^3o «^ DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Treasure %oom ^ j.^- f^.^ \^^ -v.^^' ^ ^,0- iA^ . .^y" aC ■ )jPf'^^ fny 4^ {?- ^ {-- t^^' Y) xA ,\. i>''" lA' u • p^ J^ 1^- is^ pXr. v^ *- \^ TV , i- THE OF SOME BRETHREN OF THE MINITSEKIE, THE REPLYESOF The Minifters and Profeffours ofDivinitie in AberdenCy con^ ccrning the late Covenant* 2 Chron. XV. i;. K^nd 4^^ Juda rejoiced at the Oath : For they had frvovne with all their hearty and fought Him with their whok dejire, and Hee rvoi/omd of thcnt^* Printedin c>^5£>RD£iV£, by Edrvard RahafL^, . Xfi ^ 2. To the Qhrijiim Reader. THai you may know our Proceedings, how wc are. ,^^^ought upon the Stage* and conciarie to out expe- .'•^ticS, arc pet in ?/!«/.% Coming to ^^/r^rw^, on Fry- claj^,i,the aftcrmoonc, we reccav^tf'thc Tiermnc^s oi Q\iz 4{tvefentl9rethnn» that night latej and, for rhe greater expedition, without delay, we returned our K''T^maiic ^ Anfif&tsjm S^nx^y at night: On the LOJ^S (D-y fol- lowing, wp. defircd to expreire our Cdwts to the People in ptel^cebrjrticMinifttrie, but ilw Pulpit? andKirkes were altogether refufed, and therefore in the moft con- venient place we could have^ /ul^ ^io., and atfuch houres as were vacant from the ordinaiie cxercifcs of publick Worfhip, wc d'tlivercd our MciBge in the audience of many. After our laft Sermon, towards Evening, wee found t that our labour was not in vaine in the 107{I> : fat diverfc per/bns, of fpecJall note, boiK for place and wifcdome , with willing heart , and gieat icadinelle.of minde, did publieklic pur their hands to the Cove-. mnt. Having the wecke following fecne lome p.rts of the Councrcy, (where beiidcs the Preibyteries Aljorde arid fionfTi-with fomy- Cpmmiflioner* fentfroin cveric m^eting^ It was thoug^ht meet in end^that a Supplication .containing a Declaration fhould be informed^which at laft his G. di4 leceiveat the hand of the Supplicants, and uppn the recei- ving thereofpromHed to deale with the Kings Majcftic fot ©btajning a fr?c A ffembly and Parliament, which he refii- fcd to undertake without this declaration. Thus by the ve-r ?|[4»atuj:c and courfe of ouiPioceediDgs about this p.oint^i; ^^SiniFeft that the Dcclaratioft was', at Icaft in this farre fe* tisfadlorie to the CommiJfionerhimikK, that heedicfpro- fnifc to meditate for an A flembly and Parliament, which was both the fumme of our dcfires> and the oncly end of this Declaration, So that no man could in any rcajfon think that we ihould have wronged him in affirming that his G» did accept, and was well plcafed wir.h that Declaration iince upon the fight,rcceiving, and hearing thcreoGhe pro-j Diifed to do hisbeft endesvours with his Majeftie for ob- ' cainingAvhat was petitioned by usjwhich before and with- out it, his G. had utterly refufed to doc* zt The three Noble-men of his Majtftics GoUnfell wh» V^ere imployedbyhijG. about this- Declaration^ ' did rc- : pare ordinarly to him for advifing what forme of Decla- ration would beft pleafei and give beft fatisfa^ion. Arid ivc had great reafon to think tha<- the forme'which pleafei cheir Lordfhips fliould not be difpleafing, oc unacceptable to his G. 5. After that direrfe fofmes of Declar ation'were^rawo ' upland none of them was found to give farisfacUon: at laft -it was thought good/ that one fliould be formed byway of Supplication tor a generallAflvmbly and Parliament. ^nd bccaulithe mainc hinderance of obtaining thereof 'was that our ^ozT^dw^ was iuipedt to be a combination a* : gainft Authorities it was found necelfarc that this iippcdi- ' ment flioiild bee removed by declaring that no fuch thing ' was intended in the Covemnt. This forme of Supplication ^■didfirft pleafe the three Nobie-men, and thereaftery di- vert parts and exprefiions of it were corrected by his G, : particular diredion , which are ftill keeped in remem- branccjand in the notes of the Noblemen & others at that -time imployed about this work fro their fevcral meetings* Thus made' us to think thar his G.was well pleaied with !• jnuchas wascorr^cied by himlclf, and thathisC would have alio correded or her parts and expreffions thereof, if i^ he had not ben well pkafed with tbciQi^ndt^C^f^Jtnade ui^cufe'that teG. wonld no ^ave offended that we ©r a- ny u.hcc» ihul«J have aftirmed io much. 4. We have reaf,)n to ihiuke that the firft Declaration which was ihowne to the Petitioners by ihc th.e NobU- mcn fe.m from hisG. to negotiate wiih hem, woul : have given faiisfadion: -why then (hall wee not think that ihe Suppl cation men Jed by his own particular dircttion, nor in the Pciiioiie part, but in the Declaration which it con- taincd,might in like manner fatisfie. i ■ j-. Among other p.irts of the Declaration whch were* mended by the Comm.flionersdirtdion , One was in the beginning thereof, wherein place of that which was h ft wntttn. That the l^jigi Majejlie ha^ comeaved ibe Con- fejfton of Faith and Covenant lately renewed Ij m his A/rt- jeliies Sukjech to bee an unld^fuil combination againft Jfu- thoritie: HiS G. would have it changed thus , That hit Majejhies Comijfioner hath conceaved the Coif effionsj faith dec. "Wee might therefore have imagined that the Kings Ma- jeftie puffibly would not have betne pleafed wih our Declaration, bur ic could not ib much as enter incur' mindsa that his Majefties Commiffwner -, who would have the words to expreflc his owne djllikCj and not the Kings> fhouid not for his owne part beciie pleafed with it, or bee offended with us, for affirming fb much. 6. There was fome reaioning between the three Coun- ftllers and the Petitioners, whether the words of the De- claration (hould bee thus ccHlccived, amaine Hinderance, or the maine Hittderanc , for which later conception the Petitioners didplead , That this which was the mainc hin- derance being removed by their declaration, for which end they were moved to make it, there might be no more hin- derancts afterward, or at left fo fmall ones, thar they might tafily be put out of ihe way,and the trueth is, that fmcethc rcmovail of f hat main hindc ranee we have heard of no par- ticular hindtrance from the contents of the Covenant. This alfo did make us to lay with the greater confidence that the Dcclat ation did plcafc, 7» ,3?* Vrh^n't^cPeckri^ianwasttceivodbylu^ Majefties CdmmiQionctiWa^ fe^d ope^il^jandwrasy^copj^, mtd Jhearti-. 1)1 by the oath of i)acp^momr.irMiS G. declared that hec vercly believed that thty mean^d what they IpaJke, that hec- hoped what they had wnctcn Ihould pi eve latisfadioiie to his Majeftie, aiid that he Wv^iild agajnft the time appointed (ip his beft endt^V.Puri wu4> l>ii> Ma-jeilie for.QbwHiii^g out d&rirts, which coUW »ot buDmake us'conccive that his 'G. wasladsficdwiihithimrtlf. 8. Although ail the con^panivSofpetitieners could »oc be pi'elenttohcareAfci'.hrheii own eares» the word* that were IpoJcen, yetallof therp hj^i fp much aswefhavc w.ittf^ve- poitcd unto theciii not by uncertaiiw rurk^vju^:, but by tho faithfuln;.lle of ch;ii: Commillioacr.s;afid upon the ceriaijn- tie of this repori,and certainc evidences ot Uie truetb> they i-cfted fatisfied, 3Jid wtre puc in hope of ^gcnei'alL ^il'cm-. bly flttiie Cb>^/77t^o;;mhis vctunhe. Which4»a^h made them alib now in their ant'weis to the laft of the kce piop^jfitions made unto them by his Majefties Commijfioncr aftei;his rt-. turne, to affirme, that hisG. accepted theirDficiaration-as the moft ready & powerful! mean which could com with- in the compaife of their thoughtsj for clearing ihem of that objec'tcd Combination, like as they -have u itificd no leiltf intheir letters to others. So that if we h^vp, ertcdin our affirmation, we have not errtdaloiKj bu^H^VVe betncar- - tied, away with the- common erroUrof io.majiy -o^yi^P^ hecie conveencd, without acceptiv^n of any tJne. , - ; p. As it is vcrie unbefeeming out profcilioii & caUing/o was'it verie far from our minde &i delire,in our anfw ers to touch the honourablcLordsoii Cowiii^lljVTrijny in autho- ritic under hjs facrcd Majcftie^ .If thc.aj^of appfobacioil with the Subfcripiions thereof J ( the ground of the mii^ five) was torne audrcfcindcd and the mifiive it ielfe, once thought fit to bcc fent> wasrcmtn«d and promift giYen> shat-it (hbuld tidt beicmv there wasnolo^ done tjjan waft aiFcYciicdbytis, What EaUon.