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<DATE>2009-06-03</DATE>
<RESPSTMT>
<NAME>Lauren Proux</NAME>
<RESP>MURP</RESP>
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<TEXT LANG="eng">
<FRONT>
<DIV1 TYPE="title page">
<PB REF="1">
<PB REF="1" MS="y">
<P>Certaine AFFIRMATIONS In defence of the pul|ling down of <HI>Communion Rails,</HI> by divers ra&s;h and mi&s;guided peo|ple, judiciou&s;ly and religi|ou&s;ly an&s;wered,</P>
<P><HI>By a Gentleman of worth.</HI></P>
<P><HI>LONDON</HI> Printed for <HI>Richard Lowndes,</HI> 1641.</P>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="to the reader">
<PB REF="2">
<PB REF="2" MS="y">
<OPENER><SALUTE>Reader,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P>_I Know thou art not ignorant of the too foule and irreligi|ous tumults lately commit|ted in the Hou&s;e of God, in too many places of this King|dome. Among the re&s;t, this, that was the cau&s;e of this di&s;cours, was one of the chief|e&s;t, and had his full weight of di&s;obedi|ence and contempt; and I cannot but be|lieve the primary proceedings of others, where &s;trong motives to whet on tho&s;e ra&s;h and mi&s;led youths to the enacting of this outrage, admit it were done with|out Abettors, whereof more may be here|after di&s;covered.</P>
<P>Now what the&s;e motives were I &s;hall take liberty to relate; not onely from my opinion and fancy, but encouraged by the Iudgement of many of great wi&s;dome
<PB REF="3">and vertue; the fir&s;t whereof is, That free li|berty hath been given to all (by our Mini|&s;ters) to receive the holy Euchari&s;t, in what po&s;ture the receiver had a de&s;ire, though quite repugnant to the former con&s;titutions of Acts of Parliament; Se|condlie, the other Sacrament of Bapti&s;me performed without the &s;igne of the Cro&s;&s;e, with the omi&s;&s;ion of &s;ome of the words and prayers; Thirdly, upon that &s;olemne day of generall Humilation, and zealou&s;ly commanded by both Hou&s;es of Parlia|ment, the prayers appointed for the mor|ning were not halfe read; and in the after|noone, not one word of the Prayers for that day read unto us; yet &s;uch venerable e&s;teeme they gave to their own in&s;pired Petitions, and extemporie additions, that they la&s;ted-full three houres before their Sermons, One of whom was a Mini&s;ter that for many yeeres before, for his di&s;obe|dience to Eccle&s;ia&s;ticall government, was &s;u&s;pended by authority; Fourthly, the Service in&s;tituted to be read on the Lords day, hath beene too much &s;lighted, and
<PB REF="3">too often cut off by halfes; againe the a|fore&s;aid &s;ervice commanded to bee publi|&s;hed and attended on upon the weekely dayes, is growne almo&s;t contemptible, in &s;o much, that upon tho&s;e dayes there is a great a&s;&s;embly, if there bee one per&s;on to forty pews; but to the in&s;titution of a weekely Lecture, ordained by a private Mini&s;ter, thereto will re&s;ort a very large co~gregation, which I heartily de&s;ire greater; yet, under correction, I conceive the other dutie ought to have (if not more) an equall reverence; in regard of the mo&s;t honoura|ble in&s;titution and in&s;titutors, The Hou&s;e of God being termed by his Sonne the Hou&s;e of Prayer; fifthly, it is too manife&s;t, That the Surplice formerly enjoyned to be worn, hath beene altogether left in all the ordinances of the Church before a generall re&s;traint, a habit u&s;ed from the infancy of Religion, and pre&s;cribed by God him&s;elf, yet reputed a relike of poperie by the &s;ingle &s;oul'd opinions of too to many in this our irreverent age; La&s;tly, it is well knowne, That by a pre&s;cribed command, the Bi|&s;hops
<PB REF="4">were to bee remembred in their Prayers before their Sermons, either as a duty of obedience, charity, or pietie, but now omitted as unnece&s;&s;ary and imperti|nent; but in their Sermons they are remem|bred (with a vengeance) and &s;o &s;trangely charactered, as if their per&s;ons were altoge|ther cut out of the Bea&s;t, or the order worthy of all &s;candall &amp; contempt; more I might add, but I conceive this will exa&s;pe|rate &s;ufficiently the pious inclinations of all that are the dutifull Sons of their mo|ther, again&s;t all refractary &s;pirits; for con|clu&s;ion of this information, I hope I &s;hall without offence infer, That if the &s;acred Conventions, and zealous Edicts, of our Godly and wi&s;e Ance&s;tors, may bee thus &s;lighted, by the perver&s;e will, and ad|dle opinion of di&s;tempered and &s;tubborn people (without an account) it may argue their Injunctions unwarrantable, or (if ju&s;t and pious) a di&s;e&s;teeme of their ble&s;&s;ed and holy Ordinances, to their great di&s;ho|nour, or, our larger reproach.</P>
<P>But I am comforted with this confi|dence,
<PB REF="4">That tho&s;e faithfull Stewards of the State, the true di&s;tributers of Iu&s;tice, the provident over&s;eers, and judicious under|takers of our good, and the zealous ad|vancers of Gods glory in all Pietie, will at the la&s;t require a <HI>Redde rationem</HI> from all mi&s;hap~e Sectaries of their unparraleld pro|ceedings, and unheard-of &s;tubborn di&s;o|bedience, who&s;e humble Bead&s;-man I am, and &s;hall not faile in the &s;trength of all my devotio~s to defire a pro&s;perous progre&s;&s;ion to this their beginning, and a glorious con|clu&s;ion to both, in the fulne&s;&s;e of all dutie, committing them all, and all their &s;acred con&s;ultations, into the hands of Heaven, and into their hands all malevolent di&s;tur|bers of <HI>Truth</HI> and <HI>Peace.</HI></P>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="letter">
<PB REF="5">
<PB REF="5">
<HEAD>To his worthy Friend the Authour.</HEAD>
