THat the Priests lips should preserve know­ledge, Mal. 2. 7, 8. whereby men may be incourag­ed to seeke the Law at their monthes, in the Scriptures assertion, that they have often departed out of the way, Zachar. 13. 3. Jer. 23. 21. and caused many to stumble, is most mens observation, and the old Arti­fice of a presumptuous arrogation to themselves the name of the Lord, and of his mission (when he sent them not) to charme the people into a credulo [...] recep­tion of their deceitfull sayings, is still in use, a proofe where­of, is newly exhibited in a late Pamphlet; whose Frourice­piece flourisheth with the specious [...]wordxs [...] of deep devotion; cal­ling it, A SERIOVS AND FAITHFƲLL RE­PRESENTATION OF THE JƲDGEMENTS OF MINISTERS OF THE GOSPELL WITH IN THE PROVINCE OF LONDON, CON­TAINED IN A LETTER FROM THEM TO THE GENERALL AND HIS COƲNCELL [Page 2] OF WARRE, DELIVERED TO HIS EXCEL­LENCY BY SOME OF THE SƲBSCRIBERS JAN: 18. 1648. wherein we observe:

First, the Letter writers, set forth, first by their function, Ministers of the Gospell: secondly, the place of their residence and relation, WITHIN THE PROVINCE OF LONDON.

Secondly, the persons to whom it wan written, THE GENERALL AND HIS COƲNCELL OF WARRE.

Thirdly, the nature and subject matter of this Letter, viz. ASERIOƲS AND FAITHFƲLL REPRE­SENTATION OF THEIR JƲDGEMENTS, &c.

First,Jer. 23. 21. the Letter-writers are (as they say) Ministers of the Gospell, so the false Prophets of old, pretended to be the Prophets of the Lord; so the Pope, Christs grand Embassa­dour and Vicar upon earth, so the Popish Priests and Jesuits, the Ministers of Christ; so the Prelates, and Prelaticall Par­sons, Vicars, and Curats, the Ministers of the Gospell; so many others as faithfull, serious, judicious, learned, and god­ly as these that are of quite contrary judgement to them, and the contents of this Letter, doe stile themselves the Ministers of Christ, messengers of the Gospell, &c. Which of these shall the people beleeve? Surely who ever among them can vindicate their Divine origination, these men have administred cause sufficient to question their abilities hereunto, especially concerning the present Message, which in the name of the Lord they here tender unto the Generall and the Councell of Warre as from the Lord, wherein they doe very authoritatively, as from Christ, charge them for acting things clearely against the direct rule of the Word, [...] 3. though they poynt not to the Text, and some of them have promoted, incouraged, and abetted, the very selfe same actions done at another time by other per­sons (as we shall speake too anon) which here they have so anathamatized and branded as an accursed thing, as if these men had the liberty and power (and that from Jesus Christ) of making the same actions, with all their circumstances (their owne interest excepted) one while good, honourable, [Page] and commendable, and another while wicked, vile, and in­tollerable; a prerogative which the Almighty himselfe never yet claimed.

Secondly, for the place of their residence and relation, THE PROVINCE OF LONDON▪ poore London, Thy Pr [...]phets make thee to erre, Micha 3. 5. that bite with their teeth, and hee that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare Warre a­gainst him; how art thou precipitated and hurryed by thy Teachers into oblique, crosse, and contrary actions; one while some of them pretend to a Vision from the Lord, commanding thee to doe this thing; when (at the same time) other [...] of thy See [...] have the same pretence to a contrary Vision, command­ing thee still in the name of the Lord, and in the authority of Jesus Christ, to the most contrary action; some injoyning thee, a from the Lord, to goe no to Ra [...]oth Giliad and pros­per, others in the same name, conjuring thee not to goe up up­on pains of perishing; one while thou must take up Annes, by the instigation of thy Ministers, requiring and command­ing thee in the name of the Lord, with fire and Sword to asser [...] and maintaine the cause of God, the truth of Jesus Christ, de [...]e [...] ­sie of his worship: viz. The Prelaticall faction, or the glori­ous interest of (the Ministers of Jesus Christ) the Clergy thereof; another while thou must arme thy selfe, from the same instigations, in the name of Jesus Christ, to sacrifice thy Gold and thy Silver, thy Mon [...]ye and thy Plate, thy Horses and thy servants, thy very life and being, upon the happy promotion of the house of God, the government of Christ; a blessed Reformation! the suppression of error, heresie, and blasphemy (otherwise more cruely called, the service and in­terests, honour and preferments, of (the Ministers of Jesus Christ) the Presbyterian Clergie, and the cause thereof; how must thou put on thy Armour and put it off againe, ad­vance and retreat, doe and undoe, according to the crooked motions of thy uncertaine Teachers, [...]ormenting thy minde, vexing thy thoughts, and harracing thy person into contra­ry actions by their contrary orders, by meanes whereof, the ancient love, union, and goodnesse of thine Inhabitants, is turned into hatted, division, and bitternesse, each against o­ther, [Page 4] causing thy foundation to shake, and thy pillars to tremble, which is all the benefit thou hast received by [...] ex­change of thy late Diocesse for THE PROVINCE OF LON­DON.

The second thing considerable, is the persons to whom this devout letter was written and delivered, viz. THE GENE­RALL AND HIS COVNCELL OF WARRE, though chiefely intended for the mutions, malignant, per­plexed, and distemper'd party of the common people; that these letters (by the midwifery of James Cranford, that bo [...]n­tifull and liberall Imprimatur-donor to any lying, scurrious, and scandalous Pamphlet against the Parliament and Army) might stirre them up (if possible) to any desperats, bloody, and dangerous attempt, to interrupt the present current of ju­stice, to hunt after, and to procure at last, that savory [...] which the soules of these zealous Clergy-men so greatly long for, viz. to be listed up into the chaire of impulsory authority and government, though it be by the ruines of their native Countrey, so that that which Gregory writ to M [...]riti [...] con­cerning the ambition of the Preliticall Patriarcks of Constant­inople, may be as truly said of our present Clergy-men; E [...] ­m [...]re compellor, Greg. lib. 4. Epist. 323. ac dicere ô tempora [...] mores [...] cuncta in [...] partibus, barbarorum juri sunt tradita, destructae urbes everso castra depopulatae provinciae, &c. That is, I am compelled to cry [...], Oh times, Oh manners; behold in all the par [...] of Europe all things cry under the reverence of barbarous people, Townes are destroyed, [...] ­ [...]iles overthrowne, Provinces are spoyled, no labourer inhabiteth the Land; notwithstanding the Priests, who should lye in ushes up­on the ground weeping, they are seeking unto themselves names of va­nity, &c. Nay have not we cause to say that the like things have befallen us by the only meanes and procurement of the men of this function; for was not the rice of the late sadde and mise­rable Warres, the pride and arrogancy of [...]hose that stiled themselves the Ministers of the Gospell, the Embassadors of Christ, viz. the proud Prelates: And was not the late second Warre, and the flames thereof inkindled and blown up by the Pulpit­incondiaries, the like Ministers of the Gospel, Embassadors of Jesus Christ, viz. The ambitious Presbyters, who are now [Page 5] againe by their fi [...]y tongues and [...]urious pens, scattering their [...] Pamphlets among the people, and hissing them on to a third Warre, resolving (as it appeare) to s [...]e the Kingdome in ashes, but they will have their wishe [...].

A third and last thing considerable in the Title of this letter, is the nature and subject-matter thereof, viz. A SERIOƲS AND FAITHFƲLL REPRESENTATION OF THEIR JƲDGEMENTS.

That you are serious and faithfull in the prosecution of your judgemen [...] i [...] general, touching your own interest, power, and preferment, we have reason enough to believe: but how shall wee know when you are serious and faithfull in the REPRE­SENTATION of your judgement in any particular; for we shall anon minde you of a represen [...]ation of your judgements, and that by your s [...]lves, as far differing from this, as light i [...] from darknesse, and yea from nay: and we had as much and more [...]eason to believe your seriousnesse and faithfulnesse in that repre­sentation of your judgements, then in this; the right eye whereof [...] darkened, and the right hand so withered, that there is [...]arc [...] the least glimmering or motion of light, or arguments [...]or your judgement represented in all your letter: and did not a [...]resumptuous opinion swell in your mindes, that your very [...]mes, titles, and presumed vocation, viz. (Ministers of the [...]ospell, Embassadours of Jesus Christ) would challenge a [...]uddaine entertainement of what ever you represent, asking no question for conscience sake, and that the rhetoricke of the bramble should silence the Vine and all the tree [...] of the Forrest (you know our meaning) you would never presen [...] the world with such a vaine, poore, ba [...]ron, empty nothing, for sa­tisfaction in so great and weighty a cause as this, which you c [...]ll A serious and faithfull representation of the judgements of Ministers of the Gospell within, &c.

Your Letter stands, though faintly, upon four feet.

1. The occasions of your writing it.

2. The mattere criminall contained therein, charged upon the Generall and Councel of Warre.

3. The grounds and reasons of your charge proving the same.

4. Your Ministerial advice and councel thereupon.

That they are all so feeble as not able to beare up your pre­sumed authority thereof, in the judgments of rational and [...] ­partial Readers, wil quickly appear; for,

First, for the occasions of it, which were,

First, The severall applications as well by writing as verb [...]ll messages, inviting the Ministers of London, or some of them, [...] meete with the Officers of the Army in their consultations [...] mat­ters of Religion, page 1.

2. The refusall of these Ministers of Jesus Christ, so in­vited.

3. The reasons of this refusall.

From the first of these, may wee not behold as on the one hand, the Christian candor, ingenuity, and condiscention of the General and Councel of Warre, forgetting the many false, notorious, and publique slanders of these men cast up­on them, from their pens and Pulpits from day to day, endea­vouring (if it were possible) to defile and be-spatter that gar­ment of honour which God put upon them, that they should apply themselves; nay, make several applications of them­selves unto them, send to them, and write to them, &c. So on the other hand, the domineering, Lordly, and Prelatical pride of these un-Christ-like Ministers of Jesus Christ, that would not vouchsafe such a condiscention as to give them a meeting; surely that Papal unction (which was by the spirit from beneath powred forth upon the heads of the Popes of old time, pussing up their minds to that measure of pride, arro­gancy, and supercilliousnesse, as Kings and Princes with their Wives and Children, must gladly, even with their hare feet, attend their Holinesses pleasure day after day, before their admission) hath plentifully extended to the skirts of their cloathing; these servi servorum dei, these Ministers of the Go­spel, these zealous and hot disput [...] against the errours, he­resies, and blasphemies of the Army, cannot be prevailed with­all by severall applications, by writing, by verball messages, to advise, counsell, and direct them in matters of the greatest concernment to the whole Nation, to prevent the subject-matter of their daily Pulpit-invectives against them, from the [Page 7] power of tyranny, and the pride of the Clargy: [...] nos Domine, they can lift up their voyces like a Trumpet In most scandalon [...] accusations, slanderous defa [...]ations, and bitter invectives, allarming people against them, but cannot he pre­vailed withall, no not by severall applications of severall kinds to advise and consult, to direct or instruct in the greatest mat­ters concerning the good or evill, saving or loosing the whole Nation, is this; while you have opportunity to doe good to all: and is this is vindication of your Ministeriall function wherein you so often glory?

We Ministers of the Gospel within the Province of London, hold it our duty as then to refuse any such meeting as was proposed: so now to give your Lordship and Councell the reasons of that refusail, lest by our silence we should seeme to be wanting in that ingenuity and candor which becomes all, but especially the Ministers of Jesus Christ, &c.

Wee Ministers of Jesus Christ within the Province of London: what are the signes and tokens proving the same? your ingenu­ity and candor which becomes the Ministers of Jesus Christ? ex­cellent, a testimony whereof you give by all your carriages as to all men that observe your foot-steps: so especially,

First, To the Army, calling them in your Pulpits a rebel­lious Army, a generation of vipers, a viprou [...] brood, an oppressing Army, an Army of Hereticks, a Schismaticall Ar­my, an Army whose lives are not worth a prayer, and whose deaths are not worth a teare; an Army, though conque [...]ing, yet they were not fit nor worthy to conquer; that wee had been better without those great victories, then to have them by such hands. Admirable ingenuity, unparallel'd candor, such ingenuity and candor appearing in Mr. Canton, Mr. Cranford, Mr. Case, Mr. Love, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Tailor, and some others, which did never appear in Peter, James, or John; yea, nor e­ven in Jesus Christ himselfe.

Secondly, Your ingenuity and candor further appeares by your submissive and Christian respects to authority, especially the Parliament: and as at all times, so chiefly when they con­tend not, though with the ruine of all, for your greatnesse and interest; then your Ministerial ingenuity and candor doe appear [Page] [...] [Page 7] [...] [Page 8] in all their glory, calling them (while they delay your work) an apostatizing Parliament, a Covenant-breaking Parliament, a Parliament at whose doors may be laid all the errors, here­sies, and blasphemies of the times; a Parliament that hath wrought a great Reformation amongst us in Church & State, taking away High-commission Court, Star-chamber, Coun­cel Table, &c. and bringing in the room thereof several Com­mittees, whose little fingers in way of oppression, were heavi­er then the loins of the former Courts; a Parliament suppres­sing Popery, Ceremonies, Crucifixes, Crosses, Service-book, &c. and in the roome thereof giving liberty of Conscience, o­therwise called a cursed tolleration of errours, heresies, blas­phemies, and all manner of licentiousnesse; a Parliament that hath taken away Ship-money, coat and conduct-money, mo­nopolies, &c. and in the roome thereof bringing in taxes, as­sesments, free-quarters, and the heavy burthen and bondage of Excize, which neither wee nor our Fathers were ever able to beare: Is not this excellent Provinciall ingenuity and candor, which further dazles mens eyes: and therefore,

In the third place (for the same of your ingenuity and can­dor is known to all men) doe not they further appear by your abetting, countenancing, and encouraging violence and force upon the two Houses by a company of loose, prophane, and wicked fellowes at one time, as some of you did (for we would not be understood of you all, many whereof are meerly drawn in to the amazement of those that read their names, though not for lack of inconsideratenesse) falling in with the disaffe­cted, delinquent, and malignant party; and at another time crying out, exclaiming, accusing, arragning, and condemning that very Army, which (from some of your own mouths it hath been spoken) have beene instruments of the preservation of your very lives and liberties, the Lords battle-axe, and arm of salvation to this Kingdome, and the interest of the Gospel and all honest men amongst us, because necessiatated upon the perill of losing the benefit of above 7. years warres, and suf­fering all to return again into their old channell; yea, redu­cing the Nation to more intollerable bondage and slavery then ever) they did secure the persons of those Members of the [Page 9] Commons House that did most basely promote, and end [...] ­vour to bring about the Kings and Cavalliers most tyrannicall and wicked design.

