. 0tU. SCB /077LS I •>v ^1$$$$1%WW% 94 $ & * w ^ 1 1 Imprinted at Edinburgh by Robert Young, Printer to the K f N G S mod excellent Maiestie. CVM challenged in writ- ing to have done that [ which God doth know never entred into my thoughts; and for any thing the anfwerers did or do know, never came into my minde. And though by the law of challenges, they having challenged me, I may choofe the weapons ( which certainly (h uld have been in another kind, had the challengers been of another profeflion) yet being men of fo holy a function , 1 have thought good to make choyce of their own weapons ; and by my pen to do out that blot, which they by their pen have laid upon me. And I have thought it fie to do it in a fcedule Indeed to this book ( which for that caufe onely I have caufed to be here reprinted ) that where mens minds perhaps miy be poyfoned by fwallowing in untrueth in theiranfwers,fo deeply wounding my honour and loyaltie; this antidote might be ready a: hand to cure thsmjbefore ctiey fhouid be fully taiated with it : As likewife A* fuppofiig [ 1 fuppofing that if they fhould be printed feverally; many might meet with their anfwers alone, which might leave in them a bad impreffion of me ; if they (hould not be attended with this juft and trueexpreffion of mine. The injuries wherewith I am violated by the three anfwer- crs,are of two forts rone of them ftriks mealone3as his Sacred MAJESTIES h "ghCommiffioner; The other wounds me a$ hisMAIESTIESCounfellour- and with me all of that ho- nourable boord. The former is this* They deliver affirmatively, That theDeclaration which they tendered me of their late Covenant, was fuch as [accepted, and was well pleafed with. And this they fet down twice for failing : In their anfwer to the firfl Demand towards the end , and in their anfwer to the third Demand a little before the middle of it : And that with fuch confidence , as truly I cannot with any juftice blame the reader for beleeving of it, nv hen it fell from the pens of thefe men , whofe profrffion is ihe teaching of trueth. But Ifhall defirethe readers tofufFer themfelves (nor- withftanding the prejudice of thefe mensperfons) tobeun. deceived by a plain averment of ttuetb. I am confident none of thefe three anfwerers ever heard me fay fb3 nor will they lay they did. If the y but heard it from others (which I do verily beleeve they did not > and fhalldofoftill, till they avouch their authors) furenoman can choofe but miffc in them that civill prudence,which will not allow any defcreet man to affirm that of any other- much leffe of a perfon of my qualitie,and at this time of my place- the foundation whereof (hall be fo frail and flippcrie , as re- port, which is alwayes uncertain, and moft times falfe. For clearing the trueth,! do ayerre upon mine Honour that I) never ftever faid Co J never thought fo. And though that thatDeda* ratio was much bettered by the induftry of fome well atfefled (from what was firft incended)yet it gave me not fatista&ion: and I dare boldly sffirmj never faid it would give my Matter the Kings M AIESTY any. My juftificrs in this (hall be thefe Noblemen, Gentlemen,& others to whom I ever fpok,either publickly , or in private. I was indeed content to catch ata- ny thing /could, when I could not obtain what I would: as being wiling ro do my Countrey.men that refpeft, as to the utmoft of my p-Mverto recommend to my gracious Mufter^ with all favourable conftru&ion, even that which I then thought, and did know fell fhort of juft and home fatisfa&U tNoristhereanv^ound Oil. t AndherC, IdoCOnfrffe, 1 Can- for their opinion oir my ac- not charge it for a fault le miltake upoa ceptationof thatdcciarati- fa rcacjeis 0f thefe afTeverations of the on , unlefle they call recci- r ,c . n_ t i i r ving, accepting* andthat three anf werers , it they ihould before was^notiiimypoweitore- cjjjj my declaration , conceive that his for^uVo^ofrfuppUc^ M AIESTY were in all probabilitie like tion, and fo tendered to me, to reft fatisfied with that declaration of Ste^c^S ^e Covenant i having it delivered to to receive the petitions of ail them from men whom they have in all his good andioyaiifubj.cis. this bbfi ies beleeved as much as them. felv^s, that his M A t ES T 1 ESCori.iniflbner, who in all likelihood did know his MAIEST1ES mindebeft, did reft fatisfied wirhir. But his M AIESTY hath juft reafon to charge me, if thefe affeverations were true* as i have good reafon to vindicate my fdf\ they bei-g not true The trueth is, if thefe alTcvera* *P>ns betrue, I do profeiTL to the vvhole world, that his MA- IESTY hath a m>o!t juft caufe to dircharge himfelf of mer and my fcrvice, and to difchaige me of all truft in this, or Aj any C ] ny other negotiation. For I profeffe , that I knowing his M A I E S T 1 E S conftant miflikc of the faid Covenant, ic muft bewray in me, either breach of truft, or want of judge- meat; Iflihould go about to make either my felf, or the world bdieve, that my Matter could receive fatisfa&ion by fuch an explanation. And here I cannot diflemble , but mufl: ask leave to vent my felf thus far. Had thefe wrongs been put upon me by the pens of other men, and not of thefe whofe profeffions [ am forward and willing to beleeve ( becaufe I would have it fo ) will not fuffer them to embrace wilfull and malicious defignes : I fhould juftly have doubted , that there had been fome men in this Kingdom, who being afraid of a fetling and peaceable conclufion of this bufines, had gone about to raife in my royall and gracious M;fter a jealoufie of my flacknefs in my King and Countries fervice, thatfol might be called bzcVse infecta. If any fuch enemies there be to the peace of this miferable diftra&ed Church and State, I befeech God in time to difco« ver them, and that all may end, in covering them with fliame and confufion. The fumme of all I will fay of this perfonall wrong offered to my felf, is this: If thefe reverend and learn- ed Gentlemen, the Anfwerers, in thefe untrue afperfions in* tended any harm to me, I (hall onlynow requite them with a caft of their own calling^ pray God forgive them. If they in- tended me no harm , then I do expeft that they will give my felf and the world fatisfa&io.in clearing me that I gave them no ground for thefe their afTeverations. And fo being