nons ecclefia

75. And the other English Ecclefiaftical Conftitutions in A. C. 1640. And then judge, whether they tolerate, or prohibit vices in the Miniftry. Who reads them fhall find our Church therein making whips of great Cords, to drive unclean persons out of the Temple. But because the books are not in all mens hands, I will transcribe a paffage out of the latter, worthy of golden characters, and everlasting memory; It runs thus. This prefent Synod ftraitly chargeth all Clergy men in this Church, Conftitutithat fetting before their eyes the glory of God, the holiness of their cal- ons, and Caling, and the edification of the people committed to their charge, they ftical agreed carefully avoid all exceffe, and diforder, and that by their Chriftian upon by the and religious converfation, they shine forth as lights unto all others in Archbishops all godliness, and honefty; And we also require all thofe unto whom the and Bishops government of the Clergy of this Church is committed, that they fet in the year 1640 Čanon. themselves to encourage godliness, and gravity, fobriety, and all unblameable converfation in the Ministers of this Church. according to the power with which they are intrusted, they diligently labour,by the execution of the above named Canons,and all other Ec clefiaftical provifions made for this end, to reform all offenfive, and fcandalous perfons (if any be) in the Miniftery, as they tender the welfare and profpering of piety, and religion, and as they will answer to God, for thofe fcandals which through their remifness, or neglect shall arife, or grow, in this Church of Chrift. Thus far the Canon,

And that

2. Such corrupt humours were not broken forth into a Gangrena. Confult your own Mr. Edwards, his four years obfervation of the ftate of the Miniftery, after your discipline claimed Prælacy in the Church of England, and compare it with the worft, which hath, or can be faid of the Clergy, in fourfcore years before, and Judge righteous Judgment.

10.

Conftitutions in 1603. Can.

That the people were prophane, is to be bewailed, not up-26. braided as the fault of a Difcipline. They were fo, both in Chrifts, and the Apoftles times, and under their Government, neither was due provifion wanting in our time, to reftrain it, as in theirs, though fuccefelefly in both. Do not therefore impofe upon weak, and crazed Judgments, that for a caufe, which is none, and fuppofe the worft, even that too much indulgency was used towards thofe offenders, yet confider frail humanity, wherein thy felf bears a fhare, call to mind the diftraction, which fear of widening a Schifme, might raife, even in the most fober fpirits, thou wilt find the very reafon, why the power to revenge difobediennce, and prophanes, was not more vigoroufly put forth, and executed; Did't thou, or the men of

A 3

thy

Covenant with
narrative
Pag. 12.

thy party occafion the fault, by your feditious, and heady courfes? do not acts the Devils part, and accufe the faulty. our Governours faces could not be towards you,but their backs must be upon others.

There are two more grand exceptions (not for any weight in themselves, but for their prevalency upon fome mens capacities) against Epifcopacy, the former is drawn from the Covenant, the latter from the Lordly titles ofthe Bishops. Reader lend me a little patience, while I answer both in order.

Obj. First, we are bound by a Covenant, as well to extirpate Prælatical Epifcopacy, as Popery.

Rep. I know this Covenant pretends both, unto the Word of God, and the Laws of the land, for its prefident and warrant Philip Nyes but it cites no parallel cafe, either in the one, or the other; This hath not only been obferved by on Covenanters, but one of the compilers of this Covenant, durft tell the world, not ma ny years after its rigorous: impofition upon the Nations, (as vouched by both thofe Authorities) that, We read not either in divine, or humane hiftory, of the like extant in any age, as to the matter,perfons, and other circumstances thereof. Hiftory, and Law cafes, I leave to the learned in thofe Sciences, if any yet feek farther fatisfaction in those particulars then the printed Declarations of the feveral Parliaments of thefe Kingdoms, against ches, liberties that confederacy; neither fhall I trouble my felf to feek after of the King- Mr. Ny's concealed other circumftances; but will endeavour to dom, higheft prove that both for the matter of the Covenant, and the perfons Judicatories, of the Covenanters there was fomething unprefidented, both in nigheft conjunction and the Compofition and impofition of it, and confequently that it uniformity. ought not to be dyed again the Phalacy, or Epifcopacy of the 6 Malignants, Church of England.