^c hadto t«J&i)»e ^ac |H^ wag vas done upon die Supplication fecompUht of the Ueees^ may appcarej if it be rcihcmbr cd, Flrft, that forac ot th« honourable Lords of CounfeU after they wcr infoimcd by the fttppUcants, vhat prejudices were done to their caufj by the a^ approving the Poclamation, "were pafllonatly ddirous to- have the A<^ rcfcindcd, and did declare that ■ they would not fpare to deale with the Commiflionerfoi: that dfecl:. ■■'2. "When it was required by the Suppli- cants_, that another A A (houldbe madcbcaring , that by their fubfcribing the Proclamation they had nGt,,given their Approbation to it. It was often and at large anfwc- • red, that they did not by their Sublcription approve the. i proclamation, but onely gave warrant thereby to the ^ Clerkc'for regiftration,and to the Herauld for publilhing ■ the fame. -Aiid thirdly the Supplicant* prefented a petici- • on containing the reatbns of their defires, and could not s be (atisficd , except upon thefe reafons the A61 were rc- icinded, and the miftivc ftayed* This Supplication was received by ^t Commiffiomr/Vi^s openly read, and an- (were "wa^ given- by his G. that their- defue (hould be fa- ^tisfied. -All this in fubftance was knowne, to many thou- ^nds before any word was feene from ourpennc, neither had any thing written by us come to the fight of the tvoildjif it 'had ncJt beene put to the prelle by the D.^ D, 'So much have we beene conft rained to (ay for vindica- ting our ftlves, -who efteemeit to be "outchicfoft comfort and grcateft glory, that we plead for thecaufet>f God, and truetk of Religion,and daiirc neither in ©urplea^norin our jpreaching for the defcnc* of thetruethioialledgeany un- tt-uech. 'We have written nothing befereirr or at this rime,. ' from art humour to Contradi^2:e apy itian, xar to wrong the xncaneftjfar lefle any of the honorable Lords of his Ma; 'Cottnfell,&; Iraft of all his M^jcftits high Gommillioner, .•^Ht ^Joeconfcire that thew was muchdniilMngigrieat wor-" Icing ontKJth iidcsisnd many meetingSjbcixjre thcrforme of i^^c^r^;0alco|lldbe agce^ upioo^ ana8 hii Ma jefties CommifliQncr,greace ft fatisfadion, Ncithe r ai;c. wc ignorant, that Tartly through the mallignancic of Sy.copliaiVts, watching all opportunities to proraove iheis - ownc pcojeds; Tartly through the rubs and difficulties which occure in working of great matters to their wifhed ends, and Tar'ly through the bufie and ovcrweaning con«. - ceit of Tome who would feemeto bq fomcwhat^that they may warme thcmfcives at a combuftion , and who arc readie to raife iufpitions againftv the wiicft and be{l,afrc and which , it is not meet now toJp:cifie, To our Reverend Br ethrcti;^^ t The DoBors and Mini- , " - '-> flers of^berdene, HAT our Anjwerei ( Reverend and beloved Bre- thren) have not given yoU full fatisfa^ion, as it maybe imputed to our wcaknene , in the defence of fo good a Caufc J fo may it proccedc alfo from your owne prejudice againft what could be faid by us , which we have fome reafon to fufpccft for two caufes, one is, that your Demands which we conceavcd to have becnc intended mecrly for us, and were fcnt unto us from you in write, were publiflicd before our comming in Priftt, like as ye have now printed and pubhflicd your Keplyes before yee had feene our ^njvpers unto that which wee receaved from you laft in writ •• wee having promifed to the bearer , to returne an An- fwere Ihortly ere wee departed the Countrey. This may fecme rather to be a feeking of vidory from prejudice, than a fearch of vcritic for^&tif- faclion. The other caufe of our fufpicion , is , that the grounds of our ^nfweres to you > have proven fatisfadorie to others, \yho for Age and gifts of Learnii^ and Undcrftanding^ are pfime ,ipcn in this ^irL^i^d- Kingdpi?3e^«, ,^d to whom modeftk wSl qot jKjififc/;; y^iti ^^j£fer^".>f f^r felves. But whf tfabr.our »®aknfi§fc QJf yiW*'*|^e- A X judicc ^ Anfweres. judice be the the caufc, muft bee now judged by others, to- whofe*- view yee have brought us : Whom therefore wee with you heartiUe defire unpartiaUic to confider ourfirft and fecond t^r)* freres j '' wifhing ' and hoping, that partiaUtie , prejudice , and all worldly refpcds and feares , laide afide > the naked Tiucth fhall bee feene of all her lovers. Concerning your confidence of us, as wee ia-iovc judge > that yce thinke not your felvesto bee driving againft the Tructh , fo may yee conceave , that wc can no more be brought £0 yourminde , than wee can bee drawne from the profcfl5on,of our Religion, as it hath beene re- formed, fvvorne and confirmed by thelare and pro- ceeding Covernnts^zvi^ from following the example of our religious Reformers, and the many VVori ihies fucceeding them in this Kitkj who would have beene glad to have feene thedayes which wee now doe feet and for which wee pray , that both yee and we may be thankfull 5 fo fliall it not be im- puted unco uSj that we.have not di^crncd and ufcd the day of the Lord yifitacion : fo fhall we all re- joice togethei in the Day of the Lord. - .,..r,. TO H The fir ft Reply; YOur experience in your P/^/^f^/againflthe common AherfarUi wherein ycc fay yee arc fo fieqoentj hath ( no doubt ) ^ taught you , how itafie a matter it i* to multiply OhJeHions againft chc Vwftht and CAift of God: and your (elves know* that . Anlweres. : your OhjetHoH againft our Calling , and the W.ifraad of our coming to you, was Framed, and puLkflicdiii I'riatf before it was propounded unto us, and ere our Ar^atre could be had; but {q ioonc as we did hearc year firft. That there is as wide difference between EaUJia tHrbatii:zi\dpacataf the troubled & peaceable eftate of a Kirke, as is. between Ecclejta conjli" tuenda, Sucon/iitHtay 6c many things are neceltarie in the one which perhaps are not expedient i>^ the other. Ye (p^akc xA the Co?}Jiitniion of the Kirk this yeare, as it. yee had been (peaking 6 Anfweres. ipeaking thereof many years before this time. 2. That the Word of God, and the Canons oi CouKcehy will have Pa-, ftois fo to cere for their own flocks > that they forbid them not, to care for the wlioleKirk, efpeciallie in the time of a cornmon Comhujlicn. When the houlc is on firej every man ought to runne to all rowms, where hee may quench it: whcnalaik flrikerh upina Ship, every Mari- ner, yea, every paflenger, ought to labour to flop it. Even he who is not univerlall Paftor of the Kirk, is paftorof the univeifall Kirk: and the Apoftle hadi taught us. That wteare members one of another, 1{om. iz. 4. As all the members of one bodie being many, are one body, fo al- io is Chrift, I, Cor. 12. i2.Thatthe members fhouldhave the fame care, one for another, verf. 2/, If ibme members of this Kirk had not cared more kindly, in this time of common danger, than other Ibme have done, the whole bodie had bcenc eic now dangeroufly, if not defpcratly difcafed, 5. That we made choife of liich hours, for de- livering our Meflage, that the people might attend your ordinary times ofpublick worfhip , which msketh your charge, of the peoples contempt^ of ours, of your Mini- fterie, to bee moft unjuft. In the fecond pait of your '^ply to our Anf^ere to your firft ^Demand, ye might have made choifc of words winieffing 'more rcfped: to the moft part of the King- dome now, and to the Kirk in former times, than of a Confederation, and T^gative ConfeJJwn : we know no other Confederxtion at this time, but this lame Laudable Covenant* which our Progenitors, and many yet living, made with God, and amongft themfelves, at the commandement o( Authoritie, and according to the example of the people o^ God hi former times. Neither is x\viijh»rt Confejfionmzti* ly T^gativCi fmcc the beginning thereof is AjfirmAtivet and dpeth virtually containe the jirji Urqe Conjeffion ratified in iParliamenty ij6j: 2. No Paftours, in our knowlfidgc, ^havecyther beenc forced -lo^flee to forraygnc countrtys, or have Anfwcres. 