confidec of his M AlES TIES goodnefle to all his Minifters ; among the reft, to the meaneftof them, myfelf, efpecially in this particular, that he will never be fluken in the opinion of my loyal t 3 loyal and conttant fervice, upon fuch flight, light, afld groundleffe reports. I will fay no more of that firft point. ' For that which concerneth my felf as a Counfcllour, and the reft of that honourable boord , averred by the three an-; fwerersjn their anfwers to the third and fourteenth Deroadj I do here proteft befor almighty God,that none of the allega- tions alledged by the three anfwerers,nor any petition given me by the (upplicants. moved me to give way, that the order of che Counlell table (hould not paflfc inro an a& : for I did then, and do now avow , that I then was , and now am fully fatisfiedwith his MAIESTIES mod gracious declaration; and thar in my opinion all ought to have thought them* fclves fufficiently freed from fears of innovations. But the truereafon was this, I was fo tenderly affediioned towards the peace of my Countrey ? that /gave way to thar, which many of honourable qualitie aflfurcd me, if it were not done^ a prefent rupture might follow, and foconflquently them, ine of this Kingdom ; which /was refolvcdto keep off fo long as polfibly / could, retaining my fidelitie to my Mafter. Which care of mine / find but flenderlie requited, when it is made an argument topetfvvadehis MAIEST1ES goodfub- je<5b to do that which is fo difpleafng to him , and fo unfafe for them. And yet even in this paflage, it would have been expc&aJ from men of that prof effi on , that nothing (hould have pafled but undoubted trueth. In which point too they have failed, either as / hope by a m i (taking, or a mif-informs ing. For the Miffive once though: fit to be fent to his MA- 1ES T Y was never rent, but remaineth yet as it was ; and we did nor fend it. becaufe we did not think, thanks to his M A*] 1EST Y would be feafonable in the name of the whole Kingi «jom,when we knew his MAIES1 Y, by thelaft proceedings C 1 bfmany,ahd proteftations made againft his royall declara? tion ( pretended in the name of the whole countrey ) could aot receive fatisfa&ion. To conclude, not wichftanding this perfonall wrong off - red to me his M A I E S T I E S high Commiflionerk 1 will carefully, cheerfully, and conftantly goon with this great bufines, wherewith he hath intruded me Which as I pray GOD that it may profper under my hands : fo I praife God that he hath given mefocheerfull and willirga .leai*crogo on in it; thanf my life could procure th£ peace of this tome Church and K\ gdome , to the contentme nt of my royall Ma(ter,ar>dcomfortof hjsdt(ha v5' "Sr <2& *£& »3B' «2f5» || GENERAL!, DEMANDS, |J •$& Concerning the Late g|fe I COVENANT, 1" t$&ig Propounded by the Minifters and cj^ j!S Profefforsof Divinity 'in ABERDENE: Jt" **?!pa To fome Reverend Brethren , who came thicher cs^fr ^|?g to recommend the late Covenant to them, and ££^a to thore who are committed to their charge: (^ J TOGETHER ^tiP* With the Jnfweres of thofe reverend ^# ■59|S- Brethren to the faid Demands : c^ «K: • ' ' As^lfo \ %g? i$j* The T{eplyesoi the forefayd Mini- ^ i^j> flers & I'rofeffors to their Jnfweres. ^ ^ i.Pet. 5. i5.i(5c ^ ■^j^S SanBife the LORD GOD in your hearts, and be readie ££$$• g££to alwayes to give an anfwere to every man that asketh Cjg&j, you a reafon of the ho^e that is inyou, with weeklies ~j^ ■WSS) and fe are : , <&?? vl&g> Having* good Confciencey that whereas they fpeak* evil Cf&fo jc£a °fy°H\ m of evil l doers , they may be afhamed that 2?T^ •^ya faljlie accxfe your good convcrfation in CHRIST. cw*0 JS ABERDENE, &j» "^6 Reprmtedby John Forbes, Anno Dom."\66i. tf|B? fffffifffffififff General! GENE R ALL DEMANDS, Concermni the late Covenant : Together with Jnfxveres to thenr, and Replies to thofc Jnjweres. The "First Demand. >Y what Power, or Warrand,thefe our Reverend Bre- thren cm Cure of us, or of our People^ ubfcripti on to this late Covenant ;not being fent by his M aje s t y, or by the Lords of Counfell , nor by anie Na- tionall Synode of this Kingdomc , nor by any Judi- catoric eftablifhed ink? And,how they can enforce upon us, or upon our People , who are no wayes fubject unto them, their Interpretation of the Articles of the Negative Confejfion ? In refpect whereof, as alfo in refpect of that Band of mutuall Defence a^ainft all perfons what-fo-evcr, this late Covenant is fubftantiallie different, from that which was fubferibed by the Ki n g and his Sub- jects, Anna 1580, and 1 581. W An s were'.1 EE are not come hither ,fo nfurpe the Anthmtle of art] Civill or SflritHfiH Judicatories or to enforce upon our A z Reverend 4 Gtene'rali; Demands* Reverend Brethren, and the People committed to their Charge , the fubfeription of the late Covenant , or the Interpretation of the Ar~ tides of that ConfeflTion which is called Negative, or what-flo-ever elfe of that kynde: But arefent, to reprefent unto them,in all humility , the prefent Cafe and Condition of this Kirke *»d Kingdoms, crying for help at their handes alfo : and, in Br other lie Cove, to exhort, and intreat, that they mil be pleafed, to contribute their be fl Endeavour sy for extinguishing the common Combnflion, which by joining with almofl . the whole IQrke and Kingdom, in the Lace Covemnr, we trufi they may lawfully doe, without prejudice to the King's Makefile, or to any lawfull Judicatory, or to that Confeflion of Faith above mentioned : Since the found Interpretation and Application thereof, to the Errours of our Times, can makj no fubflantiall change, and the Band of Mu- tuall Defence, wherein we obliedge our f elves, to defend the true Reli- gion, and the King's Majeflies Perjon, and Authorities againfi all ferfons whatfoever, is joined, at firfl, with the Confelfton of Faith. Lyke as his Majeflies Commff loner objecting, That our Covenant was fusfeU, to be an unlawful I Combination againft Author itie, and to be the main hinder ance of obtaining our de fires , hath accepted, and wM well pleafed with our Declaration; bearing, That we have folemnlie fworne,To the uttermoft of our power, with our Means and Lives, to fiard to the defence of the King's Maje fly ,^9/GOD'S Vice-Ce- rent, fet over nsyfor the maintenance of Religion , and miniflratim efJuilicQ. li 5 V L Y. V" V"E have> R^erend Brethren , diffidently confidered and exa.