SIR John ELIOT HIS GRAVE AND LEARNED SPEECH Spoken in the High Court of PARLIAMENT. Desiring an orderly Proceeding in Matters of Religion, and that it may not be only disputed of, but firmly established, as it ought to be. Expressing the Misprision and error, whereby his Majesty is traduced by evil Members about him. And the great danger of over-whelming that we were in, by the Bishop's Articles, and their Proceedings. Exhorting to maintain our King, Country and Religion, even with the sword against all Opposers. With a Motion propounded, for laying down of the Grounds, wherein the Arminians and we differ.   

SIR JOHN ELIOT HIS Grave and Learned Speech in Parliament.  
I Have always observed in the proceedings of this House, that our best advantage is in order, and I was very glad, when that noble Gentleman, my countryman, gave occasion to stay our proceedings; for I fear, it would have carried us into a sea of confusion, and disorder, i having now occasion to present to you in this great & weighty matter of Religion: I shall be bold to give you a short expression of mine own affection, and in that order, that I hope will conduce to the effecting of our work, and direct our labour to an end.  
To enter into a particular discussion of the writing of the opinion of the Divines, I fear, it will involve us into a Labyrinth, we shall hardly get out, and perchance, hinder the way, and darken the path, in which we must tread. Before we know what other men have declared, it is necessary we should presently lay down what is the truth. And, as I presume, we come not hither now to dispute of religion, far be it from the thoughts of this church, that have thus long continued, and confessed now to dispute. Shall posterity think, that we have enjoyed our Religion fourscore years almost, and are now doubtful of the sense? God forbid. It may be, Sir, out of something lately delivered, I have not unnecessarily collected, that there is a jealousy conceived, as if we went to deal in matters of Faith; it is our profession: this is not to be disputed; neither will that truth be receded from this long time held, nor is that truth decayed. It is confirmed by Parliament, because it was truth. And in this, before i shall come to deliver myself more particularly, give me leave, that have not yet spoken in this great cause, to give some apprehensions that i have of few; for it is not in the Parliament to make a new religion, nor i hope shall it be in any to alter the body of that truth we now profess. I must confess, Sir, among all the fears we have contracte●, there ariseth to me not one of the least dangers in the Declaration, which is made & published in his majesty's name.  
And yet notwithstanding this Conclusion exclusively, let me say, that I may not be mistaken, that either in that, or other things shall appear to carry mention of his Majesty. We have not the least jealousy in him, we have that comfort in his piety and goodness, as if there be any misprision or 〈…〉 is by those Ministers about him, which not only 〈◊〉 but all Princes are subject unto. And to clear that Princes are subject to misinformation, and many actions may be entitled to their own names, when there is no suspicion of it to be done by themselves: but give me leave to look back to precedents of other times, and what I find in other stories, may be useful in these.  
Antiochus of Asia sent Letters unto his Provinces, if they received any dispatches in his name, not agreeable to Justice, Ignoto se literus esse scriptas, ideoque non parerent, I find by Plutarch of the great King Antiochus of Asia, who saith, that Princes are obnoxious to abuses of Ministers, and it could not at all times be prevented: therefore he sent Messengers, that Letters, or Dispatches sent in his name, that were not warrantable by Law, and agreeable to Justice, should not be conceived to be done by him, and therefore they should not give way unto it.  
Sir, I find another book, and I beseech you, let it be apprehended; for I hope I shall clear some misprisions. Gratian did not only note and confess the same, but added the reason also, which the Masters of the civil Law can also testify, from their books wherein it is thus expressed, Quod inveretundia potentium in instigation●, principes saepe restringuntur ut non concedenda concedant; because that oftentimes with importunity of Ministers, & those about them, Princes are drawn to grant things not fit to be granted. As it was in that, so it may be in this, I speak it to this end, to draw this conclusion; that if there be any thing that carries the title of his Majesty, it may be the fault of his Ministers: far be it from me to have any suspicion of him.  
And now to that particular, in the Declaration, wherein I confess, it is an apprehension of more fear, than I have in all the rest; for in the rest of the particulars, we heard what was said of popery and Arminianism. It is true, our faith and religion is in danger, but it is by degrees. Here, Sir like an inundation doth break in at once, that we are in danger to be ruined & overwhelmed.  
For I beseech you, mark the ground of our religion, it is contained in the body of these Articles. If there be any difference of opinion concerning the sense and interpretation, the Bithops & Clergy in the Convocation, have power admitted them to do any thing that shall concern the continuance, & maintenance of the truth professed, which truth being contained in these Articles, and these being different in the sense: so as if there be any dispute about it, it is in them to order which way they please: and for aught I know, to Popery, or Arminianism, may be a sense introduced by them, and then it must be received.  
Is this a slight thing, that the power of religion must be drawn to the persons of these men? I honour their profession, and honour the persons; but give me leave to say the truth, what we profess, is not men's but Gods: And God forbid, man should be judge of that truth. Look upon the conclusion they have made, and from thence i draw their Arguments. I remember a Character I have seen in a Dyary of Edw. the 6. that young Prince of famous memory, wherein he doth express the condition of the Bishops and Clergy of his time, and saith under his own hand-writing; that some for sloth, some for age, some for ignorance, some for luxury, and some for Popery, were unfit for Discipline and Government.  
Sir, I would it were not so with us, nay give me leave to vindicate the honour of those men, that openly show their hearts to the truth. There have been Bishops, such who were fit to be made examples to all ages, who have shone in virtue like those two faithful witnesses in heaven, of whom we may use that Elegy, which Seneca did of Cami●s that to their memory and merits, Ne hoc quidem obstet, quod nostris temporibus nati sunt. To whose glory, I may use the saying, others faults are no prejudice to their virtue, who are so industrious in their works. But that ours now, are not such, so free, sound, & Orthodox in religion, as they should be: witness the man nominated lately. I apprehend such fear, that should it be in their power, we may be in danger to have our religion overthrown: but I give this for testimony. And thus far to express my religion, against all the power or opposition of these men, or whatsoever opposition shall be, we shall still maintain that religion we profess, for that we have been born and bred in, nay if cause be, in that to die. Some of these, Sir, are Masters of Ceremonies, and they labour to introduce new Ceremonies into the Church, I hope we should draw our swords, to defend our Prince, Country, and religion, against all Opposers.  
This I speak out of the care I have to preserve the honour of our King against them, who by these Innovations, I fear, have fought to undermine it.  
But to come to the manner and method of our proceeding, having made this expression: wherein if I have transgressed the rule propounded, I crave your pardon. I desire to avoid confusion, and distraction, and that we may go presently to the ground of our Religion, and lay down that rule, wherein all others rest; and when that is done, it will be time to take into consideration the Breakers and Offenders against this rule in the next place; for before we have laid down that, our work will be in vain.  
Therefore lay down the profession wherein we differ from Arminianism, and in that I shall be ready to deliver my opinion.  
And this is my humble Motion.  
FINIS.