7 or have becne ihrcatned with the n>4nt of their fiipetidsi for the rcfufing their Subfriftion : but this we have heard, that Ibrnft. of them have of their owne accord, gone to Court, for procuring of froteiiions againft their Credit tors, and againft the Lawesy and lZ)«f^/Vof good fubjeds, have made Lies between the King and his people,. Others wee know have wilfully refufcd, to abide with their flock.- and being carneftly intreattd by them, to attend their Chat^e.^ have left them, and have goue out of the countrey, for no reafon, but becaufe the people had fub- fcribed; and, as yc know, that Arguments \\2i\c bctne taktn fiom(iimM7itatiot)ef ^ipej.ds, to hinder Snl'/criptiof.: io yce may know j Th^ix. fear of n^orUj lojfe , rather hindeicth men to lublcribe, than frtfle of cojfcience. The Prtlatts flight, fecmcth rather to have proceeded from inward furies of accufing conlcicnccs, or from fear of a ftorme , C which being procured by their own doing, maybe eaiV ly prognofticated by them J than from the infotcing of Subfriftion of the Covenant , which in- our knowledge was never recjuired of any of the Prelates, although thty be groflly guiitie of the breach of the Covenant, which they did f^car and fublcribe before; 3. Your help, by your prayers, and other means, for extingu (hing of the pref Dt Comhitjlion , we ftill delire, but with all intreat, that you would both join with the reft of the Kiiks of the Kiiigdcme* in publicke humiUation jind fafting, which the Lord himfelf dotth proclaime and call for at this time : lb fhould your prayers bee the more eft'eduall: and alfo yc be good inftruments, according to your power, with your own people, and the countrey about, to joine in the (Covenant, fo fhould yce finde the work of pacification the more cafie. 4. The ^afons which we touched in our »/f»/»^rrf* for proving, that yc might, without juft offence to any, joine with usj in fubfcribing, arc not yet anfwe- rcd;for,firft,a found Interfrtt&tion of the Covenant iZlihoM^ proceeding from 4 private pcxfon^ and akogether voide of 8 Anfvveres. of cxternad Juthorhid can not make a fabftantiall di^c- rence : and if the Interpretation bee unfbund, although k were confirmed by Authorities ii inakcth not g fubftan- tiall coincidence. 2. Wliy is it denycd, that the former Covetiant comomcXh Mulmll defence, linccall are oblefd- ged thereby to defend 1^li^io?jy according to their voca- tion and power* and the Kings perfon and authoritic , ^vhich can not polTibly bee done , without Mutu4 'He- feme: and fince that cUufc of the Coverumty is fb expoun- ded, and applied upon giounds of pcrpetuall reafbn, in the generall ^anci drawn up, and Printed by Aiiihoriti» i anm 1/90. 3. Yecmuft either prove diis Covemnt to ht fib- fiantially different from the former > which is impoflible, orycemuft acknowledge this to have the fame Authority with the former , iincewe arc reallic obleidged in the former Covemnt, and virtually the fame ^'^rrandoi l^ng, Counfell, and Affemblie, remaineth, and Was nc^er yet dil- charged: by verrue w hereof the Covenant might have beene renewed ycarlie, by all the fubjecls of the Kingdome, no Icile than it hath beene (ubfcribcd yearlie by fuchas pair« (Degrees in Colledoes , and fiich as were fufped: of (Papijirie , from time to time* 4. What was done by his Maj efties CommiffioMeu was not done in a corner, ihatic needeth to be pryed into, or doubted of, and what was allowed by his grace, who had fo grear power from his Majeftie , to declare his Majefties will, and to receave (Declarations fi'om his fubjccts, and who w^s in every point fb zealous and tender of liis Majefties ferviceand honour: who are ye, that it fhould be difallowed by you? Ye will h^ve the kingdomc guihie of Combittation aqainjl Authoritie , and will not have the king to be fatisfied, when they have de- clared themfclves to the contrarie, and their declaration ■is accepted by his Majefties Commiffioner . This manner of dealing , is more futable to (Ba^ijts and fuch Incenc^jries, dian for you, who deiire to prove gpod (Patriots, in ufing "''•allmcanesof?^//?rfl^i(V?. j.Wea/e.ibrie, that ye fliouldbe the Anfwercs. p the firft who have, accounted our Cpvetiintto hSJfi tCv^ Jeder^Ui agaiiifl: the Trueth ^ fiiicc iome 'pf jfOJtt: (elves J and all ev^ry where have beenc conftrainei to ap* knowledge, that they aimc at the lame cndc with us* tp maintaine the Trmth. And for that which diipleaiech yoB in our way^ thai we deale after fuch a manner with people to come iiiif we anTwcre* that wc have fccnc in this Land* The (Lc) of the Lords p9wer> wherein his people hare moiifc willingly offered themfclves in multitudes * lilce th( dew of the morning : that others of no fmall ^ote, hayc oifeted their ^K^/o-i/^fiow, and have been rcfufcdj till time (hould try> that they joinc in finceritic, from love to die Caufe, and not from the fear of men ; and that no theai" «i*«g/have been ufedj except of the deicrvcd judgement of God,nor force except the force of c W(>,F.dd3fi di©%it that you will have no Meetin^i, wi:hout the Kings confcnt even in the Ctfi of the {Pre/ervation of ^liqiott of hh Maje/ljfs Aathorttiej and of the Liberties of the Kingdome, which we are lure moft be? contrarie to the reafonand life ofrhe Laa>\\\v\Qt the fafetje cfthe people u, the fovirai^ne LaVP. Al:houghit betrue alfb that for our Covenant, we have the confcnt of fVuthoiitie Preflingupon all thefubjedls in the General OBwdy and'Cc/«- feffiQooj Eiith^ formerly liibfcfibed for maintenance of th; Religion,their S:i'>fcription and Qjthas a note of their found- nelFein Religion, and of their loyakie and fidclitie ro tlie King, and his Crown, wherein ^Hris-Confuhs, more i.kil!Gd In this kinde, than we need to be have given their (^^o;^?; and Verdicis, in favours of- us, and of our Cmfe, *' The p:>int toucl-jing jfnthorltiej is iofult of Thornw andRockes, ufethtobcefo Vchementlie urg^d , to-prd* cure envie againft the Gofpell of CHRIST , and can fo hardlic bee difpiited aiKi dilcurted , except in a large Treat ifi , lothe {atisfattion of kings and King-domes j And all having inttreft', that for the prcfent wee only Wifh youto hearc the tcftimonies ot two grave 2)/i/»Vj- , >>rhc one is Whittak^y in his jfnf^ere lo mafter H^ynolds • ifreftL-e fag^ 6, S'irres and Tumults for mjtterof R^- ^alig'on^ 'Reynold rehearlech ^ that liath been*? in Gefina^ 9%me'>- FriHee > Bohemia , as- though ic were fufHcienc (qi >« their condcntnacioa , (hat they Qnce cefiftcd » and did J> » » * Anfweres. ^^^ not i>y ant3 'by to admit whatfoevcr violence was oflfercd ; , a ^ cither TO GODS Tiucth, orco themfelvcs , contrarie to» , Promifc 5 to Oath , topublick Edicts, to Law. where- ^, by they were warrandfd to doe as they did; More of thiSi* matter will I not anfwere, being of another nature > and>» cleared long fince from the cryme of Rebellion, not only » » by juft defence of their doing , but alfo by the ^rocUmati' ens and ^ilicis of P rinces themfelves. The other is 2/7- fon, in his Bookc of Chriftian fiibjc^lion , in defence of the Proteftants in other Countrcyes , againft the objedlion of the fefmtey (Paglna 35Z. affirming, that Subjc6tesw may defend their Ancient and Chriftian Liberties. c6ve- »* tiamed and agreed upon by thofc Princes, to whom they , ;, firflr fubmitted chemfclves. and were ever fincc confirm- 5 , ed 3 and allowed by the Kings that have fuccceded, they , may require their ownc righr, fave their owne lives, be- , ^ feech, that they be notufed as flives, but like fubjcdsjUke, ^ men^ not like bcafts-, thai they may bte convenred by lawes , , before Judges; not mijrdcicd in Corners by Ine^djitoim. . , , This is alfo the judgement of i^Vr^/zr, in liis Commentnrie ^ ^ Tfal. 6 8. Which being looked upon by you, will fumiiha^, full anfwerc to -what yec have cited at length from hh lefttita J^apid-ms. 