- mined your Anfweres to our Demandes,by which we expect- ed full farisfaaion ro all our Scruples and doubts concerning the late Covenant : Bur truelie, 111 Modeftie and Brotherlie Love, we tell you, that your Anfweres ( what-fo-ever y ou thinke of them your felves ) iiavc not given us that fatisfa&ion which we expected. We know that fome who rafhly condetnne every thing which is faid or written contrary to the caufe which they roaincaine,wili boldly fay of us,thac we An^were s and Rehve^s' 5 wehaveclofed our eyes ag a inft acleareand ingyring Light: But firft, we fay with Job,Onr wltnejfe is in Heavenyandonr recr/de is on high. That LORD who only feeth the fecrets of hearts, knoweth, that we love His Trueth, and are ready Co foone as it fhall befhown unto us, to embrace and profeffe ir before the World. Next , we appeale to the Consciences of all imparciall Readers, who {hall have occafion to weygh and coniider maturelie the weight of our Arguments, and of thele Anfweres which it hath pleafed you to give us : wifhing them, yea , molt humblie and earneftly intreating them , to judge both of your writtings and ours, without prejudice , or any partiall refpect. Yea, we are confident , that ye alfo, or whofe love to the Trueth of GOD we are perfwaded , will after better advyfement , and more jnarure confederation of the matters debated , acknowledge, that we are not againft the Trueth , but for it. The LORD open your eyes, that you may clearly fee, that Trueth for which we It and. WEe objected to you, Reverend Brethren ,that you had not a Cal- ling to urge us to the fubfcription of the late Corjemnt} from anie ac- knowledged Authority, or lawfull Judicatorie.eftablifhed in this Church or Kingdome : to which Objection ye anfwere not here par- ticulate, as we expec-led. And whereas you fay, That you are come to exhort us, and our People, in all humilitie, to joyne with you; how is it, that without our content, and againlt our will, nr't having law- full Authority which you feeme here not to acclaime to your f elves, you have publicklie preached to our People,within our Congregation? which is a thing repugnant to thofc places of Scripture , in the which the Spirit of GOD recommendeth to Elders, or Pallors, the care of thofe Flockes, Over which the h^Iy Ghoft hath made them over[eers1 AJs 20. 28. 1 . Pet. 5. 2 as alio telleth us, That the Pallors whom the Flocke muiikpw, and to whom they mult fetbmit thcmfelves, doe watch over the Sonic s of that Flocks and mnft give account for them, i.l hejfal. 5.12. Hebr. 1 3. 17. It is alfo contrane to the lawes of the Chriltian Church in all ages. For by the ancient Canons f Paftors a re commanded, tocontaine themfelves within the limire? of their own Cha/ge; and not to prelume to exercife Paftorall Office B in an 6 General! D e m a rf d sw in another Paftors Dioceffe, or Parioch,without leave : As alfo,rkey forbid Paftors, to receive ro Divine Service,anie man of another Pa- riochin, that cornmeth in contempt of his own Paftor. Concll. Nicen. I. Oecnm.i. Can. 16. Coned. 2. Oecum%Conftantinop. Can. 2. Condi, Cart hag. 2. Can. 11. Condi. Cart hag. 3. Can. 20. Condi, (halced. Oecum. 4. Can. 1 3. Condi. Nicen. 2. Can. 10. Condi. Trlbar. Can. 28. Condi. Nannet. Cap. 1. & 2. f 2. We did not without reafon fay, That you , and o[hers of your Confederation, enforce your In- terpretation of the Negative Confeffion upon others; feeing we heare, that fome Paftors and Prelates are forced ro flee toforraygne Coun- treyes, for fear of their lives, becaufe they have refufed the faid /#- terpretation;md thole who hive flayed in the Counrrey, dare fcarce- iie appear in the high wayes, or ftreets, and are threatned,rhat rheir Stipends {hall not be payed unto- them , untill they fubferive your Covenant, f 5. Whereas you doe in Brotherly love exhort, and en- treat us,to contribute our bd\ endeavours forextinguiihing the com- mon Combuftion, we prayfing GOD, for your pious zeale , and for the lovingneffe and modefty of your fpeeches, (wherein, by GOD'S help, we ihall labour to keep correfpondence with youj that both we and you may (hew our felvres,to have learned of CHRIST,^^. nejfe^ and lowl'wejfe of heart ) we moft willingly promife to doe io, by all means which our confeiences will permit us to ufe , as alfo to joine our moft humble and hearty Prayers with yours , that it may pleafe GOD in this dangerous exigent, to doe good in His good plea- sure,to om S\on , and to buildeupthe vpaltsofourJerHfalem. f 4. We may juftly fay, that this new 'Covenant is fubftantially different from the Old, which was made Anno 1581. in refpeS it not onlic containeth that Old Covenant, or Confejfion, which was allowed by two Generall Affemblics, but alfo your interpretation of it, which, as yet, hath no fuch Authorities Approbation, f 5. No Band of Mu- tuall Defence, Againfi all perfons what-fo-ever, is cxpreffed in the Covenant made 1581. And alt ho it were, yet the cafe is very unlike: For Subjects may make fuch a Covenant of Muruall Defence, by Arnfies, with the confent of the King, who only, under GOD , hath the power of Armes, or of the Sword, in this Kingdome. But they who made this late Covenant , had not his confenr, as that former or olde Answer e s and R a p lyes.' 7 olde Covenant had : which is a thing fo evident, that no man can call it in queftion. j- 6. As tor thac which you affirme here, that my Lord Commitfioner his Grace was well fatisfied with your Declaration, it becommeth not us, to pry narrowlie into his Graces doings : but rruely we have more then reafon , ro pry moft narrowlie into the words of a Covenant, which is offered unto us, to be fworne, and fub- ferybed, left we abute, and prophane the Sacred Name of GOD,and tye our felves ro the doing of any thing which is difpleaftng unto him. Laft of all; whereas yc deli re us, to joyne our felves to you , and to the reft of your Confederacie , who are ( as you affirm e ) almofi the whole Church and ICingdome, truely we cannot but reverence fucha multitude of our Reverend Brethren, and deare Countrey-men, and are ready to be followers of them, info farre as they are followers of CHRIS T : Buc neithet can we doe any thing agaynfi the 7 rueth, nei- ther can we attribute fo much Authoritie to their multitude^ other- wife we would, in refpedt there hath been fo much dealing for Sub- fcrlytions, in a 1 quarters of this Kingdome, and fo manie havebeene rbreatned, to give their content, as we are moft credibly informed. The Second Demand. \ Whether or no we ought tofubferyve theforefaid Covenant, fee- ing all Covenants of mucuall Defence, by force of Armes, made a- mongft Subjects of any degree, upon whatfoever colour or pretence, without the King's Majeflie or his Succcftbures privitie and con- fent, are expreflie forbidden by King James of blelYcd Memorie, and rhe three Eftares of this Kingdome, in the Parliament holden ^t Linlithgow, Anns 1585? Answer e,1 The A3 of Parliament forbiddeth in the firfi part , Leagues and Bands of maintenance privilie madejuch as are called Bands of Mar.