Fourthly, For the ingenuity and candor of London Pre [...] ­chers is famous throughout the whole Kingdome; doth it not further appeare, by setting the people at first against the King and his party, firing mens spirits against him, charging him with the guilt of the blood of England, Scotland, and Ireland, conjuring men by all your devout and Ministeriall artifice to fight against him, &c. And now having raised mens spirit [...] a resolution of requiring just and Scripturall satisfaction, that blood may be avenged, and according to Gods express word expiated, to cry out in your Pulpits and Pamphlets, murther, murther, and innocent blood, and the staining the Prote­stant Religion with the blood of the King, &c. Is not this ex­celling ingenuity and rare candor? It you shall deny thy, I shal shew you severall of your owne bookes and Sermons, proving both the one and the other: and for a tast at present, take one instance of a very zealous Paster of your Catalogue, Mr. Chrè­stopher Love, Pastor of Anne Aldersgate, when he was an Ar­my man of Windsor Garrison, preaching at Ʋxbridge, when the treaty with the Kings and Parliaments Commissioners be­gan there; read his words in his Sermon, called Englands Di­stemper, page 23. It would search to the quick, to find one whe­ther King James, and Prince Henry his sonne, came to a timely death, yea or no: Some Parliaments have been but short liv'd when there was but a muttering, that enquiry should be made into their deaths. It would search to the quick, to know whe­ther Rothel, and all the Protestants in it were not betrayed into the hands of their Enemies, and by whom. It would goe to the quick, to find out whether the Irish Rebellion was not ploured, promoted, countenanced and contrived in England, and by whom.

Again, page 32. The Lord heales a Land by cutting off these distemper'd members that endanger the health of a Land; it was the Lord that troubled Achan, and cut him off, because he troubled Israel! Oh that in this our State-Physicians would resemble God, to cut off those from the Land who have di­stemper'd [Page 10] it; melius est ut pereat unus quam unitas. What is this but to incence the people to an implacable spirit of revenge a­gainst the King? and was not this the tune of most of these Subscribers, though I cannot say so of them all, (some of them being true to their principles of Cavall [...]risme from the beginning) and yet now how doe these men speake the very language of Ashdod, and out-strip those Ministers of Jesus Christ too, (if ordination and Academicall education can make them so) I meane Mr. Love's sons of Belial, as he cals the sonnes of Lavi, in page 31. of his said Sermon, in calling those that continues their faithfulnesse to the Kingdomes inte­rest against the late King and his tyranny, Traytos, Rebels, and Murtherers, &c. Is this the ingenuity and candor that becomes the Ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? But I neede not goe farther then this very Pamphleticall Letter of yours, and vindication, to finde out your ingenuity and candor.

First, You tell the world, that some of your brethren at one conference with the Generall and some of his Councell, and at ano­ther with some of his chief Officers, did manifest their dislike of their late actions, &c. Was this ingenuity and candor either in your Brethren or your selves, to make their private meetings and conference a ground of a publique charge, and print it abroad without consent? Was this ingenuous and candid for some of these Brethren only to publish the same without consent of the rest? Was it ingenuous for you to print it without consent of all? Was it ingenuous for you to make your Brethrens onely dislike (we know not upon what grounds and arguments, not one is declared (except distemper'd, jealous, and uncharita­ble thoughts against the Army) a sufficient ground of your fi­ring the City and Countrey, Pulpits and Presses, against the proceedings of Justice and Judgement amongst us? Is it inge­nuous and candid for you to tell the Army, that the constant judgement of Protestant Divines (with whom you doe fully concur) is, that they disclaime, detest, and abhor the wicked and bloody tenets of Jesuites concerning the opposing of lawfull Magistrates by private persons, and the murthe­ring of Kings by any, &c. As if the Parliament and Army were no more an authority then a private single person, and [Page 11] [...]hat their just proceeding against the King for his bloody and wicked Government, was even a murthering the King? Doe you not shew your selves ingenuous and candid as Ministers of Christ in the sight of Heaven and Earth: would you not count others that should doe so, false, bold, pertenacious, scanda­ [...]ous, mutinous, seditious, rebellious fellows, if men of your [...]is-interest? Doth the Parliament, or Army, or any man of [...]isdome or reason, maintaine it lawfull with Jesuites to mur­ther Kings? Will you say that all Protestant Divines hold it unlawfull to depose, or capitally to deale with Tyrants and Murtherers, if Kings and Princes? Though Doctor Burges [...]ndeed (and it may be some other of the quondam-Prelaticall [...]ribe, that can face about with times and Interests) did so [...]aintaine and hold, vid. Dr. Burges fire of the Sanctu [...]ry, page [...]88. Yet you shall have an answer drawn from some of your [...]wne parties labours proving the contrary: but if not, your [...]genuity and candor which you shew to the World, doe more [...]come Mountebanks then Ministers; Juglers & Jesuits, then [...]e faithfull dispensers of the word of truth: Is not this [...]eer blinds to the people, to say all Divines that are Prote­ [...]nts are against murthering of Kings, therefore Parliaments [...]nd people must not proceed against trayterous and murthe­ [...]ous Tyrants, that make no conscience of shedding the blood [...] thousands and ten thousands; yea hundreds of thousands [...]f poore innocent persons and Protestant people, for the satis­ [...]action of their meere filthy lusts, and wickednesse.

Againe, was it not an ingenuous, candid, and brotherly [...] [...]n you (because Mr. Peters did Christianly advise you to forbear [...]o stirre up the people to sedition (for so you have endeavoured, if [...]here can be any such thing in P [...]lpits) least Souldiers should doe [...]ou a mischiefe, and you may thanke your selves, assuring you that if a third Warre be stirr'd up, they will give no quarter, &c.) to [...]print him to the World as if he threatned the people, and was the great man of their trouble and distemper, that if it was possible he might not walke the streets in safety?

Againe, was it not yet more of your ingenuity and candor to assert severall notorious falsities and untruths, and to give your Readers a cluster of these bitter grapes together, as to in­stance [Page 12] page 6. of your Vindicationiin the margin;Page 6. of your Vindi­cation. where you say that the agreement of the people was the same for substance, with an agreement of some in the Army, declared against by the Parliament in December, 1647. There is one untruth, that because, that, therefore this, (being the same in sub­stance with that, at least in the matter of it) was then decla­red against by both Houses, and condemned heretofore by the Generall and his Councell of Warre, there is one untruth within another.

Again, You say that one of the souldiers was shot to death for promoting it; this is first, a most notorious untruth, and se­condly, a most injurious charging the Army with the blood of that man, the man that was shot to death, was not as all so much a [...] questioned for promoting that agreement, or (as some of the Souldiers affirme) did at all promote that agree­ment: but being sent with his Company by the Generall to Newcastle, did with others make a mutiny, resisted, and beate their Officers, tooke away the Colours from their En­signe, beate him with his owne Colours, for which this fel­low that was shot to death, being found most guilty, was condemned and executed, and yet you have the boldnesse and confidence (you would call it in us) the face and impudence to assert it as a truth to the very teeth of those that know the contrary; and all this in the profession of superlative ingen [...]ity and candor, even such as becomes the Ministers of the Gospel, and Embassadors of Jesus Christ. Were these things subscribed and asserted by some of you, whose tongues are famous for slander▪ as Mr. Cranford, who once either did or should have sate in the stoole of repentance even at the Exchange for his slanderous forgeries; or Mr. Cauton, who makes it but a small thing to ve [...]t his viprous language, of Traitors, Rebels, generation of Vipers, murtherers, &c. against those with whom hee is not worthy to be n [...]med for piety and prudence, it was not much to be wond [...]ed at: but that Mr. Gataker, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Blackewell. Mr. Haviland, Mr. Manton, should subscribe such notorious falsities, argues that indeed the best of men are but men at best, and that the wisest are sometimes weake; where i [...] the wisdome of the wise, and the understanding of the aged? [Page 13] Is not this the high way to prejudice your Ministery, and provoke unto contempt and scorn?

Again, (For there is scarce a lease in your Letter, wherein your ingenuity and c [...]ndor doe not appear [...] in the like colours) you assert another grosse untruth (to call it a mistake, we [...]e to mistake its name) in the beginning and threshold of your Let­ter which you make the occasion thereof, and that is, that se­v [...]rall application [...] by writing and verball messages were made unto you to meete with the Officers and some of the Army in their consul­tations about matters of Religion, which after you say was on [...] ­ly to contribute your assistance in prosecution of what they had undertaken before, informing your [...]eaders as if you were sent meerly to confirme and ratifie, assist and further that which they had wickedly begun before, and not at all to debate and consult about the lawfulnesse of any of their wayes to give or receive satisfaction therein, and you that know the truth of [...]he whole matter, are not you [...] consciences smitten within [...]ou for mis-informing your Brethren, and drawing them in [...]o subscribe such grosse untruth [...] ▪ Can you face such a Scrip­ [...]ure as you quote, when you say you are comm [...]nded to cry aloud [...] life up your voyees as trumpets to shew the p [...]opl [...] their transgressi­ [...], and the house of Jacob their sinnes. Were not you solicited [...]nd invited to come unto them, and that with expressions to [...]his purpose, that all honest interests might be satisfied, and [...]ot yours neglected; were not your severall objections answe­red why you denied to come, again and again? did not some of you urge this a [...] one reason against your comming, that they had agreed upon their way, and were resolved hereupon say you what you could: and therefore lest you should be looked upon as concurring with them, you denied to goe: and were not you answered to this purpose, that what­soever was done, if you could shew satisfactory [...]eason [...] against the same, all that was done should be as if nothing at all had been done; speake your consci [...]nces, are not these things so [...] why then doe you staine the profession and function of prea­ching the Gospel with such noto [...]ious falshoods: Are you no [...] herein like unto Kings and Princes, that prosecute the greatest designes against Religion and Liberty under the colour of the [Page 14] preatest professions and [...]rotestations of promot [...] the [...] and the other? Is this your Christian ingenuity and [...] this your abstaining from all appearance of evill? and your having no fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darkenesse, but rather re­proving them? were there ever so many untruths so subscribed before? The true reason of your refusing to come unto them, you somewhat tenderly, but clearly declare, viz. their no [...] observation of that which you seeme to conceive to bee the [...] true distance from you; they came not propounding their [...] unto you in such a way as was suitable for private pers [...]ns [...] have propounded, and for Ministers of the Gospel to have resolved. Oh high strain of ingenuity and candor becomming the Minister [...] of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Is this to take hold of all occasions of doing good? Is this to preach the Word in season and out of season? Is this like Jesus Christ? Did hee give commission to his Disciples to goe no where but unto such as should enqu [...] after them in a regular way? Is this that humility, sweetne [...] ingenuity and candor becomming Ministers? Once more yet, concerning your ingenuity and candor in the title of your Letter, you say it is a representation of Ministers of the Gospel [...] Province of London: And among your subscriptions I finde [...] Joshuah Kerby, Minister of the Word, but I pray of what place; in what Parish is he either Pastor, Minister, or Preacher within the Province of London? Doe you begin, conti [...], and conclude with such ample testimonie of your ingenuity [...] candor? Had you been as ingenuous and candid as you would seeme to be, you would have said Nicholas Profet, Minister of the Word at Fosters, alias, at Marlborough in Sommerset-shire (if I be not deceived) and Stanly Gowre, Minister as Martins Ludgate, alias, Pastor of Dorchester in Dorcet-shire (if I be not deceived) you would have written John Hulke, Preacher at Alhallows upon the wall, immediately after Andrew Janeway, Pastor of the same place, and not put downe 27. betweene, that the Reader may presume so many distinct Parishes as you place Ministers; and have told us whether this wa [...] that Hu [...] of Essex which was sequestred, yea or no: and in the Title of your Vindication you would not have put in that particle of universality; A vindication of THE Ministers of the Gospel is [Page 15] and about London, fetching such a circumference, and bring­ing in not a third part of the [...] of the same [...] and in the subscription of the same Vindication, you would not have gone so far as Walsingham in the Bishoprick of [...] for [...] Devere [...]x, and palliate the same by calling him late Minister at Andrews, Holborne: Neither would you have stain'd your reputation with the mention of Thomas [...] Pastor of Mar [...]ins-Outwich, carryed from [...]lym [...]th for his notrious D [...]l [...]nquency, and worth [...]ly sequestred for the same▪ [...] no more now (if possible) of your ingenuity and [...]—you proceede to matter of charge against the Ar­my, page 3.