'For between /ry/z/V/V^// titafonable and pcrnitious dodrine , and pra6tiles againil: Pnnccs and Magiftrats , tcfuted by htm ^ and the loyall and found dodlrinedf !?Voff/?d>7tj, your fclves know the difference and oppofition, like as it clcare asthe fonnca by that Ihort Confcffton , by the Application there-6f, toahe times in this ^rt^^ni Confejjlon ^ by our publickc ^rote- Jhation , and by the ^ecUraiion exhibited to his Majefties 'Commiflidner- s 'that wcip meanc not' only mutuall con- cfirrence , {nJ .::i:vL\rd jh^n iJJli^^i^i ^r, j:ni*irrTjrb ''Jl^J^'j^g m Anfwercst apd^ke moil fccretof our thoughts and affcdtoiis, con* CCcning o\K loyakic to out' dreade SovecaignC) To ihould y&c either ccafe to wiitc in ihjs fort agaiiift us».oi,t>W forced to write againil your ownc Conlcicncesi, • .}. When ^\'ec juftific our Conventions and CovemntSy flom. their purpoi^ but the ncared and immediate , and if nothing in t^fe can merit juft cenkare , the Convcn- ti^m and Covfnatits no more in that whicii ye« call ilie QhjeHt nor in their ends , can bee pulpable ; what AJpet' fion^ have bccne put upon our 'formation , and T^efor- mtrsy by the madicc of our Adv9rjwiesi can not bee un-- ^IsBpwjaye to you* But wc, wi(h, (liat jour ingincs and pcnncs may btc better imploycd * than to joinc wdth ihcm in fobadacaufe, which wc exped; alio from your prudence> conhdeiing the people and pUc£ whetc );^. live. To thx^ third. YEE doc well and wileiy , that yee fcarch not cw tioufly into the mindcs of Piinccs, and Rpalbiis of State: but whether all his Majcftics Siibje6s bee Ijtilr fied with the laft (Proclamatiofi, ncedtth ng dccpc feaich. For although poilibly fome had becnc more pleated \^ ith a Troclamatioft , commanding the Service w^/o« giveth not oi> dec for difdiarging all the A 6b rnnde in£ivours of the Sctvlee Anfwcres. 13 Servia lofikf^ feudally that of the 19. of Februftrie > which givcth unto it fohigh apjirobatioHj asfcrvipgfor maintaining the true Religion, and to beat out all fuper- ftitiGO^andno waiyes to htt contrarie to the Lawes of this Kingdomc; but to bee compiled and approved for the unir vcrftll ufc and edifkatign of all his Majeftics Subjcds. 4. k is (b farre.from dillallowing ihc (aid Booke, that it putrethus in feare, that ic (hall bee preft in a fcircand legal! way: and rhcrefore,norwithftandingthc (ProdanuUhny the neceflicie of Covenanting » which containcth nothing contrare to the Ades of Parliament, nor to the docrie of good SubjediSybuc is the larg ft Tcftintionie of, oMtlideUtye to GOD, and loyaltic to our King* ^ .wh^cfbcver itnmyv feemc to you to impart } doeth yet contiouft^ , that his Majeftie m«y bee ple^l"ed> to grant the full feddfirfliow of our reaibnablc Pf/»i//fl«/, and that our ^/giWandXi- l^erties may bee prcieived ibr aftcfwardc5- Wh»(i)flvc»i pioferte chemfelvcs to bee perfedly fitisficd witb the ^jfr» tUmatian, doe proclaimc in thcearcs of all the kingdome>. that they are better pleafcd -with ihi: ServkeSool^e md Ca- ;io«i-, than with the ^liglon, as ic hath bccncptofisiTcdin. thisLW, fmcethc !^/ow»«f/c». T$ thefoitrth, ■yS^EEwcre ailurcd, -that your ©rwd«i proceeded from > a Afiy^^i;^, and therefore, according to ouf know- lhige,-d4dingenfuou%, for your fatisfiaftien* expound un- to you the mi«de of the Sukfcribtvs^^ but findc now,thar wee ha^>e laboured i» vain it your handss from which wee have rcGCaved this ^^lf\ Vh?o which, concerjiing die firiV^ Mifinttrfre^tUn i "We an(Wcr: I. Thit al^ugbiiperdde neither uSt ThtM^nhpi oot obtrude out lhttifrU4tion up^ on you* as bemn% my O^if^tmefonreri Yet pardon u»» that wiec match you not, and put you* not in the SalUfKe wkhthe grcatcft part of the kingdomc, both Miniftcrs and othersiin wh<^ name vi^co i%coi£tmendi?d'ihi« ibrfif*«/4fia» unto 14 Aniwerc&A uiuo yowi Sy all falrc Meiuiet and force ofS^ttfooi and in fe doing, wee ate fo fatre From the breach of tnii Solemnf ■ VotP^ and '^rowi/^ that wcc cllccmc this.to.bc.no fmall propfcof't-hitGQdlinelle, and righteoufiicflei wherein wc are bound, by our Covcr.ant,x.o walk. i. Theauthoricative judgement of owx ^formers ^^n^ fre^ccjfors, is evidenced, not only by i\\z.'CovfeJfion of taithj ratified in Tarl foment j but alio by the books of (Di/cipline, Acts of Generall Af- \ femblicSi and theirown writs, wherein, if ye will, ye may findc WiT;fnnAlQX^\% Intcrpretatimt and inreiped whsrcof it is publickc rj^/W wc^//, bcfides thofc midfes of «Srr//>- tmcy of AntifiitUA^^^ of the Cpnfcntof the deformed l{irki» . whiclvarc namtd foe midfes by you. Conccmirig the 2. MifconJlruBion , it is 110 marveli tihzt trejuJices , Siiid preconceaved opinions » poirefling the roinde, make men to fall upon Interpretations of their own bwinihc (but h parts of the kingdomc* wheremmy lear- ned and juducJous men, both Ta/lors, and (Profefforsyyf/ere aflcmbled, atthefirft fubfcribing thereof, we remember of none that did fall into thic Mi/iiie. And the two forts of J^vations, fuch as arc alreadie introduced , and fuch are lupplicated agai nft, are ib pundlually diftin- guifhed, that there is IK) place left to Ambigiitie : but on the contrarie, the ?{ovations which we promi/e to for- bearcfora time only, can not be luppoled in the follow- ing ,wo>'ds, to f>s abjured fpr.c.v^r, as Topi/^ TSlovationst 2,^Upona npw examination f the words, yee perccave » that the ArtieUr of 'Tearlh, and Epi/copacie y arc- coudcax' ned ai erroneous CorrHptions> b^caufe we proniJfe* to U-. lourj'to recover. pM forrner puritie andjibertie of the Gpjpel^ : un- tQMfjiiGixour:4fe/%^r th^t-if. appes^veth^ that yoij will havi^dil.the CovenanteKssig^m^d ^ condemne the.^r- tieks of dearth and. Epifcopall, Covemfimenty left ihey/bee tiJyQ4 i\\Ai:Gener4f''4iJ^mblifi \:rJ^xiX.\% is J^V?>yft tpQ^p^aljy, ' Kmuktths> \;h;v ih^;jwpi43 vae -^^^CfPlMiP/f 9;U,c^fi4^- . I^X. ) r . ' -- Jfaiisfadion Anlweres^ r?y: iatisfad^iotioffuchgs wecc.of your judgement, te^cc might^ll ioine in owe hcait and Covqnant'yfoc tilablifhii^g ReligiOD, and.oppeiuig Etrours. ; And fot (youi-Jrcumfnt whether the ArticUsoi. f earth , and Bpfcopacie becsgainft the puritie andlibertkiof the Gofpcl , or nor » which is. not^dcccrmined bythefe.wordst f£heCoz/^«4«^: But itcan-* notbe'e denyedj fiift> That if in a free jfffembiiei, they bee found to bcc agaiiiftthe puritie and libertie of the Gofpel>: they ought to bee abolifhed : In the mcanc time, it being left free, fay the. -words of the Covemnt^ to alL who will, to ftand to the defence of their lawfulncile. Secondly^how can it bee denied, that many corruptions, jcontratieto the puritie and Uberde of the Goipel, were they never fo in- nocent in themlelves, have accompanieid thcfe X^vathm y fuchas the fuperftitiousobiforvation of ©.^^fj, fcriatioir^; and ciflatioii from worke, on ihefeDayes hafilni^,Quji' Ji.-^^,8cc. many grollc abufes have beene Entered in thtJjSa-i crament, upon l^neelhig before the Elements, and upoii the • lawlefll* ulurpation ot f'jW^^fxin rclpcd whcieof,evca they who allow. of Tearth Snides, Mtd JEp'fcoptciej may {>veare to recover the puritie of the GoJpeiH. And tliirdly. w^ho can bee h great a ftrangcr nt home, as to deny, that many Cor- ruptions of 'PopenCfSc Armeniwlfme ^ have entered in,in the Kirk, and have beene vented 3 and defended, in ichools and pulpits j by realbn whereof, wee are bound every one of us, accordiiig to the meafure of our light, to Uhour^ fw tfcovirle of OHT for/net p«w/;(??And thcrefort, if you had call your eyes upon the foW/>/o« of this'poore Kirk,asyec have pryed narrowly, into the, Ex^rclfions ©f the Covfmnt^ yee might have ipared both : your owne labour and outs* and no?