<OPENER><SALUTE>SIR,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P>_I Mu&s;t ingenuou&s;ly confe&s;s, that my importunitie only brought this Child of yours into the World; And I was the more pre&s;sing, becau&s;e of the foul|ne&s;s of the Art, and the too many unlick'd Lumps that the Pre&s;s hath too lately &s;pued forth; and that the&s;e your wel|poli&s;h'd endevours &s;hould employ the Printer; who otherwi&s;e might (in regard of the too in&s;a|pid heads and bu&s;ie brains of the&s;e times) have &s;ent out more of his old Rubbi&s;h.</P>
<P>Many, of good judgment, to whom I &s;hewed this in a Manu&s;cript, did much applaud your la|bour and pious ends herein. And although the oc|ca&s;ion which induced you to this worke was full
<PB REF="6">fraught with unparalleld impietie, and a great griefe to all true-hearted Spirits, yet there have been too many who have not been &s;paring to com|mend the Actors, and to judge the Action meri|torious; and, in the foule&s;t way of a&s;per&s;ion, to brand all tho&s;e who have di&s;liked, or Authoritie hath commanded to make inquirie of their pro|ceedings; but let them take heed le&s;t the &s;tone they throw return not upon their own heads; and their foule vomiting into their owne bo&s;omes; heartily wi&s;hing them as much zeale as they want know|ledge; lowly looks, unpartiall eares, true tongues, purer hearts, cleaner hands, bended knees, and feet to march with a &s;ober pace. Thus recom|mending your ingenuous Di&s;cour&s;e to the judicious Reader, confe&s;sing my &s;elf, (with many thanks) your debtor; becau&s;e you were plea&s;ed to give me libertie to publi&s;h this your labour; which other|wi&s;e had beene confined to the narrow limits of your own Librarie; my de&s;ires being yours, in wi&s;hing to be known to none but your &s;elfe.</P>
</DIV1>
</FRONT>
<BODY>
<DIV1 TYPE="discourse">
<PB N="1" REF="6">
<HEAD>A Di&s;cour&s;e, or an An&s;wer to &s;ome Affirmations concerning the pulling down of the Communion Rails on the Vi&s;itation day, when the Chancellor was oppo&s;ed his keeping Court.</HEAD>
<DIV2 TYPE="affirmation">
<HEAD><HI>Affir. I.</HI> That the Rails about the Com|munion Table were intended to Popery and Super&s;tition.</HEAD>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI></P>
<P>_LEt it be granted they were (al|though in charity according to the u&s;e of them we ought to judge better) Wee know that our Church in this town, and mo&s;t of our Churches in <HI>England,</HI> with the means be|longing unto them, were po|pi&s;hly or &s;uper&s;titiou&s;ly erected and dedicated, and employed to Idolatry and Super&s;tition for a long time together: Yet wee Prote&s;tants of the
<PB N="2" REF="7">Reformed Religion doe not think it unlawfull to &s;erve the true God in them, and doe po&s;&s;e&s;&s;e and enjoy the meanes belonging unto them without any &s;cruple of con&s;cience. Moreoever, the Na|tion it &s;elfe wherein wee live was not inhabited at fir&s;t with Prote&s;tants, yet God forbid, that any &s;hould be &s;o &s;imple therefore to for&s;ake the Land, or pull down the Churches. For the abu&s;e ought not to take away the right u&s;e of any thing.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="affirmation">
<HEAD><HI>2</HI> The Rails were not lawfully &s;et up.</HEAD>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The authority of &s;ubordinate Gover|nours of the Church for the nece&s;&s;ary repaire, or|nament, and uniformitie of reverent and decent behaviours will hereafter more manife&s;tly ap|peare. For as there is but one God and one Truth, &s;o there ought to be among&s;t us but one way, one co~mon union. But &s;uppo&s;e they were &s;et up with|out that authority which you call l<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">wfull? They ought therefore to be taken down by a more law|full authority. For as a lawfull thing may be done unlawfully, &s;o what is unlawfully done may like|wi&s;e be undone far more unlawfully.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="affirmation">
<HEAD><HI>3 London,</HI> and all other places have pulled them downe in the like manner.</HEAD>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is a que&s;tion whether they have done the like or not. The whole is not to be blamed for part unle&s;&s;e all were actors or con&s;enters. Yet if it were &s;o, the actions of others will not ju&s;tifie
<PB N="3" REF="7">ours before God or Man, <HI>wee mu&s;t not follow a mul|titude to doe evill, nor doe evill that good may come thereon.</HI></P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="affirmation">
<HEAD><HI>4</HI> It is ju&s;t with God they &s;hould be &s;o pulled down.</HEAD>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> That which is ju&s;t with God, and accor|ding to his &s;ecret Will, may be unju&s;t in Man, be|ing done contrary to his revealed Will. As in the Death of Traytors and the like Offenders again&s;t the Common-wealth; It is ju&s;t with God and Man they &s;hould be cut off by them, Yet it is un|ju&s;t and unan&s;werable to God and Man, for any to take away their lives, before ju&s;tice hath or|dained the Execution, and the Executioner al&s;o.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="affirmation">
<HEAD><HI>5</HI> There are none that truly feare God that oppo&s;e the pulling of them down, or are offended with them who pulled them down.</HEAD>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This is a ra&s;h and &s;elf-conceited cen&s;ure, too common among&s;t Chri&s;tians wedded to their owne opinions. Hee that &s;erves God truly, ought to &s;erve him rightly according to his Word, But Gods Word doth not allow or countenance Mutinies, unlawfull A&s;&s;emblies, or Rebellions again&s;t Government, pulling the Sword of Ju&s;tice out of the Magi&s;trates hand, and u&s;ing, or rather abu&s;ing it as we plea&s;e, according to our perver&s;e wils and affections, Therefore con&s;equently tho&s;e that doe &s;o, doe not fear God truly.</P>