- rent, as the aci in Queen Maries time } to which it hath relation, doeth 8 Generall D b m a n d £ od or bad i which made King J AMES of happy memory to take %for an undoubted maxime, ihat pro ans & focis, & pro pa- ne patriae, the whole body of the Common-wealth frcnld ftirre at onse : not any more as divided member s^ but as one confolicUte lump*. Reply el In that fecond pare of that Aa of Parliament holden at Lwlkhgo, 'Anno 1585. are forbidden, All Leagues or Bands of Mutual! De- fect which are made without the privltle and confent of the KING, under the paw to he holden and execute as movers of {edition and un- ci wtnth Uc Wherefore we can no wayes thmte, that any B ands or Lead's of 'Mutuall Defence , by force ofArmes, are there per- mittel ("that is, not forbidden ) feeing firtt the words of the Act are fo "overall, for in it are difcharged All Bands made among Sub- letts of any decree, upon any colour whatever, mthotthu Highnes, or his Succe fours, pnvhie and confent had and obtained thereunto. Ne v All fuch Bands are declared to be Seditious, and percurtmive of the publicke Peace of the Realme: or, which is all one are ap- pointed to be etteemed lo. And therefore we can not fee how any Bands of that kynde can be excepted , as 2 they were nor feditious. 2 We doubt nodbut the late Covenant being confidered,accordmg to the tiiaifte intention of thofe Piov.s uad Generous oent le-men Bar- ron, and others pur dear Countrey men, who ^'^""^ crend Brethren of the holy Mwittcry, a aC«^ made with A NSWERE S and R.BPLYES. $ GOD, and proceeding from a zealous refpeft to GOD His Glory, and to the preservation of the puritie of the Goipell in this Church and Kingdome : But we cannot finde a Warrand in our Conicicnces, to granc, thar iuch Covenant sy in to farre as they import mutuall De- fence, agAivft all persons what-fo-evcr, none being excepted, no, noc the Kin g, ( as it feemeth unto us, by the words of y out Covenant, but farre more by the words of your late Froteflationjhz 28 of ;jW; Wherein you promife, mutuall Defence, againfi all cxternall or inter- wall Invasion , menaced in his Majefties laft Proclamation ) are not forbidden by any Band, norjuftlie yet can be forbidden. For, firft, fit have already fhpwne, that they are forbidden in the forefaid A& of Parliament, Anno 1585. 2. NoWarrefare; and confequentlie, noCovtnanty importing Warrefare, is lawfull, without juft Aurhori- tie, which, we are perfwaded, is only in the fupreame Magiftrate, and ■and in thofe who have power and employment from him , to take Armes : Yea, fo farre as we know , alt moderate men , who duely refpect Authoride , will fay, that it is fo in all Kmgdomes, and Mo- narchies, property jo called : ( Of which nature is this his Majefties moil Ancient Kmgdome , ) And, that it is altogether unlawfull to Subjects in luch Kingdomes,to take Armes againft their Prince. For which caufe, that famous and moft learned Doctor Rivet usy in a late Treadle called Jefuita vapulans, fpeaking of the judgement of Bu- cbannan, and others, who taught, that Subjects might take Armes a- gainft their Prince, in extraordinary Cafes, and extreame dangers, of .the Religion, and Common-wealth, profefleth firft ., that he,and all other Proteftants^ condemne fuch doctrine. Secondly \ That this Er- xour did proceed from a miftaking of the Governement of the Sco- tilliKingdome^s if it were not truely & properly monarchical. Third- Ij That the raihnefs oc tho e wrytters,is to be afcrybed partlie to the hard and perilous times of persecution, wherein they lived, and part- . lie Scotcrum prafervido ingenio , et ad audendtim prompto. Thus he • wryrerh in the 1 3. Chap, of the laid Booke, Pag. 274. and 275. anl'wcring to the recrimination of a Jefuk, who had affirmed, that B ichannan, Knox, and Goodman, had written as boldlie, for the Re- bellion of Subje&s againft Princes, as any of their Order at any time had done. A thing much to be noted by us at this time, left we any . 10 Generall Demand s* more give that advantage to Jefultes , to make Apologie for their rebellious Doctrines and Pn&ifes. 3. Not only making of Cove- nants, but alfo all other actions , are to be efteemed and judged of, firft, by the equine of the fubjeft , and matter ; then, by the ende; For if the matter pactioned ( that is, which the parries mutualiie doe pro&iie) be juftlie forbidden, by a lavvfull Authorities andconfe- cjuentlie be unlawfull in it fclfe; then the goodnefle of the ende, or proje£t,can not make the paction^or Covenant, to be good, or lawfuM, The Third Demand. If it. be alleadged, that in extream and moft dangerous cafes,fucfe A&s of Parliament may be contraveened, Q*antur, wherher there be now fuch extream eafe, feeing we have his Majeftie, in his former Proclamations, avowing, protcfting, declaring, and in this laft Pro- clamation taking God to witnelTe, that he never intended any Inno- vation of Religion; and alio feeing He hath removed already all that which made men feare Novations, to wit , Service Booke, Booke of Canons,and the alleadged exorbitance of the new high Commiffiom Answere. If the removing of the Service Booke, Booke of Canons, and the limitation of the vafi power of the high Commiflion , contaynlngfo mHch(u^erjlltlon,ani tyrrannle of V relate 5, be a benefit e to this Kirks and K'ngdome, we ought, under GOD, to afcrjbe the fame to the f eat- able MeettlngSy humble Supplications , and religious Covenanting of