^ laboured to skaf both your felves. and others witb'' thisfhaddow. • ■:'- > In your Ar^tmntiy ad haminemi you fhould hayc jconfi* dercd, that whatibcvtr bee \qurjudganent, as we arcpar- , Qcular perfons, yet, «t this time, w<"c were tobteiakeni as Cimmi^Qnerii fiom the whole companic of Sttbjmberst ■. ■whcL, i6 Anfiveres/ V whOitftbut ciu4 po^m^ arc of ci>f^»m'<^Kigcttents : an^jif ^me of your c»vn ^udgcmem» had cithei: com^ ^ne in ourpiace, or haci bccnc joiocd in ContmifflmMfith. us, wcc Uidsa^nc\^tcy9azQije&icn: and this ^cehsve becac for- ced to fee; andfoyaur Iclves, iji propounding your />A- JtHufi, have anfwcredyour own S^liogifme, in maikciiig lus. to lay tba< )te mij fvetre and fubfmbe^ (ceing yec tfainkc not ihefe things to bcc abjuicd in that Oath made Am9 ij8i; neither was iifor you_, to inquire in our private Offinion, nor nccciiaric for m, to make it knownc^ bat to have conceaved of out mindes, according to our Comfnif- /iw, and the will of thole who fcnt us. Your At^uments need to bee no impediments unto your fWcaring of the Covenant* For upon your groundcs, yec would not have iwome the ShortCvrfeJfiov, any time bypaft : yea , yee can not (weate the Ci»«^;^o« of any Kirk ; nay not tnc Arti- tles of the Creed* becaule of the diverle Interpretations o£ the Artklcof dbrifis defcentinto Hell; or fwearing them in intUndsad En^Undt yee behooved to fweare them in -diverfc ftnfcs. There belbme words of the Lords fr^er^ siSyGive its this daj our dnylj bre^d; and of the X Commands y asthe wordsof the 4Co/wwtf«i^t4tationi isbuildcd upon fiich a «sy^^ A iflf ^'jour onm dfefiiig\ yitt m9dtie< die like jfr^tHrteht^ad honjinem^ Ti^ '^f«- and ' t«rf»»iw«^ whith ace not abjured in the I^^e^nthre Cttife^ioni ^rc not abjured ItithisUteCovenant. B}Xi\ii9titti^diCir^rm»if^» :^hxch wer Axifwey^s. 9fi were concluded in (Pearth Affemhlif, atCi]kpi abittrcjJr,^ ye fay, inihc T^gative ConfeJ/Iofti m^dc Amo ij^li there- fore, they are not abjured in this Late Coventnt* Thcfirft tPropoJition is evident, becaufc in the Late Covemnt we ^tt bound no furdcr, couceining the 2^g^i'"^ Cwfeffimx but to keep it inviolable: andtherelbrc, what ^es^x^ not ab- jured there, are not abjured he re. TheXecond {Profofithn cannot be denycd by you,; for tbcfc iwentie years bygone yc have thought your felves free qf ^fjuriff norwithilan- ding of the Oath in i;8i, and of your confofming your (elves* to the Ordinances of Temb. And whereas yee al- leadge» afterward, as before, that our SuppiUatims arc fa- tisfied , the contraric is known, by our publicke Trotejla" r/o«,andby our Uft Supflicatiojia ind Comfuint\ preltnted to his Majefties Commijfioner. And urging of the Service bcef^^ was a iufficient ^eafon, for Forl^afance tf Tearth Articles , till an Ajfemblie : a: which time it may be determiucd ; whether it be expedient , that this Kirkc be any more troubled with them. Neither needeth your confcicnccto liindcr you to iubfcribe the forbearance of thefe^^vatsom, :is if frearinff of forhearence y were z fweaiin^ of ^if obe- dience to Autboritie : fiift, becaufe the fwemm of fcfxlearfaic^ of a thing in your opinion, indifferent, in iIk; c.alc of Scandallj and of fenjible fcare in others , of SiffrfiftioH ^ is ihc fwear'nwof Ohedieme tothe Comwandementoj God, which forbiddeth us, to deflroy him, for whom Chi ft ^ed, although man (hoiild command ihe conirarie. z. Becaufe tiic Articles of !P\>'i\\./iectjpryt WceJ/tfateprtecfptif into fzttCy zh^Liifhenotfifmqdftl'em, is a contempt of the Meansi and a tempring of God. By this your DoWfinet firft^ The ftate of the Qnejiiony anent 'Pe.mb Artiehs, is quite altered, for yce> and your JjJociateSy did ever, to this time, alleadgcthc Que/iio?), robe of ihingcs Indifferent', but how ye finde feme of them fb nccellary that although the Gfwfw// /f^/w^/zV 0^ fi^f /i^V^f* (hould dif charge them^ yet ye- behoved ftill, for conlcicncc of the Commanderaent of God, to pfadifc them. If yce have the ftme judgement o£ I^eelin^ before the Ulements ^ and of Fejiivall ^ayes^ it commeth to palfe amongrt us, wh!ch hath beene incident to the Kiricc , in former ages, that things have bcene firft brought in^ as indijfaent, then wr- ged as Wf<5/?4r/>. If Cbw^^-wtf^/ow alfo in your judgement, be not indiffercttty but mcfffarie , Ave defiie to lindcrftand ^ith what conlcience ic hath beenc flighred , and utrerlie ncgle<^ed by the Trelates, thcfe 20 yeares p^ii? and how itis, that yee have cirriedfo Imall rcgardtothe Cajwnof theKirke, and Actot Tarliament, and to' the benLfite of young children, as not to require, urge and prelTe the pra- «^ife thereof, both in your own Charpe and throughout chc whole Kirke? This would (ecme to be parthll iind the people have a fupcrftitious conceat of Sitpti/me and rowmnn/o^ a» dlf/olutelicneceffarteta Salvation i as if GOD hadtycdHi?, grace to the SimMHents\ and children dying without tBaf*^ tiCme, and others without their la(t Ptaticum, did perish V Thus ye miniilcr the Sacraments in private , as necejfarifi^r I^ceffitate pracejfti : and the people fccmeto dcHrc, and' receave them, as iwefjarie, X^cejjfuate wedii : an BvHl very curable, in that citic where the ^^w^/'Vx of the people. £ot ptihlickrforjhip, ate ffctjuent, wherein ihc Sdcnmtems might. bee miniftred frequently anough, with great fo^ lemnitie, and edification. 4. And though wc do not dc- nye , but ^aft'ifme privately minifired, by the Minifter of Chrift , according the InJlitHtion , be true ^aptifme , and, that a childe thus privaielie baptized, bee not to bee baptized againc, (altho it be true alio, that private S.ipti/hic^ maketh way to this Bmur of ']^-baptiz.ing : ) ytt wc hold t that the neceflitie of the Commattdementi ftandeth only foe Sa//(/7;7«' in publickc, fmce no Precept requirtth B^ptJ/mey but when the miniftrai;iG'n thereof can bee hadordeilic* with all the circumftances requintc : whereof this is onea Thai it be miniftred in the prefence of that vifible kirk, where of the children are to be mcinbers : for not onliq rlic iiiiniller of ^ptJfije, and thciparents of tliechjid. en y but' the 'Correlation ^llp jhat^'iniere^ Itt, tl^e.'b^piifine,<),f" cyety member that eJitertlhin ^hlir ci'ciBmunion ]. . whic^ tIjeTefore,' ought to be a pubticke^actUop, .110 Mile than, tiy^^ cutting off of a rotten mtniber/.^y Sfifmt^m^itf^P^^Q^^^ io An{weres# labc'doncpublicMit. y. Icis known, ihzt private B4pt$Jme bath bred » aud foftered the Opinion of Abfolute neceffitie ot $iPtifit^i oiti^tifrrte by \VtfW<^,and privutt perfons^ oC 9apeij^e fy Jiippafitiofii &c. and that the midft ration o£ tKi'Sacroniepts » in private places, hath beeneandis, the- fitadie way to'bring people to the contempt and aegledt'* of the S^acrafftentt in publicke, and to the prophanacioti thereof in private. <5. When all the formes of miniftration*- ofSapti/rne, /hall be compared, both that of the Ancient: i|^p, keeping tAfler, and T^rrtecoff, for the (blemtit times cfijpcifme, and the other of the Topifhkjrke^ and other kirks, not well purged of the dregs of Toperie, miniftring ^ptifme and Cdrnmuntm at all times, in private places, and before few perfonsj ir/h'al be found, that no better courle could^ bee" taken, than that which hath bcene wifely ap- pointed and obftrved, intheKirkeof Jrof/W, iincc the !^form4tion, that the Sacraments be miniftrcd in the ordi- narie meetings of GQDS People, unto which they had regard, and not utlto the places of materiall Kirks : which we adde, left any (hould think, thacwc entertained any fuperftitious conceatof places. To thefiff, TO the firft Exception, wee haVe eVeu now anfw^red and need to adde no further^ concerning private Sap- tifmesnd Communion, i. We looked* thri your Ar^imcnt ad homihemt hid bcene clofed in the fourth !