteene dayes after they had received our Reply es. What luccefle thefe Brethren had in their Sermons , which they preached here , upon two feverall LORDS Dayes , it is Efficiently known : neither have they reafon to talke fo much of it as they doe, in their Preface to the Reader. The firft of thefe dayes , iome few who were thought to be that way in- clined before,fubfcryved their Covenant*. But the next LORDS Day, they Scarce prevailed with any at all. And a great many, who heard them both thefe dayes, profefted, that they returned from their Ser- mons, more averfe from the Covenant, then they were before. Now good Reader, we prefent to thee our Replyesy to the'r fecond An* fweres ; which for fhorrncfle caufe, we have called Duply es : we pray you confider the n unparri.illy. And if you reap any benefite by per* ufmg them, let it nor be afcrived unto us, but ^o the invincible force of divine Trueth. We conclude with Zerobabell, frying, Blejfed be tie GOD of frueth : And let all the People ihout , and fay , Grtat i* Irjerby and mighty above all t hinge s^
T
o
To our Reverend Brethren
Mr. 'Alexander H e n d e b. s o If
Jnd ■Mr. D a ? i d D i c r s o n:J
^Hat your Anfweres , Reverend, tint, Veare Brethren; have not in any degree fatisfed us , we impute it not to your weakyeffe, whom we \now to be able Men , and much ex~ ercifed in the matter $ debated betwixt us : but we imputt it to the weaknejfe of your caufe, and to that inabilitie which is in all men, as well as in you, to he are out again ft the Trueth% We are fory that ye are not fo reflective, and favourable, in your judgement ofusi for ye plainly declare in you* Preface, that yefuffeSi us of prejudice z and that for two reafons. The first is, that our Demands, which yes conceived had been meerely intended for you,were pubhjhed before your comming in Print; as alfo, that 0#r Re p l ye s were Printed before we recewedyow last Anfweres to them. Whence ye conclude, that wes •were rather aiming at victory, moved thereto by prejudice, then atfa- tisf action by fe arching of the Trueth. This reafon is grounded upon & mistaking : for although our Demands at the first, were intended for you onely, yet afterwards we refolved to Print them, m alfo our Re~ P lye s, (the Printing whereof did noway es depend upon your fecond Anfweres,J not for love of content! on^ nor defjrc of 'victory (G O D knoweth) but forfuch reafons, as we have expreffed in our Preface t@ the unpartiall Reader * whom we hope we hme funis fie din this points
T ~ Torn
To our Brethrea? f 4
Tear ether reafon is, that the grounds of par AnfwerS u us, have froven fatisf abler y to others', who for Age and Learning , arc prime men of this Kingdom : and to whome our mode ft le will notfuffer us, t* freferre our f elves, farre be it from us to be fo prefumptuous, as te freferre our f elves tofo many Learned and worthy Divines i and as fane be it from us, to meafure the foliditie, and fuffciencie of your Anfweres, £7 the liabilities or Induments of thefe, who have ac qui- efced in them. If this your reafon were good, the Paptfts might more frobabhe accufe us of prejudice, (as indeed they unjust lie doe) be- came their Anfweres to our Arguments,/?^* proven fat is faclorie te manythoujands ofthofe,whoforprofunditie, and Juki litie of wit, are infer i our to none of the World i but we re garde not this flender mo- tive, remembring thefe words of our Saviour , I chanke Thee, O Fa- ther, Lord of Heaven and Earth, becaufe Thou haft hid thefe things from the Wife and Prudent, and haft revealed them unto Babes : even fo, O Father, for fo it feemed good in Thy light. Be fides, if ye compare the Divines, Ancient and Moderne, who are of our judge- ment, with thefe who favour your opinion , either in number, or in the excellency of their gifts, ye fball $nde that in this, the advantage U great lie ours. In the meane time ye fro all kpow, that we can bring far better reafons to free our f elves of prejudice, then thefe which ye have brought again ft us, to wit, the foliditie of our Arguments, which have put you tojuchftraits/pardon us to fay that, which every one who have eyes may fee) that oft times ye doe not fo much, as attempt to anfwere them, being glad to pafe them by, with the from of an Argument/* contrarium,or fome other liksfroift: our humble & earnefl atteftationst in calling GOD,the onel'e competent Judge;as witneffe ofourfrnceru tyjnthe inmost thoughts of our foul;our ferioufly profejfedRefolution9 to concurre with you, fwe fbould get fatisfaclion from you,the modef- tie, ingenuiue, and peaceablenejfe of our writings to you, and on the €Qntrarle,yjur too great difdainfulneffe and asjeritie in your fecond Anfweres; bewraying not onelie the weakneffe of your mindes,farre by sur expectation, but alfo the weakneffe of your caufe to UYipartlall Keaders^whj afcrive this to the pungent force of our Arguments; hedg- ing, that they have made you fomewhat more chrterike then you were before. Tq this wee wllladdje the great n 'Instance 7 which fome of the
7 5 To our Brethren.'
moft Judicious Subfcrlbents dldfndein their Confclemes > before thy fubferived your Cowcmntitogether with the Limit at Ions, and Re* fervations , ** herewith they fubferived it ; evidently arguing their ftrong apprehenfion, of the dangerous ambiguitie and haske founding of the words of the late Covenant: fothat even thefe who are now joined with you, have been much affrighted with thofe things which ternfie us. As for your Proteftation in the end of your Eplftle, that ye can no more be brought to our mlnde, then ye can be drawn from the frofejjiw of our Religion, as it hath been reformed, fwome, &c AU though this import eth no fmall prejudice, p off effing and over-ruling jour minds; yet looking to the Invlnc'ble force of that Trueth which we mantawe, we even yet hope that at I aft it fhall prevaile with you\ esfeeiallie considering that our contriver fie is not concerning the Re~ formed Religion; whereunto we as (incerelie adheare as any whatfoever^ but cones ning the equltle of that forme of Covenant which ye latelie made, Wijbing you and all others, to adheare truel'e and fincerelie, to the fame true Religion ; and to all the dueties which in it are recom~ mended to you : we moft humble, and earnest He fray the AlmlghtU GOD,to pule hlsChurch In thisKlngdom,and to unite all onr hearts m Trueth and Peace, in thefe moft dangerous dayes : which although they be to you dayes of gladr.effe , as ye profeffe , yet to th§fe who love the peace of Sion, and the tratquHhle :f this Khgdome, they are fad and melancholious dayes, in resfect of the blacks clowdes ofGODS wr at ^hanging over our he ads, and threatningus wlthftormes offear* full Calamities i whhh we pray theAlmightk G Qtyn stver^
THE
THE FIRST DUPL Y.
N our Difputes againft the Papifts, ( which have been frequent, and by G O D S gnce not unfruit- full, ) as we have learned, that to multiply obje- ctions againft the Trueth,is a thing eafie, as ye fay, but fruitleffe and vain .• fo alfo we have learned, that to multiply Evafrons, againft folide Argu- ments brought for the Trueth t is a thing no lefts
eafie, but altogether unprofitable : which we pray you take heed to.
How forcible are right words } hm what doth pur arguing reprove}
Job 6.25.
2. Ye fay, that our objection, againft your calling, and the war- rand of your comming to us, was framed and pubhlhed in Print, be- fore ir was proponed unro yous and ere your Arfwcre could be had. Indeed out Demands were at thePrefle at your comming, that they- might be in readinelle; bur were not publilhed , before your [elves in your Sermons did pubhckly read them, and ditpute againft them, in audience of fuch of our People as were there prcfent for the time; albeit that written copU of them was delivered to you onely , and not at that time communicated by us to any other.