It is [...] known what attempts of late [...] practice against lawfull Authority, especially by your late [...] and [...] published in opposition to the pr [...]ceedings of [...], [...] also by se [...]zing and impris [...]ning the Kings Per­son without the knowledge and consent of Parliament, and by that [...] offered to the Members of it, many of whe [...] are [...] to us to bee man of [...] worth and integri­ty, &c▪

It hath beene already sufficiently replyed by way of answer to the paper of the Armies Proposals of the sixth of December, last, in severall other expresse [...] from the Army, viz. in a Re­monstrance come forth after those Proposals, a Declaration af­ter that Remonstrance, a [...] [...] Answer of the generall Councell of Officers of the Army to the Demands of the Ho­no [...]rable the Commons of England, all which containe the grounds & reasons of those [...]tempts of late put in practise by the Army against lawfull authority, &c. But you have got the ar [...] of stopping your ea [...] like dea [...]e Adder [...],vid. The humble an­swer of the general coun­cell to the de­mands of the Commons of England, tou­ching the se­curing & se­cluding some Members, p. 2. to any argument of satisfaction, and still to insist upon the Armies proceeding [...] against the Members which themselves doe acknowledge, sim­ply considered, irregular, and not justifiable, but by honest [...] ­tions for publique good, and an extraordinary necessity for the same end, [...]ding them thereunto.

And though your eares have beene often heaten with rea­sons, vindicating such a necessity, whereunto you have been [...] mute; yet doe you your selves judge, whether in case either by [Page 16] the artifice of the King and his wicked party, malignant [...] bars should be brought into the House, or those that were formerly against the King, because their interest and his were inconsistent, should (having received satisfaction in that point) make their owne advantages in a corrupt closure with the King, endeavouring to bring him in upon his own terms without satisfaction or security to the Kingdome, as they did upon his owne Message of the 12. of May, 1647. and pre­sently to diaband the Army, protecting the 11. Members im­peached of Treason, endeavouring with them to raise a ne [...] Warre, listing Reformadoes, altering the Militia of London, imb [...]zeling the 200000. pound appointed for the relief of Ire­land in such endeavours, countenancing, abetting, and partaking with that tumultuous violence of the Apprentic [...] and others against both Houses of Parliament, driving awa [...] the Speakers and many faithfull Members, August, 1647 set­ting up a new Speaker, giving large power, and passing di­vers Ordinances for the raising of a new Warre, arming Ma­lignants, stirring up the City, authorizing Massi [...] and o­thers, all in prosecution of the treasonable Engagement, of bringing in the King upon his own termes, and (all this bla­sted through the grace of God by the courage, constancy▪ and faithfulness [...] of this (your great eye-sore) Army.) Then againe trying a new feate, viz. contriving, promoting, and assisting tumultuous Petitioners for a Personall Treaty, cor­responding with the rebellious insurrections in Kent, Essex, &c. The revolted ships, Prince of Wales, the Scots Army in­vading this Kingdome, that so the Army may be shattered into severall dispersions, precipitating thereby the Kingdome again into a new, bloody, and fierce Warre, hazarding the cause of all the former troubles, and a totall conquest of the whole Kingdome; during which second War, many of the faithfull Members being employed abroad; others discoura­ged through malignant tumults about the City, to forbeare their attendance; these Members formerly impeached and vo­ted Tra [...]tors were recalled, and others that were elected in their roome cast out of the House. Votes for no further Ad­dresses to the King recalled, and made void, voted to treate [Page 17] with the King upon such Propositions as himself should make, exempt from Justice the capitall Leaders in the last Summers Wars, by an hypocriticall voting many of them to be banis [...]t, fin [...]ng the rest, &c. resolving the Kings re [...]ran [...]ation with free­dom [...], safety and honour: I say doe you your selves judge whether (all these things with many more) being true, they were not necessitated to doe that which you call putting at­tempts in practice against lawfull Authority, viz. seizing those Members, although many whereof were knowne to you (though to few else but Malignant [...] and men of your interest) to be men of emminent worth and integrity. Suppose the Army (who are bound by their Commissions, by their Oaths, Pro­testations, Vowes and Covenants; by all the interest, peace, and liberties of the Kingdome, to bring Delinquents to con­ [...]igne punishment) should finde their grand Enemies (against whom they formerly did engage in open Field) in the House; or that those in the House, formerly faithfull as Hotham and many others, were turn'd as had, as base, as malignant a [...] Hotham did prove, and every way the same with Malignants, [...]hould they let them alone because sitting in the House? I [...] i [...] [...]awfull to kill and destroy them, if they goe about to destroy [...] in the Field, and not so much as interrupt them though they should enslave us, ruine and destroy us by a law?

And againe▪ whereas you speake so much of [...] authority, and fill the ear [...] of your Auditors from you [...] Pulpits from day to day with rebellizing the Army for their late proceedings against the Members, mustering up these Scriptures, teaching and pressing duty to authority which the Prelaticall party did formerly use against you,Prov. 24. 21. Ti [...]s 3. 1. Rom. 13. 1, 2. as that of So­lomon: P [...]a [...]e thou God and the [...]ing: Pu [...] them in minde to be sub­ject to Principalities and powers. Let every soule be subject to the higher powers, &c. Yet we heard not of these things from you when the mutinous Apprenti [...]es and others offered violence upon the Houses formerly spoken of, no noise then of such Scriptures, no putting m [...]n in minde to subject to Principalities and powers; no such word as let every soule be subject to the higher powers, &c. As if these Scriptures were ad [...]led since that time. Can you presume that men are so blind, dull, and [...], as [Page 18] not to observe such partiall and crafty handling of the Scrip­turer, word and will of God; doe not these practises of yours [...] s [...]ttle and establish atheisme, irrel [...]gion, and profanen [...]sse a­mong men, making them to looke upon Religion, the Gos­pell, the Word of God, a [...] upon a meere pee [...]e of jugling, cheating, and deceiving the World: and should we take your counsell which you give us from the words of Solomon, [...]ddle not with them that are given to change, we should all turne S [...] ­paratists from you and your wayes, who have beene as full of changes at the Vanes of your Steeples; one while stirring up the people against the King, and for the Parliament, writing Books, answering objections, and using all manner of en­deavours that way (that so the Bishops may be dethroned, and you advanced) witnesse many of your Sermons preached before the Houses and else-where: another while stirring up the peo­ple against the Parliament, and for the King (left the Inde­pendents should hinder your advance) as you did of late in your Prayers and Preaching, expressing greater malignity a­gainst the Parliament and their party, and greater [...] for the King and his interest, then those very Ministers whose very places you possese, they being sequestred and cast out for the tenths of that Anti-parliamentary malignancy which you have vented, and indeed this is according to the example of your Fathers before you; for it was generally observed of the Clergy of olde, that in Henry the eighth [...] time they were first for the Popes supremacy, and then with the King for the Kings; With Edward the sixth they were Protestants, with Queene Mary, Papists againe; With Queen Elizabeth they fa­ced about, and of 9400. promotions, not too of them stood firm: Nay does not our owne age give sufficient testimony of the Clergies changes; nay are not many of your selves living instances thereof, have not you been for Bishops, and against Bishops, for Common-prayer, for Geremonies, and against them? Have you not sworne and subscribed, and subscribed and sworn over and over, againe and againe, conformity and subjection hereunto, and yet cast away all, and entered into Vowes and Covenants against all? Can Dr. Burges, Master Cauton, and severall others of you deny this, and yet now [Page 19] advise us not to meddle with them that are given to change.

You say page 5. It was deemed a horrible violation of the Pri­viledges of Parliaments in the King, to come to seize upon the five Members in the beginning of this Parliament. And you quote the opinion of the House for that purpose in their Order of the 3^d of January, 1641. What violation of their priviledges then must this needs be, so and so aggravated to seize upon many, &c. I may answer you by telling you that you never [...] that Order of the House in aggravating of the Appren [...]ion [...]orcing of the House the last yeare: and to give you any other [...]nswer, were but to beate the aire, for [...] are like to heare no reply to it, having the art of neglecting all that hath been [...]poken by way of satisfaction from the Army to this purpos [...] [...]nd insisting still upon matter of fact, as if [...] thereof [...]ad been given in justification.

You tell us that both Houses of Parliament are (joyntly cons [...] ­ [...]ed with the King) intrusted with the supreame Authority of the [...]ingdome. Page 6. I desire to know what you meane by the King, his [...]son or his Authority? If his Person, then have we been [...], and you the cause of it, stirring us up hereunto; If you [...] Authority, then let your Readers revise your Letter [...], and they will see you say nothing, but (according [...] your custome) blinde the people, which is not like that [...] and candor becomming Ministers of the Gospell of Jesus [...]hrist.

But the maine thing you insist upon is the businesse of the Protestation, Vow, and Covenant, and the Solemn League & Covenant; by these sacred gin [...] (as you use them) you presume [...] the Scots Commissioners heretofore) to catch us all [...] [...]our net, doing little service thereby, except to draw men into dishonorable thoughts of them: and as you doe in [...] [...]our Function (of it selfe honourable, and of God) yet you [...]ake it contemptible and vile; even so in reference to these (of themselves just and good) you, and chiefly you render them as an Almanack out of date; for what doe you make especially of the Covenant, but (as some doe of the Scriptures) a nose of wax, making it to serve all their opinions) to maintain all interests; for doe not all men know that you were the men [Page 20] pressing people to oppose, with-stand, and fight against the King, and that upon penalty of breaking the COVENANT of God, the COVENANT of peace, conjuring men as they would answer it before the Lord, as they would not be counted COVENANT breakers, Truce-breakers, false to the COVENANT of their God, &c. to goe out to fight a­gainst the Lords Enemies, to fight the Lords battles, &c. And now againe doe not you make the Covenant to serve the Malignants interest, and the late Kings interest, by pressing that article of the Covenant of preserving the Kings person, honour and dignity, &c. and that with the same straines of sanctimony, viz. by calling it the Oath of God, the Covenant of God, making Malignants jeere and laugh at you, and those that did first hate the Covenant, and some that never yet [...] the Covenant, to plead and argue our Covenant-breaking, &c. Did not some of you demand, I [...] this preserving the person of the King by cutting off his head, Mr. Yenkin. Mr. Love. Mr. Case. Mr. Canton, &c. by murthering him, by [...] the Land with the blood of their Soveraigne, &c. And did not the King heretofore, and Malignants with the like reason, de­mand of you, is this to preserve the person of the King, to fight against him even in pitch'd Battles; in this to maintaine his [...] and dignity, to charge him with all the blood that hath been [...], &c. But more particularly touching the Protestation, May 5. 1641. the Vow and Covenant made afterwards, and the solemn League and Covenant made after that: From these mountaine [...] you strive (though with very much devotion as Bala [...] once did) to curse the Army and Parliament, when loe your curs­ings prove so only to their Authors, and (like the Conjurers in the Acts of the Apostles, when the name of Jesus whom Paul preached was used as a piece of inchantment to dispossess [...] the sonnes of Sceva, a Jew, were overcome even by that spirit whom they would conjure to come out of them) these, Prote­station, Vow, and League which you so presse, not regarding all that hath been said again and again by way of answer, as supposing that when argument, Scripture, and reason can­not help you, yet the Protestation, Vow, and Covenant will doe it; these like the Aegyptian reeds run into your sides, and do no service at all for you, but discover your nakednesse; for

First, For the Protestation, that passage concerning the late King (the main thing you drive at by quoting the same) can meane only a lawfull defence (according to the duty of Alle­giance) of his royall Person, honour, and estate.

First, We protested to defend his Person according to the du­ty of Allegiance, whereby wee were tyed to his just authority, and not abstractively to his Person, if acting contrary and destructive to his just authority, as you know he did.

2. Again, our Allegiance [...] no further lawfull then relative to the kingdome whereunto even he himselfe was tyed in Alle­giance.

3. Again, Allegiance if relative, binds no further then ac­cording to the lawes of relation, and relations are [...], and the roote of all obli [...]ations; which whether [...] all or otherwise, yet when on [...] party shall seeke the destru­ [...]tion of the other, the other may justly claime a recesse so far [...] absolute preservation require [...].

4. Again, The Protestation is not only for the defence of [...] Majesties Person: but the sentence is complex, and takes [...] his honour and estate, the impairing of the one, and the s [...] ­ [...]estring or s [...]l [...]ing of the other, hath been (without scandal [...] it spoken to you) the use & application of your own former [...]octrine [...], no party in the Kingdome having more stained [...] honour, if declaring his wickednesse can do it by Presse and [...]ulpit-worke then your selve [...]; and if his estate had beene [...] for the defence and preservation of his Person in your present apostate sence, all the benefit (that I know of) that you should have thereby, would be the receiving of your tor­ment before your time, for your new friends (Malignan [...]) are in your debt, and was it not for your Enemies (the Armie) they would quickly pay you.

5. Wee did likewise protest for the defence of the power and priviledges of Parliament, the lawfull rights and liberties of the Subjects as well as the Person of the King; If the Person of the King be engaged against the priviledges of Parliament and liber­ties of the Subject, or the Parliament themselves [...] privi­ledges against the lawfull rights and liberties of the Subj [...]cts, the Protestation cannot be obligatorie unto [...], the [Page 22] [...] rights and liberties of the Subjects being the great end of [...] Parliament, must prostrate both King and Parlia­ment, the King and Parliament as such, having no [...] so much as their being, much lesse priviledges against the lawfull right [...] and liberties of the Subjects, so that by the Protestation (the greater being (of duty) to be profes'd before the less [...]r) if the Person of the King, or priviledges of Parliament stand in the way like a Lyon and a Beare to devour the lawfull rights and li­berties of the Subjects) we are bound to know neither King nor Parliament, but the people (the root of them both) better the King and Parliament should perish then the people.

6. We are bound by this Protestation to maintain and de­fend the King, Parliament, and People in a lawfull manner, so farre as lawfully we may, which refers unto th [...] [...] of [...] defence; while the King was in Person against the Parliament, we were by this Protestation to defend the Parliament & Peo­ple, though with the hazard of the King (otherwise you have preached false Doctrine to us) if the King and Parliament should engage against the people, we are by the [...] tyed to preserve the people though with the hazard of both; when the Parliament engaged against the King in a milita [...]y way, we were not tyed by this Protestation to [...] to def [...]d his person: If the Parliament engage against the King in a law­full judiciary way, was were neither obliged by this Pro­testation to rescue the Kings Person against such procee­dings.