^^ there is no qucftion ; and of yours, there ncedeth none tobc moved by you, fince ye thiiikc them itklifferent: ^d therefore in {hch a cafe, may promife , to forbear them Frbml this ground, and from the different ufc of the wore! ^ifcipiiney and PoHde» it is cafie to anfwere , both your Soritesi and dilemma: for the Late Covemnt bindelh yotf to keep the R>rmet^ according to the common meaning of the SHbfcribefs » and not according to yoiK Intefpretatiort or ours , in particular : and the homes of your ^ilennna > may be turned about agalnft yout feives : for we aske of you, Unro which of rhe members cf the f>iftiniiion doC ye rcfcrrc ^fjlopaciey and the Articles oi f earth] if they were abjtireid for" ever, before f earth AfJeiribUei hovr hix. that ye have idmiitcd and practized thcitt , finee that lime j for this were perjuries And if they were not dbju- red> but by the Shcrt Confejfion-'fTZic. left mSfffrenti why may not ye for any impediment ye have from thgtc CxAt^ fejfiony forbeaie now the pradife of them? Wee I<>6ked notfor K accordii^ to the nature of particular OhjeSts : ai^ thirdlie, it is ta'kcn for the ordering of the drcumftances, to bee obfctvcd in all t^ons ^ivinf^md Hnf^fw^ '> j^d cfaus ie u v^riabie. Wtf appealc ^^ An/weres. appeale with yow totlic mdifrcrcut,(^«Jitr# whois judi« ~^ ^ ciouj, whether It. bee nccciraiie For joui Sub/irfi>t ion ^ to K^^^ know our Opimn of fuch J^iffxand Ceremomes, zs are not ~ >s-- ^ oi Divine In/iitujicn. "Wc have reafon, Cfor any thing v;^ that ever wc heard to thccontraiic, thefezo years paft), to cleaue unto the wordes of the Covenant , concerning v_> fuch 7(ites as arc Brought into the Kick, without, or againft ^ the word of God. The ^lejjins^ of Mariage fnow thefe- cond time inftanccd ) we conceavc, neither to be circum- flance, it being neither time, pUct', order of doing, nor ^ ^ any fiich thing , nor a Cerem^me properlicfb called i more ^ than the !BleJ/in£ of the people, commanded in the Larp, and * pradifed before the L(ja» , or praying for a Bleffingupow ^ the Or^ittance q( Godf tluiii maybe fandificd unto His ■^^ People : wc neither exalt MarriS^ lo high , as with the .TN fP^fifis y to thinke it a •SiiT.iwf^^ i nor do weabafe it, ib ^\ low, as to thinkcita TaUion oi ContmSi^ mcetciy Civil , it being the Covenant oi GOD, which cannot be dillblvgd ^ bj confeut of the parties , as other Civiil ContuHes may ^ be ; and therefore , as we will not u(e it fupcrftitiouflyjac- ^ cording to the prefcript of the Service 2>oo\e y io will wee not for the abuie of Popery, although it were a faHion meer- ly Civiil > it being fb important, with- hold Ecclejiajlic^c ^nediciion from it. To thcJixU .J OIlence carrieth fbmetimes the appearance of Con' £^ \3jcnti fometimes it is from weaknclle, and hncc ye know alfo J that it may at fomctimes come fiom wifdome , and *^ moderation ; why doc ye not rather kcepe filence your *^ fclves, than make fuch Interpretation of ours' We de- j^ nyc not but iDivines^ both JCncient and Moderne, aire a- gainft us, concerning the Idtpfulnejfe of the things con- y crayerted: but we withalL affirmc,firft,Thai!2)/Vi;;(j/ibol^ ^ ttmient and Ma^r^ie, are againit you aifo , and both may C^ be true, for both arc but 'Fropofitiom Indefinite , in a matter ^ mtingft)^.. .2 . That almoft aU ^iviw/.uniYCifallifi arc for, « rV ^"- ' " ^' US.J >P .Anfweres. ir us, a«d for the forhardnce ofth'w^s imiijferefit, ill fuch a cafe , •which is the point urged by us, and cleared before. Se- condly, wee deny hot, but the Oath coniaineih many other jfrticlerM'^t concerning that of the 2^v4ttons alrcadie intro* ducedyif ^'ou could have believed us,and fo many thoufands as have fubfcribed, itcontdineth no more but fif forebear^ anceof them for a time: neither can any further bee extorted from the tenor of tiic Covenant it {qIF, according to your grounds. If yee will interpret it according to the meaning which yee tlwught it had the laft year, and which wee urge you not to change^ and to promile forbearance, can neither be conu^arie to that due tie which yee ow to your flocksnot bee difbbcdicnt to Authorities but a meanc to edihe Gods peopt?:,and obedience to God. " ■ / ' Tothefevemh, .:«onoi:» FIrft, The '^afon proponed in the fevenih (D^marj,'for refufing your Suffcriptioji , becaufcyec fuppofcd !? ^ind j^ngdomc. ; Totbt 2 4 j^qfivercs. To the figk. ^ .J- FIrft, V/c rcRiitAhp '^ader'io our Anfime,^^ your iS}^///, which* we hope, ^all be found no Confuiatian. 2. Wc cbfcrvc. That ye have not anfwered our Ar^Hment>ioi our fa>earlnf the dejenee of the I{ingy and his Attthoruie, With a Spe- (ificAtUn, which ycc call a Limitation^ w herein we have fol- lowed the Cenfejfien of fmVi&^ratified in Tarliamentjihc ^ftg^ Confeffion, z\\6j{^ of TarliameMt , upon which yee will not do well, to faftcn fo toulc Imputationt , and put lo hard Con- JiriiQionh as yee doe, upon us^ for inferring in our Covenant , what they have faid before us. If oui S^edficatioH be right., why cenfure you it' Ifit be wrong, why fallen yee not your cenfurcs upon the FoHHtain»ixom which it is derived? The Loyaltie of our Intentions^ to maintaine the Kings Pcrfon & honourAs (o fully exprtfled,that it hath given content to thcfc who arc neareft his Majeftieiand we(houldwrong,not only them,but alfo the Covenant j2x\di the Sd^fcrihers thereof, if wee fhould make new Declarations to others,of greattr S>ilfance, who wrong both the King, andthcmfclves, in craving them. 5. To doe with 2, (Doubting Cvifcicnce , is a grievous fin, but to make and multiples (Dvnl'tcs,forhlnde- rhq a qood aorkft and to oppofe againft a fhimr.^^ light > is no Icfle grievous. Yee ipake btfore of a Limitation, and now yee have added frecifely,zs if the naming of one 'Duetie were the excluding of all other (Dueties. "We all, by our Oath of Alleadcance, by his MajejliesLd^'es, and by other obligations ^ ac- knowledge, that wee ow many other duttics to the King, which were very impertinent to tiiprclTe in this Covenant. 4. What kinde of Conference yee meanc > whether by word or writ, we know notj but ('while we were amongft you) yee know what notice you wcr^ pieced to take of .i»8,and wee have no delight, to refenci^j^n oih To the ninth, -^z, )!, v Fir ft , Wc ate aftiamcd , to draw this (^-/^"Wof Con- tentitn, to and fro, in a a)nnnualU ^cifrocatitit » €oi> ■CQznwgthGlmliurmeQk ffmb ^/^x; ai^d thej:?^rc, '- ' ■■ forbearing Anfvveires# H foihsmhg to doefo anymore, \^c rcfefte xhtff^a^tS our former Anfrveris. i . We do not affirmc, that th^ on* iy a^afott, why I^neling ^was appointed, ^fas becaufc all ttiei^oryofAf«y«'»/?»jexpMflc•S^hich"we^ho^VteFcrr^y6ut l^iic this we fay, (which is hianifell by the ^(!¥it fdf) thatm the cafe of prefcnt ^SiK/TPf^wff, or fcare thereof s all other !^pjall^ul'jeff-(ji £ivc unto Kings, Ai>dPrlnfiiiV, .y^ ibtce ps mutp4^ie «;q propone %o \^^\^.. M\ QlfeJ^J<^^^V^ it mav i)_e,- jyc w'^il|.jl^.ivc,uo,great -dflj^ht eoUtMSy ^^ e ,/ j..; r^ 4tfirAfJ5»A«ifici[4a^dqfjoiip, Wl>qt)if:i- y^allj^vy^,. ovd^iiilr low>j;n^;&ri'i«i'Oi?^f , and hokegf C.tmWi If. yc d-iil,ill^Sv th^Q * fs zvilwiovAtion of !%^^'"«« » why have ye nOt eitJAer joined, in, 'r fo^cr of i'rhices y nijdi^A. berties o^.Suhjecfj, afta'.^hi?, JViajeitie Cotntniffimf > iii>d ^'^,^ *5"^<}f(fj-nicii^ ,^v.;;jr5;,cc^\^d S({tiifaclioj4pi tj'ip ^L)Jtje,Hj y ij^r ihcpre^ng tuch mociottis as yours/ '-^„ Wi>cdier cjoAt;h« .^m'fcril'cn more tender hi&:M3j?i^ic3 Hoijoirrj by" rn|r:<)r ling his conftaacie > in frofejfion of l^eL^iov, aiid cquitaulc; 'IDiJ^ojJtiQn 3 in miniftratipa of ^w/^/Vf; or ye, w'lo iu£p.'>ie lies .(hall fiU ■i^oh his-,^//^;W, and Lvyxil <^id!jilh-, wish ibrce of Armtsconcvafic.to both? 4.' Wh^thtrthe joy- ,ning of the wh.olj? ICingdome , in the. Sulfirqition of the Covemnt, or ^the.eRteitaining of 2)iz;/^o«,, by- your W'ryr tm» freathh^i and Thren^jiiti^o^ your people 5 oth^rwife willing to iolne,.- by a. more t(,nd\^ Mcutk tf^-i^ectle the prcfent CffwW^Wof theKirkc3'andKiflgdometf,.|f th« TnliteSi and their iFoZ/o^rm, labouring to introduce (PojxrU in the Land/ make 3 ivf^^/o« bythcmlclvcs , or as the GwV fiansin Frmccy didabufehis Majcfties nanie, ■ in execution of the bloodie t)ecms of TrmP) ("wlutfh.G O Jt) fQrbi4eJ •wc al!ke# Whether in fuchaOyJr^ tlij^, law full., defence of th^Lodie of the Kiagdome j againfl iuchai^^/o;? » bee a An{weres# if- rtfiftivg of che Maaiftnte , and a tc^ng Atmti fi^infi tht- mn9 • if ye aifirme it to bcj is not this to tajgt part with**' B^iorty lecking their ownc- eMii againft rfi^ ;Co)«meaefendingthe'^U^ion\ Liberties , and Lnvesop the l^ngdtmc ,• of jhc I{%n£^ Attthoritie ; in defence thtfe6f[it mdevme onecf hs of another^ and -in that Cj»ufe> as if itXvirrtf ' an unlawftill row^]^rffio»*agiinft Authwitiei 6. Whether HS*' yec think Chrijlian Ma^iflrates io be of (o abfolure and oni" bounded power, notwithftanding-df any Tromi/e or faction made witfi the, ^uhjeiis at thesis '^<3f»«rf^»o»,: or of ;any/il53r TOaacjforjCfta^jli/l^ing their <2{f/i^wi;anjJ Li^ th;nkc thiit any ^Defence i$ lawful], V(hy mjfconftruc ycclfibcC Sti'f^ribevs pf t^? r(>w;>4"«f? r if rtot, ihow can yec bee f^ee (^flatteriet aiid of {lining .Hjp ^Princes agaiiift their Idyalipi Siibjeds, foi fuch,cnds,asyoui felves^know bcft? Wecve** rily^vbelic.vc^ that yte ihdl rcapc. fmall 'hanksr either of fo good and juft a k'ng» or of To. dwej^^' .!,g^(^.y'et >A(ill xathef Avrcft tl^e, \v'(5r,ds of it tQ your pNvn.c meoning than rt^cave. the 7n/;ori Copfeffion, h\it pcimitit: to ybUt^ftlvc's,,' whatfocV(.r^'inuy bc^;hf p iy^^te n;ie^ning oj^ lorri|bVfio,li^ye^^ ^|^^.0^i$ i)pihu^,rn th&jZafiP^ J^jjccp.u.f^,'' ys'^ofiJJy t*^vat^o))s.