3. Your Authority which ye acclaim, is neirher from his Maje- ftie,nor warrandedby Aft of Parliament, nor by the Lords of his Majefties Counfell, nor by any N \tionall Synode of this Kingdom, nor by any Indicatory eftabiifhed in it. And both in your firft An- fverey ns all 0 now again ye profefle,that ye came not hither to ufurpc die Audiority, of any Civill or Spirituall Judicatorie. As for your
multitude,
multitude, ( which ye call almoft the whole Kirke and Kingdom ) it being deftitute of Authority forefaid, maketh no warrand of ordinary calling. Therfore, ye feeme to pretend an extraordinary calling from GOD, alleadging ar) extraordinary neceflitie at this time-, which truely vve fee not in any fuch degree, asmaydeferve and warrand fo great a change from the received order, which is publickly by LaweS eftabliilied in this Kirke and Kingdom. That faying of the Apoftle, JLet us conjtder one another, to provoke unto love, and to good worses , which ye alleadge for your extraordinary imploymenr, importeth not an extraordinary calling, but 'an ordinary duety , to be performed by all Chriftians, according to their Callings.
4. The Word of GOD, and the Canons of Counfells, doe fo per- mit to Pallors, the care of the whole Kirke, as they mutt remembet to doe all things, decently and in order, and not to interpone them- f elves in their Brethrens charges, and againft their will. And praif- edbe GOD, there was not any Combuftion, Errour or Confu{ion,in thefe places of our charges , as ye doe alleadge: Neither did our People ftand in need, of fuch helpe from you. And if ye meane the Combuftion of our Nationall Kirke, we doe thinke your remeed not convenient; as being, in our judgement, not agreable to the right way of Trueth and Peace.
5. Whereas ye alleadge, that if fome members of this Kirke, had not cared more kindly, in this time of common danger, then others have done, the whole body had been ere now dangeroufly, if not def- perately , difeafed ; we anfwere , that we moft heartily wifti , any difeafe of this Church^to be tymoufly prevented and cured. But with all we wifh this to Be done without a rupture, and fuch a dangerous divifion : chiefly feeing our Church is not infe&ed with any fuch Er- routs, nor is in fuch dangers, as may give juft occafion, of fo fearful! a divifion ■': which in it (elfe is a fore difeafe, and from which in holy Scripture, we are often, and very earneftly debarred. Dlonyftm Bt- fliop of Alexandria, in his Epiftle to Nov at Ian, recorded by Eu\ebU ns, Lib* 6b HlfrorU &? ^i. Cap 37, worthily fayeth , Ton ought rather to have fuffered any thing what fever, for avoiding of cutting tif under the Kirke of GOD i and Martyr dome for keeping the Kirke from Schifme, is #o leffe '.glorious ; thsn which ts fufmd7for not com*
V mining
^8 DupSyes;
mitting Idolatry, <And in my opinion alfo it is greater; for Infujjeru tag Martyrdom for not comitting Idolatry \a man fuffereth for one,even for his ownfoul'j hut here a man fuffemh Martyr dome, for the whole Kirke.
6. Ye af&rme, that we have no reafon to complaine of your car* riage, here towards us,in reipeft ye for your Sermons preached to our People, made choife of vacant houres , that they might; attend the ordinary rimes of Worfhip. But indeed this fatisfietk not our com*, plaint .• for we juftiy complained of your preaching to our People , without ourconfent, at any houre; and of- your labouring , to make them fubferive the late Covenant^ before ye had given faiisfa6tion to us, concerning the equity of it.
7* Ye reprove us for thefe harmleffe wordes of a confederation^ negative Confeflion. That little Confeflion,was longagoe called ne- gative, a parte major*. And as for that other word,it is well knowne to al thofe who are expert in our Mosher tongue,& in the Latine,that covenanring,and confederation,doe fignifie one,and the fame thing : and therefore, both thefe .wordes are alike refpe&full, in our judge- ment. Whereas )e fay, that y qui Covenant is made with GOD, and doe call it his Covenant : and likewife for juftifying your fwearing, and fubferiving thereof, doe bring f ome places, of Scripture, wherein mention is .made of ,a Covenant , and Oath, betwixt GOD and his People; we (ht\\ then allow the fame name, and refpeft unto your Covenant j when ye fliall make itmanifeft, that your Covenant in all points therein contained,hath no leffe warrand from the written word of GOD,thenthat Covenant which the Israelites did fwear in the days ofJo.SHUA, Jofhftaiq. ver.fe 25. and inthedayesof Jehoi ad a thePrieft, 2. Kings n. v. 17. and in the dayes of King Asa, 2. Qhron. 1 5. v. 1 5, and that, which is mentioned by Ifaiab, 44. v. 5.
8. As we are ftill informed, that fome have fled the Countrey, and fome have fubferived for feare ; fo no Paftors in our knowledge-, hive gone to Court , for the caufes alleadged by you. We doe not, prefume to judge qf the Conferences <tf men , and we wifh you to, •judge more charitably, of the/e reverend Prelates,then.ye doe. The occafion of this prefent ftorrrie was pretended to be the introduction of the Books* of Service^ and Canons } and the high Copamiflion*
Thefe
D-u-p- lye's? 7jj
Tbefe caufes are now removed; and yet the ftormecontinuerh fo ve- hement, ( as ye feeme to grant J rhat the Bithops have juftfeares Warranding cheir flight, to lave their perfons ; which we judge to be too great violence, for any fuch caufe, againft perfons in fo facrcda calling.
9. We fhail aflfuredly, ( by the grace of GOD ) ftill contribute, as- ye defire, our.prayers , . and all other means agreable to our con- fciences, rotextinguiihing of the prefent comhuition. And for that effect, every one of us ihall fecretly, and humbly, mourne before the LORD, and ihall fearch and trye our wayes,and turns unto the Lord. And as we have already humbled ourielves publickly, wirhFafting and Mourning for that eifec* , fo are we readie in time to come , to doe the like, when it ihall be indicted or allowed by Authority, ac- cording to the eftabliihed order in this Kirke and Kingdome. Yea, alfo we are ready to loine with you in the late Covenant \ fo ioonc as we (hall receive iatisfa&ion to our conf aences , concerning. the law- fulnetfe thereof; which as we have protefted before,, fo doe weyec proteft, and profeffe..
10. The Reafons which ye touch in your firft Anfwere^ forprov-* ing that we might without juft offence to any,joine with you infub-? fcriving the Covenant , are fufficiently anfwered in our &i&Replyea For, Firft,Itis not yet decerned in a Nationall Atfembly , whether pur Interpretation added to the old Covenant ^ be in all points found or unfound 5 and therefore we have reafon to think, that this new Covenant, is not fubitandally one with the old : chiefly (eeirsg it ad- deth to the old Covenant , not onely your Interpretation of it, but alfo. apromife of forbearance of the pracYife of T earth Articles, untill they be tryed in an Affembly; and like-wife a Band of Mutuall Defence,, by force of Armes,made without the Kings privity and content. Secondly, Your inference of Mutuall Defence, .againft all perlones fvhatfoever, drawne from the words of the old Covenant , is meerly in^alide. For nothing was pactioned or promifed in the old Covenat^ without the Kin g s Majefty his privity; but the Band of Mutualt Defence, againft all perfons whatfoever , in this your new Covenant^ is without the command or confent of the Ki n g, to whom only the. Syyord is given in this Kingdom, immediatly by G OD. See to this
purpofe
Z6 ? ^:^¥ Duplyes] ":~
purpofe the words o£ Kin g James the fixth of bleffed Memory, In his Booke entituled, The Law of free Monarchies, in the Englifh e- dicionof his royal! workes, at Lm/?/;, Anno 1616. Pag. 206. That which ye adde concerning the General! Band , is aho Little to the purpofe, for that Band had the Kings warrand s whereas his Ma- jefty doeth now forbid your Covenant. Thirdly , Although the for- mer Oath fubfcrived, did appertain onely to the perfons of the fub- fcrivers, all the dayes of their lives , yet you have in your Interpre- tation, extended the Obligation thereof, to the prefenr and iucceed- ing Generations in this land, without any warrand either from pub- lick Lavvcs,or from the words of the Oath it felf : which alio is a fub- ftantiall Difference betwixt that Oath,& your htcCovenant. Where- as ye alleadge , that the warrand which the old Covenant h^d from King, Counfell, and Affembly, remaineth virtually, and was never yet difcharged; we anfwere,it remaineth not, and that becaufe Ki n g James of blefled Memory,difalowed that little Confejfion^ in refpecl: of the inconveniency of the multitude of Negative's, as is clears by his Majefties words, publithed in the printed fumme of the confe- rence holden at Hampton Court, Anno 1603. And no former Aft of Counfeil, made in the time of any former King , doeth fuffici- ently warrand our Confidences to fubfcrive any Oath now , which feemeth to us to be difagrcablc to the Ad of Parliament ;and which our prefent Dread Soveraigne LORD, the Ki n g s Maieity, by his publick Proclamations; and other Intimations of his Royail pleafure, f orbiddeth us to iubfcrive. And as for the A&s of thefe two Affem- blies, which did enjoine (ibfcription to the faid little Confefliony they were relative to the Ki n g s Mandate, which is now expired by his own Declaration, and with his Royail breath, according to that co- mori Maxime : M^rte mandator is expirat mandarnm. Extra. De officii drpoteflatejad'cis delegati ,Cap. 19. relatnm efl in gloffa. For the injun&ion was given for that time onely, as we conceive, being vvarrandedby the words of thefe AlTemblyes.