7. We protested by all good meanes and wayes to b [...]ing to [...] ­digne punishment all such as shall either by farce, proctise, c [...] ­cels, plots, conspiracies, doe any thing to the contrary of any thing contained in the Protestation. If then the King himselfe, or the Parliament in the severall Members thereof shall either by force, practise, councels, plots, conspiracies, or otherwise doe things contrary to the great end (the very spirit and life of this Protestation) viz. the lawfull rights and liberties of the Sub­jects, the Subjects are bound by this Protestation by all good wayes and meanes (and God doth not leave a people without any grounds of selfe-preservation) to bring to condign [...] pu­nishment both King and Parliament, none being here excepted.

8. And lastly, we protest that we will neither for hope, feare, nor other respect, relinquish this Promise, Vow, and Protesta­tion.

Now let the World judge, who it is that doth violate this Protestation so as you doe; doe you not cry up the Person of the King without any reference to the safety, peace, and li­berties of the people; doe not you rail out in the Pulpits as the Prelaticall party did in the beginning of this Warre, Traitors, Rebels, summoning up all those Scriptures which they like­wise did (as if they were added but as yesterday to the Text) My sonne feare thou God and the King, meddle not with them that are given to change, and he is the Lords Anoynted, and wilt thou say to the King what dost thou? Did you plead for the Kings Person before, as you doe now? Why then did you stir up m [...]n to fight against him? Did you plead for his honour and estate before as now; why then did you so represent him to the peo­ple in your Pulpits from day to day? Doe you maintaine and defend the rights and liberties of the Subjects; why then doe you brand them with the name of Rebels and Traitors, that did not lay down the sword at the feete of the late King and Par­liament at their bare command, before any security at all gi­ven for the preservation thereof? Doe you ende [...]vour to bring Delinquents to condign punishment; why then doe you charge those that have brought him, whom your selves and the Church of Scotland have charged for the greatest Delinquent, guilty of the blood of hundreds of thousands of Protestants, the bloudiest man under Heaven) for Murtherers, Traitors, Rebbels, as Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Case, Mr. Love, Master Cauton have done, calling the offering up of the most accep­table and fattest sacrifice unto Justice that ever was offered in this Kingdome, the staining of the Land with the blood of our So­veraign, the imbruing our hands with our Soveraigns blood; yea, murthering our King, striving thereby if possible, to stir up the people to cut the throates of the Parliament, Armie, and high Court of Justice, and to sheath each neighbors sword in his brothers bowels, & yet you think your selves wrong'd to be called Incendiaries? Have you endeavored to preserve the uni­on and peace between the three Kingdomes of England, Scotland, [Page 22] [...] [Page 23] [...] [Page 24] and Ireland; How is it then that some of you even in Pulpits have prayed for the good successe of those Scots that invaded this Kingdome with an Armie of wicked and prophane men the last yeare, breaking all Leagues, Covenants, Compacts between the two Nations, and so voted by this Kingdome? Have you neither for hope, feare, nor other respect, relinquished this promise, Vow, and Protestation; how is it then that you are so shoffling, changing, and uncertaine, for the King▪ and against the King, for the Parliament, and against the Parliament, for the Army, and against the Army, for Ju­stice, and against Justice, m [...]king your vicissitudes and tur­nings up and downe the subject-matter of scorne, contempt, and derision both of your persons and Function.

Again, Whereas you mention the Vow and Covenant, you might have indeed shewed your ingenuity and candor bee [...]mming the Ministers of the Gospell of Jesus Christ, to have taken no­tice of that which was the maine end of that Vow and Cove­nant, contained in these words; That I will according to my power and vocation assist the Forces raised and continued by both Houses of Parliament against the Forces raised by the King without their consent. Have you perform'd this Vow and Covenant made and taken in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to perform the same as you shall answer at the great day, when the secrets of all hea [...]ts shall be disclosed: What meanes then your lowing and bleating in the cares of the people from day to day, stirring up the City and Countrey if it be possible, to break the Forces raised and continued by both Houses of Parliament, requiring them in the name of the Lord to rise up as one man against that rebellious Army, assuring them that God hath given it unto you that they shall not prosper, but be broken in pieces comming against London, as once that Army was which came against Jerusalem, and venturing the credite of your Function upon your passionat tongue; affirm­ing that if this comes not to passe, the Lord hath not spoken by you as one of you affirmed; and if deliverance comes not by you (speaking to your Auditors) God will bring it in some other way: and since that God hath given most ample testimony a­gainst you, by blessing that Army which you have cursed from [Page 25] Pulp [...] to Pulpit in the name of the Lord, against whom you begg'd, and prayed, and went, and rais'd up the [...] groanes of your women-audience by your pathetick investiv [...] while they happily have been fighting in blood, and many of them expiring and breathing out their lives to save you from apparent ruine and destruction, making some of your owne party more Christian and ingentious then your selves to blesse God for them, acknowledging their own mistakes and weak­nesses in their former opposing them; yea, and the whole Church of Scotland to acknowledg the same, and to give a candid and thankfull testimonie of them: and since that time have not some of you prayed God to forgive the cowardice of the City, that they did not take hold of the opportunity of rising up against the Army, admonishing them to be hum­bled for it; As Mr. Jenkin before the Lord Major and Alder­men, February 4. at Mercers Chappell, especially that they did neglect the opportunity for feare of Reformation, fearing that a rigid Presbytery would be set up, they chose rather to [...] still; urging, that because they neglected the government of Jesus Christ in the Church, they shall have no government [...] the State (yet stroaking that party that was hopefully firme to them) acknowledging that there were some that did keep [...] the Covenant of their God, and were loyall to their late So­veraign, and zealous for the government of Jesus Christ, in­sinuating that the Parliament and Army, and Court of Justice were guilty of the blood of the King, of breaking the hedge of Government, of levelling mens estates, of sedition, trea­son, and rebellion, &c. Is this your keeping the Vow and Covenant which you here make mention of? Is this your ass [...] ­sting the Forces raised and continued by both Houses of Parliament against the Forces raised by the King? Were there ever such ene­mies to the Parliaments Army in all the Kingdome as your selves? Did not your very Sermons and prayers tend to little else all the last Summer, then to breake the Forces raised up by the Parliament? But the truth is, your folly is made known unto all men, and you shall proceed no further; your P [...]pit language of this nature is of [...] use, except it be to the pow­ring forth contempt upon your own heads.

But the maine thing you insist upon is the solemn Leagu [...] and Covenant; this indeed serves you at every turne, when all things else, when Scripture and reason, civility, justice and honesty leave you, you make the Solemn League and Covenant to goe along with you, using it as you doe the holy Scriptures themselves, dispossessing them of their true, naturall, and ge­nuine meaning; and (as Satan once assumed Samuels body to deceive) you spirit them with your own opinion. Hence it is, that when you were for the Parl. against the K. & his Forces, you stirr'd up the people with Scriptures, Curs [...]yee Meroz, &c. When your interest (your great Commander) bids you fac [...] about, or makes peace with your Adversary, and it may be lists you under his Colours; then (like mercenary souldiers that sights for money on either side) you engage against your quondam party, and run to the Magazine of the Scriptures to furnish your selves with weapons (making them like those Con [...]treyes that indifferently sell arms to their friends or foes) then you cry out, feare thou God and the King: Let every soul [...] he subject, &c. When the Prelaticall party stood in your way, then you summon'd up all the Scriptures that you could come at, relating to the wickednesse of superstition, Idolatry, and of Prophets that tell lies in the name of the Lord; if on the o­ther hand (the Prelates removed) you sit not in their seats un­der a new notion; then you summon up the other straine of Scriptures, relating to the sins of the people, in contemning the Prophets of the Lord that despise his Messengers, &c. Just so you deale with the Covenant: when the Prelaticall party opposeth you, then you run to that Article of the Solemne League and Covenant, which engageth against Popery, Pre­le [...]y, Arch-Bishops, Bishops; &c. When a contrary party stands in your way, and doe not conform to your Discipline, and bow down to your sheafe, then you pay them with ano­ther Article, engaging our endeavours for preservation of the reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland, in doctrine, worship, discipline and government, &c. If the Kings party lifts up a Stan­dard against you, then you stirre up the people from another Article of the Covenant, engaging the discovery of all such as have beene: or shall be, Incendiaries, Malignants, or evill instru­ments, [Page 27] by hindering thereformation of Religion, and those pas­ [...]ges obliging the preservation of the rights and priviledges of Par­ [...]ament, &c. If the Parliament stand in your way, and joyning [...]ith the contrary party, may hopefully help, you slye to tha [...] [...]rt and article of the Covenant, engaging for the preservation [...] defence of the Kings Majesties person and Authority, &c. As [...] the Scripture in the severall vein [...]s thereof, and the Solemne [...]ague and Covenant in all the Articles thereof, intended [...]othing else but Presbyterie: and as if Presbyterie were no­ [...]hing else but the lifting you up into an absolute, indepen­ [...]ent, uncontroulable Supremacy in all Ecclesiasticall dignity [...]nd glory, and by your example are all contrary paties taught [...] plead the Covenant; those that you call Sectaries, Schisma­ [...]eks, &c. plead the Covenant, engaging each to go [...] before other [...] matters of Reformation. The Presbyterian pleads Cove­ [...]nt-engaging conformity (as they urge) with the Church of [...]tland: The Parliamenteer pleads Covenant, engaging to [...]serve the rights and privledges of Parliament: The Royallist [...]ads Covenant, engaging to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties Person and Authority: The Armists plead Covenant, [...]gaging to preserve the liberties of the Kingdome, &c. So that you have made the Covenant a meere contradictions thing, like unto one of the Diabolicall Oracles of the Heathens, spea­ [...]ng nothing certaine but ambiguitie [...]: but let us a little exa­mine how pertinently you bring i [...] in in this place, to shew the Parliament and Armie their wickednesse, in going about to [...]ring the late King to his Tryall for his vitious, bloody, and tyrannicall Government; you put them in minde of their So­lemn League and Covenant to preserve & defend the Kings Ma­jesties Person and Authority. in the preservation and defence of [...] Religion and Liberties of the kingdomes, that the world may [...] witnesse with our Consciences of our loyalty, and that wee have [...] thoughts or intentiens to diminish his Maj [...]sties just power and greatnesse.

First, We were bound to preserve and defend his Person, when we first took this Covenant, and at that time you know very well you stirred up the people to sight against his Army, though his Person was the Leader thereof; which presume [...] [Page 28] first, that either you perswaded the people against the [...] of your owne consciences; or secondly, that you conceived that though his Person should be smitten into the chambers of Death by those that did fight against his Army, yet they did not break the Covenant: If so, then there is a case wherein the KINGS Person may be [...]ut off without breach of Cove­nant.

Secondly, The oligation is for the preservation of his Per­son & AƲTHORITY; not for his Person simply, but his Person and Authority: If both come in competition, then the greater is to be prefer'd before the lesser; that is, his Authori­rity before his Person. If his Authority (that is, that by which the execution of all just lawes of the Kingdome is legally per­formed) enjoynes the cutting off of Murtherers and Traitors by death▪ if his Person be found to be a Murtherer or Traitor, then either his authority or person must dye. If his Authority dies, then no Murtherers and Traitors or any other Delin­quents must die or suffer; for what reason can be given th [...]t the greatest Traitor or Murtherer should be spared, and not o­thers? The nearer relations are, the greater is the sinne of the violation thereof; the King is the Father, the Husband of his Countrey, if he shall murther his Children, his Spouse, he deserves a sorer death then common murtherers doe [...] Treason is the betraying of just trusts, the greater the trust, the grea­ter the treason, the worse the Traitor; the Covenant then engageth to preserve his Authority rather then his Parson; for (though his Person may be engaged against his people, yet) his authority cannot withstand his people, no Prince having authority to destroy, kill, and murther his people; it is true, he may have potentiam, but not potestatem, an oppor­tunity, but not an authority; might, but not right hereunto. If his person riseth up against his authority, and his authority against his person; if one of these must perish, the Solemne League and Covenant obligeth us to preserve his authority, though with the destruction of his person.

Thirdly, The Covenant binds us to preserve his person in the preservation and defence of the true Religion; true Religion doth not command to punish the poore, and spare the rich; [Page 29] true Religion doth not say, if the Subject doe kill and murther, rob and steale, he shall be so and so punished: but if the King doth these things a thousand times over, he must not be med­led withall by any but God alone; true Religion saith, he that sheds mans blood, by man shall his blood be shed, the murtherer shall surely be put to death, the revenger of blood shall stay the murtherer, &c. If then the King be a murtherer, true Religion comman [...] that he be put to death; true Religion (as to matter of right or wrong) maketh no difference, nor hath respect of persone, it doth not justifie the wicked, though hee be never so great: and whereas you may urge that the meaning of those Scrip­tures have a speciall reference to the Authority by which the murtherer must be put to death, by man shall his blood be shed; that is, by man invested with lawfull authority; not by every man, or any man; and that Court by which the King was con­demned and executed, was no more a lawfull Authority then the doing thereof by a private person, having not the least colour of the law of the La [...]d for it. Saith that profound Lawyer Mr. Love, only as solemn a piece of mockery as ever was acted upon the stage of this world, and so thin that every eye may pierce it, and the solem­nity thereof excepted the same with John of Leyden. Saith another grave and judicious Divine, Mr. Jenkin; His life being taken a­way unjustly, and his blood drawn by unrighteousnesse. Saith ano­ther meek Minister of the Gospel, Mr. Cauton, an imbr [...]ing of their hands with the blood of their Soveraign. Saith another pa­thetick and compassionate messenger of Jesus Christ, M. Case, a staining our Land with innocent blood, and notorious scand [...]li­zing the Protestant Religion, say many of the Subscri [...]: but to answer;

First, This serious and faithfull representation of the judgement of Ministers of the Gospel within the Province of London, doe not so much as intimate that the life of a King is in any case to be taken away, but rather that the Lords Anointed at no hand must be touched: and the truth is, it is to be feared that this Doctrine preached by men of this Tribe was one of the great causes both of the Kings wicked and tyranni [...]ll government, and so by consequence of his death and destruction: so that if the King be murthered, the Clergy of this Kingdome have [Page 28] [...] [Page 29] [...] [Page 30] murthered him, one part of them being the cause of his sin, filling and furnishing him with principles of tyranny, and a­nother party of them stirring up the people, and conjuring them in the name of Christ to rise up against him, and to op­pose him even unto death,Affirming that men guilty of blood must not be at peace with, untill it be a­venged, page. as Mr. Love in his Sermon at Ʋ [...] ­bridge did. If so be that true religion which we have Covenan­ted to preserve, doth teach this Doctrine; these Subscribers in their serious and faithfull representation of their judgements, may doe well to declare it.