- .y^e„.may,yoiccfind rear. ,2?; Anfweres. jovtt jodgefticut . of them , without prejudice » iio^wlih*- aj.-ii; Vl^ouM havc.cjoue jij^he, Ajfi/nhhf. : as to thiiikc you ItjiCorrupCj, that in yo^r opini^^r^t^e-A? n^ibing hath.en'. tted ini;h.e Kirke, iiijcc^tiuf. iii^v\^4%J\sdi>y yoajVhci. Mc t^jfcopme y ' aiiJ j^tt^fjes o^'^^rth-^. ,w^el» caii: b)e«* thought pieji^dici,4l,i ;«> ,^s J^/4«^jr/^;art4 ifViliV/i-.of thci. TJ&ft^b! 7ee fin^"; ia»b A^ith^ iis, • giv-efv j^Qij^tfet'teilimdrfie^hicH >^e^^ 0'wc.K> yGtayofyoftr/inc^Uii, iHfr^Jjfiii^ihe Trtkthy and' therefore i' to fuppUe oni^'^kdcsy • have taken 'an an^ple' TcStimonie xo your lelvcs , ot ^fi'ma in l>'j^itthig , in Wry- tiiwi ^and Treachifi^agUnJl'^ipery i in prdceffinv 'of/Patifhiy t^d in doit^ all thfu^i whixh ^^n:l^t dx^elMtjrm' t^^^ xjealom of frtc^uent prayer J' W- G01D, of bitmhti?i^')dur 'fdvet before Him i of your holinejfe of Life >■ anxi Converf^tioih -^'c: which have maje us-who^w^re dk^lirous'. td hcareth^t 7>< Bimonie , rather at the moutbes of ordcfs i 'thatwje r^lghtv bee no more challtnged as'xlefiaciTtin-thctc kiade 3 - buj-^ give unro you yout deferyt^l' praife , f 6 inquire ii^ m'at-' ters •, whereupon > if we would bclcive ths report of others, wee^hcare* ihat forall ydut paines, f'./y^i/i-fij and ^erfons fopijhlie affc^cd, j^re multipricd",' and (PapiHrif incredfed in 'ydfUirHbwn, more than'mjihy other town, of the Kingdom^', and noleifeun'dcryo'urMiniftrie, than any time before, fince the !^f/or/«d^;o«, that there bee in private houfes Meffes ^ Crucifixes » 2nd othcr monuments of iJolatrie; that y^e have, not many converts from ^ope-> rle; that Jefuif^f 2nd ^iifisy arc countenanced there i that, your people at home , and your Magiftrates abroad, c6m-- plainc, that ycc are but too (paring of your paines ift. PrcacWng, and often fillyQ^r places mth iiovhes : but' ^'~ - - - this Aniweres. 29 This wc are Tpanng to believe , and wifh , that the not imployiug of yout tongues, and Pennes* in defence of ihc &rviccifooie, and Canons^ which are To peftrcd with ^o^erfe» ('if the feeds o'i '^omifh Hevefie^ SHperJlit'wn ido- latrie ». and TaptU ijfrawue t come under that cenfure) and youi willingiiefie to joine with the J(trke and l{ingdQme 3 in Faftingand HumiUadon, had becncallo X>/hw%«Viof your fmceri.tieagiinll !?o^<:r;V. 2, The iaudabic meanes oi. 'Preaching, Truyjng, &cc. which wee wifh may beeftiil in all faichtulnelle ufcd by you , may veiic well agree with the renewingof out Coye«d»f with God > and both being pined, have, in a fhoittimepaft, produced more poweifuU cft.(fls, to the comfort of many dioufandes.^ than all our 'Prq}m and frsaching hath (doo{e , and Cuftonft that ere it be long , they may-, be brought in, inafaire andlegdlv^ay : and thcefo-e, itis. necelfarie , for preventing of thofe, and other Evils of that kinde, that the Suhje^s joinc in a Gvemnt > both for thejffifelvcs* and their Pofteritic. ' , To the twelfth^ FiRsti "We have ever preached according to ourmca- fure , and have given example of 1{evertnc^ to Authori^ fiV, andthe LORDS Service: but we neither acknow- ledge the ufwrpeA attthmtie of Trel'ates , for Lazuli ^- thmtie, nor x!tiQ Service hook? » for ,the. XO^J «5(fr- vice , And therefore, it was fo much the more intollerablc fojc the '^rfkusj ^^^hou; Auttoiti^ frpflithe Kirkc , or (BarlUmeni. zo Anlweres. parliament , to bring in the Service hookf into GODS ownc Houlc , upon the LORDS own Day, Which ma- keth it nothing ftrani;?-, that people zealous of ih&Trueihi^ and of the Servitcoi GOD, were itirrcci up, to oppofc: aiwJ "we arc rcry confident , that thcfc who oppoled., doc bcare as loyali rcfped to the Kings Majcftie, and will bee as loath to provoke hini to jull wiarh j a$ chcir O^^ofites are. Inthcmeane time, why doc ycc not acknowledge j that the children were higher provoked to wrath , by the TreUtei , whom ye account l^verend and Hoiy Eitbersl X. As the piefcrvation of our ownc private fojfcjfion, from /;;v-«/7o« of others, belongcth to-our felvcSs under the: Kings Troteciion y fo the keeping of GODS Houfe, From Pollution, and Superjiition, belongeth to ^/<^^or///r,to the Communitie of the Faithfully and to every one in his own Place,and Order. 5 • We roide y^u before, That we did no more allow risletices of that kinde, nor we did allow the foule AJper^onsoi 1{el>ellioti, Herefe, Schl/mfj and ^trjttt'it, put upon the Noble-irren, (and remnant Covenanters ) And where ye aske of -us » why ihi^ fe Tumults are nor publick- Iiebyus condemned, and rebuked? Wee aske againeof you, why ye did nor condemne and rebuke fuch dealings iince that is no leir; Tr-inf^ejfion , both againlt the fixt and' ninth Cjmmand^ th-inthe other^is sgainlt the iixt? ' And whereas ye are nowf'^ peremtoric, in drawing a ^eck" ration from us, anfwerable to that which ye have given concerning the forf^id ufjperfions and Cdumnits , wee having no Commijfion ^ to declare the mindcs of others in this point , or to gi\c!DoatMents , Tor our owne private judgemtnt, doe heartilie diflullow every W^row of that kinde. J{s for the Apoio^ie of Dodlor lohn Forhes of Cor/ey (ceing ih^ Wron^ hath becne doncnqt untofbmc few partidalar perfons, {uch a«yc(ay biavcbecnc wrongLd by fcrfii^ of^ the people ^ but imto the 'body of thc,lChig- domt,-conrr{HfJgfbf 2^Mt-rttM^ Smns^Scc. whparc liigh- fie ofJ^fidcd-tfjereby , it' wiere in iw ^fefiimptm ," and- ^ V. ., without Anlweres. 3 1 without the bounds of our Callings to take upon us to re- ceave any (Declaratioit of ihat kinde, efpecially wherein fo many -things ai:c.repiovablc;as iirlt,That his bitter fpeachcs wete pccalioncd by feme printed books^aifiiming that Bjjh fcopacie, and 'JPeart^ articlesy were antichriftian and abomina- ble: Suppofing it were tiuc, did hec think the TSlobUmerii and whole Covenanters^ lo bcc the Authors oi thofe booksf And was this dealing agreeable to that Cbrijlian mecknejje fo much requiied of us before ? The writers of thofe, printed books arc. not the hift whohavc jpoken fo: ^ox Majier jQiox fpared not, ( in a lettei of his ) to call this l{nceling,A diaholicallih'iJcntion. Secondly, The fivemnq of forhe, trance of the ^rdtife of I'carih Art'uUs, and the Caiijirmation pf the fiid 'DoUr'me.y which '\vce nciiheV.dc'ny^ ',nor affirme,.;?6,bec i^ii- ported in.-thc old Cvrcnar.t^ but only m t\\Q hterfrHailon rhercufi wee dtcLire, Th;u Prow//^ is only made fo /^r(^£> after his Ireniam: for which if hee make no better Apologie, than confefling yfjperitie of words, procee- ding from an holy indignation, it will come to palle of his A^iologie^ as it fared with his IreniiUmt unto which was appli'? cd fitlyj what was fpoken in the like cafe, AiitfihrHm forceps, aut an ignara fefelHty- \tfw^i volnib cuderCi cudit ifiv, « 6, Whereas ycc dciire us»*o doe tht lik.e,if yec meanc of us pcyfonalljr* Wcc have declared our judgement* and ihaU %i , Anlweres. ftiall be canefuU co approve our felvcs to God, and the con- (cicnccs of all men, in every fuch duetie: and if yee mcanc "US, and rhofe that fcnt us , wee fhall not faile to report un- to them what yee dcfire, alrhoughoiir Gommiflion from you had bicne the more acceprable,ifyee had fpoken more reverently of our ConfcfTion and Covenant, than yee have beenc pleafcd to doc, in the words of your defire, and had put your hand unto the Covenant^ which would prcfcntly have ioyned us in a greater Affection^ and made way f<3r uni- on in judgement, and perfccfl peace, which i$theiJfentingi\:omAuthoritie, j, The ScMddl of perjurie. Wcc anfwered. That