1 1 . Thefe th.it were fuipecl of Papiftrte amongfl: us , have not been urged by us to fubfcrive that negative Confejfion] but onely fome Articles relative to the Nationall Confeflion. And as for fuch as re- ; ceive degrees, In Philof ophie, in our Colledges/hey doe fvveare one- ly to
Dupt yes; Si
If to the true reformed Religion , as it is publicity profeffed and preached, according to GODS word, in this Kirke of Scotland, and eftablilhed by publicke Authority , with a generall abjuration of all, both Popith, and orher Herefies contrary thereto. And thofe who receive degrees of Divinity, doe more exprefly fweare to the Ortho- dox determinations of the ancient Catholicke Kirke t as is evident by the words of the Oath, whereof the tenor followeth,
EGo A. B.fanfte & ex anim* coram omnljcio & omnipotent t Deo confiteor & profiteor fidem earn qua de fanfta Trtnhate, & Me&atore Emmameleajanttis Patribus wfex primis OEcu~ menicis conciliis, contra Pauli Samojateni, Sabellu, Arii, Macedonia Apollinay'is, Neftorii, Eutjchetis, (jr Momthelitarumb&rejes propo* fit a ex f Heat a & defenfa eft, ejfe vereCh'iftianam, orthodox am, Co- tholicam, exjacris Canomcis fcripturis hauftam ', Symbolum quoqne fanEii A. hanafii at fimrfher orthodoxum me recipere* Item me ex a* nimo detest ari h&refin Pelaginam, ejufque reliquias SemifelagianO£r & eai harefes qua Imaginibus ant Ml mer<z creature > eligiojam con* eedunt adorationem. Item, me monarchiam Pap* Romani In univer* [am Ecclefiam, & ejpts cum in spirit uallbus turn In temporalibtts pri- matum, & judicii Papalis in religionis contr over (lis infallibiltatem^ tanquam antichy'iftiana delir amenta re]ice^ea Omnes etiam alias h<s~ refes tarn ol'm invcttas, turn recens fub Romani Pontificis tyr amide mat as anathematUo \Agmfco Spirit urn [anil; urn in Canonicis V ' j& N* Teftamenti fcripturis per Prophet as, Evangelist as, & Apoftolos /<?- quentem, ejfe nobis unicum, fupremum , wfallibilem, & ori'marium omnium de fidevitaqne Chriftiana contraverfiarum Judicem. Et S. fmpturaw Canomcis tf\ ac N. Teftamenti librh cimprehenfam ejfe unicam, cert am, ftabilem , perfeftam , totalem regulam fidel vitaque Christians, turn quoad textum, turn quoad interpret ationem authen* ticamfeu divim author It atis\ & hanc qua hodle in Ecclefia Scoticanft pfilam & public a amhoritate ex facro t> E I verb o proponitur decre~ dendis, fferandis, amand's, do&rinam ejfe orthodox am , Catholic am* Et xpf am hanc Ecclefia Scoticam doflrinam, me ad extremnm ufquz vita mea halitum conftanter per D E 1 gratiam profejfurum & : pro meaVQcatiomdefenfurumfanUe promippojuro. Infuper aim* huw
X Umvtrft*
f?i Duply e £j
Univerfiati cm buncfchAafl-rm (do&urac Theologica?) honor em leL beb), me tmnqnam wgrattim fmurum^ fed ' femper el ex ammo fawn- ram^ ejufqste commoday pie -ferioy feddo, fide liter promoter 'Hm fanfte etiameoram eodem omnfcio C7 omnipoiente DEO promitto juro9
We, who were graduated here, did fweare this Oath, and- now, for farisfactionof{6ihers,weall<3oe{incerIy atte^GOD, that we doe and iliall adheare lq ic, conitantly, all the dayes of our life.
1 2. Ye doe ngaine object tons, that we have prefumed to difal- low your explanation oii\\z\\xz Covenant, which hath beene publick- !'y allowed by his Majefties Commtilioner : adding thereto., that we will have the Kingdoms guikie of combination again** Authority, & that we will not have the Kin g to be fatisfied; whence ye mferre, that our dealing is morefutable to Papifts, andiuth mcendiaries,then for us; who defire to prove good Patriots, in ufihg all meanes of pa- cification. But certainly ye-wrong us i tor what was done by his Ma- jefties CommiiFi6ner,anent your -Declaration and explanation of your Covenant y is evident by his Grace own letter, lately written to us of that matter; whereby his Grace hath declared,thatbe was nowayes contented therewith, and that his Majelfy hath not received any fa- tisf iclion thereby. The lame is evident alfo, by his Grace own Ma- ftifeftoy prefixed to our Demands ', your firtt Anfrveres , and our firft Replies; reprinted at Edinburgh , by his Gr. fpeciall command. To the which Manlfeflo^ or Declaration or his Majefties highCommif- fioner. , we remit the Reader,forhis tull iitisfa&ion,in this,and fqme other points of your Anjweres,
13. ' We intend not to beare upon you, and your affociares, ( wh® . take to yourfelves the name of the Kingdom, here in this y<~>ur An- faere.) guiltineiTe of combination againft Authority, as we have pro- tected and declared, in the end of our f romer Replyes 1 but in the tendcrnefle of our Confciences, we doe uprightly iignifie to you our . fcrtiples, which hinder us from approving or fubfcrivtng youtCovenaut. And we are fo free of that odious imputation, of taking part wit h any Ihcendhrtes, or imitating any proceedings or that ki'nde; as we hear- tily wifh ,and -flaalV endeavour,io prove good Patriots,aiid'Chriftians> 1
m
Du V L YE S.1 8 1
in fuch evident love of trueth and peace,as k {halt be manifeft, that m neiiher have beene, norihali be Authors, or Fomenters, of this mifer bk combuihon.
14. Ye are fory, ye fay , that we Should account your Covenant^ to be a Confederate againft the trueth ; and ye'affirme, that ye la- bour with men, to ;oine with you in lincerity, and not through humane feires. Now, reverend Brethren, in the Feire of GOD, laying afide ail humane tea re, we doe ii nee rely declare, that if we thought your Covenant , m all points agjeahle to the trueth , we ihould make no- oppoiidon thereto. And wedoe hendly wiili , that according as ye doe h:reprofelle , io indeed no mm bethreatned wi h worldly ter-. roures, to goe yo :r way. We aime indeed , at the Tame end which yeprotefte, to wit, at the Trueth and purity of Religion, md peace of Church and Kingdom : But we are not as yet perfwided, that your Way is lawful! and convenient, for attaining co this end.
The II. Duply.