Secondly, If so be they will grant that Kings and Rulers are not to be suffered to live as they list, to murther, kill, and destroy their Subjects, to burne their Houses, and ruine their Families at pleasure, and never be accomptable for the same to their people over whom they were set, but ought to be brought to punishment, as many even of the Presbyterian [...] and Protestant Divines have held, as shall be declared; then (if Kings may be dealt withall in a judiciary way) why are they so angry that the late King was brought to cond [...]gne pu­nishment; if they say they had no authority to judge him, I demand who had authority to doe it? If they say no Court by the lawes of the Land had any authority hereunto, then it would be worth our enquiring, whether every man, even to the last man left, was not bound to lay his hands upon him, for the murtherer must not be suffered to live, but must surely be put to death, the Land must not be defiled and polluted with blood. If you say the Lords and Commons should have done it, and not the Commons alone, it is demanded, what if the Lords refused to joyne with them, and put them off by an adjournment of their House, &c. If it be replyed that then the whole Representative should doe it, and above halfe of them were violently kept out of the House and detained prisoners, making themselves thereby an unparliamentary Junto, as Mr. Prinne, called them; it is replyed, that those that were so detai­ned, voted a Treaty with the King (after the Houses when they were free, had resolved, voted, and declared upon pai [...] of Treason, that there should be no further Addresse unto him, nor any Message be carried from him, both Kingdomes having declared against any Treaty with the King untill satis­faction [Page 31] for blood already spil [...], and security for the peace of the Kingdome) endeavoured a peace with him, and thereby to contract the guilt of the blood of the three Kingdomes up­on the Land, which those that had power and assistance to prevent, ought not to suffer: that true religion which wee had covenanted to preserve and defend, requires satisfaction for blood: And this is considerable, that the commands of God to doe Judgement and Justice, to put to death the Murthe­rer, is given and delivered in the same phrase and manner of speech a [...] all the rest of the commands of God; Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steale, &c. So the lawes of punishing mur­therers were given to the children of Israel, and not to Moses [...] ­ly, or the Judges and Princes In Israel, N [...]mb. 35. 10. And the Congregation was to judge betweene the slayer and the revenger of blood, vers. 24. Whether it was done wittingly, and of pur­pose, or by accident; and it is said, vers. 31. YEE shall take no satisfaction for the life of a Murtherer, &c. And what is more common in Scripture then this, that if the King doe popular wickednesse, the people suffer, because the King cannot doe such wickednesse but by the people, and the people ought no [...] to suffer the King so to doe: And if the people doe wickedly, (the King not punishing them) the King suffers; because did he execute judgement and justice, the people would not doe wickedly, and God hath not exposed either the King to suf­fer by the people, or the people by the King, without con­troul or just punishment, proportionable unto their mutuall demerits; and that the people should not suffer their Kings & Rulers to doe wickedly, but ought to punish them according to their demerits, hath been the declared judgement of many Protestant Divinee.

I shall begin with one of these Subscribers, not that I think he deserves the honour of priority, but that his own [...] mistake may be the more obvious unto observation; It is Mr. Christo­pher Love, Pastor of Anne Aldersgate, in his Sermon preached at Ʋxbridge, and printed, having spoken before of the blood­guiltinesse of the King; yea intimated unnaturall and horrible blood-guiltinesse in him, as if he had been guilty of K. James his death, and Prince Henrie's death, the blood of the Pro­testants [Page 32] in R [...]hel, and the Rebellion of Ireland, and all the Protestant blood shed there, pag 23. of the said Sermon, stiled Englands Distemper, and thereby made him the troubler of England, as Achan was of Israel, hath these words, page 32. It was the Lord that troubled Achan, because bee troubled Israel! Oh that in this our State, Physicians would resemble God, to cut off those from the Land who have distemperd it. Melius est [...] perea [...] unus quamunitas.

But yet more plaine, page 37. Speaking of those with whom we should not admit of a peace, hath this intire sentence—

Thirdly, Men who he under the guilt of much innocent blood, are not meet persons to be at peace with, till all the guilt of blood be expiated and avenged either by THE SWORD OF THE LAW, OR LAW OF THE SWORD, else a Peace can neither be safe nor just. Mr. Love will not say that the King was not guilty of much innocent blood, lest he should contradict himselfe; neither will he say that blood-guiltinesse can be ex­piated but by blood, lest he should contradict the Scriptures: neither can he say, but the King was cut off either by the sword of the Law, OR LAW OF THE SWORD, without which he hath already said, that a Peace can neither be safe nor just.

Again, Mr. John Knox, the Scottish Reformer, a man of known Religion and Learning, of the Presbyterian judgment, in his 78. page of his Book, called the appellation of John Knox, having declaimed against the establishment of Idolatrous and persecuting Kings and Rulers by the people, hath these words, Neither can oath or promise binde any such people to obey and main­taine Tyrants against God and his truth knowne: but if rashly they (viz. the people) have promoted any manifest wicked person, or yes ignorantly have chosen such an one as after declareth himselfe un­worthy of Regiment over the people of God (and such be all Idola­trous and cruell persecuters) MOST JƲLTLY MAY THE SAME MEN DEPOSE AND PƲNISH HIM, that un­advisedly before they did nominate, appoint, and elect.

Againe, Doctor John Ponnet, a Protestant Divine, in his [Page 33] Book [...] called Ashore Treatise to politique power, published [...] Queen [...] Maries dayes, 1556. in the 45. page, Chap. 6. of the said Booke, handles this question; whether it be lawful to depose an evill Governour, and kill a Tyrant: carri [...] it in the affirma­tive, proving the same from the very law of Nature, Nati­ons, and Scriptures, both Old and New Testament; yea, affirming, that the lawes of many Christian regions doe permit, that pr [...]vate men may kill Malefactors; yea, though they were Ma­gistrates, in some cases, as when a Governour shall suddenly with his sword runne upon an innocent, or goe about to shoot him through with a gunne; or if he should be found in bed with a mans wife, or goe about to de [...]owr or ravish a mans daughter; much more if hee goe about to be [...]ray and make away his Countrey to Forreigners. And the said Doctor himselfe declareth it for his owne opini­on, that where execution of just punishment upon Tyrants, Idolaters, and trayterous Governours, is either by [...]he whole State utterly neglected, or the Prin [...] with the Nobility and Councell con­spire the subversion of their Countrey and people, any private [...] have some some speciall inward commandment, or surely approved motion of God, as Moses had to kill the Aegyptian, Phinea [...] th [...] lecherous, and Ahud King of Egion, with such like. And [...] ­ther affirmes, If a Prince rob and spoile his Subjects it is theft, a [...]d as a Thiefe hee ought to be punished: If hee kill and murther them contrary, or without the lawes of his Countrey, it is mur­ther, and as a murtherer he ought to be punisht, saying the same, if hee commi [...] adultery, ravish men [...] wives, daughters or maids, he ought to suffer the same paines as other the like offenders; if hee goe about to betray his Countrey, he is a Traitor, and as a Traitor he ought to suffer, and aboundly more to that purpose.

Again, Junius Brutus, supposed by good Authors to be Be­za his workes, in his Booke called Vindiciae contra tyrannos, written in Latine and French, and lately translated into Eng­lish, in the 118. page of the said Translation, hath th [...]se words; If the Prince persists in his violent courses (as King Charl [...] did) and contemn frequent a [...]onitions, addressing his design [...] to that end, only that he may oppresse at his pleasure, and effect his owne desires without restraint, hee then doubtlesse makes himselfe liable to that de [...]ested crime of tyranny: and whatsoever either the [Page 34] law or lawfull authority permits against a Tyrant, may be lawfully practised against him. Tyranny is not onely a will, but the chiefe, and as it were the only abstract of vices: A Tyrant subverts the State, pillages the people, layes stratagems to entrap their lives, breakes promise with all, scoffs at the sacred obligation of a solemn Oath, and therefore hee is so much the more vile then the vilest of usuall Malefactors; by how much offences committed against a gene­rality, are worthy of greater punishments then those that concerve only particular and private persons: If thieves and those that com­mit sacriledge be declared infamous; nay if they justly suffer cor­porall punishment by death; can we invent any that may be worthily equivalent for so outragious a crime. And in the 119. page, saith further, if tyranny hath gotten such sure footing, as there is no other meanes but force to remove him, then it is lawful to call the people to arms, &c. Briefely the same sentence may be justly pronounced against him as was pronounced a­gainst Manlius Capitolinus, at Rome, Valerius, lib. 6. cap. 3.

Thou wast to me Manlius, when thou diddest tumble downe the Gaules that did scale the walls of the Capitoll: but since thou art now become an Enemie like one of them, thou shalt be precipitated downe the same place from whence thou formerly tumbledst those E­nemies; the said Author hath much more to this purpose:

Brutus, Generall of the Souldiers, and Lucretius Gover­nour of the City of Rome, assembled the people against Tar­quinius Superbus, and by their authority thrust him from his royall Throne, his goods were confiscated: and if Tarquini­us had been apprehended, undoubtedly he should have been according to the publique laws corporally punished.

Christierne lost the Crowne of Denmarke, Henry, that of Sweden, Mary Steward (King Charles his Grand-mother) that of Scotland, and Edward the 2^d that of England, for the same mis-government a [...] our late KING, lost his Crown and head.

That the people may punish and correct offending Princes, is the affirmation of the Wickeliffs and Waldenses, and are therefore enumerated in the catalogue of the testes veritatis, by our Foxes Martyrologie.

Goodman, that great associate of John Knox, said, that [Page 35] Queen Mary deserved to be put to death as a Tyrant & m [...]n­ster, in his Book of obedience, page 94.

That superiour Magistrates may be put to death by the in­feriour, because domesticke Tyrants are chiefly to be represt, was the opinion of Parreus in his Commentary on the Judges.

The English ought to punish that Mary, Je [...]bel, whom they call Queen, said Knox that Scottish Luther.

That famous Dudly Fennor affirms, that an evill Prince may be taken way, either in a way of justice in the time of peace, or by warre, which they may doe, which are either ephore or ordinum omnium conventus, saith he.

It was Asa his want of zeale, that Macha the Queene Mo­ther was not as well put to death as from her regency, vid. the Notes upon the Geneva Bible.

When a Tyrant is taken away either by the suff [...]r [...]ge or consent of the people; fit deo auspice saith Zwinglius.

See more to this purpose in a Booke not long since put [...], as it is upon very good grounds supposed, by Mr. Rutterford of Scotland, calleed Lex Rex: and especially in Mr. Pryn [...]s works, chiefly his large 4. volumes of the soveraign power of Parliaments and Kingdomes, where you may read his judg­ment touching capitall proceedings against Emperours, Kings and Princes, for their tyranny, cruelty, &c. especially in his Appendix to his 4^th part of the soveraigne power of Parlia­ments and People, page 190, 191, 192, 193. and answering all Objections out of the old Testament, and out of the [...] (to which I referre you for the answering those very Te [...]ts which you so cry up against the Parliament and Army) a [...] also objections from supposed reasons, and the example of primi­tive Christians.

But because you plead the Covenant against the Parliament and Army, especially the Army, for their irregular c [...]se that they of late have taken, having no authority for wh [...] they have done: nay all established authority against their proceedings. If so be I can prove that the very like, or a see­ming worse act have been done by others, and yet approved by Queen Elizabeth, King James, King Charles, the [...] Parliament, when they were consisting both of Lords and [Page 36] Commons in a full and ample manner; yea and by the Mini­stery of London, your selves, and the Assembly of Divines (as such) that then either you Will for ever hereafter hold your tongues, or else give us sufficient reasons of your envaig [...] against the Army notwithstanding; for the proof (therefore) of this, you may please to bestow the paines of reading the Exhortation of the Assembly of Divines to the taking of [...] Solemn League and Covenant, ordered to be printed by the House of Commons, Febr. 9. 1643. you shall find these words, nor hath this Doctrine or practice (viz. of entering into a Cov [...] ­nant without, yea against the consent of the King) [...] [...] ­med seditious or unwarrantable by the Princes that have sa [...]e upon the English Throne, but justified and defended by Queen Elizabeth, of blessed memory, with the expence of much treasure and noble blood (observe what instance is brought) in the united Provinces of the Netherlands combined not only without, but against the un­just violence of Philip of Spain; King James followed her steps, so farre as to approve their union, and to enter into league with them as free States, which is continued by his Majestie now reigning un­to this day (speaking of King Charles) who both by his expedition for the relief [...] of Rochel in France, and his strict confedera [...]y with the Prince of Orange & the States Generall, notwithstanding all the importunity of Spain to the contrary, hath set to his Se [...] that all th [...] hath been done by his Royall Ancestors in maintenance of those who had so engaged and combined themselves was just and warrantable. And what had become of the Religion, lawes and liberties of [...] ster Nation of Scotland, had they not entered into such a [...] League and Covenant at the beginning of the late troubles there; which course however it was at first by the Popish and Frelati [...] pro­jectors represented to his Majestie as an offence of his, the highest nature, justly deserving chastisement by the fury of a puissant Army; yet when the matters came to be debated first by Commissioners of both Kingdomes, and then in open Parliament here, it was found adjudged and declared by the King in Parliament that ou [...] dea [...] Brethren of Scotland had done nothing but what became loya [...] and obedie [...] Subjects, and more thereupon by act of Parliament pub­liquely righted in all the Churches of this Kingdome where they had been defamed. To this may be added the late undertakings of [Page 37] our Brethren of Scotland, who contrary to the Parliament and Estates, and the established Law of the Land, did with­out any shadow, colour, or pretence of warrant from the State, raise Forces under Arguile against the Forces raised by the authority of Parliament under Hamil [...]on; who were assisted by the authority of the Parliament of England, and many of the godly Ministers of London did both seeke unto God for their successe, and blessed the Lord for granting the same. Here are three notorious examples of the same actings, though not with so great an Authority as our Armies were; & why doe you not cry out in your Pulpits against the rebellious Netherlands, and the rebellious Scots, as well as the rebellious Armie, and with what face can you plead the Covenant a­gainst the Army for rebellion, which very Covenant was founded (according to your malignant interpretation speak­ing in your sence) in rebellion it selfe; either answer these in­stances, or for shame speake no more of the Covenant.