<DIV3 TYPE="part">
<PB N="4" REF="8">
<HEAD>Nor are offended, &amp;c.</HEAD>
<P>It is not the Matter &s;o much as the Manner that gives the occa&s;ion of the offence, and not the per|&s;ons &s;o much as their offences. And as there were probably &s;everall &s;orts of people that were at the pulling of them downe for &s;everall ends and in|tents, mo&s;t of them for &s;ini&s;ter ends and by re|&s;pects; Yet &s;ome who were &s;imple, hone&s;t, and well meaning people, only mi&s;-informed, and mi&s;-led: So likewi&s;e all that are offended there|at, have not the like affections, yet mo&s;t I believe are ju&s;tly offended to &s;ee the Prote&s;tant Religion, and Covenant, &s;o much di&s;honoured and abu&s;ed, Authority and Government contemned, the bonds of Duty and Unity broken, the Gover|nours, Officers, and Town, like to be prejudiced, and the actors them&s;elves like to be mi&s;chieved.</P>
</DIV3>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="affirmation">
<HEAD><HI>6</HI> Wee are bound by the la&s;t Prote&s;tation again&s;t Innovations, This being an Innovation we ought to pull it down.</HEAD>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> This manife&s;ts &s;implicitie, ignorance, or wor&s;e. It is true that wee are bound to main|tain and defend the Prote&s;tant Religion contai|ned in the Doctrine of the Church of <HI>England,</HI> again&s;t all poperie, and popi&s;h innovations, con|trary to the &s;aid Doctrine. But what is that to any nece&s;&s;ary or decent ornament of the Church? be&s;ides wee are bound to maintain the prote&s;tant
<PB N="5" REF="8">Religion no further then wee may lawfully do it (that is by petition, &s;olicitation, information, affirmation, to tho&s;e who have authority to reforme) Not by unlawfull a&s;&s;emblies and tu|multuous riots, (e&s;pecially in times of reforma|on) to be our owne Judges, Juries, and Exe|cutioners. Moreover wee mu&s;t remember that by the &s;aid Prote&s;tation we are bound according to the duty of our allegiance to maintaine the Kings royall per&s;on, honour, and e&s;tate. Now all Royall and lawfull authoritie and honour is derived and given even from GOD Al|mighty to the King, and from him to all his &s;ub|ordinate Mini&s;ters. Hee then that offends this lawfull authority, though in the meane&s;t Mini|&s;ter, offends and di&s;honoureth the highe&s;t autho|ritie from whence it came. Againe we are bound by the &s;aid Prote&s;tation to maintaine and defend the power and privileges of Parlaments. In both which certainly are included the Laws and Acts of Parlaments which concernes either of them. Furthermore wee are bound in all ju&s;t and ho|nourable wayes, to endevour to pre&s;erve the U|nion betweene the Kings three Dominions, undoubtedly then wee are not to neglect our own, For Unity as well as Charitie is to begin at home.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="affirmation">
<PB N="6" REF="9">
<HEAD><HI>7</HI> We ought to maintain the cau&s;e of Religion, and not to di&s;cover the faylings of the Profe&s;sors thereof.</HEAD>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Wee are to maintain the cau&s;e of Religion, Religiou&s;lie, and lawfully, and not o|therwi&s;e. True Religion needes not errors to maintain it, it is able by &s;ound truths and &s;ollid rea&s;ons to maintain it &s;elfe. That which is con|trary to it is not from God, but rather from the delu&s;ions of the Devill, who is the authour of all Rebellions, Seditions, and di&s;cords, And certain|ly &s;uch cour&s;es are di&s;honourable and offen&s;ive to God and our governours, and can wee &s;up|po&s;e le&s;&s;e then that we prejudice our cau&s;e, and di&s;honour them al&s;o, when we unlawfully and furiou&s;ly anticipate their intentions? when wee endevour to do that by our wils and perver&s;e af|fections, which they intend by lawfull authority and &s;ound rea&s;on to grant us?</P>
<DIV3 TYPE="part">
<HEAD>And not to di&s;cover the faylings, &amp;c.</HEAD>
<P>It were to be wi&s;hed that tho&s;e that make &s;o much profe&s;&s;ion of Religion, would make con|&s;cience al&s;o of the di&s;coverie of the faylings, im|perfections, and infirmities of others, but much more, how they doe backbite, &s;lander, and beare fal&s;e witne&s;&s;e, as they too often u&s;e to do. But &s;uch acts in Profe&s;&s;ors or others that are openly committed, offen&s;ive, &s;candalous, con|cernes our late Prote&s;tation, and are of dange|rous
<PB N="7" REF="9">con&s;equence, tending to the &s;ubver&s;ion of the fundamentall Maximes both of God and Man for Government, ought to be di&s;covered and di&s;clo&s;ed, by tho&s;e who make con&s;cience to feare God, honour and obey the King.</P>
</DIV3>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="affirmation">
<HEAD><HI>8</HI> Many meddle and talke more in the&s;e matters then they need.</HEAD>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> It is true indeed, there are too many, vain, idle, and unju&s;tifiable &s;peeches, which have no warrant or lawfull Calling thereunto, &s;o likewi&s;e there are more then ought to be that meddle too little. For the truth is at all times to be mayntai|ned, the ways and end being good and lawfull, the time and place &s;ea&s;onable, and the per&s;ons con&s;iderable. But if we were not Prote&s;tants, yet as we are Chri&s;tians, wee are to mayntaine unitie, prevent imminent dangers which we &s;ee, coun&s;ell and informe the ignorant and blinde, and other works of Mercie belonging both to &s;oule and bodie.</P>