TTT TTE defire al troubles to be prevented by allowable means,. \/ Y^ but are not perf waded to reckon in that number , this your covenanting, and conventions, which we efteeme to have been the occafion of much trouble. As concerning your queftion^hereunto ye fo earneftly require our Ar:fwere, to wit,whe- ther we would have received the Bookes of Service and Canons , or ufed fuch meanes, as ye have ufed for avoiding them? ye ihall know, that if we had been of your judgement , concerning thoie Bcokes, we would neither have received them, nor yet ufed any meanes un- lawful! for oppofingof them,( fuch wethinke your Covenant and con- ventions^ prohibited by Authority to be , untill we be better infor- med ) but would have ufed humble fupplication to hismajeftie , for removing thofe evills: and if we had found noremeed thereby, would have refolved, according to the praeidfe of ancient Chriftians, either to flee his Majefties dominions,or elfe patiently to fuffer whadoever punithment it ihould have pleafed him to infli&.In the meane time, concerning thofe Biokps of Service and Canons^ we reft content with
bis
84 DuPLYES.
his MajeftieS gracious Proclamation : and if hereafter our opinion of them ihall be asked by Authority, we ihall fincerely and unparrially deciare it.
2. Your urging of us again, with the faying of Ki $ g James, for- ceth us to manifest his meaning by his own words, perhaps contrary to your with or expectation. That molt wiie and religious King, neire the beginning of his Booke, concerning the Powder Treafon^ wrireth exprefly, thar fuch a niing up of the bodie, pro aris, &focist &pro patre patrU , ought to be according to every ones calling and f acuirie. Which words at leait doe import, that the moving of the Politick body, in whole,or -in part,ought not to be againft the will 8t direction of the head. This is cleare by that which the fame Kin g bath written in his Booke entituled, 7 he true Law of free Monarchies, whereby many ftrong Arguments , he doeth at length demonftrate, that in a free Monarchic, (fuch he proveth this his ancient King- dom of Scotland to be) the Subjects for no occasion or pretext what- foever,may take Armes, without power from the K i n g; and much leife againfthim, whether he be a good K i n g , or an oppreilbur; whether godlie , or ungodlie ; although the People have might and ftrength humane. And comprehenderh the fum of all his difcourfe Lod edit, concerning this matter, in thefe words following. Short lie, then, to ann 1616 ta^ u¥m two or three fentences, grounded upon all thefe Argument s9 pacr# 200 out of the Law of GOD, the duety and alleadgeance of the People tg 2q" * their lawfull King: their obedience, I fay, ought to be to him, as ta GODS Lievtenant In Earthy obeying his commands in all things, ex- cept direttly againfl GOD, M the commands of GODS Minister; ac- knowledging him ajudgefet by G O D over them, having power t <? judge them, but to be judged onely byGOD, vehome to onely he muffr give count of his judgement. Fearing him, as their judge; loving him as their Father; praying for him, as their ProteUor ; for his continu- ance , if he be good; for his amendement,'f he be wicked;f oil owing and obeying his I 'm full commands , ef chewing and flee' ng his fme in his unlawfully without refinance, but by fobbes and teares to GOD, accor- ding to that fente nee ufed in the primitive Church in the time of the perfection,
Preces & lachryma, funt arma Eccle[ia : that is,
Prayers jmd Tears, are the armes of the Church. je Ye
M Ye told us before, and now againe doe repeat it, that the firft fart of the Ad of Parliament 1 585 , is relative to another -Aft in Queen Marks time, forbidding Bands o£ Manrenta We knew that fuffrciently before ye told it, and paffedby that part of your Ar.fwre, as not pertinent for our Argument : To that ye needed not now a- gaine, to put us in minde of it. But we may juftly challenge you, for not anfwering that which we objected , concerning the fecond part of that Ad; for it reacheth farther , then that Ad made in Queen Maries time, and of new ftatutech and ordaineth, That in t'me com- mlrigi no Leagues or Bands be made amongft his Mayflies Subjects sf any degree , upon whatsoever colour or pretence, without his High- neffe or hisfuccejfoures privity and conjent, had and obtained thereto^ under thepaine to be holden and execute a* movers of [edition and un~ quyetneffey&c. Whereunto alfo is confonant the 131. Ad made in the 8 Parliament of King J am e s the fixt, Anno 1 584; where it is flatutedand ordained by the Kin g and his three eftate s, that none of his Highnejfe Subjects of whatsoever quality, eftate , or function they be of, spiritual! or temporally pre fume or take upon hand to convocate, sonveane, or ajfemble themfelves together, for holding of C ounce llsy Contentions, or Affemblyes, to treat , confult, and determinate in a- fty matter of eftate , Civill or Ecclepafticall ( except in the ordinary judgements ) without his Majefties ffeciall commandement, or exprcs licence had and obtained to that ejfetl, under the paines ordained by the hawes and Alls of Parliament, againft fuch as unlawfully eonvocate the Kings Liedges. And whereas ye finde fault, that wediipute from the Ad of Parliament , and that we doe precifely adheare to the letter of the Law, we pray you to coniider,that the nature of this queftion leadeth us to the Ad of Parliament* Betide, it feemeth ftrange, that ye (houid challenge us in this kinde , (ince for juftifymg of your union* ( as ye call it ) ye have amafled a great number of Ads of Parliament , and inferted them in the booke of your Covenant a We omit the mifapplying of thefe Ads? which were made againft . Popery, and not againli all thefe things , which ye doe now refift as Popifh. Neither can we perceive, how thele Ads of Parliament ad« duced by )ou, to juftifie your union, prove that point. Moreover^ Come o£ thefe Ads cited by you> as namely 3 the 1 14 Ad made ia
Y Parliament
%6 DupueS
Parliament Anm 1 592,111 fofarre as it is againft Epifcopall Govern menr, and all other of that fore , are exprefly refcinded by a pofte* nor Act made in Parliament Anno 1612. How could ye in a le°all difpute, for juftifying your union, produce refcinded Acts, as if they were ftandmg Lawes, and paffe by the pcfterior A els, which are yet Lawes [landing in vigour, whereby theie other Ac-ts are refcinded?
«j (Ai1uy>tnrtptn e^i«T«f«s i j^tfpwsfiii ruv atrfi aW«» «?«. 1. Q.Con*
ft I tut tones tempore pofterlores^potiores funt his qu& ipfas pracefferunt* ff> de conftltutlonibus Frwcipum, L. 4.
4. We doe adheare in our former Replye, not onely to the Let- ter, but alfo (according to our conception, without prejudice of bet- ter information ) to the very reafon and life of the Law. The fen- XII. To- tence cired by you, to wit , Salm Reipub. fuprema lex efto9 or the bularum fafetj of the Common-Wealth jbould be the chief e &aw> ferveth for a fragment a good direction to Rulers, in making or changing of Lawes , or in de oifcio judging according to them : whence in the Lawes of the 12 Tables, confute, theie words are applied to this purpofe. This is obferved by Kin g Kegio Im- James of bleiTed memory, in his often mentioned Book of the true per 10 duo Law of free Monarchies : For albeit , fayeth he, that I have at length funto: 11% proved, that the Kin g is above the Law,as both the author andglv* pr&eundo , er of ftrength thereto', yet a good King will not onely delyteto rule his indicando, SubjeBs by the Law t but even will conforme himfelf in his own atti- eonfrlendo otts thereunto, alwayes keeping that ground, that the health of the co~ frttores , won-Wedth be his chief e Law. And where hefeeththe Law doubt- fudtces,co-fome, or rigorous, he may Interpret or mitigate the fame , left other- fules appel wife fummum jus be fumma injuria; But this fentence doth nowayes lantoriml- warrand Subjects to refufe obedience to ftanding Lawes, againft rhe UtUfum- will of the Supream Law- giver, who is a fpeaking Law. For this mum jus were to open a doore to all confufion, which would nor prove thefa- habento,ne fety, but the mine of the Common- Wealth. As for that which ye mim pare* faid before of the Generall Band, and Confeifion of Faith, and which to. Salus here again ye doe alleadge for your Covenant , we have (ignifled our fopull fa- opinion thereof , in our preceeding Duply. The refponfes and ver- frema lex di6ts of Jurif-Confults concerning your Covenant, are not known to eflo, us, nor yet the reafons and inducements, which moved them to give cut their declaration in yourfavoures, as yealleadge.