a Belt reformed Chur

evil Inftru

Lan

Incendiaries, I begin with the matter of the Covenant; Expect not (Reaments,Schifm. der)that I fhould load my Ben,or thy patience, with the whole Extirpa- bulk of its(a) equivocal, (b)Cenforious,and (c) Injurious expreftion of Præla- ons; the two latter misbecoming reformed Chriftians of cy, or Church Evangelical Spirit, and the former moft necessary to be avoiGovernment by Archbi- ded, in all Oaths, which exact, or expect performance. All fhops, Bishops of them vaftly different from the Scripture qualifications of a and encourag- Covenant. Jer. 42. Thou shalt wear the Lord liveth, in truth, ment to other in righteousness, and in Judgment. My intent is to keep clofe, Churches to and folely, to the matter of Epifcopacy, covenanted against. fame, or a like The word Epifcopacy, is of a doubtful fignification, our Coveaffociation or nanters found it to be fo, when to preferve their Government,

enter into the

Covenant.

and

and minifterial order, from extrufion by the Covenant, they
were neceffitated to diftinguifh betwixt Scripture Epifcopacy,
and Bithops, and English Epifcopacy, and Bifhops. But this
Cobweb diftinction doth not mend the matter of their Cove-.
nant, every one fees Paffion, Self, and Faction in it, and will
believe it, till the Covenanters fhall foberly, and convincingly
prove English Epifcopacy, or our Chinches retention of an or
der, diftinct from, and fuperiour unto Presbyters, to be Anti-
fcriptural; the contrary is endeavoured to be evidenced by
the following Treatife. And if I have fucceffefully accom
plished it, difingaged men will foon refolve, that the matter of
any Covenant approved by God in Scripture cannot be Paral
lel to this national Covenant, which forfwears an order of Di
vine Inftitution. And if this Covenant do oblige Chrifts office
of Legiflator, or high Prieft, is vainly confirmed to him by his
fathers oath. Heb. 7. 21. when mens fubfequent oaths, may
difanul the Government, and reject his inftituted orders of
Minifters in his Church. This fingle confidence of oppofing,
and thrufting forth of the Church, an order divinely ap
pointed, is fufficient, not only to demonftrate the corrupt
materials of a Covenant, and the incapacity of any persons-
whatsoever, to compofe or impofe it, but alfo to denominate
it (with what ever titles byaffed men apparel it) a league with
hell, and death, not a Covenant with the Lord. An engage-
ment not fitted to procure Chrift an unity, but to nourish and
foment Diabolical divifions. Neither let any imagine that
these terms drop only from the pens of enemies, to the Cal-
viniftical model; for learned Zanchy, (as Dr. Ferne, from Dr.
Du Moulin quotes him) affirms as much, he faith, Testor me co-
ram Deo, &c. Or,I proteft before God, and in my confcience, that
bold them no better then Schifmaticks, that account, or make it a part
of the reformation of the Church, to have no Bishop's. Thus Zanchy,
But leaving the matter of the Covenant, come we now.
Secondly to to the perfons Covenanting. They are confi-
derable either.

I

1. As fuch, as are requifite to concur in the compofition, and impofition of a lawful, and obliging Covenant, & if fuch,or any of them were wanting in the framing of this covenant. Then,

2. As fuch as did compofe, and impofe it. We find a failer in the former, and therefore may call the perfons fubject, to our primary difquifition.

Firft, Perfons deficient ; the chief Magifhate is a perfon ab folutely

Ferns cer

tain confiderations of prefent concern

ment, touching the refor

med Church of England Pag, 107. London 3653

'Bixar Bor. Cap. 14.