<P>And it many times falls out happily, that &s;uch Chri&s;tian offices prevent much danger and mi&s;|chiefe. And tho&s;e that have publike &s;pirits ayme more at the publike good, then at their owne pri|vate or &s;ini&s;ter ends, and often doe good to the publike, though they prejudice them&s;elves in &s;o doing.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="affirmation">
<PB N="8" REF="10">
<HEAD><HI>9</HI> That which is done will be mayntained. There are none called in que&s;tion for doing the like. And yee &s;ee there is like to come good of it.</HEAD>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The maintenance of an evill action ju&s;ti|fieth and aggravates the offence. Do wee think it is no offence? to make Combinations, Con&s;pi|racies, Riots, and tumultuous oppo&s;itions again&s;t authoritie, the publike breach of our <HI>Prote&s;tation,</HI> with opprobrious and di&s;gracefull words again&s;t the Mini&s;ters of Gods Word, and others in au|thority, and that after a Sermon, and other Adver|ti&s;ements in the Hou&s;e of God?</P>
<DIV3 TYPE="part">
<HEAD>There are none as yet called in que&s;tion, &amp;c.</HEAD>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> Peradventure the Superiour Magi&s;trate expects the dutie and office of the Inferiour, And it is probable that there are matters of greater con&s;equence in hand. But we know forbearance is no acquittance.</P>
</DIV3>
<DIV3 TYPE="part">
<HEAD>And there is like to come good of it.</HEAD>
<P>That may &s;eeme to be which is not, and will not prove &s;o in the end. If there be any true good thereby, it is from the infinite mercie and good|ne&s;&s;e of God, who is only able to turn all things to the be&s;t, to bring light out of darkne&s;&s;e, good out of evill, and a remedy out of a maladie, but wee have no warrant to doe evill that good may
<PB N="9" REF="10">come of it. Neither are we to forget the clemen|cie and goodne&s;&s;e of our Governours, who per|adventure forbeare the inflicting of the due pu|ni&s;hment for the good opinion they have of the &s;implicity, weaknes, and good intentions of &s;ome of the offenders therein.</P>
</DIV3>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="affirmation">
<HEAD><HI>10</HI> But there are hone&s;t and good Chri&s;tians who have a hand therein.</HEAD>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> They are the more to be pittied and commi&s;erated, for good and hone&s;t Chri&s;tians too, are a great honour to Religion, and God grant that all Prote&s;tants may endevour to adorn their profe&s;&s;ion with &s;o rare companions, the want of which makes Religion very evill &s;poken of. But &s;uppo&s;e they were the be&s;t Chri&s;tians, Wee are to know that the be&s;t of Gods Saints and dee|re&s;t children in all ages have been &s;ubject to, and have committed great errors and offences, but neither they nor any that truly feare God will ju&s;tifie and mayntaine them, but rather acknow|ledge them, be &s;orry for them, and for&s;ake them. E&s;pecially if they be publikely committed, offen|&s;ive and &s;candalous to Religion, and this is the only way to give &s;atisfaction both to God and Man. And the acknowledgment of errours hath found favour &amp; remi&s;sion, when the mayntaining of them hath procured the greater and &s;everer puni&s;hments.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="affirmation">
<PB N="10" REF="11">
<HEAD><HI>11</HI> Our endevours are but for Reformation.</HEAD>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> The be&s;t endevours of the multitude will be prayers to God, and obedience to their Governours, till by lawfull authoritie they are called to doe otherwi&s;e. For if they might have the handling and managing of it, they would quickly pull an old hou&s;e about their heads, and in&s;teed of Reformation bring all to confu&s;ion. Th<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">ir judgments are too weak for &s;uch great un|dertakings: They are too apt to co~demn the right u&s;e of any thing for the abu&s;e &s;ake. They would have no <HI>Luurgie</HI> or <HI>Letany</HI> u&s;ed in the Church of <HI>England,</HI> becau&s;e (as they are informed) it came from <HI>Rome,</HI> &amp; the Papi&s;ts u&s;e it. As if becau&s;e the Pope makes u&s;e of the Lords Prayer, we Prote|&s;tants therefore are to renounce it. Or becau&s;e the Devill and evill men pervert and make a bad u&s;e of the Scriptures, wee &s;hould forbear to make the right u&s;e of them. When it comes to a moderate and judiciall triall, it will be found, that the <HI>Li|turgie</HI> and <HI>Letany</HI> and other the like which are now by many abhorred, being corrected as authoritie &s;hall think fit, that they will not only be conve|nient but nece&s;&s;ary in the Church of <HI>England,</HI> for the due and decent &s;ervice of God.</P>
<P>Againe, the multitude are apt to hate the per|&s;on for the vice. <HI>Rome</HI> was once a true Church, Witne&s;&s;e Saint <HI>Paul</HI> his works to the <HI>Romans.</HI> Now it is full of Corruptions and Errours.</P>
<P>It is dangerous to &s;uffer a &s;word in a mad mans
<PB N="11" REF="11">hands. Peradventure they may think the be&s;t way to cure them of their corruptions is to cut their throats.</P>
<P>If wee are bound in charity to pray for the conver&s;ion of the <HI>Jews, Turks, Heathens,</HI> &amp; <HI>Infidels,</HI> certainly, wee are not to neglect the praying for the conver&s;ion of <HI>Papi&s;ts</HI> who are <HI>Chri&s;tians.</HI> As God &s;o godly men doe not delight in the death, but rather in the conver&s;ion of &s;inners. And it may plea&s;e God to make <HI>England</HI> as happy an in|&s;trument of converting and reforming <HI>Rome,</HI> and &s;uch that belong to them, as it plea&s;ed him to rai&s;e in&s;truments from <HI>Rome</HI> for <HI>Englands</HI> conver|&s;ion to the Chri&s;tian Religion, Which God in his due time grant, and I hope every charitable Pro|te&s;tant will &s;ay, <HI>Amen.</HI></P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="affirmation">