the Subjetts; which have (riven information to his Majeflie, and. have procured from his ju(llce and goodneffe, fo great favour, as Is thank? faille acknowledged In the laft Protection : which doeth alfo^ exprejfe the many particulars, wherein his Majesties late Proclamation is not fatlsfaUorie. And therefore, the Lords of his Ma e Hies PrlvleCoun- fell , upon the Supplication and Complaint of his Lledges , were m*ved to refdnd the Aft of the Approbation {of the forefald Procla- mation, ANswEREsand Replyes 1? ke,zx\d other things which occafioned the prefent perturbation of our Church; nor yet whether or not his Mvjefties Proclamation rmy give full fa- risfadion no all the feares and doubts of his Subje&s. For o'.r felves, weBrofeffe, that upon his Ma;efties Dechntion, and eracidlwPro-. mife contained in his MajeftLs laft Proclamation, we believe, firft, that his Majefiie never Intended Innovation In Relgion : SecondLr^ rhit he will maintain the true Protest ant Religion, all the dayes of his life : which we pray GOD to continue long. Thirdly, that all A&es made in favours of the Servlce-Bookc, &c. are difcharged. Fourthly that he will never urge the receiving of thtService B * ok Bwk^of Can- nons 8cc. or anle other thing of that Nature, but byf:ch a fair e and le~ gal wa)',06jhallfatisfie all his Subjects. And thence We doecolle£t\thar which we affirmed beforc,to wit,that ther is no fuch extraordinary op extream cafe,as might give occafion to Subjects to make fuch aBand, as is directly forbidden by the roreiaid Act ot Parliamen^and to con- traveane it in fuch a manner, as may feem to- import: a refilling of Authoritie by force of ArrrflSS. The Fourth Demand. [ Concerning that Interpretation of the Negative ConfefTion , which is urged upon us,& wherin the Articles of/V*rf/?,&Epiicopacy arc declared to be abjured, as well as all the points of Popery, yvhkh are iz General! Demands] It are therein e: , of Perju- rie; and thatbecaule they had violated the Oath made Anno 1 581. in the which thofe Articles (as you alleadge) were abjured. But perhaps you will lay to us, that wee thmke thofe things not to be ab- jured in that Oath made Anno 1 58 1. and therefore wee may fweart and fubferive your late Covenant; and, not-with-ftanding of our Oatk and Subfcription, be tyedonely to the Forbearance of thepra&ife o£ P earth Articles for a time. We aniwere , firft : The words of an Oatfa ihould be cleare, and plain : or, if they be any wives ambigu* oi:s, the true fenleof them ihould be fo declared , ano manifefted, that all may know it. 2. An Oath is to be given, according to the rainde and judgement of him that requireth it. And therefore,feeirg. you who require this Oath of us, thmke the Rites or Ceremonies con- cluded at P earth, to be abjured in that Oath made Anno 1 58 1. how can we iweare and fubcrive your Covenant yw\\\ch reneweth the fore- faid Oath, and bindeth us to it ? $. It* we ihould Iweare, and fub- ferive the Negative Confeffun , as it is included in your Covenant ; then ye, who thinke the Arcicles of Peart h to be objured, and con- demned in the Negative Confejfion, will thinke us tyed, by our own Perfonall Oath, to condemne the Articles of Peart h. 4. Seeing this Covenant was penned by you, who have hitherto not conformed your idvzs to Pearth Aflcmblie, and haveoppofed P>fifcopacyy and feeing you all condemn Epi[copacy,i& if it were that Popijh or wicked H/*rrfrf£jr,mentioned in the Negative ConfeJfiQ\z$ alfo elteeme the. thinges concluded in P earth Aft emblie,to be Idolatrou4yoi Super ft i- riW,how can we thinke,that you in your lolemne vow made to God, for reformation of this Church, and refitting, in times to come,the Novations & Corruptions of it, have parted by thefe things,which are the onely Novations already introcuced by Authority , and from which, as you affirme, the Church hath fo great need to be purged :. chiefly,feeing ye think them zsPopijh Superflitions &• /do/at rnu#$ ye doe thefe other Novaticns^vhkh are not as yet introduced. 5. If in aU your Supplications, Plaints, and Protections, ye nave orelie fought t6 G^ncrall Demands*, fought the removing and difcharging of the Service Book? , Book/ o£ Catiorjf>and the new high Commitfion, not complaining of any other Novations ; and feeing his Majeftie hath difcharged the firft two, & hath promifed to redifie the third, or laft of them; Then, what rea- fon have ye to thinke, that his Majefty hath not fatisfied your Suppli- cations? For, all the Novations, upon which you complained, are re- moved by his Majeftie , and ye have his Princely Promife, that no furcher iliall be urged upon us, but by fuch a fairc and Legall way, as may fatisfieall his Subjects. 6. As for that which your Covenant,, by your own Confetfion , requireth of us, to wir, The forbearance, f.ni abftinence, for a time, from the yrattifing the Articles of Peartk; We profcfle fincerelie, and in the fight of GOD,trut our Confcience' will not futfer us, to fubfcrive that part of your Covenant ; and that becaule Lawes being ftanding for them, and our lawfull Superioures requyring Obedience from us, by pra&ifing them, to fweare For be a* ranee of the praflije of themes to fweare Vij obedience, and, to wrong their Authority. 7. How can we, with a good Confcience, abftaine prefenly from private Baptilme, and private Communion, being re- quyred thereunto by ficke perfons,and thofe Parents whofe Children cannot be carried to the Church commodiouflie with their lives; fee- ing we thinke it a thing very unlawfull, in fuch cafes, to refufe to ad- mintftrate thofe Sacraments in private houfes. Not that we thinke, that GOD hath tyed Himfelf, or His Grace, to the Sacraments; buc becaufe He hath tyed us unto them, by His Precept : and, not to ufe the means appoyntedby GOD, when our People, or their Children ftand in need of them, is a contempt of the meanes, and a tempting of G O D. The Fifth Demand. Whether or no we can fincerely , and with a good Confcience, fubfcrive the Negative Confetfion, as it is expounded and interpre- ted by the Contryvers or Authors of the late Covenant, feeing it ma- ke :h i pex^pKiall Law concerning the extcmall Rites of the Church, which G O D hath not made, as if theie IUtes were unchangeable > And to Answer e s' and Ri.t'^is] 17 And how they