Of
Duplies: B%
Of Obedience, due by Sub je&s, to Authoritie.
5. The point touching Royal! Authority, is not fo full of thorns and rocks as ye give out , if men would be pleafed impartially to hold the plain and patent way, laide before us by holy Scripture, and by Orthodox Antiquity, and by many Eminent Divines in the re- formed Church , and learned Politicks; which we ihall here make manifeft, after the vindication of thofe three famous Theologues, ( Whitaker, Bilfm, and Rivet) whom ye would have the Reader to eiteem favourers of your opinion.
6. Doilor Jfhitakjrs words againft William Raynold , tranflated Into Englifti, out of the Latine Edition at Opfenheme , Anno 161 2 . Pag. 51. are thefe5 He relate: h the timnlts and troubles y which were raifedfor Religion, in Germany, Fnnce, and Boheme .• as if that one thing were fuffcient t9 condemne them , becaufe once they did off of e themfelves, and re ft fled the violence offered toG O DS Trueth, and to them (elves : Whereas notwithstanding, Fayth, Oath, andpublicke JEdi8s,& finally the Lawes themfelves gave themwarrandto doe the Jame. I will not fay more of this matter, which is nowife pertinent to the prefent pmpoje, especially feeing nst onely their JU ft Apoligle, but fdfo the EdiUs of the Princes themf elves have liberated them from the trime of Rebellion. By thefe words of Doctor JVhitakjr, which ye have cited, rhe Reader may eafily perceive , that he doth nowayes mamain or allowe taking of Armes by Subje6^s, without warrand of the pubiick Lawes , and approbation of the Prince; but excufeth what was done in thofe warres, by the allowance of the Lawes and Edicts of Princes.
7 . So alfo Do6\or Bilfon, in his Book entituled, The true differ ece betwixt Christian fubyeftion, and unchriftian Rebellion, Printed ac Oxford Anno 1 58 5, Pag. 382. in the wordes cited by you, declar- eth evidently , that he fpeaketh of fuch Republickes and States , as have defences warranded by fundamental! Covenant , in that Go- vernment. But what is that Doctors minde, concerning the duerie •f Subje6ts, in a free and absolute Monarchy , is evident by his own
words
88 ^ DuFLffeSJ
words in that fame book, Pat. 580, where difputing againft a Jcfuit, he fayeth; fVarre for the Cat%9lick^Religion,is both lawfull and homtu rable,you fay : you mult zMz , of the Subjects against their Prince^ or elfe you range cleane be fides our qusftion* fVeftrive not what caufes may lead Chriftian Princes to make Warre on their Ne'ghboures^ but whether it be lawfull or tvllorable for the Subject, to be are Armes against his naturall and abjolate Prince. Ton frove, which is nothing to our purpofe. B*t, Sir, in this enterprise , the per fan mufi be re- fbefted as well as the caufe : Be the caufe never fo jaft , iftheperfon be not authorised by GO D to draw the Swordthey be nojuft nor law* full Warre r. Private men may not venter on Warres , unleffe they be directly warranded by him that hath the Sword from GOD. And a- gain in that fame Book, Pag. 502, Oar Saviour for teaching hisv that they (hould be brought before Kings and Ruler s^and put to deaths and hated of all men for His Name fake : addeth not , as you would have it, and he that firfl rebelleth,lmt , he that endureth to the end\ fhallbe favedy and again, Not with violence reflrain them, hut in pa- tience proffeffe jour own fouls .This is the way for all Chriftian fubjeEls to conquer tyrants* & this is the remedy provide din the new Teftamet ■Sgainjl all per fe cut ions, not to rejifi powers, which GOD hath ordained^ lefl we be damned: but with al meeknes to fuffer that we may be crown- ed. And Pag. 51 3. he ihowech, rhat manifold formes of Common- wealrhes, make diverfe men fpeake diverily of the Magiftrats fword. AndP^g. 518. he pleadeth, that the Subjects m England, have not that lawtull warrand , to draw the fword without confent of their Prince, as the Germans have without confent of the Emperour ; and this diicourfc he proiecuteth in iome following pages.
8. The lame is the meaning of Doctor Rivet , ( as we take it ) in his commentarie upon the Pj aim. 68. where he diftinguifheth be- tween an ablolute principality, and fuch a principality as is only con- dkionali, pactional!, convenrionall. Of this fecond fort are to be un- derftood, his words 0? juft and necefifary defence. But of the ablolute .principality fpeaking in that fame place, he recommendeth to Sub- jects, rather fuffering of marcyrdome. And this to be his meaning, appearcth more clearly by his Lift declaration concerning rhisquef- tion, m his late tfdSifeenticuledy Jefuita Vapulam : where being
preffed
preffedby an advefary, hehandleth thisqueftion of purpofe. In the mean time, we wonder very much, that ye have not directly anfwe- f ed to thefe remarkable wordes of Doctor Rivet , alleadged by us in our Reply, wherein he plainly averreth, that the doctrine oiEnshan- erne, Knox, and Goodman, concerning Subjects refifting their lawful! Princes,is not approved by any found Proteftant. We expected from you, a full and particular Anfwete, and now againe we would gladly heare, whether ye approve the judgement of Rivet, concerning thae doctrine of thefe writers, or not.
p. Thus having vindicated thefe three divynes, which ye alleadge for you, we come now to thofe teftimonies which we promifed, for clearing of the plainnefs of the way touching Authority, Firft, it if evident by holy Scripture, that it is unlawfull for Subjects in a Mo- narchicall cftate,(fuch as is this Kingdom of Scotland)io take ArmeS for Religion, or for any other pretence, without warrand and power from the Prince, andSupreame Magistrate. For the Scripture reach- ed) us, that the Sword belongexh oneiy to the King, and to them who are lent by him, Rom. 13. 1. Pet. 2. 1 3. 14. That we ought u keep the Kin g s commandement, and that in re garde of the Oath of GOD, Ecclef, 8.2. And, that we fhould be fubject, not only for wrath but alfofor confcience fake; becaafe the powers that be, are ordained of GOD : whofoever therefore, fayeth S. Paul, re ft Beth the power, refifi- elh the ordinance of GOD, And they that refit, (hall 'receive to them- (elves damnation, Rom. 13. In the words of the Apoftle S. Paul, there is a remarkable oppofition betwixt fubjection and refinance, £roT*'??«3£ and *fTiT*Vs«ft ; implying^ that all militarie T.£f ^whether, defenfive , oroffenfive, if it be againft the fuperiour Power, which GOD hath fet over us,is forbidden. In like manner we reade Matth. 26.52. that all they that take the Sword,(hall perifh with the Sword. Nowcertaineit is, that in a free Monarchic, Subjects have not tbtf Sword from GOD, except by the hand of the King, to whom only GOD hath immediately given it. And therefore whofoever taketh the Sword without his warrand, hath juft reafon to feare the forefaid warning of our Saviovr. Many ocher places of Scripture might be adduced to thispurpoie, which for brevity we omit, and doe pro- ceed in the next rowme to fome teftimonies of ancient Fathers, and
9®
DUHYE6
other writers.
10. Tertulliau, in his Apotogeticke, chap. 30. and 33, and 37, telleth vs, that the ancient Chriiiians in his time, although having a» heathen and perfecuting Emperour,did honour him,as chofen of God, and fecond from GOD, and firft after GOD3 and did choofe rather to fuffer, then to make refittance by force of ArmeS , although they lacked not number, and ftrength to doe it.
1 1 . The like example have we in that renowned Thebean Legion of 6666 ChriftianSouldiers, called Agaunenfes, from the place of their f offering, who without making reiiftance , as they had ftrength oi hand to have done, fuffered themfelves rather to be flain, for their Chriftian profeflion, by the Officers of Maxlmlan the Emperour, executors of his cruelkommandement againft them. This fell out in the 18 yeare of Diocletian^ Ado Viennenfts writeth in his Chronicle, which was the yeare of GOD 297, as Cardinall Baronius reckoneth in his Annalls. And of that their Chriftian cowrage, and pious reio- \\xaoi\VetjantiHs Fortunate an ancient Bifhop of Poittiersjt&th left unto us thefe Encomiafticke lynes, in the fecond book of his* Poems^ 3iblioth. Patr. Tom. 8. Edit. 4. Pag. 781.