<HEAD><HI>12</HI> There are Wi&s;emen that publi&s;h incitations to oppo&s;itions, &amp;c.</HEAD>
<P><HI>An&s;.</HI> There are many that are wi&s;e onely in their own conceits. But if they were the wi&s;e&s;t of men, yet they may erre. No man is wi&s;e in all things or at all times. Wi&s;dome is alwayes accompained with rea&s;on, There are many things that are accounted for wi&s;e actions which wil not hold the touch of common &s;en&s;e and rea&s;on. It were to be wi&s;hed (and it would prove happie for the peace and tranquility both of the Church and Common-wealth) that there were a re&s;traint that none &s;hould publi&s;h any thing to the publike again&s;t the e&s;tabli&s;hed lawes of the Kingdome,
<PB N="12" REF="12">much le&s;s that they &s;hould pre&s;ume to utter facti|ous words and put forth libellous and &s;editious pamphlets without their names to them, to the great di&s;honour of government, and the breach of peace. Hee that is offended at any thing con|tained in the Laws for either the Church or com|mon-wealth, and that he can neither by Prayer or conference receive nor give his con&s;cience Satisfaction, Let him then in all humility pre|&s;ent his arguments with his rea&s;ons annexed, to tho&s;e who have power to reforme, to this I con|ceive he is called, and bound in con&s;cience to do, and with this obedient Sacrifice God and the Country too would be well plea&s;ed. The want of which cour&s;e hath cau&s;ed much di&s;traction and confu&s;ion, and whereby many &s;imple hone&s;t peo|ple are mi&s;-led, and mi&s;-informed. They little con&s;ider of the policie of the Devil, who makes them in&s;truments of breaking the peace of the State. Neither doe they well ponder the dange|rous con&s;equences that attend con&s;ciences mi&s;|guided and di&s;tracted, producing manifold mi&s;e|ries and calamities, be&s;ides the lo&s;&s;e of many mens lives. They may repent to late when they cannot repaire the injury they doe thereby. Let them therefore con&s;ider well hereof, how they are the authours of mi&s;eries, and afflictions to others, for there is a wo pronounced again&s;t them by whom they come.</P>
</DIV2>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="part">
<PB N="13" REF="12">
<HEAD>The Law of God in his Word commands and exhorts as followeth.</HEAD>
<DIV2 TYPE="commandment">
<HEAD>In the fifth Commandement.</HEAD>
<HEAD TYPE="sub">Honour thy Father, &amp;c.</HEAD>
<P>IN the Word Father is comprehended Magi|&s;trates and Governours, both in the Church and Common-wealth: our dutie to them is in <HI>Romans</HI> 13.1. Let every &s;oule be &s;ubject to the higher powers, for there is no power but of God, the powers that be are ordained of God.</P>
<P N="2">2 Who&s;oever therefore re&s;i&s;teth the power, re&s;i&s;teth the ordinance of God, and they that re|&s;i&s;t &s;hall receive to them&s;elves damnation.</P>
<P N="3">3 For Rulers are not a terrour to good works, but to the evill. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Doe that which is good, and thou &s;halt have pray&s;e of the &s;ame.</P>
<P N="4">4 For hee is the Mini&s;ter of God to thee for good; but if thou do that which is evill be afraid, for he beareth not the Sword in vain, for hee is the Mini&s;ter of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evill.</P>
<P N="5">5 Wherefore yee mu&s;t needs be &s;ubject, not only for wrath, but al&s;o for con&s;cience &s;ake.</P>
<P N="6">6 For this cau&s;e pay you al&s;o tribute, for they are Gods Mini&s;ters, attending continually upon this very thing.</P>
<PB N="14" REF="13">
<P N="7">7 Render therefore to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, cu&s;tome to whom cu&s;tome, feare to whom feare, honour to whom honour, &amp;c.</P>
<P><HI>Matth.</HI> 22.21. Give unto <HI>Cae&s;ar</HI> that which is <HI>Cae&s;ars.</HI></P>
<P>1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 2.17. Feare God, honour the King.</P>
<P><HI>Prov.</HI> 24.21. My &s;onne, Feare the Lord, and the King, and meddle not with them that are &s;e|ditious.</P>
<P><HI>Prov.</HI> 18.15. By me Kings reigne, and Princes decree ju&s;tice.</P>
<P><HI>Prov.</HI> 21.1. The hearts of Kings are in the hands of the Lord, he ruleth them as the Rivers of waters, &amp;c.</P>
<P><HI>Exod.</HI> 22.28. Thou &s;halt not revile the Gods (or Judges) nor cur&s;e the Ruler of thy people.</P>
<P><HI>Eccle&s;.</HI> 10.20. Cur&s;e not the King, no not in thy thought, nor the rich in thy bed-chamber, for the fowls of the aire &s;hall de&s;cry it.</P>
<P>1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 2.2. Saint <HI>Paul</HI> wils to pray for tho&s;e that are in authoritie, that wee may live a godly life under them with all peace and quietne&s;&s;e.</P>
<P><HI>Tit.</HI> 3.1. Put them in remembrance that they be &s;ubject to principalities and powers, and that they be obedient to Magi&s;trates, &amp;c.</P>
<P>1 <HI>Pet.</HI> 2.13. Submit your &s;elves to every ordi|nan<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="1 letter">e of man for the Lords &s;ake, whether it be to the King as Supream, or unto Governours as unto them that are &s;ent by him, for the puni&s;h|ment of evill doers, and for the prai&s;e of them that do well, for &s;o is the will of God, &amp;c.</P>
<PB N="15" REF="13">
<P><HI>Heb.</HI> 13.17. Obey them that have the rule over you, and &s;ubmit your &s;elves, for they watch for your &s;ouls, as they that mu&s;t give account, &amp;c.</P>