By all this it appeares that the Army hath not broken Co­venant, and we were not tyed by the Covenant against bring­ing the King to condigne punishment, but to defend true Re­ligion; and true Religion, and many of the true professors thereof, would have the persons of Kings to suffer punishment as well as other offendors if they deserve it: and if so; w [...] are bound by Covenant to preserve the Kings Person, no further then in the preservation of true Religion. If so be the saving of the Kings person being a Murtherer, &c. be the destruction of the command of true Religion, that the Murtherer shall surely be put to death, we must by the obligation that lies upon us from the Solemn League and Covenant, cut off the Kings head for the preservation of true Religion.

Fourthly, We are obliged by the Solemn League and Co­venant to preserve and defend the Kings person in the preservation and liberties of the Kingdomes: so that the Kings Authority, true religion, the liberties of the Kingdomes, are still to be defended and preserved before and above the Kings person: and the Kings person in subordination only unto these, the King [...] authority & true religion, command that if the Kings person did commit murther, or was guilty of blood ( [...] these ver, Ministers at [Page 38] least many of them, together with the Ministers of the Church of Scotland did confesse) that his Person should be executed; which neglected, the liberties of the Kingdome could never be secured; for it is righteousnesse and justice that maketh a Land to flourish, besides, though these Ministers of Jesus Christ are pleased to say, page 15. of their serious and faithfull representation of their judgements, that the Parliament (when the Army seiz'd some of the Members thereof) was acting (viz. in the businesse of the Treaty with the King, and their vote [...] to settle the Kingdome upon his concessions) what was Cove­nanted for, and (if we mistake not say they) what was agreed up­on long before by the Parliaments of both Kingdomes, intimating thereby as if the liberties of the Kingdomes were sufficiently pro­vided for and secured in the said Treaty; yet there are other Ministers of Jesus Christ, viz. The Ministers of the Church of Scotland, not so apt to mistake as our subscribing Ministers are in England, nor yet so apt to be seduced and drawne aside by Malignants, shufling and shifting, preaching and printing, backward and forward, for and against, as these are, that concerning the Treaty in the Isle of Wight, speak seriously and faithfully in their late necessary and seasonable testimony against tol­leration in page 12. after this manner; And doubtlesse the Lord is highly displeased with their proceedings in the Treaty at Newport, in reference to Religion and Covenan [...], concerning which they ac­cepted of such concessions from his Majestie as being acquiesced in, were dangerous and destructive to both. It seemes these Ministers of Jesus Christ in London, I meane these Subscribers, could acquiesce in such concessions from the King; which being acquies­ced in, the Ministers of Jesus Christ in Scotland doe professe were dangerous and destructive both to Religion and Covenant. Here are Ministers of Jesus Christ of the Province of London, and Ministers of Jesus Christ of the Church of Scotland, both pretending an Embassie from the same Lord, and yet as con­trary one to the other as salvation is to destruction; surely contradiction [...] cannot be truth, the Ministers of Jesus Christ in London plead Covenant for the Parliaments acquiescing in the concessions of the King at Newport, which (by the testi­mony of the whole Ministery of Scotland) acquiesced in, would [Page 39] destroy both Religion and Covenant; if the keeping the Co­venant destroye [...] the Covenant in Ministers of London [...] opini­ons, the breaking of Covenan [...] preserves the Covenant in the Ministers of Scotlands judgement: I [...] not this the way to make the Covenant like AN ALMANACKE OƲTO [...] DATE?

It seemes our Ministers (the Subscribers) make little diffe­rence betweene Covenant or no Covenant, Religion or no Religion, when these stand in their way; but are ready to ac­quiesce in that which destroyes both the one and the other; whether Bishops be abolished, or not abolished, whether ma­lignants be punished, or not punished: Nay, they can plead for the King, or joyne with Malignants, or what not, in the prosecution of their game, though the Minister [...] of Scotland [...] of another opinion.

These Subscribers make little difference between seven men excepted from pardon in the late Treaty at Newpor [...], and si [...] of these out of the reach of Justice; an olde man, Judge [...], that never personally shed blood, only left behind, and [...]bout 37. or 38. before excepted from mercie by the 2. King­ [...]omes, the liberties of the Kingdomes, Religion, Covenant, all must velle and pay tribute unto these men.

In the 5^th place whereas th [...]se Ministers both in their seri­ous and faithfull representation of their judgements; and in th [...] vindication plead Covenant: I desire to know of them whe­ther one of the great and capitall ends both of the Covenant and Warre it sal [...]e; hath not expresly beene set forth by [...] Kingdoms from time to time to be the bringing of Delinquents to condign [...] punishment, and is made the subject matter of th [...] 4^th Article thereof; is not this then an abhominable mocker [...] in the fight of Heaven and Earth? and shall this be indulged and pleaded for by the Ministers of Jesus Christ in the Province of London? Do [...] you thinke the blood of so many thousand Protestants in England and Scotland could be expla [...]d by the blood of David [...], who was not so much guilty of blood in all these War [...] a [...] some of your selves have been in [...] men up to the late second War [...]e? Is this your keeping of Co­venant? Is this the fruit of all your Sermons, lasting and pray­ing, [Page 38] [...] [Page 39] [...] [Page 40] exciting and stirring up the Parliament as severall of your printed Sermons doe witnesse, to cause judgement and ju­stice to [...] downe like amighty flood amongst u [...]? Will the blood of David Jenkin make such a flood think you? You say to the Army, page 12. be not deceived, God is not mocked: but they may retort it upon your selves, and God will require the [...] things at your hands above all others.

In the 6^th and last place, whereas you alwayes plead So­lemn League and Covenant (and leaving the Scriptures) cry o [...] Covenant, Oath of God, Covenant of the Lord, and breach of Covenant, perjury, &c. Doth not the All-seeing eye of Heaven know, and will he not judge think you betweene you and o­thers in these things: hath any generation, party, or socie­ty of men in the Kingdome taken more Oaths, Vowes, Cove­nants, directly crosse and contrary each to other then your selves? Looke backe into your former course of life, and call to minde how many oaths and subscriptions, subscription [...] and oaths you have made from time to time, over and over, and how you have either made it a meere, vaine, sinfull, cu­stomary thing, to swear solemnly in the sight of Heaven and Earth, or have been very rash, hasty, and injudicious. In so doing, or 3^dly have directly forsworn your selves against the light and sence of your own judgement and conscience; have we not cause to judge better of many of the Prelaticall party, who being men of learning and conscience, and never so vio­lent against their opposers in Church and State as your selves making no disturbances, rents, divisions, factions by Pul [...] and Presse as you doe from day to day (as all men observe) that being conscious to themselves of the many Oaths, Vo [...] Covenants that they have made of subjection and obedien [...] unto Bishops, the then established Church-government [...] of Common-prayer, Homilies, Canons, &c. cannot take [...] Solemn League and Covenant, and rather choose to lose the [...] livings and livelihoods, committing themselves, Wives and Children to the mercy of God, having no visible meanes [...] subsisting, then to break the peace of their consciences by ta­king an Oath, Vow, and Covenant, contrary to all their for­mer oaths before satisfaction received; then for you or some of [Page 41] you that presently turn'd Presbyterian [...], cast away Episco­pacy, tooke the Covenant: and having taken it, turne in and wind it, wring it and wr [...]st it, making it to looke East and West, North and South, as your interest works with King, Parliament, or Army, or against them all: and this is not my saying only, whom I expect you will represent as a Schismatick, Sectary, Hereticke, a bold, impudent, inconsiderate, &c. But it is Vox Populi, the late KING, the Lord [...], the Commons, the City, the Countrey, the whole Kingdome observed it; it would have been rather expe­cted that you should have made, published, and printed a Recantation of all your former Oaths, Vows, Covenants, Promises, Subscriptions; then (as if people knew neither you nor your wayes) to exclaime at men for breaking Cove [...], because they subject not themselves unto your interest and judgement under the Notion of Presbytery, putting th [...] Crown upon Christs head, building his house, &c. not one word of Presbytery in the Covenant, and the very mention of Episcopacy and Government of the Church by the Arch-Bish­ops, Bishops, &c. expresly made in some of your former [...] which you have taken; you tell the Army, page 9. of your se­rious and faithfull representation, that they have made Religion to stinke by reason of their miscarriages, and like to become a [...] and reproach in all the Christian world. The truth [...], they have spread the sweete savour of Religion abroad throughout this Kingdome more then thousands of those that stile themselves the Ministers of the Gospell, and Embassadors of Jesus Christ. And although some of them may have some mistaken about religion in some points thereof, as you cannot deny [...] your selves have their errors; yet their fame in matters of Re­ligion hath sounded throughout all the Christian world, be­yond all Armies that ever were before them; notwithstanding all your blacke lines and language, [...]owle, scandalous, and false aspersions cast upon them and this Kingdome in the se­verall parts of it, yea in almost all the parts of it, yea and the Kingdome of Scotland also have received full and [...]ple testi­mony of their worthinesse, and declared the same to your vexation unto all the world, and whether that your [...] [Page 42] have not made Religion to stinke (I would not use [...] words were they not your owne) and like to become a scorne [...] reproach to all the Christian world: Let all men judge▪ nay, the truth is, almost all men have already given in their judgment against you, many of your own party being more moderate, meek, and considerate then your selves, have declin'd you, and are asham'd of you; no men, party, or faction, Schisma­ticks, Hereticks, or call you them what you please, have been greater hinderers of Reformation, or the establishment of a moderate, holy, peaceable, quiet advancement of the Kingdome of Jesus Christ and his truth and Gosp [...]ll, be it Presbytery or whatsoever else then your selves have been, and you may thus contend all your dayes: but you will never thrive and prosper in the settlement of Religion and Reforma­tion untill a more meeke, quiet, forbearing spirit be more predominant in you then as yet doth appear; which if it once be made manifest in you, your parts, gifts, and abilities would be serviceable unto God, and your faces would shine in the sight of honest men.

Having repeated the Protestation, Vow and Covenant, and Solemn League and Covenant, as if your very calling men Covenant-breakers had sufficiently proved them so, you pre­sently flye into the faces of the Army with all those Scriptures that make mention of Gods displeasure against Covenant-breaking, and that without once giving any argument, pro­ving that they are Couenant-breakers: but what have been an­swered over and over, again and again, though you have gotten the art not to take notice thereof; then you tell them page 8. of your serious and faithfull representation, with what a jealous eye and severe hand the Lord avenged the quarrell, of [...] Covenant made by Zedekiah King of Babylon; then wee heare of God [...] avenging the quarrell of his Covenant, of despising [...] Oath, by breaking his Covenant, of lifting up the hand to the high God; of the despising Dominions, and speaking evill of Dig­nities; of Gods judgements against Corah, Dathan, and Ab [...] ­ram for their mutinous rebellion and levelling design against Ma­gistr [...]y and Ministery in the persons of Moses and Aaron, [...]. But may not others upon better grounds summon up all those [Page 43] Scriptures that speake of the miscarriages of false Prophet [...], that prophecie lies in the name of the Lord; that pretend to a vision from God which hee did never shew, and to [...] messages which he did never send, &c. and dash them all in­to your faces, then you can those Scriptures that speak [...] of Covenant-breaking, despising Magistracy and Ministery, into the faces of the Army; you tell them of Gods judgments against Saul for violating the Covenant which was made with the Gibe [...]nites: but may not that as well be re [...]orted up­on you for violating the Covenant which you made with the Parliament, not to make defection to the contrary party, to assist the Forces raised and continued by authority of Parliament, to bring Delinquents to condign punishment, &c. which is a posi­tive, not conditionall Article of the Covenant (as that [...] the preservation of the person of the King was) yea one of the great ends of the whole warre, and when the Lord Ge­nerall and Councell of Waried [...]once yeeld unto Articles of quarter for life (upon very weighty grounds and reasons so voted by the Parliament themselves) to some capitall Malig­ [...]ant at the rend [...]tion of Oxford; what a clamour and noise was heard against them, though we hear as great an exclamation for their contrary proceedings at this time.

Againe, Did the Covenant made with th [...] Gibeonites give them a dispensation to doe what they could against the Isra­elites, and they must not so much as be questioned for it by vertue of a Covenant made before: If not, your instance is no­thing, for no such Covenant was made with the King, that doe he what he would or could to ruine and destroy religion and liberty, and all godly men, that yet we bound our selves to preserve his Person: and you know that when wee entered into this Covenant, it was p [...]esumed that not the King, but his evill councell was the cause of our Warres and miseri [...], though since wee have found that not his councell, but himselfe was the chiefe cause thereof, and your own consci­ences do tell you so, or else you have wrong'd him.