who both fweire the pofitive Confetfion, and the ne- gative, thus interpreted, candchew contradiction, fecingthepc.fi- tive Confeifion, Chap. 1 1 . evidently declareth , that thefe Rites are changable , according to the exigencie oi time ; and confequenrly, that no perpctuall Law may or ought to be made concerning them? Likewife, we would know, how it can ftand with trueth, to abjure all thefe Rites, as Popiih, which are ufed in the Church, without divyne inftitution, exprefled in GOD'S Word ; feeing even thefe who urge the Covenant, pracHe fome Ceremonies which are not mentioned in GOD'S Word,as the Celebration of Marriage belore the Church, in the beginning, or at the end of divyne Service , with all the parti- culars of it, and the ttipulation of Fathers and God-fathers , for the Childe in Biptifme, which are not meere circumftances, as they ufe cc diftinguifli, but alfo Ceremonies, properlie fo called ? Answer R r The late Covenant maketh not a perpetual! Law t oncer rung the ex* ternall Kites of the Kirks, as If they were mchangable : but, a* we have fayde before, onlle bindeth its, for a tyme, to for be are the praciife of Innovations already introduced , and doth not determine whether they ought to be changed, or not. i. According to this true Interpret tation, all appearance *f ' ontradloiion betwixt the Con^eiTicn of Faith infert in the Alt of Parliament, and the Utter ConfeJ]lon,is removed, be fide that the Article 2 1 of the Confeifion of Faith , giveth power to the K'rke, in matters of ext email PAicie, and order of the Worfhip of COD, is expounded in the fir ll B>£ the Church , as if they were unchangable, All partes of this Argu- ment are fure : for by your lace Covenant , you profeffe your f elves bound, to keepe the forefaid Nationall Oath ( as you call it ) invio- lable : and xhixOath, or Covenant , bindeth us , to continue In the obedience not only of the Dottrine, but alfo of the Difcipline of this Kirks. Where by the Difcipline of the Kirke, ye underltand ( as ye hive'ln all your wry tings profeffed, e(pecialie of late, in your Booke intituled, A difpttte, agaihfi the Englifh Popifh Ceremonies. Tart. ^. Gap. 80 Sett. 6. ) the whole externall Policie of the Church , asic Was at that tyme; to wit, Anno 1 58.1. Yea, youconfefl'e, that no 0- tp.er thing can be underttood by The Difcipline of the Kirke, but that which we have faid already ;and confequently we (hall be tyed by that Oath which you requyre of us , to admit and pra&ife no other Rites and Ceremonies, but fuch as were then received in our Church. Wc qii no. wayes paffe by thts,feeing everfince the AlVeinblie of Peart k9 iy your pubiicke Sermons, and printed Bookes, ye have mod vehe- mently accufed us of Perjury, as violating the Oat h, or Covenant , ande-4*w 1 5 8 1. and that in refp:6t we have admitted into the- Church Answeres and R. e i lv e 5 j 5, Church, fome Rites, or Ceremonies, which were not in it the forefaid yeare of GOD. Is not this to make a pcrpetuall Law , concerning chcexrernall Rites of theChirch, as if they were unchangeable, and to abjure the pnctife of all Rites introduced in the Church fince true time; and consequently the pra&ife of the Articles of Pearth, and that no: for a time onelie, but for ever ? 3. Seeing the Negatlvs Confejfiontz<:cot3\r\j to your minde , and conception of it, maketh the whole exremalfPolicie of the Church, as it was ^00 1581.10 be unchangable and onthecomrarie , the Confeffion infert into the A&s o: Parliament, declareth , that the Rites belonging, to the ex- ternall Pohcie of the Church, are changable ; how can you elcape a Contradiction , if ye receive both thefe Confeflions ? 4. Whereas by thac diftin&ion mentioned in your Aniwere, of things necefliary to beohferved, and of things variable in particular Congregations, ye indnuate that by xht Keeping of the Dlfapllne of the Kirk? ** it wa* then, to which we are bound in che old Covenant , ye underftand the obfervation of thofe things which are neceflary to be obferved in e- very Kirke, and not of thinges variable in particular Congregations: We aske, Into which of the Members of this diftin&ion ye refcrre Eplfcopade and the Articles of Pearth } that is, whether they moffc neceffarilie be. omitted in all Churches,and at all times, or not ? If ye fay, thac they mult be neceffanlie omitted, and that the Negative Confejfion, confirmed with an Oath , doth tye us to the omitfion of them; then both ye would make us tofweare, and fubferive againft our Confciences, ( for we are perf waded , thac thefe things are law- full ) as alfo ye would make us to abjure Eplfcopacj, and the Articles ctPearth, in perpetHHMiwhich is flatlie contrary to your Declaration in your Anfweres, 1. 5. &c. If you fay on the other part, that we are- »ot tyed by the negative Confejfion, to the omiflion of thefe things;, then, why have ye, in all your wrytings againft us, exprobrate to us, Terjarle, in violating of the Oath contayned in the negative Confef- fion ? 5. We would gladly have known your minde, concerning the- lawfulnefleofluch&7« as are not of divyne Inftitution, exprdied in G O D'S Word. For we ingenuoufly profeffe, that none of your Anfweres ( which hitherto we have feen ) to the Inftances , or Ex- amples, brought by us, in our fife Demand fit Rites ufed by your feives, in your 20 General 1 D e m a n d ** in your Churches, as lawful!, without divyne Inftitution, (to which we could adde many moe ) doe give us any iatisfaction : nor yet, a* we thinke, can give fatisfaction to any indifferent man. As tor ex* ample; \sBle fling of ' Marriages ^ meere circumftance ? who can be fo impudent, as to fay to ? or, if it be a Ceremony, what precept or pra£ife have ye of it in GOD'S whole word? If it be alleadged, that we have a warrandfrom that Blefling pronounced Gen. i. 28. upon Man and Woman,after their creation; we aske, by what confequence can that Solemnitie of ble fling of Marriages iiied in our Churches, with all the Ceremonies of it , be dr.wn from that effe&uall and o* perative Bleffing of our firft Parents, or rather of whole Man-kynde? Is there here an inftitution of a perpercuall obfervance, or Rite , to be ufed in the Church, more then in the 22 verfe of the fame Chapter, when GOD bleffed the Fowles,and Fifties,andfaid, Be fifth fnlLand ?tmltiflieyan The Sixth Demand* Whether or no it be fit to fubferive fuch an Interpretation , as ift matters of lawf ullnefle, and unlawtulneiie; and confequently in mar- ters of Faith, contradicted the Judgement of io many Divines, moft famous oi the reformed Church, both Ancient and Modern , ( who did, and doe holde, that thefe Rites and Ordinances brought into this Church by the Aflemblieof Peart hy are in their own narufe lawfotl, and fuch as ought not to make a ftirre in the Church of G O D ) and alfa condemned the venerable pracMe of the Ancient Chu ch , and the moft erihricjtt Lights of it,even in thofe putcft times, unto which We apeale againft the Paptits in our DuputeS. AnsvveRb* Answer es and RepTyes.1 21 Answer e. We tr ttfty that no found D'vyne, Ancient it Modcme, would In this >€afe denje the exfedienc'e of the forbearance of the fraBife of Pearth Articles, And further then this7 nothing at this tyme is required, T{eplye: Yourfilcnce,in not anfwering that which we affirmed , concer- ning rhe judgement or Divynes, Ancient and Moderne, of the refor- med Church, ancnt the lawfulneffe of the Rites and Ordinances, which were received in our Church, ;by the ordinance of the Affem- blie o? Pearth; as alfo concerning the judgement and pra&ifeof the ancient Church;doeth make us thinke,that ye acknowledge the trueth ©f that which we affirmed there. 2. We have already (howne, that the Oath which ye requyre of us, importeth more then the forbea- rance of the practile of Peart h Articles, for a tyme. 2. The forbea- rance of iome of them, feemeth to us , to be meerly unlawfull , and contrary to that Paftorall duetie we owe to our Flocke. 4. The for- bearance of any of them, confidered with a relation to the Authority enjoyning them, in our judgement, is plaine dilobedience, Tkefetfpenth Demand. Whether it be agreable to Charitie or Pietie, to requyre u$ to ab- jure thefe Rites as Popifh ; which in the ftneerirte of our hearrs, fol- lowing the light of our Conscience, ( whereof we take G OD to wic- neffe ) we have hitherto pradifed, as lawfull, and laudablie following the fame lighr, doe yet pra&ife them > but fuppofe this might be re- quyrcd of us by any; Quaritur, Whether or no it becommeth them foperemptorilie, and uponfuch a fuddentie, to urge us to this, who thefe by-gone twenty yeares, have defired eamertly to enjoy rhe 15 freedomc f» Generall Dem a n d s* freedome of their Confciences in their Minifterie, even in denying obedience to thefe things, and landing Lawes for them ; and when they were urged to obedience, did fo often proteft, and earneftly re- quert, that they might have a tyme , to be well enformed , and im- turelie advyfed of the m-atrer , which to the moft part of them was moft gracioufiy granted? Let them, therefore , looke to that natu- ral! Maxime^ Quod tlbi 'fieri non vps^ alteri nefeceris , and to our Sa- viour's Precept of the fame fenfe , and almoft of the fame wordeS) Matth. J.verfe 12. Answer^ We hope> that fitch a Forbearance of the fraUife^ wiUfrejndge the libertie of no mans Confcience, 'Reptyel It would much prejudge our Confciences, to fweare and fubferive the negative Confejfton , taking it according to your conception and • meaning, who requyre our Oath. 2. How can we fweare, to labmr^ (by all means larffttllyHs'yQ require in your Covenant ) to expell thofe r hinges, whe reof we holde fome to be neceffary , and all the reit, ta be lawful}, and laudable ? The Eight Demand. Whether it be fitting to fweare to defend the Kings Perfon and Authority, with this Limitation , In the defence and prefervatiov of the true Religion, Lawes^and Libertiesyof this Kingdome ? As if their Persons ougGc not to be defended. again!* all Enemies,aithough as y e£ -rhey embraced not the Trueth : or having-befor^ embraced it, yec . fajfcq Izm its- or as if tfaeir ftoyall Authority were not to be acknowledged* A 5 s w fi b h s and Reply 23 acknowledged, although commanding rhinges unlawfully and as if wc were not fubjeft thereto, in yeelding to fufter under them , when we give not active obedience to them ? A N S \V E RE, l. The Anfwere of the fir ft Demand, may give fat isfatlisn here, T% The Specification of the defending the Kings Per f on and Authorities in the defence of the true Religion, Lawes, and Liberties of the King- dome, is warranted by the Confejfion ratified m Parliament , by other A.h of Parliament, by the other Confejfion, and by the ger.erall Bund joyned with it. 3 . No man will with-holde his Subfcription from the Covenant, iecdnfe it dnh not, as it intendeth not , toexprejfe event duetie we owe to the Kings Majesiiei as if the not naming^ were a de- nying of the duetie t Repfy. What ye have replyed in your Anfwere to our firit Demand, we have examined, in our Confutation of your Anfwere. 2. If ye ccn- fider well all the Circumftances of the making of your Covenant, ye will finde that it had not been amille, at this time , to have expref- fed more fullie the Loyakie of your Intentions , to maintaine the KINGS Perfon and Honour. Next, it is neceffarie to expreffe it yet more ful!y,for our caufe, whom ye require, to fweare & fubferive your Covenant; left we doe any thing, in this matter , with a doubl- ing Confcience, ( which is a grievous finne ) that is, Doubting whe- ther or no wc are tyed by our Oath, to maintain the K I N G S Aur -thoriry, onelie in to farre, as it is imployed in the Defence of the forefaid true Religion, or,at left,as it is not imployed againlt ir. Fc : it feemcth to us unlawfull, to fweare the maintenance of the KINGS Authority with this limitation precifely. And if ye be of 2 contrary mynde, we are moft willing to confere with you of this poinr. the 2i Generall Dema n r> si The ninth Demand* Whechere or no we can fincerely fweare to maintalne the Au- thorny, cruelie and properlie Monarchicall of the King ; and withall Iweare alfo difobedience to theie Articles , which are authorized by his (landing Lawes , and to maintaine the meanett of his Sub;e6teS againft him, in their difobedience of his Lawes, as yet Itanding in vi- gour concerning thefe thinges ? Answer e7 !