<P>1 <HI>The&s;&s;.</HI> 5.12. Now, I be&s;eech you brethren, know them that labour among you, and that are over you in the Lord, and admoni&s;h you, that you have them in &s;ingular love for their works &s;ake.</P>
<P>1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 6.1. Saint <HI>Paul</HI> advi&s;eth al&s;o the &s;er|vants to count their Ma&s;ters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his Doctrine may not be evill &s;poken of.</P>
<P>From the&s;e and the like places may be colle|cted the dutie of the Inferiours to the Superiours, and that the Go&s;pel doth not aboli&s;h the precepts of the Law, but rather confirme them, and that Chri&s;t hath not made laws to overthrow policies and States, but for the better ruling and e&s;tabli&s;h|ing of them.</P>
<DIV3 TYPE="example">
<HEAD>Examples of Obedience and Submi&s;sion.</HEAD>
<P><HI>Dan.</HI> 3. The three children did not pull downe the Idolatrous image which they were commanded to wor&s;hip, but they &s;ubmitted them|&s;elves to <HI>Nebuchadnezzars</HI> decree to be ca&s;t into the fierie Furne&s;&s;e.</P>
<P><HI>Daniell</HI> Al&s;o did patiently obey the Kings plea&s;ure, and was content to be put into the Ly|ons Den. <HI>He&s;t.</HI> 4. the Jewes &s;ubmitted them|&s;elves to <HI>Aha&s;uerus</HI> his Decree on <HI>Hamans</HI> plot a|gain&s;t their lives, and betooke them&s;elves to fa&s;t|ing and prayer. And we may read of the fruits
<PB N="16" REF="14">and efects of the&s;e &s;ubmi&s;&s;ions. Chri&s;tian Soul|diers &s;erved under the command of <HI>Iu<GAP DESC="illegible" RESP="UOM" EXTENT="2 letters">an</HI> the A|po&s;tate, who threatned the utter extinction of Chri&s;tianitie, their armes and oppo&s;itions were only teares and prayers. The Saints and holy Martyrs in all ages have yielded them&s;elves to death without re&s;i&s;tance.</P>
<P>Saint <HI>Paul</HI> and Saint <HI>Peter</HI> in their Epi&s;tles ex|horted to be &s;ubject to tho&s;e that were then in authority. <HI>Claudius</HI> was Emperour in tho&s;e times, and he was an Ethnick, a Heathen, a Tyrant, &amp;c.</P>
<P>1 <HI>Sam.</HI> 24.7. <HI>David</HI> (though the heire to the Kingdome, and <HI>Saul</HI> a per&s;ecuting Tyrant) yet &s;aith, The Lord keep mee from doing that thing unto my Ma&s;ter the Lords anointed, to lay my hands on him, for he is the anointed of the Lord. Even our ble&s;&s;ed Saviour yielded him&s;elfe as a &s;heepe to the &s;laughter, though hee could have commanded Millions of Angels to have aided and re&s;cued him.</P>
</DIV3>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="commandment">
<HEAD>The &s;ixth Commandement.</HEAD>
<HEAD TYPE="sub">Thou &s;halt not kill.</HEAD>
<P>1 <HI>John</HI> 3.5. Hee that hates his brother in his heart is a man-&s;layer.</P>
<P><HI>Gon.</HI> 6.9. Thou &s;halt not &s;hed mans bloud, for he was made the Image of God.</P>
<P><HI>Rom.</HI> 12.9. Vengeance is mine and I will repay it.</P>
<DIV3 TYPE="part">
<PB N="17" REF="14">
<HEAD>In the affirmative part of this Commandement,</HEAD>
<P>We are bound to defend the oppre&s;&s;ed. Thus <HI>Job</HI> 29.16, 17.</P>
<P><HI>Prov.</HI> 24.11. Deliver them that are drawne to death, and wilt thou not deliver them that are led to be &s;lain? If thou &s;ay behold I knew it not, He that ponders the heart, doth not hee under&s;tand it, and he that keeps thy &s;oule, knows he it not? Will he not recompence al&s;o every man accord|ing to his works?</P>
<P>The omi&s;sion of the dutie to the &s;oule brings Superiours into breach of that Commandement. As Mini&s;ters, <HI>Ezek.</HI> 33.8. If hee tell not the peo|ple of their &s;ins, they &s;hall die in them, but their bloud &s;hall be required at his hands.</P>
<P><HI>Acts</HI> 20.27. Saint <HI>Paul</HI> &s;aith, I have told you all the coun&s;ell of God, and kept nothing back; therefore accounts him&s;elf innocent of the bloud of all men.</P>
</DIV3>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="commandment">
<HEAD>The eighth Commandement.</HEAD>
<HEAD TYPE="sub">Thou &s;halt not &s;teal.</HEAD>
<P><HI>Malac.</HI> 3.8. Ye robbed mee of my Tithes and Offerings. By Offerings may bee under&s;tood what&s;oever is appointed to religious u&s;es.</P>
<P><HI>Prov.</HI> 20.25. It is an abomination to the Lord, to devoure things &s;anctified, that is, things ordai|ned to holy u&s;es.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="commandment">
<PB N="18" REF="15">
<HEAD>The ninth Commandement.</HEAD>
<HEAD TYPE="sub">Thou &s;halt not beare fal&s;e witne&s;&s;e, &amp;c.</HEAD>
<P>We are not therefore cau&s;ele&s;ly to &s;u&s;pect any, <HI>Matth.</HI> 7.1. Judge not and ye &s;hall not be judged, for with what judgement ye judge, ye &s;hall be judged, and with what mea&s;ure ye mete, it &s;hall be mea&s;ured to you again.</P>
<P><HI>James</HI> 3.17. True wi&s;dome which is from a|bove, is without judging, without Hipocri&s;ie.</P>
<P>Ge&s;tures and &s;peeches tending to mock and vi|lifie are in this Commandement comprehended and forbidden, thus the ge&s;tures of tho&s;e that mocked Chri&s;t are noted, <HI>P&s;al.</HI> 22.7. They nod|ded their heads at him, and made mowes.</P>
<P>Fal&s;e witne&s;&s;es al&s;o are hereby condemned, <HI>Prov.</HI> 19.9. A fal&s;e witne&s;&s;e &s;hall not be unpuni&s;h|ed, and hee that &s;peaks lyes &s;hall not e&s;cape. <HI>Prov.</HI> 21.28. A fal&s;e witne&s;&s;e &s;hall peri&s;h. <HI>Prov.</HI> 6.19. The Lord doth hate and abhorre a fal&s;e wit|ne&s;&s;e that &s;peaketh lies.</P>
<P>Slander and back-biting are al&s;o included as a great breach wounding three at one time.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, it wounds the &s;oule of the &s;landerer.</P>