Quels, pofitis giadiis, funt armae dogmate Pauli9
■; Nomine pro CHRJST1 dulcius ejfe mori. PeElore belligero potcrant qui vincere ferrof Jnvitant jugulis vulncra chara[uis.
1 2. Cregorle Naz,ianz,cny in his firft: Oration,fpeaking of the per- fection by Julian the Apoftatt , when the Chriftians were moe in number, and ftronger in might of hand,to have made open refiftance, if they had in their confeiences found it agreable to their Chriftian profetfion,dechreth plainly,that they had no other remedy againft that perfecution, but patient fuffering for Chrift, with gloriation in Chrift,
vTrlp Xjus"k •&»v«tov.
1 3. S. Ambrose, having received imperiall commandement , to deliver the facred Houlcs,or Churches, to be poffeffed by the Arians% declareth what he thought convenient to be done in fuchacafe; to wit, neither to obey in that which he could not performe with a good
conference^
Duply es, $i
Confcience,nor yet to refill by force of Armes. * His wordes ro the people, (Condone i. contra Auxentium) arethefe; a whj9thc#y are a Qyid er- ye troubled} I [ball never willingly leave you. If I be compelled > I go turba- eannotgain-ftand. I may be for y, I may weepy I may [igh. Againflmini} vo- Armesy Souldiers% the Gothes alfey my Teares are Armes : For fuch lens nun- are the G uarde sofa Prieft. Otherwife I neither ought normay refifl.quam vos And m thefecond book of his Epiftles, and 14 Epiftle , co his Sifter defer amy Marcellinay{peaking of that fame purpofe , he fayeth ; b^Ifeallmt cafinsre-
fort i fie my felfe with a multitude of people about me. We be- pugnare tio
feechy O Emperour, we fght not,, , / may not deliver the Church; novi. Do- but I ought not make refiflance. lere potero
potero fie- re^poterogemere; adverfus arma, militcSy Gothos quoque , Lacrhjms meaarma funt. Talia enim muniment a funt facer dot is. Allter nee debeonec poffum refifle- re. b Non egomivallabo circumfufione populorum. — RogamMy Augu(le7 nonpugnamus. * Trader e ' Bajili cam non poffum , fedrepugnare nondeheo.
14. Such alfo was the doctrine and jjra&ife of many other great Lights, which fliined in the dayes of Julian the Apoftate , and in the dayes of the Arrian Emperoures, and Gothicke Arrian Kings.
1 5. S. A%guslineymitmg of a lawful! Warre,acknowledgeth that
only tobelawfull, which hath authority from the Prince. For it is Inter efi e- much to be regarded^ ( fayeth he )for what caufesy and by whofe au- nim quib0 thorny , men undertake Warres : But that naturall ordery which i* ac- caufu^quU commodated to the peace ofmortall meny reqaireth thisy that the au- buffy au* thority and eomfell of undertaking warrejbe in the power of the Prince, thorib9 ho~
mines ge- renda bella fufeip iant * or do tamen ille naturalis , mortalium pad accomodatus hoc pofcit, ut fufcipiendi belli authoritas , at qui conflium penes Principem (n. Aug, Lib. zz. contra Fauflum^ Cap. 7 5.
16. The imperiail Lawes doe fay the fame, jf. Ad legem Juliam majeflatis. Leg. 3. Eadem lege tenet ur , & qui injuffu Prtnapis beU famgefferity deleftumve habuerity exercitum cemparaverit. Ft Cod. ut armor urn ufus infcio Principe inter diftus fit. Nulli prorfm nobis infeiis , at que inconfuhis quorum libet armorum mwendorum copia
tribuatur
$z D u "p i ¥ e 52
tribaatur. Thefe "arc the words of the Emperoures V'alentlman "and Valens. Et Cod.de re militart7 Leg. 1 3. iSfcww i0#7?.r. iVJ?«w «m7« treljtfo vacet , w/ 4 /*>#* obfcquia fine mtn frwclfall feragere an* deat) &c.
17. ZW/#, in his firft Book de RefMica, Cap. 10. Num. 155 and 1 56, ( /%. 244. £^V. Latin, 4. #r/*//. -^##0 1601 ) reckon- ed] among the proper rights of Majtity^the right and power to make Wane: and this he inoweth to appertain, in a free Monarchic , to the Prince onely.
18. To this meaning fayeth Peter Martyr; As concerning the efficient caute , it is certain that Warre may not be made without the authority of the Prince. For Paul fayeth , that he beareth the Sword : therefore he may give it to whome he willeth, and may take it from whome he willeth. Loc. Com. Clajf. 4. Cap. 16. § a. And a little after, to wit, § 7. he reciteth and commendeth a faying of Ho ft ie n(is to the lame purpofe.
19 Cdvlrty in the fourth Book of his Inftitutions,in the laft Chap- ter of that Book , difputeth the Queftion at length , and by many ftrong Arguments evinceth, and concludeth, that it is nowife lawful! for Subjects , to relift their Prince by force of A tines; whether the Prince be godly, and juft; or ungodly, and unjuft in his convention, and commandements" : and, that nothing remaineth to Subjedls in fuch a cafe, but to obey or furTer. Where understand , that Fleing is a fort of Suffering. Neither are his words Tub joined in the 31 SeB. to wit, I fpeake alwiie of private men , &c. contrary to this. For flrlt Calvin in this Difpute, indifferently ufeth the names of private men, and Subjects : And therefore , in the 22 SeB. at the HU^OGro- beginning of it, he termeth thofe of whole duety he difputeth, Sub- twlde fit- )^s- Anc* ^n^ce(^) whofoever is a Subject, is alio, in refpe& of the. re Mil & fupream. Ruler, a private man. Akhough Magiftrats,who are under vacis lb 1 r^e K I N G> '3e Pu^uc^ Perons> *n refpect of their Infenours; yet be« c & a ' mo confidered, w^tn rehtion to him that is Supream, 1. Pet. 2. 1 3. ^* t they are but private. As in D'alefticke , an intermediate ??#*#, aL though in refpecc of the mfenour species , it be a genus; yet in rela- tion to the fupetiour germ'^x. is but a species. All Power of Govern- ing, is fo f ubje&ed to the Supream Power > that whatfoever is done
againft
againft the will of the fupream Ruler, is deftitute fef that Power; and eonfequently, is to be efteemed for a private a£t. For , as we are taught by the Phtlofophers , Order can not be, but with a reference to that which is firft. Hence King Jam e s, in his Book of The true Averroes Law of fee Monarchies, Pag. 206. affirmeth, that all the 'People are 5. Meta- but private men, the authority being alwife with the Magiflrate, Se- phyf com~ condly, this is manifeft from the very words of Calvin, in that fame ment% 69 31 Seti. for there heexcepteth none from the neceffity of obeying, ©r furfering, when Kings command things imjuft; but onely popular Magiftrats, appointed for retraining the licentioufneffe of Kings. Now, where fuch Magiftrats are erected, it is certain, that a King, in fuch a Common-wealth, hath not the fupream power : For if he had the fupream power, none could force him, fince an Infenour can not force his Superiour. This can not be done?but onely by him,who is Superiour, or at leaft equall. Thirdly, this is clear alio by the ex- amples adduced by Calvin ; namely, the Lacedemonian Ephori, the Roman Tribunes, and the Athenian Demarchi. When the Ephori were fet up in Lacedamon, the Kings of Laced&mon, were but Kings See Hugo in name, and had not the Supream power , as it is confeffed by the Grorius,<& Learned. So when the Tribunes had their full power in Rome, the Jure belli Supream power was in the People : and in like manner it was in A. & pacisr thens, when the Demarchi had power. Therefore, from this nothing Pag . 66. can be inferred for the lawfull refiftance of Subjecl;s,to a Monarch, or where he King, properly fo called. Fourthly, Calvin applying this to the King- citeth fun- dames tbac now are, fayeth no more,but that peradventure the three dry anciet Eftates affembled in Parliament, have that fame power, which the Authors, fore-mentioned Ephori, &c. had. Here iris to be marked, that he fayeth onely, peradventure hisfo; which can be no warrand to a mans confcience,in a matter of {0 great importance. For he that re- £(ieth his Superiour by force of Armes, fhould not onely thinke, that peradventure he hath power, but fliould beaffuredly perfwaded, that he hath power fo to doe. When there is no more faid, but that per- adventure-fuch a thing is, it may be as reafonablie faid , Peradven- ture fuch a thing is not. Neither doeth he give this power even per- adventure, but to the three Eftaces affembled in Parliament. Hence the learned Rivet 7 fpeaking of Calvm his minde in this piace/ayerh,
A a * thac
94 DllFLYE $«
Rivet , in that hegiveth no power to people over Monarehs , properly fo ealU^
hisjefuita The fame alfo is obferved, concerning Calvin his minde, by Albert*
vapulans , chs Gentility in his third Royal Diffme.