Page 9. of your Letter, you tell them while they kept Co­venant, they had your hearts, your helpe, and your prayers; that they have broken their Covenant, is your slanderous as­persion, [Page 44] and how your hearts, your help, and your prayers have been towards them, is all mens observation; that the very scope and drift of many of your prayers and preaching, es­pecially the last Summer, and about 18. months since, was to rend and teare the Army to pieces, and like B [...]la [...]m's pray­ers for the hosts of Israel (though blessed be God with the like successe) may be proved by many heaps of witnesses, and yet the Armies successe in all their proceedings must still be appro­priated to your prayers that were bent against them, though indeed in some sence it cannot be denyed; for it is usu [...] I with God to turne mens curses against his people into blessing [...] up­on their head▪

Having sufficiently insisted upon the Solemn League and Co­venant by way of anticipation, you answer their objection by telling them.

First, That they must not be too confident from former suc [...]es­ses, shewing them that God suffers men sometimes to prosper in wicked courses; that there be just men unto whom it happens accor­ding to the worke of the wicked, and that there be wicked men unto whom it happeneth according to the worke of the righteous. Page 12. of your Letter.

But to reply in the first place, why may not they conclude from successes as well as you, how often have we heard you attribute the successes of the Army from time to time, to your prayers and morning meetings and Lectures, though made use of both by prayer and preaching, to render them odi [...] in the sight of God and man (if it was possible) but

2^ly. Though successes are not alwayes the infallible testi­monies of the goodnesse of the cause on which side they fall [...] yet successes with their circumstances doe sometimes [...] evidently vindicate the minde of God in a questionable [...] as,

First, when both parties have appealed solemnly [...] God in a doubtfull case, or at least so appearing, [...] him to blesse or blast, make to prosper or to perish that [...] that is not righteous in his eyes: As for instance, when the false Prophets commanded to goe up to Ramoth Giliad, and prosper: and the Prophet of the Lord told them that if they [Page 45] went up they should perish, and both parties pretended to the message of the Lord herein. Certainly the succe [...]se in this case argueth the minde and will of God, touching th [...] going or not going to Ramo [...]h Giliad, when some of [...] did [...]id the City goe out against the Army, when they came to­wards the City, telling them you had a command from God to this purpose, assuring them that if they did let the Army come in,1646. they would plunder the City, ruine and destroy them. And others of the Ministers of Jesus Christ, pre­ [...]ending to the same name and authority a [...] you did, required them in the name of the Lord not to goe out to fight against [...]he Army, assuring that if the Army did come, not a hai [...] of [...]heir heads should perish. Doubtlesse the successe in this case was very argumentative touching the will of God: So [...] the Scots came the last yeare into this Kingdome, pretending [...]he quarrell of the Covenant (for whose prosperity some of [...]id so earnestly pray unto God [...] your Pulpits) and some part [...] the Army of England though under many disadvantages, was about to engage against them, prayer being solemnly [...]ade unto God by the Commander in ChiefeI. Gen. Cromwell., impor [...]ing [...]od, that for as much as both parties did pretend unto the Covenant, that they did refer themselves unto the Lord, and [...]egg'd from heaven to give sentence between them. Doubt­ [...]esse either such pr [...]yers are vaine, or God doth use to [...] [...]nd to inform us of his mind by answering herein: so here, when you have endeavoured to curse the Army from Parish to Parish, and from Pulpit to Pulpit, to sti [...]re up the City and Countrey, to joyne with Malignants and Royallists a­gainst the Army, assuring your party that God will breake them and rend them. And another party of Ministers pray for them from Pulpit to Pulpit, from place to place, encon­r [...]ing them not to feare, for God will be with them: d [...]ht­lesse the successe is very declara [...]ve touching the will of God herein, and especially,

In the second place, when those success [...] are carryed on from time to time in an uniform manner, the Lord giving severall years successe upon their severall appeal unto him: and yet more, [Page 46] In the third place, wh [...]n the glorious Majesty, power and presence of God doth appeare after such appeales made unto God, when the Lord doth (as it were) send the Ang [...]ll of his presence to save his people, being few, and the Angel of his fury to make the Armies, the great and mighty hosts of the Enemie to flie and scatter as dust before the face of the winde, when hee makes one to chaseten, and two to put a hundred to flight; when he breakes the heavens and comes down, making the mountaines to flow downe at his presence; when hee shall with alsmal inconsiderable Army of about 16000 men, scattered and divided in severall dispersions. East, West; North and South, to destroy neare a hundred thousand men in armes (as if the Scots Army, the Welch Army, the Kent­ish Army, the Essex Army were considered, it would appear besides the City and Ships all engaged,) yea and should take away the hearts and spirits of their Enemies, and make the proud, high, and lofty thoughts of their adversaries to trem­ble. Certainly such kinde of successes, wherein God doth appear in the very majesty of his power and presence, cannot but be very convincing, touching the truth of their cause: and you above all others, who should rather exhort Malignants, Royallists, and the enemies of the peace and liberties of the Kingdome in generall, and the people of God in speciall to give glory to God, to cause the high praises of God to be in their l [...]ps, who hath pul'd downe the mighty from their seate, and raised up the poore out of the dust, that he may set him with Prin­ [...]ces, even the Princes of his people: That the loftinesse of man is bowed downe, and the haughtinesse of men is bowed downe, and the Lord alone is exalted in the worke. I appeale unto all your consciences, whether God did ever appear since the comming of Christ in more visible characters & prints of his foot steps, then in bringing downe that proud Nimrod, and in executing vengea [...]ce upon that hardned Pharaoh, who did yet more and more harden his heart against all the wonderful appear­ances of God against him, and would not bow and bend, and subject himselfe unto the God of Israel. Nay I appeal yet un­to you, whether the millions of prayers and teares that have been powred forth u [...]to God by his faithfull servants in pub­lique [Page 47] and in private, in Churches and in chambers, did not beget a faithfull expectation that God would make him ex­emplary in mercy or judgement, returning those prayers ei­ther upon his heart or head. And I appeale likewise unto you, whether he hath not answered such expectations accor­dingly, causing him at such a time, in such a manner, to be brought to cond [...]gn punishment, as was beyond all the ex­pectations either of his friends or enemies, the like n [...]ver known in our Nation. And I appeal further unto you, whe­ther you doe not think in your consc [...]ences (or have not suf­ficient reason so to doe) that if ever he had come unto his Throne again, he would not have made as great havocke of godly men, whether Presbyteria [...], Independent, or what e­ver else, as Nero himselfe hath done; and whether you would not have been driven into your old corners, chamber [...], and closets, and there teare him to pieces with your prayers; is it not then to be lamented, that you shou'd (you above all o­thers) cast a blinde before mens eyes, and hide the glorious presence and appearances of God, evidenced by those great and most stupendious successes vouchsafed unto the Army in bringing that man of blood unto judgement.

The next thing you anticipate the Army, is, that they pla [...] not their justification of their present actings from impulses of spirit, [...]orpretended impressions on their hearts, without or against the rule of Gods written word. Page 13. of your Letter, putting them to consider, whether any history, sacred or profane, recordeth any example of an impulse of sp [...]rit falling upon multitudes of p [...]r­sons at the same time, putting them all at once upon perform [...]nces contrary to morall precepts, &c.

It may be demanded of you who call your selves the Mi­nisters of God, and Embassadors of Jesus Christ, and who wou [...]d be looked upon as guided by the Spirit of God, and speaking in your Pulpits as he gives you utterance; whether a­ny history, sacred or profane, recordeth any example of the true spirit of God falling upon a great company of the faithfull. Embassadours and true Ministers of Jesus Christ, putting them all at once upon performances contrary to morall precepts and principles, making them violate the rules of civility and ho­nesty, [Page 46] [...] [Page 47] [...] [Page 48] speake and write most notorious, scandalous, and known falsities, when another part of the Ministers of Jesus Christ doe speak and write directly contrary unto [...]he former. This spirit that hath made you abuse the Army, by casting filthy reproaches upon them and the Parliament, by scan­dalizing the highest act of Justice that ever was performed in this Land, calling it sedition, rebellion, murther, staining the Land with the blood of their Soveraign, I believe came not from above, neither had it any higher ascent then the aire, or an upper roome in Sion-Colledge, from whence the City, and Countrey-Ministers capable of the impression, receive an impulse of spirit, to speake and write (as it were) with one month and penne, as that spirit of errour and scandall gives them utterance; that the holy spirit of God makes no impressi­o [...]s upon the hearts of m [...]n without and against the word of God, putting them upon performances contrary to morall pre­cepes, cannot be denyed: but that there are such pretences either in the Army to whom you write, or the Parliament, or high Court of Justice, who are alike concern'nd in what you say for doing such things, i [...] but the inspiration of that spirit in you which stands in perfect contradiction to the spi­rit of God: and these impulses of spirit, and impressions upon the hearts of the Army, to put the Parliament into a condition and capacity of executing judgement and justice upon that great Delinquent of the Land, and which did inspire the highest Court of Justice with courage and faithfulnesse there­in, was the same spirit whole finger hath written that mo­rall precept in the hearts of men, and that sacred rule of Gods written word, Numb. 35. 16. The murtherer shall surely be put to deaih. And vers. 31: Yee shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murtherer: and all those other Scriptures, commanding to execute judgement and justice impartially; and that spirit that would not have the K. (guilty by your owne confessions of the blood of many thousands) so much as convict & condem­ned (as you declared your selves, page the 3^d of your Vindi­cation) much lesse executed, notwithstanding such blood­guiltinesse, can be no other then that spirit which said unto our first Parents, contrary to the expresse word of God, Gen. [Page 49] 3. 4. Yee shall not surely dye. Morall principles, and the writ­ten Word of God saith, that the blood guilty pers [...]n must dye, you say that the greatest blood-guilty peson in the king­dome shall not surely dye: that impulse of spirit, and those im­pressions of heart that were in the Subjects of Amaziah King of Judah, putting him to death for his wickednesse, 2 Chron. 25. 27. (The word of God not blaming them for any thing we hear of) and that stirred up Jehoiadab the Priest to raise up severall parties to put Queene Athaliah to death for her cruelty and murthers; did stir up the Army, Parliament, and Court of Justice to put the late bloody Tyrant to death, and we may expect (through the grace of God) rest and peace as the issue thereof; for it is a blessing to a Kingdome to doe ju­stice impartially, and a curse to neglect it, 1 Kings 2. 32, 33. Numb. 35. 33, 34. Jer. 5. [...]. 5, 6. and since you speake of impulse of spirit, and impressions of heart, without and against the rule of Gods written word, putting men upon performances contrary to worall precepts. It would be known in what heart was this written as a morall principle, that Kings and Princes though they should prove Tyrants, murtherers, Traytors, &c. yet it is a sinne to put them to death. In what booke or page of the holy Bible is the execution of such persons ex­empted from justice; you say to the law and to the testimonis, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Surely if you cannot produce such a law and [...]estime­nie, inhibiting the execution of justice upon persons of Kings and Princes, guilty of murther, treason, &c. You have taught us by Scripture to conclude against you, that there is no light in you as concerning your opinion in th [...]s case: but that you are steered by an impulse of spirit & impressions of heart against the expresse word and will of God.

In the third place you anticipate the Armies plea of necessi­ty, urging that of Job: Job 13. 7. will yee speake wickedly for God, and talke deceitfully for him, that no necessity can justifie perjurie, or dispense with lawfull oaths, page 14, 15. of your Letter.

I may reply by re [...]orting your owne argument, where you say,Page 15. of your Letter. that if a precept of God may be dispensed with upon a ne­cessity, yet this necessity must be absolute, p [...]esent [...]nd cleare, that [Page 50] the murtherer shall surely be put to death, is a knowne precept of God: If th [...]s o [...]ust be dispensed withall, shew us the absolute, present, and cleare necessity for it. If you cannot, will you speake wickedl, for God, and talke deceitfully for him? As for the Ar­mies proceedings, if there was a necessity that the land should be c [...]eansed from blood guiltinesse, that the great ends of the Covenant and all our Wars should be secured, viz. the bring­ing Delinquents to cond [...]gn punishment, the reformation of Religion according to the word of God, and the example of the best r [...]f [...]rmed-Churches, the establishment of righteousnesse and justice in the middest of us, then was there a necessity of the Army to take that course which they did.

You conclude your Letter with your serious exhortat [...]on to the Army to decline their present actings, and declaring unto them your M [...]nisterial faith [...]u [...]nesse in dealing p [...]ainly with them, expecting sufferings, and telling your Readers a story of M [...]. Peters language, strengthning your expectati­ons of a suffering condition, page 16.

Had the Army alwayes obeyed the law of your lips, it had been no hard matter to prophecy what had become of us by this time: Doubtlesse Rome had been the pattern of the Eclesi­astical Reformation, and Turkey of the civil liberties of this Kingdome before now, had religious Massie, and devout P [...]iniz, and those piou [...] Reformades, your Champions of Israel, stirred up to sight against the Army, that did cut, flash and kill the Citizens in the Guild Hall, London, prevailed a­gainst the Army; doe not you think we should have had most pious and prec [...]ous times by this? As for Mr. Peters, whose bloody language you so seriously and faithfully represent in your serious and faithfull representation: Let the Readers under­stand the truth of the matter, which (your own consciences can witnesse) was thus: Mr. Peters and some others were sent to you from the Councel of Warre (whom you had offended by your invectives, slanders and scandals in prayer and prea­chings without your comming unto them, to give or receive satisfaction touching their proceedings) who in the name of those that sent them certified from whence they came, and for what end; Mr. Peters told you that they came in obedience [Page 51] to Christs rule in Matth. 18. telling you that you had offend­ed your Brethren of the Army by your Pulpit exclamations against them, desiring that if you had any thing to say tou­ching any of their actings, you would come unto them, and they would give or receive satisfaction, repeating this unto you over and over to prevent mistakes; adding moreover, that they did not come to scare you, neither were affraid of you; what proud, Prelaticall, imperious, and unbrotherly language he received from some of you, is very well knowne, though hee had a more civill and candid reception from some others; the discourse which was had with him was intended it seemes on your part, to catch matter of an ill resentment to publish it against him, one of you pr [...]ssing the dangerous con­sequences of proceeding against the King, likely engaging into more warr, occasioned Mr. Peters to say that the Army did re­solve to give no man quarter in the next Warre, (or to that purp­ose, which words you represent as threatning you) to which reply was given, that you did expect sufferings, &c. To this Mr. Peters said, that if you put your selves upon suffering, you may have suffering enough, or to that purpose, and advised you moreover to forbeare your provoking language in your Pulpits, lest the common souldiers should doe you a mischiese, and you may thanke your selves. This was the sum of that discourse, and now let any man judge whether he did you any wrong in all this, or where lies the unbrotherlinesse and unworthinesse of these passages; or whether your Christi in ingenuity and can­dor becomming the Ministers of the Gospell of Jesus Christ, doth not gloriously appear in printing Mr. Peters unto the world at you have done.