<P>Secondly, wounds the reputation of him that is &s;landered.</P>
<P>Thirdly, poy&s;ons the heart of him who receives the report, with an uncharitable conceit.</P>
<P>Defence al&s;o of bad and ill cau&s;es not exclu|ded.</P>
<PB N="19" REF="15">
<P><HI>Prov.</HI> 17.15. Hee that ju&s;tifies the wicked, and he that condemnes the ju&s;t, they both are an ab|omination to the Lord.</P>
<P><HI>Prov.</HI> 14.24. He that pray &s;eth the wicked, the people &s;hall cur&s;e him.</P>
</DIV2>
<DIV2 TYPE="part">
<P>The <HI>Law</HI> of the <HI>Land,</HI> grounded on the Law of God, provides to prevent all appearances and oc|ca&s;ions of &s;hedding of bloud, of di&s;obeying au|thority, and of prejudice to others. And be|cau&s;e the enormities of unlawfull A&s;&s;emblies, Riots, Routs, and the like, have beene &s;uch that they have endangered the Kingdome, and peace thereof, and put in hazard the very forme of go|vernment, care hath been taken to prevent, even words, menaces, or any other appearances of di&s;|content, the Kingdome having formerly beene &s;en&s;ible that from &s;mall &s;parks great fires have been kindled: As namely that Riot at <HI>Dartmouth</HI> in <HI>Kent</HI> in <HI>Richard</HI> the Second his Reigne, began fir&s;t but between a Tyler and his Wife, and a Collector of a Sub&s;idie for one groat demanded. It put in hazard the Kings life, the burning of the Citie of <HI>London,</HI> the ruine of the Nobility, Gen|try, and Kingdome al&s;o. So likewi&s;e in <HI>Henry</HI> the Sixth his time, a &s;mall occa&s;ion, a falling out be|tween one of the Yeomen of the Kings Guard, and one of the then Earle of <HI>Warwick</HI> his men, came to a Riot of &s;uch a high nature, that it was the root of many wofull and fatall Tragedies, even the lo&s;&s;e of <HI>Richard Plantaginet</HI> Duke of <HI>Yorke,</HI> and after him King <HI>Henry</HI> the Sixth, and
<PB N="20" REF="16">Prince <HI>Edward</HI> his &s;onne, with many of the Peers, Nobilitie, and Gentrie, and many thou&s;ands of the Kingdome likewi&s;e.</P>
<P>Therefore Menacers &s;hall be impri&s;oned, <HI>St.</HI> 2. <HI>Ed.</HI> 3.</P>
<P>Neither &s;hall there be any Barrettors or Main|tayners of Quarrels. <HI>We&s;t.</HI> 1.3. <HI>Ed.</HI> 1.32.</P>
<P>There are al&s;o provi&s;ions made and puni&s;h|ments ordained, again&s;t the enormitie of privie defaming and libelling, invented to defame and tread the honour and e&s;timation of a man in the du&s;t, to make him derided and de&s;pi&s;ed among&s;t his Neigbours.</P>
<P><HI>Scandala Magnatum,</HI> Scandals of Peeres or Governours provided again&s;t in <HI>St.</HI> 3. <HI>Ed.</HI> 1.34. 2. <HI>R.</HI> 2.12. <HI>R</HI> 2.41.</P>
<P>There &s;hall be no di&s;turbance of a Preacher in his Sermon. 1. <HI>M.</HI> 3.</P>
<P>There &s;hall bee no chiding or &s;miting in a Church or Church-yard. <HI>St.</HI> 5. <HI>&amp;</HI> 6. <HI>Ed.</HI> 6.</P>
<P>There &s;hall be no a&s;&s;aulting of a Judge or Ju|ror. 22. <HI>Ed.</HI> 3.13.</P>
<P>There &s;hall be no Riots, &amp;c. therefore for the puni&s;hment of them, the Court of Star-chamber was ordained. <HI>St.</HI> 3. <HI>H.</HI> 7.1. <HI>St.</HI> 21. <HI>H.</HI> 8.22.</P>
<P>Not di&s;clo&s;ing a Commotion or unlawfull a&s;|&s;embly, when one is moved thereunto, within 24 houres to a Ju&s;tice of Peace, a Sheriffe, Bailiffe, &amp;c. is impri&s;onment for three moneths. 1. <HI>M.</HI> 12.</P>
<P>Procuring others to offend 1. <HI>M.</HI> 12. are to &s;uf|fer impri&s;onment for three moneths al&s;o.</P>
<PB N="21" REF="16">
<P>Juries ordained to enquire of Riots. <HI>St.</HI> 13. <HI>H.</HI> 4.</P>
<P>There &s;hall be no Maintenance by Combina|tion or Con&s;piracie. <HI>St.</HI> 33. <HI>E.</HI> 1. 1. <HI>R.</HI> 2.7.</P>
<P>There &s;hall be no Maintenance by Embracery, that is, by comming to the Barre with the offen|dour, and &s;peaking in the matter, or threatning, or procuring of a Jury. <HI>St.</HI> 33. <HI>E.</HI> 1.</P>
<P>There &s;hall be no Maintenance by Jurors, that is, when they corruptly take any reward directly or indirectly of the offendor Plantiffe or Defen|dant to give his verdict. <HI>St.</HI> 34. <HI>Ed.</HI> 3. <HI>Ed.</HI> 3.38.</P>
<P>Therefore a Riot not found by the Jury, by rea&s;on of Maintenance or Embracery, is to be pu|ni&s;hed. <HI>St.</HI> 19. <HI>H.</HI> 7.13.</P>
<P>There &s;hall not be any Maintenance by great men in authoritie by &s;peaking of words, whereby to frighten the Jurie, or to make them to encline to his de&s;ire, and therefore al&s;o none but &s;uch as are in the Commi&s;&s;ion &s;hall &s;it with the Ju&s;tices of A&s;size. 20. <HI>R.</HI> 2. 22. <HI>H.</HI> 6.5. 13. <HI>H.</HI> 4.19.</P>
<P>A Riot is when three per&s;ons or above, a&s;&s;em|ble them&s;elves to the intent to beat or maym a man, to pull down a hou&s;e, fence, or the like, or to do any unlawfull act with force and violence, again&s;t the peace. <HI>St.</HI> 5. <HI>R.</HI> 2.7. Three or foure en|tring into Lands with force upon the po&s;&s;e&s;sion of another, though the entry be lawfull, yet it is accounted a Riot. And an a&s;&s;embly lawfully be|gun, doth many times end riotou&s;ly.</P>
<P>An unlawfull A&s;&s;embly is when above three do a&s;&s;emble them&s;elves with intent to beat, or do
<PB N="22" REF="17">as afore&s;aid, though nothing be acted by them, yet it is an unlawfull a&s;&s;embly.</P>
<P>A Rout is when above three doe a&s;&s;emble to revenge them&s;elves, to pull down, &amp;c. or to beat a man that hath done &s;ome offence to them all, or &s;hew by ge&s;ture, or &s;peech, that they mean to do any violence, or doe feare any of the Kings peo|ple, It is accounted in the Law a Rout, though nothing be done. 17. <HI>Ed.</HI> 4.4.</P>