Cap. 13. 2°. The fame doctrine alfo is delivered by King James of blek fed Memory, in his Book entituled The true Law office Monarchies, by Hugo Gtqtius in his firft Book de jure belli & pacis, Cap. 4. by Leonhartus Butter its , in his common places , Loc.yz. Cap. 3. J<?- hames Gerhardus in the 6 Tom. of his comon places, in his Treatife de maftittratu politico, Num. 48 3. where lie difcourfeth accuratly of this matter: Zepperus in his 3. Book dePolitia Eccle[iafticaj\\ the lad Section of the 13 Chapter,?^ $7 3. Edit. Berbom. 1595. AU herieus Gtmilisjft his regall difputations, diffrut.^ %^de vi avium m Regemfemper injufia. Jfllwz Bifhop of Rochefter^in his work written agamft Bellarmine, de potest ate Papa in rebus temporalibus} Lib. ie Cap, 8. CUf. 2. Where he adduceth a clowd of many moe Au- thors. M. Antonius de Domms^in his Bcok called Oflenfio errorum Francifci Suarez,) Cap. 6, § 27. Johannes Angelius Werdenhagen, I, C. in his Polhica generdisy Lib, 3* Cap. 10. Q^teft, 14.
2 1 . By thefe Tettimonies we intend not to lay upon you , or any of our Country men, any imputation, or to take upon us to give fen- tence concerning their proceedings : but onely being invited hereto by your laft An(weres^Q thought it our duety,to fignifie to ihe Read- er, that many ancient and late famous Wrkters are not of that opi- nion, eitherto think the queftion touching Authority ,fo full of Rocks and Thorns, as you call it, or yet tofavourfucha defenfive taking of Armes,as you think to be allowed by fVhitaker^Bilfo^md Rivet*
22. Now to profecute what remaineth of your Anfwere 1 where- £5 ye fay, that .when ye juftifie yowiCovenants and Conventions/rom theirpurpofedends, ye meane not onely the laft andmoft remote ends, but the neareft and immediate ; we pray you tell us . what ye ineaneby the neareft and immediate end : if ye meane the object ic it felfe,( which the Schoole-men call fwem intrinfecnm & proximum) then the lawfulnetfe and equity of the matter, vowed and promifed in. the Covenant^ all one with the goodnelle of the end of it. Whence we inf erre, that feeing the matter promifed by you in this your Co-. wnant) to wit, your mutuall defence againft all perfons, none, excep- ted,
DlifLYES? $$
teds is in our judgement unlawfull, and forbidden by a lawfull Au- thority; the end, of your Covenant it mcerly evill : but if by the near- eft end ye meanc any thing which is diverfe from theobjeft , then we ftitt affirme againft thelaft part of your firtt An[veerey to our fe- cond Demandjhit Conventions,and Covenmu^cA all other a&ions, ar^ to be efleemed and judged of, firtt or principally by the equity of the obje^, and then by the goodnelfe of the ends of it,, whether they be fines proxwij or fines remoti.
23. We doe not joyne with the Papifts , blames* of our Refor- mation, ( as ye leeme to bcare upon us ) becaufe they hate and op- pugneour reformed Religion , which we love and defend. Neither doe we take upon us to cenfure the proceedings of our Reformers: bun weftryve,by the Grace of GOD, fo to carry in our own time, and to walke wifely in a perfect way, as our adversaries the Papiftes,may get no advantage to pleade for their unwarrantable do£hinean*i pra&ifes, by any pretence of our example.
The IIL Duply.
IN your third Anfaere, palling lightly from our Repfy ye fall int€> fome unexpected digreflions, concerning the Service Book^ and' our thoughts thereof : weefteeme it a matter beyond the com- pafs of humane, judicatory , to fit upon the thoughts of other men. As for thofe outward expreilions, which ye alleadge upon fome of us, of not feeing errouresin that Book, or groaning for it ; ye fliall un- derftand, that fuch multiplicity of Popiih erroures , as was alleadged by fome of you, to be in that Book, was invisible to fome of us. Al- though to enter in a particular examination orcofideration,of every poynt and f entrance in that Book, is not now time nor place. - Neither did any of us profefle groining for that Book in particular, but for an uniformity of divyne Service throughout this Nationall Kirk , and a- more perfect forme then we yet have, that the publick Service were not permitted to the feverall judgements, and private choife,of every Minifter and Reader. Which alto was thought convenient by the Na- lionall Affembly of the Kirkof&tfW, holdenat Aberdene^.. Anm i6*6. z. Whether
&
Dupl Y!S
%. Whether that Service Book, (now difcharged) containerh any Innovation of Religion, or any thing contrary to the Proteftant Re- ligion, (as ye alleadge) we doe not difpute now. But we doe affur- edly believe, the piety and fincerity of His M* jetties intention, ever to have been, and ftiil conftantly to be, as it is graciouily declared by His Majetties late Proclamation. And we are certainly pert waded, that His Majefty hath given order, to difcharge all the A&s of Coun- fell,made anenc the Canons and Service Book^y and are credibly in- formed, that they are dilcharged by A& of Counfell, [at Holy-Rood- Houfe, the fifth of Jnllie laft ] according to the order given by His Majefty. Alfo, we fee no fuch juft caufe of Fear^s may import your alleadged neceility of Covenanting ; feeing His Majefty will not preife any thing of that nature, but in fuch a taire and legal! way, as (hall fatisfieall his loving Subjects : that he neither intendeth inno- vations in Religion norLawes; as we declare in our former Replyey to which ye have not fufHciently anfwered. Neither was it necefia- ry, for removing of any juft Feares , that his iacred Majefty fhould difaliowe that Service Book.jZS ye require; but it was fufficient, to difcharge it, in manner forefaid. v*
3. Ye doe conclude your Anfwere unto our third Replye, with an uncouth and incredible Pciition , whereof ye bring no proofe at all, but onely this bare Affertion; Whofoever profefe themf elves, to bee perfectly fatisfied with the Proclamation, doe proclaime in the ears of all the Kingdom, that they are better pleajed with the Service Book, and Canons, then with the Religion , as it hath been profejfed in this Land fwce the Reformation. This your Thefts, is fo evidently weak, that we need no more for the over- throw thereof , buttooppofe thereunto this our piayn and undenyable A nth he/is; Whoprofeffe the m\ elves to be perfectly fat is fed with that Proclamation , whereby the Service Book, and Canons are dif charged, and the Religion pro- fejfedin this Land fwce the Reformat! on, is eflablifhed, doe proclaime in the ears of all the Kingdom, that they are better pleafed with the Religion profejfed in this Land face the Reformation, then with the Service Book, W Canons,
THE
DUPL YEs£ J7
The IV. Duply;
YEs alleadged before, and now again doe affirme,thar we have miftaken your Interpretation of the old Covenant , as if it had been given out judicially by you, and, as if ye had intended to enforce it upon ochers. To free y our ielves of this imputation, ye faid in your firlt Anfwere, that ye intended onely To make knowne jour own meaning according to the mjnde our Reformers , and in charity t» recommend It to others. Hence we inferred in our Re f lye , that ye ought not to obr rude your Interpretation upon us, nor moleftany man for not receiving trie fame. To this now ye fay in your fecond Anfwere; Although you neither ufe threatnlngs, nor obtrude jonr In- terpretation upon US) yet wemuft far don you, If ye match us not with the great eft part of this Kingdom, In whofe name, by all fair meanes ye recommend it to us. Truely, Brethren, we are not offended with you, for preferring rhe judgement of fo many, to our judgement,who are but few in number : neither need ye to crave pardon of us for this. But concerning thefe fau£ meanes , and that force of reafon whereby, ye fay, ye recommj^our Interpretation of the old Co- venant to us, pardon us, if the experience we have , both of .your writings and proceedings , make us to oppofe this your affertion. For in your writings we expected indeed, but have not found that force of reafon,whereof ye fpeake: and as for the proceedings of thofe who have fubfcrived your Covenant, we of all men have lead reafon to believe that they ufe no threatnings,feeing we hear day lie fomuch their threatnings againft our (elves.