And now let heaven and earth judg whether that the whole series of your former proceedings doe not speake plainely, and not in parables, that as the Popes of old did command men to subject unto Magistracy as Gods Ordinance, and unto Kings and Rulers, as unto those that were set over them by the Lord for their good, while these Kings and Rulers did subject them­selves unto them, casting downe their Crownes at their feet.

Then they shall have titles of honour confer'd upon them, as Most Christian King, Catholique King, Defender of the Faith, [Page 52] &c. and to allure them to permit that Romish Harlot to reigne over the Kings of the earth, Revel. 17. 18. that shee might fit [...] Queene. Shee would chant them with her alluring tongue; her lips dropping as an honey-comb, Prov. 5. 4. and her mouth smoother then eyl, and bewitching them with her guilded language, during their obedience to the holy chaire, they should be called the frinds of Jesus Christ, sonnes to St. Peter, obedient children to their mo­ther Church: assuring them that God would be mercifull unto them when he came with St. Peter to judge the world, they should have Indulgences and pardons for all their sinnes, they should have their Holinesses benedictions, and the prayers of the Church to prosper them in their wars & expeditions for their successe in the advance of the Catholique cause; yea for a time, untill their turns be served, they shall have an acknowledgment that such and such things are proper unto them, which afterward it shall be no lesse then sacriledg to proclaim, viz. The calling of generall Councels, appointing and ordering the elections of Popes, and the investitures of Bishops; yea sometimes to court Princes, spared not to present them with the treasures of the Church, as Pope Gregory did Charles of France, when he sent him the keyes of the holy Sepulchre, and S. Peters chains, and other things; all which, at other times, when they were sixt in their chair of pestilence, they stifly affirmed to be irrela­tive to them: and for claiming of which, pronounced them guilty of Simony, and excommunicated them. And when at any time these threw off the papall yoke, the very same Popes did issue out their Buls against them, and did absolve the people from any further subjection unto them, even so doe not you (I still speake not of all, but some of you) when that authority stears by your compasse, then all goes right; then we blesse you in the name of the Lord; then you can bid them God­speed; then they shall be called the repairers of Israel, and of the breaches of Zion, and ages to come shall call them blessed; then g [...] on and prosper; then they are the Zerubbabels, the Davids, the Solomons, the Worthies of Israel; these are the blessed times of Reformation: If any in place of authority doe withstand and oppose, though it be the King himselfe, and severall of the Rulers with him, as the late King and many Lords and Com­mons [Page 53] did, then how did you allarm the people, conjuring them in the name of the Lord to goe out against them to fight the Lords battles; then curse yee Meroz, curse yee bitterly the inhabi­tants thereof, because they went not out to help the Lord against the mighty. And as for those Magistrates or others, that drive on in a hopefull advance of your interest, then my heart is towards the Governours of Israel that gave themselves willingly, &c. And to encourage the people, you tell them that Kings and Prin­ces, and all authority and power must stoop unto Jesus Christ and he will break [...] them in pieces like a potters vessell: Your severall Sermons in print will wit­nesse this. He will bind their Kings in chaines, and their Nobles in fetters of iron: And this honour shall all the Saints have. Then goe out and feare not the battle is the Lords, and he will teach your hands to warre, and your fingers to fight, and cover your heads in the day of battle. Then you tell them, if they be not valiant, and quit themselves like men, their eares shall be boared, and themselves, their wives and children shall be everlasting slaves and vassals; then their eyes shall be put out as were Sampsons, and they must be the sport and scorn of their enemies, and grind in their mills all their dayes; then you cry, how will your children, and your chil­drens children curse your cowardize, and bewaile your trea­cherous betraying their peace and liberties, therefore you stir up the people to assist with moneyes, horse, plate, and persons If any doubts doe arise concerning resisting Kings and Rulers, especially in case of Oaths, Vows, or Covenants, touching preservation of the person of the King (as there did from the Solemn League and Covenat) then you are ready to give satis­faction, and to tell the people that that clause in the Cove­nant is to be understood not simply, but relatively; that i [...] i [...] not a single, but a complex engagement; no [...] an absolute, but a con­ditional clause (with many such distinction [...]) t [...]is for the Kings Person in the preservation of our Religion and Liberties Many of you have made such answers to them that did scruple the Covenant being to go to wars, or fight as occasion should be of­fered, because of that clause concl [...]ing the person of the King.: And though the King should be destroyed by you, you have not­withstanding keps your Covenant, and that mens spirits may be free without regret. You tell the people that the King in a man of blood, taking hold of all whispering hear-sayes and probabilities of his wickednesse, to m [...]ke him odious to the people; then the death of King James, of Prince Henery, the [Page 54] betraying of Rochell, Mr. Love in his Sermon at Vxbridg. the contriving the promoting of the Iri [...] rebellion, the blood of England, Scotland, & Ireland is laid up­on him; then the wickednesse, idolatry, profanesse, luxury, and all kinds of impiety; of the licentious Court, loose No­bles, and lewd Gentry, are set forth; then God is comming to avenge the injury and wrong, and to make inquisition for the blood of his people;Let Mr. Love speak, if there are not many old Conven­ticlers (as they are call­ed) that can witnesse this. Then you pray, Lord either conv [...] the King, or confound him. Lord let the prayers of thy people fall upon his heart, or upon his head, either in shewres of grace upon his soule, or judgements otherwayes upon him. If an Army be raised up, though for its paucity and contemptiblenesse it be called a new Noddle, fresh-water Souldiers, &c. you encourage them notwithstanding, calling them an Army of Saints, telling them that God wil be with them, and wil make them his battle, axe, and weapons of War, and that this new Noddle shal break in pieces their enemies, &c. When the War is ended, the Enemy vanquished, the liberties of the people recovered, the freedom of godly, honest, and tender-conscienc'd men secured, if that they bring not the spoil of their victories, and lay them down at your feet, and guard themselves to serve you with your sa­vory meate which they have gotten (I meane sacrificed to your power and greatnesse.) Nay, if they that sit at the stern do no [...] lay aside all other businesse (though never so much concern­ing the common peace and safety) and doe nothing else but build your Pallaces, then you run to the quiver of the holy Scriptures, and choose out the sharpest and keenest arrows you can meet withall to wound the credite and reputation of the Parliament and Army: and all that (having a supposed opportunity) doe not toyle and travell to get your bread in the sweat of their brows, and build your houses, though in the blood of the whole Kingdome, then you cry out, why do you dwell in seiled houses, and the house of the Lord lye wast? cursed be he that doth the worke of the Lord negligently: You are to serve the Lord with the first fruits of your victories and successes: and because yee neglect the work of the Lord, and doe not put the Crown upon the head of Christ, and the Scepter into his hand, therefore he will powr forth contempt upon you, and break you in pieces, and shatter you and your Forces, &c. If [Page 55] this chanting will not serve turn; then forgetting those Scrip­tures which speak of subjecting to authority, and of the dan­ger of despising Dominion, and speaking evill of Dignities, &c. You fall upon down-right ralling against them; then they are an apostatizing Parliament, a degenerating Parliament, a Par­liament at whose doors may be laid all the errours, herefiet, and blasphemies of the times, an oppressing Parliament, &c. If all this will not doe; but your Temple-worke goes on slowly; then the City is set on work, and the Countrey is excited, Ap­prentices and others encouraged to offer violence upon the 2. Houses, forcing them to vote and unvote at pleasure, and en­couraged by some of your Tribt and Subscribers (as shall be made good if occasion be) then if this will not yet doe, i [...] Ba­lacke and Balaam cannot curse Israel from Mount-Pisga, they will strive to doe it from Mount-Peor: and observing that the Army (that quondam new Noddle, that Army of Saints, while they were hopefully your servants) prove your supposed and conjectured obstructors, (I say supposed and conjectured, for indeed they have saved your throats from being cut, whichis al the injury that ever yet they have done you) now a rebellious Army, an oppressing Army, an Army of Heretickes, Schisma­tickes, Seperatists, &c. Then you think of a new course, and Bishops being hopefully abolished, and no great danger that they will any longer stand in your way, you venture in joyn­ing with notorious Malignants, as presuming, that though the King and his party should raise themselves in the ruines of the Army, yet Episcopacy is damned that could not hinder you; then City and Countrey Petitions are promoted for a Person­all Treaty for the restauration of the King, in safety, freedome, and honour. Then you temper your Sermons, and turne your tongues, your lines, your language for the Royall interest: but to be briefe, when nothing serves, but the Army prevailes, the King is brought to condign punishment, a Prelaticall Presby­tery shall not be suffered; what patheticke crie [...] and moanes, sighs and groanes are heard in your Pulpits, wringing your hands in bitter complaints, that the Land is stain'd with the blood of our Prince, &c. when alasse the Royall party, and most judicious men with them, cannot believe but that the [Page 56] root of all this bitternesse is, that your crown of Cla [...]icall Ju­risdiction is fallen to the ground.

I have a few queries to tender to your serious consideration for a finall conclusion.

First, Whether it would not be a most acceptable service to God and man, that you above all others, whose Function, Profession, and daily employment should he the promotion of righteousnesse and just­ice, truth and peace in the world, should improve your heads & y [...] hearts, your interests and opportunities, your time and your studier to compose our differences, make up our breaches, heale our divisi­ons, and to promote love and good [...]orkes amongst all people: and whether you thinke in your conscience [...], you as well as others have not beene remisse and negligent in your duty herein.

Second [...]y, Whereas you complaine that the bedge of Magistr [...] is broken downe, and lawfull Authority swallowed up in a confu­sed Auarchy, &c. Whether you conceive in your consciences, that the way to reduce all, & to r [...]cover in this [...]ase, be to trample down all that visible Authority which is yet extant; You say we have [...]e King, no Lords, no Parliament no [...] government: If so, is it [...] farae better to thinke upon, contrive, and study to settle some go­vernment, then that wee should live together without government (any government being better then none) it's said we have had (for a great while) a King and no King, a Parliament & no Par­liament, one party setting it selfe against another party, and as p [...] ­er and opportunity did appear, each party plucking the other out by the eares, voting and unvoting, doing and undoing, no man know­ing where to fixe, since then the foundations of government being shaken, and the pillars thereof removed, and the nerves and sinewes broken in pieces? Is it not best for every party and society of [...]en to improve themselves and all their interest in the timous sev [...]lement of some government amongst us, and whether your present actings have such a tendency.

Thirdly, Whereas you complain of the contempt of the Ministery, whether this bulrush of contempt hath not growne from the mire of contention between godly men, and whether the seeds thereof have not beene so [...]ne even from the Pulpits themselves. You complaine that the Armie, your dissenting brethren and others, doe despise and contemn the Ministers of Jesus Christ: but how can you pre­sume [Page 57] it otherwayes, while such reproach and contempt is cast upon them from the Ministers, whether you can in reason expect it other­wayes untill such time as a more soft and quiet spirit remain in you.

Fourthly, Whether it can in reason be imagined that the Parliament and Army can be gained over unto you by these wayes of bitter invectives against them: and if not, whether that your hope [...] otherwayes can be founded upon any thing but an expectation of a­nother warre, and consideratis consider and is, what is the conditi­on of England like to be in such a case; for God and your Countreyes sake if you love the one or the other consider of it.

Fifthly, Whether that the ingenuity of the Armie, especially the Officers thereof, whose principles of religion and wisdome doe e­nable them to beare reproaches, be not a snare [...]nto you, to abuse them as you doe: and whether you are perswaded in your consci­ences the Kings Army would have suffered you to have given them the like measure?

Sixthly, Whether that an over-weening opinion in you of your popularity and publique interest of the Kingdoms nec [...]ssity of Mi­nisters, of the clamor of the people in case you should be called to que­stion for your irregular preceedings, together with a secret kinde of pride and ambition of some small sufferings, to contract, if possible, the credite, glory, and repute of Martyrs or sufferings for Christ, be not likewise another snare of death unto you in this kind? and whe­ther this be sutable to that ingenuity and candor which becomes the Ministers of the Gospell.

Seventhly, Whether that the spirit of perversnesse doth not blast your abilities to the popular observation of your apprehensive Audi­tors, causing you to spend your precious hours in Studies and pulpits, in the saplesse savour of simple notions. I shall only instance in one of your Rabbies, Mr. E. C. of A. B. We should pray saith he to be deli­vered from 6. (shallow) deeps, the deep of Anarchy (or a boundle [...]s Presbytery) the deep of perjury (chiefly that of the Clergy) the deep of tolleration (especially of the State-troubling faction) the deep of an everlasting Army (or the disbanding our present Ar­my) the deep [...] of shedding the blood of our KingThat hath made no more conscience of s [...]lling men then Moles, and destroy­ing his p [...]ople then pis [...]mires, o [...] burning their houses then walps nests., (or sp [...]ring the great murtherer of the Kingdome) the deep of Hell (or that dungeon thereof, pav'd with the creasts of that scandalous Clergy) let m [...]n of reason judge of the profundity of this Divinity, whether this [...]e [...]o preach Christ crucified, or to crucifie Christ preached, may quickely be determined.