folutely neceffary to concur in, and perhaps to contrive a natio nal Covenant. 2. Chron. 23.3. And all the congregation made a Covenant with the King, in the benfe of God, and be faid unto them, behold the Kings Son fhall reign, as the Lord hath jaid of the Sons of David. ver. 16. And Jehojada made a Covenant between him and all the people, and between the King, that they should be the Lords people. 2 Chron.34.31, 32. And the Kingstood in his place, and made a Covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his Commandements, and bis Teftimonies, and bis Statutes, with all his heart, and with all his foul to perform the words of the Covenant, which are written in this book, and he caused all that were prefent in Jerufalem, and Benjamin, to ftand to it; Read alfo Ne bem. 13.25. These were all Covenants made with, and by the content, and contrivance of the King, or chief Governour of Judea, neither do I find any more then one called a Covenant in Scripture, which was made without, or against the King. It is recorded Hof. 10. 1, 2, 3, 4. Ifrael is an empty vine, be bringeth forth fruit unto himself, according to the multitude of his fruit, he bath encreafed the Altars, according to the goodness of his land, they have made goodly Images their heart is divided now Shall they be found faulty; he shall break down their Images, he Shall Spoil their Altars, for now they shall fay, we have no King, becaufe we feared not the Lord,what then should a King do unto us, they have spoken words fwearing falfely in making a Covenant,tbus Judgment fpringeth up as Hemlock in the furrows of the field. All the former Covenants are directly contrary to our Covenant, for our King not only was no party in its compofition,& difowned it after its impofition upon the people,but commanded all his Subjects upon their Allegiance not to take it, nor was this only his Judgment in the heat of the War (when that Proclamation if fued) but afterwards when God by unparrelled fufferings & in.dignities had prepared his royal foul for celeftial enjoyments, with the Spirits of juft men made perfect, he doth in his kingly Portraiture, which are the last and most spiritual breathings of the foul of that incomparable Martyr, thus exprefs himself. The Presbyterian Scots are not to be hired at the ordinary rate of Auxiliaries, nothing will induce them to ingage, till thofe that call them in have pawned their fouls to them by a folemn league and Covenant. And again, Nor can fuch after contract, devised, and impofed by a few men, in a declared party, without my confent,& without any like power, or precedent from Gods,or mans laws, be ever thought by judicious men fufficient, either to abfolve, or flacken those

moral,

awarel el and etergal honds hidhishalis pin all my Subjects gezien con futh to Gnd endins. The Covenant in Hoses, exactno ni nov agres with ours, ifwhich ward Govtasters Prefident, 1 911.7 1. may they know it is a Covenant fignally witselfed against by the holy Ghost, and let them bewail all the Judgments, which hi h it hath brought upon the Nations, and repent speedily of their perjury, deft it bring more. Bute Mill proceed unto the fecond fort of perfosis Coredanting, who treh to us ogled or - 2 Persons efficient. The fielts Movers of our Covenant were anadto notu a Leloumi no 29.blmadt si doos .3080197 Firft, The fubordinate Magiftrates and Minibars both of them unqualified to make the Covesand, snaraely because they -iwered feparate from the chief Magisace, but because they were in Covenant before, and bound as faftchs Religion and baw could tys them, All of them by the Oathsf Allegiance and Supremacy, and fome of them withkgsfuperadded Oath of toyiqɔя as Ganonical obediencelorAlb which Qashga thay were taken in inthe name, and prefence of the myofthigh G(d, foodhey were on prior agd precedent to the Covenate Now Devinoe the camsa petency of luch perfons, to make a Gerchantoontquyi totheir so former Govebant,ut with all proves itolaw and in the moon -\s power of a Chriftianto free himself of the obligationofonee8 35? 2 -5 Garth by bwca ing andtherjwbar ha will not keep it to And then its masengerance, hands wink of tingispielge, hich Grodraws the quikkok petjudy topanganylcalled a Chriftian. Then Servants may defertthair Makers, Subtismebellagainst their Prince notwithsanding all formemaghsrats and Oirkitto Hriserve and obem them, they grake amawuCowichant roshe 40dira Ye Than Piples of reformed Boneta Diximenare Ismore Headsethen the refolt tro a ofJpfipical Caftris, Azor Institutwhe ay, that life man makes a promifendo bid weibler, and moral. To. I. Aster pryds basar todatke ana thing fesses third den Dis Gore lib. 11. cap.6. Se&. primio •bs lies sd und es im ob hinding histoque fatidaɖ@ady to quæritur Lug. Mandzsa Visgmund ginen taisphe) kwwer And the affidation duni 1602. betwixt temerarion Caths,and Da dhe madề imp+ sigl, teofæess, truth and Judgment, may candy bouemovedhaveh taken away, to the utter abortion of all faith in facieties!Calvin) tells his that sas temerarions: Kow, or Gathus; yinsikko ez és tu vas anything 225 199ntrarytm bis agl'ing, winmeranicus.AuNdwlwhirter burd Covenanters did you after than annerleithtirosgn Contientes, pugnat, teme-varius eft Calve Juftit Lahad van Setzl Pidolia non legitima,nec rite concepta vota, ur apud deum nibil sunt, fiq nobgerignir effe débete. Calve Instir. lib. 2 ca. 13, 20.

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