Reason I.

In strictness of Law, because one so qualified, hath wilfully dis­abled or rendred himself uncapable of that benefit, which the Com­mon Law (after the usual course of Descent) doth positively require; for 'tis presumable that he that succeds in the Office of the Crown, should be Legally Adopted to execute so great a Trust; and therefore if Minus, Idoneus, be not sufficiently ballasted with the Notion and In­trigues of State, others are to govern in aid of him, as in case of Idio­cy, Lunacy, or the like, and the Parliament is bound (as intrusted to redress Grievances, and secure the Nation) to place it where Religion and Property shall be adjudged most safe.

There are several Presidents of this Nature.

• 1. Edgar Atheling (as Stories agree) was the undoubted Heir, yet William the Norman, commonly called the Conquerer, was called in to oppose Harold, and invested with the Crown; and Atheling for ever an Exile, and dis-inherited.
• 2. After him succeeded his Second Son William Rufus, and not Ro­bert the Eldest.
• 3. King John not only laid aside, after Plantaginet his Eldest Bro­thers Son; but likewise put him to Death.
• 4. In Sicily there was lately a great Contest between the two Sons of Charles the Second, Mortel [...] and Robert, and I find the Crown awarded [Page 2]to Robert the Younger, as Magis dignis ad Regnandum.
• 5. Alexander was demanded to whom he would bequeath his Sce­pter, he said, The Worthiest, and to him whose Sword had the sharp­est point; meaning, whose Vertues were most Luculent, and of the brightest Integrity: after the disposition of Jacob, passing by Manasses, and conferring the Blessing upon Ephraim the Younger, as more de­serving, and acceptable to God.
• 6. The State of France rejected the King of Navarr, and appointed another to Reign over them, because of his Religion. And when after­wards the said King of Navarr came to be Henry the Fourth of France; it was by his forsaking God, and complying with the Church of Rome, by means of which he thought to settle the Crown upon his head, but was so much mistaken therein, that he thereby lost both Crown and Life together.

Reason II.

Can it be thought but that he that succeeds in the Crown should not succeed Concurrent [...]bus his qui injure requirunt, as the Civil Law ex­presses it, that is in all the concerns thereof, which are the Laws, prin­cipally those that relate to Religion, & not for one man led away with a blind perverseness, renouncing the Religion he knows not why (and so wilfully attainting himself) to inthral the Nation in Superstition and Tyranny; for regularly in all parts where Popish Lords are in the Church, there Tyranny (on course) rages in the State.

Reason III.

'Tis a maxim amongst Lawyers, that Lex facit Regem, and maxims must not be denied; if so, then to speak out after the true intendment of Law, he that comes not to the Crown satiatim, as the Laws notifies and prescribes, 'tis no lawful succession, but down right Usurpation. And without scruple, 'tis the endeavour of every good Christian to withstand an Usurper, it being undoubtedly more pleasing to God to put one man by, who thus wifully disables himself, and withal most shame­fully usurps, than expose millions of souls to damnation, and the streets to flow with blood by suffering that Religion to creep in, whose refor­mation (at the mildest rate) will certainly prove Fire and Faggor.

For this very cause Maacha was removed (from being Queen) by her Son King Asa, for making an Idol in a Grove, incited thereunto by the the Prophet Azariah.

Reason IV.

The Succession of the Crown, and a common Descent much differ; for if an Heir that's a Subject prove loose and debauched, it little dam­nifies the Publick, more deserving persons may happily perchance step into his possessions, and be more serviceable to the Publick; the da­mage is still but private to his own Family; but in case of the Crown, there is none so senseless but must needs conceive the damage most fatal because universal.

[Page 3] The whole Nation must inevitably suffer; Religion subverted, and Popery destroyed, and the whole People in danger of their Lives. 'Tis well known in a private case, the Heir is usually thrown off and dis­inherited: if an entail, it may be destroyed: and if Law justifies it, the like in the Publick. And therefore the grand Inquisitors of State, and Conservators of the Liberties of England, the Parliament, may for weighty Causes refuse the Heir presumptive, and for the Safety of the Nation settle it where they in Honour and Prudence shall conceive most proper.

Reason V.

We read in Scripture (which is the Golden Rule that we must walk by) that Libnab revolted from Jehoram, because he had forsaken the God of his Fathers; so we had better forsake man, and adhere to God in keeping our Religion, than trust to man, and lose God, to be unavoid­ably destroyed here, and hereafter irrecoverably damned in serving Baal, and parting with the Divinity now established.

Reason VI.

When R [...]boboam had prepared a great Army to redude the Israe­lites, he was forbidden by the Prophet. Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your Brethren, for they are from me; mark, he calls them Brethren, not Rebels.

Passive Obedience therefore is simple, and fit for such, that knows no better; now God has discovered the Snare and the Pit of Ruine that the Pope and the Devil has prepared for us, if we do not timely countermine it by Cautionary Laws, to suppress those that digg'd it, we may in a short space be thrown into it headlong, and none pity us.

But the Right Line with some shallow pated Talkers, is a Noli me tangere, so sacred (forsooth) that we must rather venture Body and Soul in subjecting our selves to all the Curses imginable that Hell it self can inflict on us, than in the least alter or controul it; a very frivolous Cavear, and not to be heeded by us; for humane Examples (as I shewed before) have been noted against it, and the Scripture warrants it. Sa­muel foretold in the case of Saul, that he would be rejected for his disobedience, though not his Person degraded or deposed, yet that the Kingdom should be removed, both from his Line and Tribe, which was done accordingly, and transferred on David: This proves very fully that the Heirs, or the next in Succession, are not so immovably placed, but that they may lawfully (on just cause) be displaced, if not legally qualified, and other put up for God's Glory in their rooms. God raised Jehu to purge Idolatry against the House of Ahab; all the Sons of Ahab were beheaded, and in a manner his whole Line cut off. For his good service, he had a promise of a special Blessing for his Issue to con­tinue the Throne to the fourth Generation. Several other Instances I could give, but this may suffice.

[Page 4] In brief, there's no Reformed Church, from the first Waldenses of Lyons and Languedock, to this very day, but have held it lawful.

Reason VII.

It's conceited by half-witted States men, that restrictive Laws may prevent all mischiefs, and secure the Protestants; a very vain Opinion, and most fallacious; for Laws will never bind, but more intage; thackle him as ye will, and load him with never so many Laws when King, he and his Parry will be restless, till they have set themselves at Liberty, to have the Protestants under; for when King, he's not impeachable, and the Post Regni will be at his disposal.

When the Wolf is Shepherd, the Flock is very safe indeed, and like to be well looked after, all may devour that will; for if his Party com­mit such out-rages, that no Age can parallel, what will they do then? Now, no man is safe in his bed then none safe at all; they will ad­venture to murder people in their very houses; for they hold it no more sin than to kill a Dog.

Reason VIII.

In fine, be sure he and his Party (which will increase daily, and the Protestants decline) will soon get an opportunity either by Stratagem, or open Force, to avoid all Laws, though they are never so strong and wary, and therefore it will be impossible to be safe without a Protestant Successor.