<P>The Doctrine of the Church of <HI>England,</HI> con|firmed by the Law, in the twentieth Article con|cerning the authoritie of the Church, &s;aith, that the Church hath power to decree Rites and Ce|remonies, and authoritie in controver&s;ie of faith, being not contrarie to the written Word of God, Article 37. conterning the Civill Magi&s;trates, &s;aith, that they are to have that Prerogative which was given to all godly Princes in holy Scripture, by God him&s;elfe, that is, that they &s;hould rule all e&s;tates and degrees committed to their charge by God, whether Eccle&s;ia&s;ticall or Temporall, and re&s;train with the Civill Sword the &s;tubborn and evill doers, &amp;c.</P>
<P>The&s;e and the like may be collected from the Law of God and Man, for our dutie to our Go|vernours, and the pre&s;ervation of the peace; they may be applyable, and may &s;erve to convince the offences that have been done contrary to them, and may be a pre&s;ervative or remedie to prevent the doing of the like again.</P>
<P>To conclude, It is manife&s;t, that the Laws of
<PB N="23" REF="17">the Land concerning the dutie to the Civill Ma|gi&s;trate and our Governours, &amp; the Maintenance of the Peace, cannot be broken but with great violence and oppo&s;ition to the Law of God.</P>
<P>Tho&s;e then that labour again&s;t conformitie to them, do little le&s;&s;e then endevour to di&s;&s;olve the bonds of Government and Unitie e&s;tabli&s;hed by God and Man, and &s;o con&s;equently all would fall to confu&s;ion. Such are dangerous and perni|tious to the tranquillity and pro&s;peritie of a King|dome. The Law of the Land hath made provi|&s;ions, and ordained &s;evere puni&s;hments for the of|fence done to the Maje&s;tie of Government, and the peace of the Land, calling it Trea&s;on, or <HI>Cri|men Lae&s;ae Maje&s;tatis:</HI> for the pre&s;ervation of the Supremacie thereof, there is an Oath enjoyned, <HI>St.</HI> 1. <HI>El.</HI> 1.5. <HI>El.</HI> 1. &amp; tho&s;e that refu&s;e it, the &s;econd time, are thereby made guiltie of high Trea&s;on. And, me thinks, there is great rea&s;on that autho|ritie and government &s;hould be carefully pre&s;er|ved. For it is as the Head, Eye, or Soule is to the body; Take away the life and the &s;en&s;es, and what remayns but a u&s;ele&s;&s;e and &s;encele&s;&s;e car|ca&s;&s;e? or as the Sun is to all things under it; We know that by the benefit of the Sun, and the pro|perties belonging thereunto, all &s;ub&s;olarie bo|dies and creatures are enlivened and bette|red; but when it is ecclip&s;ed though never &s;o little they are much the wor&s;e; &s;o while the bright and radiant beams of Sovereigne autho|ritie and lawfull Government, have there due and proper influence upon the inferiour &s;ubjects,
<PB N="24" REF="18">they grow &amp; flouri&s;h in peace &amp; plenty, but when it is ecclip&s;ed, by the interpo&s;ition of the inferior Orbes, What malignant calamities and pe&s;tife|rous effects are always produced? The bodie politick &s;uffers no le&s;&s;e then the naturall bodie, by the ob&s;truction of the animall and vitall &s;pi|rits.</P>
<P>The&s;e I have thought fit (as a private Chri&s;tian called thereunto) to commit to paper for the in|formation of tho&s;e who are ignorant, My parti|cular calling will not permit me otherwi&s;e, or far|ther to expre&s;s or enlarge my &s;elf. I &s;eriou&s;ly pro|te&s;t I have no &s;ini&s;ter end herein, nor is it done out of any malice, hatred, or evill affection to any, but in di&s;charge of the late Prote&s;tation, and as I verily believe I am bound in con&s;cience and du|tie to God and Man, to maintain the truth, peace, and due government of the Church and Com|mon-weale. Peru&s;e it therefore the more charita|bly, and labour to be informed of the truth how mean clothed &s;o ever you finde it, and take heed how you per&s;i&s;t in a known errour. And as you have been an example of evill unto others, who are too readie to take patterne of di&s;obedience thereby, &s;o you ought to be an example of good to them in your obedience, in your acknowledg|ing and amending your errours. Thus <HI>Paul</HI> ex|horts <HI>Titus</HI> to preach, <HI>Titus</HI> 3.3. For wee our &s;elves al&s;o were &s;ometimes fooli&s;h, di&s;obedient, deceived, &s;erving divers lu&s;ts and plea&s;ures, li|ving in malice and envie, hatefull, and hating one another. In the 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 6.11. His dehortation is,
<PB N="25" REF="18">But thou &ocirc; man of God flie the&s;e things, (with his exhortation) and follow after righteou&s;ne&s;&s;e, godline&s;&s;e, faith, love, patience, and meekne&s;&s;e. To this ye were exhorted by the &s;ame text at the vi|&s;itation Sermon, the very houre before your di&s;|order. You may &s;ee what it is to take Gods name into your mouthes and eares, and to &s;corne to be reformed, What inconveniences you might have prevented by ob&s;erving it and other adverti&s;e|ments given you at that time, What dangers you have run your &s;elves into by contemning them. Therefore &s;in no more le&s;t a wor&s;e thing happen, and according to <HI>Salomons</HI> advice, <HI>Prov.</HI> 21. Feare the Lord and the King, and meddle not with them that are given to Sedition. Love the Truth, and Peace, is the Prophet <HI>Zachary</HI> his coun&s;ell, <HI>Zach.</HI> 8.19. Seek them, follow them, and contend for them, as far as lawfully thou may&s;t, for thou wilt finde the contraries of them full of mi&s;eries and calamities, and &s;o the God of Truth and Peace guide you, and ble&s;&s;e you with (what I heartily wi&s;h you) externall, internall, and eter|nall peace.</P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED>I. W.</SIGNED></CLOSER>
</DIV2>
<TRAILER>FINIS.</TRAILER>
</DIV1>
</BODY>
</TEXT>
</EEBO>
</ETS>