the contra^erted words of the Covenant being rightly conceaved, and inter- preted according to theit true meaning, and nor after the gloirc which yee have put upon them, doe put you out of danger of all the three Scanhls , which yee (eeme to ac- knowledge of the firft two, and may by the like reafon ac- knowledge of the thirdj of Terjuric. Wee diipucc not of the lawfulncfTe of the Oath^ given at your MmiJ/Ionihy what Aitthoritie it was exacfledj with whafc'onicience it Was given, nor how yee can anfwcrc for the Scanclalhikn thert- upon: but conceiving it according to your grounds, none of you will (ay^ that yee have fvvorn th perpetmU Approbati- on and Trdiife of thefe things, which yee cflceme to bee in- different , whatfoever bad confcqucnt of Topcriey Idelatrie, Superfiition, or Scandall fhould follow thereupon : Wee fpcake here only of things indigent, in your owne judge- ment} for yee have declaredbeforc, that yee think the Mi- 'Tiijlration of the Sacrament in private places no mare indiffe^ remt: and therefore can not (orUare theprJiifeof thfe; al- thpughyour ordlnarie, and bther la^^ull ^n/wW/, fttoiild will Anfweresg 5$ will you to doc Co'y wherein femfh jfjjemhlie» for which yoa ftand is wronged by you two wayes. i. That yce difict in judgement from them * about the In^eremk of the five Articles : ^d next , that at the will of yout Ort&narie ,' Md wee know not what other law full St^mmvt » yce are rcadie to forbcare the pradifc of thcfe things which the "AJfemhlie hath appointed to bee obfctvcd. "What Oathes yee have given at your Aeimi0ion , we know not I becaufc there is no Orditumct made, CivilU or EcclefiaHickfi • appointing any (tich 04^^} and becaufc the f relates , who arrogated that power , prefcnted to the intrants diterfc models of Articles , to be {ublcribcd , dealing with fomc more hardlie , and with others more favourablie , accor* ding to their owne diverfe motives , and confiderationcs For fomc immcdiatlie after Teartb Ajjemblie , without any warrand from the Kirke or TarliainenP » were made to fweare at their Admiffion» that they fhould both in pri- vate and publickc maincaine Eflfcfulneffe and mU'^''ftdneJJe. We will not labour to reconcile every Oath given by Mini/hrs, at their entricwjth the prefent Covenmt\ but wifh, anJ exhort rajier, that they may be re- Cilled, and repented of, as thinges fpjp.wjliich they can noc anfwcrc before a GeneraU jflfemblie, T*^ the four tenth; IF the wordcs of the Cot-fw^w^ bee plains, concerning tic meere forberance, and fpcake nothing'of the unld^fnlnefe, no mans thoughts c^n make a change, i. By this l^ply yc wrong your iQ\'^s,$i in forging ftom the words of the Co- £ verum 54 Anfvvcrcs. vensnti imj^iimefttSy and drawing i?rt/w^//V hkckfs m your ownc y ajr, to hinder your *i»bfcription : ye wrong the Sub'* fcritfrt » in changing ths Putc of the quejihn , and in ma- king a divorce between 'iieligion and the /(/V;^/ Antboritie i . which, the Covf«befoi:c his Std>jeiis,m whofc mindcs yc wold begct^and brecde, yS^/Viow, cf •ppojing the Trmtkof maii/ig irmovt^tions of T^ltgiofiCy and of dealing veith hu fnbjecis\ contrary tokU laws 4ndTnclafttatmSi and contrary to the Onth at his Cor- »»^iV», Wc arc not hc!:e iecking ivfdtU K^n^fvyaof or ffar-- tUtghole ofi^orattct, or of the Imallcft difloycdtjoi affcUittHy but would willinglic decline that foe the prefent, which Bcither his Majeflics wifdome, nor the prudence o^ States- rne»y nor the modcftie of good Subject r, will allow you or us to diiputc. The Croivns and Scepters of kings , would be more tcnde.rlie touched » than the ordinatie fubjeds of ^cboole dijptitesi The naked naming, and bare prcpollill of cert^ns Sii^^ofitioiis, fuch (as fome are made by you) cannot but reflc-jc upon Anthcritiey and found hai fh in the cares of ail his Mdjeftifs good jCubje(3;s, who "w'lfhy that he m^y lon^ (md frofPerouJlyrei^e'^verHS. |. His Majcftics. »fo/^ honon- rable frivie Comfell, hath proven more favourable to this cMtfe Q^ maintaintHg the '^formed I^Ugion, than many Ta- fiorSiVihom by rcalon of their flacs and Callm^y it b Jeem&d to goe bctorc othersjifc although according to their wonted cuftome, they gave Vy?rtrr they willinglie rcfufed their ApprQ- lation thereof,hoping that his Majeftie fhould be moved to give greater fatisfa&on thereafter : and this is not our faying » but a ptthlickf doing» befor* many honorable wit- iielTes, of which number fome were directed unto you> whofe report ye haYe no reafon to call in queftion. 5 . It becommetb us^to judge charitably of the Intentions of ouf Si^er^si tt4 mo^ of olU of the Itsta^ms^ of oar dread So* Anfweres. 35 vem^* Yet if that hold good which the Supplicants have offred to prove, that the Service bool^» and Camnj containc 4reAll inmvatim of a^li^ion, we muft judge otherwife , de tonditione operk, of the matters contained in the boo(^, than da intentime operantity of his Majefties intention,ikhou^ the iw- tent ion o( the !Prelats,:ind their ^ociatcs^thc Authors and Coff trivers of the ^ookft be moft jnftly fufpeded by uf . j. It is no delight to us, and can be but /mall comfitn to you, to mention the Veron^s, which by you are done to us all who have joined in this Covenant, and do adhere to the 1(elipion as it was reformed in this Land , in your eftimation and ■writings, wc are rebellions^ perjuredy heretick/y fchifmaticks, lliade guides^ fednceis, mifcnhle interpreters , ipiormts : fhall fuch men as thclc be your '^verend brethren: Is this your meekrieffe and ckxritie'i Is this the duetie ye expedt from \xs? But ietting thef:: a(>de, ye have wronged ■ us, in with-hol- ding your hand and helpe from io good a Caufe, of fining l^li^ion, & refcrrning the J(irj, from fo many grofle Jtbu- fes , and oppofmg all thole who have modeftlic Ubeu- redfor Information. Your (peaches in private, in your cham- hi\s btdsof fickneflc^and in your mi(fives,and in publick:»a.t tables, and in 4>w^^j which are come to our knjwlcdj^e: we wifli rather fhould be remembrcd, and repented of, by your fclves, than be recited by us^ who dcfirc not to work« you any trouble. 6. Although there be a pcr^etuall harmonie between the W^qr^and the Works oiCO^Di farrc contrarie to that which wc finde to be amongft the children of men, yet often it commeth to palfe , that the WordmA Warnings of CO^y which wc hearc with our cares? are notbelci- ved, till webchold with our eyes , the plaine Commentaries thereof, in his Works. Many f roofs, and notable ^Documents^ tavc Scene obfcrved of the JF/w^/r of G02), in the Workf in hand, the Chara^ers of the gseat Works of GODS, more than ordinarje Providence < fince the beginning , are legible here. Then did the LO^ be^n this work, when i^zAdvtrfisty was raiiifid Eo a great bight » aad become iV toUsriblis^ ^6 Anfweres* tollershly infolent. The bcginingcs were Ifliall, and in the eyes ci the world, contcmpiible, fnch as uft to be the be- ginnings not of the works of men, bucof the magnijuk works of GO®: the power of G 2) fcnfible in the hearts of many, and maniftfted by the joy, the tearci andcrycs of many ihoufands, at tbefolemne renewing of thit Covenant • hath becnc a matter of aclmiratioft and amax.ement» never to be forgotten* to many wife and ancient lP4/l warming their owne breafts; ihc j}lots, and workings of the Ad^rfarie , have wrought againft their owne fProjeHst and have ierved for our endes % more than all that have becne thought* or done by our felves, that we may juftly fay , what they de- vifed, for cvill, the LORD hath turned to good ; many thoufands coiiVccncd, diverfs times, in one place, have becne kept in iiich order and quictnes, without the (mall eft trouble in fuch (bberneflc and remperancc,without exccllc ocriotj that hardly can Hijlorie furnifh a Taralell: and what eflfc^t there bee alreadie throughout the LW, of Tietie \t\^cme/hick.tt>Qr/hip, in obit r\ing /'/; and fhall bee excmplaric to the fojteritie, Thefe wte prefent unto you,and unto all, as a Csmmenta' rie^ Written by rhe Lords owne hand: wifhing againc, that neither yee nor others bee found fighting againft GO