i. Whereas for clearing of that which ye faid before, concerning the minde of our reformers, ye affirme, that The authoritative judge- ment of our reformers is evident, not only by the confejfion of Faith ra- tified In Parliament y but alfo by the books of Dlfclpllne, ABs of Gene- rail Ajfemblles, and by their own writes : Firfl, we marvell , how ye can fay, that the private writings of Matter Knox, and others, who with him were inftruments of that great worke of Reformarion,have publicise Authority to obliedge the Subjects of this Kingdom. The legiflative, and obligatory power of the Church, is only in Synods or
B b conventions
hi
DttFt ¥ nsl
*
conventions of Bifhops and Presbyters , and not in particular ^u fons expreffing their minds apart. Next, this Church in the former age, by abrogating the office of Supermtendants , eilablifhed in the firii book of Difcipline^hath declared, that the ftaturs and ordinances contained in thofe books, are not of an authority perpetually obliga- tory, but may be altered or abrogated by the Church , according ta the^exigencie of ryme. The fame likewiie is manifeft by the abroga- tion of fummary excomunication, which this Church did abolifli, al- though it was eftablifhed in Generall Aifembiies, wherein Mailer KnoX) and other Reformers were prefent. We need not to infift much in this, feeing fo many of you, who are Subfcribents, mif-re- gard the ordinances of our Reformers, prefixed to the Tfalm Book* concerning the office of Superintendants, or Bifhops, Funerall Ser- mons, and fet formes of Prayer, which they appointed, to be pub- lickly read in the Church. Hence the Reader may perceive, that ye have nowarrandfor your Interpretation of the old Covenant , from- the authoritative, and obligatory judgement, of the Reformers; fee- ing ye can not ground it upon theConfeffion of Faith ratified in Par- liament. As for thofe other meanej»entioned by us, to wit, Scrip- ture,Antiquitie,and confent of the Warned Churches,that they tru- ly make for us, and again!! you, the unpartiall Reader may perceive by thefe ©nr Difputs.
Whether or not Epifcopacie and T earth Articles, be abjured in the late Covenant.
3. As for the fecond miftaking mentioned by you in your An~ fivere, vve did fhow in our Replyey that in your Covenant , Peartb Ar~ • tides-, and Epifcopacy, are abjured. And for proving of this , we • iriked of you,what ye meaned by the recovery and liberty of the Gof- pell, as it was eftabliflied and profefkd before the forefaid Novate ons •} and what is that period of tymejto which your words there have' reference ? that is , Whether it be that period of time , when the Service Book, and Book of Canons , were urged upon you ? or if it be the time, when Vwth Article? , and Epifcopacy, were received
in this
DUPLYES. £5
hi this Church > But, truely, your Anfwere to this , is nowife fatis- factory, nor hath ( o much as a (how of fansfacVion. For ye are afraid co expretfe chat period of time, kit ye Deforced to grant, that which we before objected. And yet your fpeach bewrayeth you : For feeing ye aniw^re onely to that which we faid concerning the laft of theic two periods, we colled, that by the recovery of the liberty and puri- ty of the Gofpell , as ic was eftabiiftied before thefore-faid Novati- ons, ye mean the reducing of the Policy of this Church, unto that e« ftatein which it was, before T earth Articles, and Epifcopacy, were eitablifhed. And hence we inferre, as we did before, that in that part of your Covenant , ye condemne and abjure Pearth Articles, and Epifcopacy, as contrary to the Purity and Liberty of the Gofpelh
4. Yefeeme to aniwere, that in that part of your Covenant , ye condemne not, Pearth Articles, and Epiicopacy, but thofe abufes & corruptions, which have accompanyed them y fuch as the Superflu- ous observing of dayes, ceffation from work on thofe dayes, Fearing, Guyfing, and the grofle abufes, which have entered in the Saerametj upon kneeling before the Elements : and, that in refpec-t of thefe a- bufes, we who allow Pearth Articles , and Epifcopacy, may fweare without prejudice of our caufey to recover the Purity and Liberty of the Gofpell , as it was eftablifhed, and profeffed , -before thefe Novations,
5. But, firft, let any indifferent, orunpartiall man, whoknoweth the ftate of our Church, judge, whether or not it be lykely,that yous Vowe, of the recovering the Liberty and Purity of the Gofpell, as it was before Epifcopacy, and Pearth Articles, were introduced , im- porreth onely an intention of removing of the confequents of Pearth Articles, and Epifcopacie, and not of the removing of thofe things themfelves ? Truely we are perf waded, that they who know the ftate of this Church, and your mind, concerning thefe things , will think this your Glofle of your own words, to be violent, and excogitated for eluding our Argument.
6. Secondly : W ho can thinke, that ye, and others^ contry vers of the late Covenant , who condemne Pearth Articles, and Epifcopacie, as much as ye doe the confequents of them, have only vowed, to re- move their confequents^ and not remove themfelves ?
" - - ^ 7*Thir&
IOO DU HlfE S„
7. Thirdly, is it pollibte, that any can promife and vow, tolafcorfc for the curing of fo mwy , and fo great pretended deieaies of this Church, ( we meane thefe abufes which ye lay , have accompanyed Peart h Articles and Epifcopacie,) and in the mean time promue,and intend nothing concerning the removing of the caufes of rhem ?
8. Fourthly, how can we, without grear prejudice of our caufe, acknowledge, that thefe groffe abufes mentioned by you , have en- cred in the Sacrament , by kneeling bef >rc the Elements ( ye fhould have faid at the receiving ot rhe Elements ) for feeing kneeling at the receiving of the Sacrament , is conf eifed by us to be a mat- ter indifferent; it' in our Oath , we acknowledge thefe groffe abufes to have entred in upon kneeling, it will probably follow in the judge- ment of fame, and in our judgement, who recommend this Oath un- to us, it will follow infallibly, that kneeling for the evill confequences thereof, ought to be removed. Doe ye not here cunningly deale with us ? For although ye urge us not, as ye fay, to fweare and promife the removing of kneeling, yet ye urge us, by your own confetfion, to promife the removing of thefe abufes occafioned by kneeling : which being acknowledged by us,ye will then take upon you to demonftrate, that kneeling it felfe ought to be removed : for ye hold it for a Max- irte> that things indifferent, being abuied and polluted with Superfti- tion, fliould be aboliilbed. We cannot Efficiently marvell, how yee who are of this minde, can fay to us , that we who allow V earth Ar- ticles and Epifcopacie, may fweare to recover the liberty and purity of the Gofpeli, as it was before, &c. For ye meane, that we may doc fo, without prejudice of our caufe. But we have already fhown, that according to your judgement and doctrine, if we fweare that which ye would have us to fweare, our caufe (hall be much prejudged, yea, utrerly loft.
9. Fiftly : How