• The Anfvvere to the firft Demand, is ufefulitiere alfoj K Forbearance of Pracfciie,/^ nW, infucha cafe^ is rather Obedi- ence . then Difobedience : for example^ Kneelling was thought cotu venlenty becaufe allmemorie »f Superftltion was pafty fhotild it not therefore be forborne, becaufe Superftition is now revived^ and fla~ errant ? They who pratt'fe, keep the letter of the Lavf : bnt they whi forbeare^ keep the life and reafon thereof* ifyto e* Your Covenant requireth more of us, then the forbearance of the pra&ife oiP earth Articles, as we have often times declared. 2. We have alfo fhowne , that the forbearance of Obedience, to (landing Lawes, without licience of Superiours , and com nrie to their com- aiandement, efpecially if it be done by deliberation, and if mentyc thsmfelves, by an Oath, to do fo$ is maniteft Difobedience. 3. The Article of Peart h, anent Kneeling, was not grounded onelie, nor yet principally, upon that Narrative which ye mention i but rather upon the convenience and decencie of thegeftrre of Kneeling, in the re- ceiving of the holie SACRAMENT: which teaion doeth yet con- tinue; as alfo the other reaibn which ye mention , holdeth yet : for the bodie of the People of this Chutch, vVere never Papists ; and, confequently, Answeres and Repl t £ 2 5 tonfequently, have no memorieof Popifh Superflition, as thofewh* lived in time of Reformation. 4. We can not fee, nor conceive, how a Vow and Band, of maintaining the meanelt Subject of this Kingdom, againft all perfons whatfoever; and confequently, againft the KING himfelf, as we have (howne in our lecond R eplye, in dif- ebedience of his Lawes, can confift with that love, reverence, and fubjection, which we owe to our KING. Neither have ye brought any thing in your Anfwere, to fatisfic us in this point. And beaufe ye allcadge, as we heare, chat ye are miftaken in this poinr, and doe vindicate your felves , by thole words of the Covenant , wherein ye promife to maintain the KINGS Authority ; we pray you to expreffe your mindc more fully, concerning it; and to fliowe us, 1 . What ye meane by mantaining the KINGS Authoriry, in that part of your Co- venant, wherein ye expreffe your loyall Intention , To maintain the KINGS Pen'on and Authority; and in fpeciall , Whether or no the maintaining of the KI N G S Authoritie,be taken by you, as it exclu- cleth all refilling of his Authority, by force of Armes, even although he iliould command thinges unlawfull, and contrarie to theTrueth? For fo we thinke it fliould be taken : and that it fhould be fo taken, •we are ready to demonstrate. Neither can wefweareit in anie other fenfe. 2. Whether your promife , of mutual! defence, In the fame taufe of maintaining the trut Religion, and his Majesties Authori- ty, &c. ought to be underftood, of the maintaining the Kings Autho- rity abfolutelie : that is , Whether he maintaine the true 'Religion, or no ? Or, on the contrarie; if it ought to be underftood, of the main- taining the Kings Authority conditionally , in fo fan e a* he maintaineth the true Religion, and not any other wayes ? If you fay , that it is to be underftoode the flrft way, we affent to that pare of your Covenant^ and have no more fcruple anencic, except that one , which we men- tioned in our Reply to your fecond Anfwere : to wit, that the words of your Proteftation, feemeto import more; and, that your Paftion, or Covenant, is made without the Kings privitie, and confent. If ye fay, that it is to be underftood the fecond way, then we continue urging ourforefiid Demand : to wit , how a man cau maintaine the Kings Authority, and withall maintaine the meaneft of His Subjects, in refusing His Authority ? And how we can be f aid, to (hnd for the G Kings 26 Generall Dema n d £] Kings Honour, when we vowe and promife, to doe that which hce himlelfe profefleth to be a^ainft his Honour; and which, in the com- mon judgement of men, is thought to be fo ? The determination of this point, is more then neceflary, at this tyme : and, therefore, let us in finceritie, and Brotherly love, conferre of it; that the Confcien- ces of others who doubt of this, may receive fatisfa&ion. The Tenth Demand. Whether or no we ought to fweare to fuch a Covenant, which taketh away from us all hope of a free Aflemblie , or Parliament, to judge of the matteres prefently debated? for how can thefe vote freely of any matter propounded to the decifion and deliberation of the Church and Eftate ; who have already fwcrne to adheere to one pare of the Qneftion ? and how can thofe who diffent from them, fubmit themfelves to their judgement, chiefly feeing they are Pof- felfoures, and have Lawcs Civill and Ecclefiaitick , landing as yet for them? Answere, We perceive, that this tenth Demand, U made of the Articles of Pearth; therefore we anfwere as before ; That we promife onelj for- bearance^ which can prejudge no mans liberty m a Generall Affembly, We have iliowne , that your Covenant and Oath> importeth a manifeft Abjuration of the Articles of Pearth : and therefore, the •"wearing 4of it doeth manifeftly prejudge the liberty of Voting in a Natlonall Ajfembly : For, how can they freely either reafon in an Affembly, concerning Eplfcopacy, and the Articles of Peart hi or die, give their judgement, without prejudice, concerning them who have A n s were s and Replie b. 27 b.wc already promifed,fworne,and vowed, firft, To adhcere to the Vifcipl'wc of the Klrkj : that is, ( according to your Interpretation ) to the while external I poilcie of the Churchy as it was 1 5 8 1. 2. 7* labour, by all meanes lawfully to remove, and ex fell, all thofe Rites , and Ordinances, which have come into the Church fence the forefaid Tear of GOD; that the Church may be restored, to the Liberty, and Purity y wh'ch it then had. Whereby ye declare , that the forefaid Articles and Epifcopacy, are contrary to the Liberty, and Purity, of the Church; and conf.^cjuently, ye are tyed, by your Oat h, to vote a- gainft them, if ye be called to the intended Assemblie. The eleventh Demand* Whether our fubferiving, together with our People, to the Con- feflion of this Nation, which is ratified and regift rated in Parliamer, Ann. 1567. may give full fatisf a&ion to all who doubt of the fin- cericy of our Profeffion, if fobe they have no fanner aime, but only to know and fee our willingnefle, and conftant refoiution, to adheere to the Religion prefently profefled, and to oppofe all Erroures con- trary to it, to our lives end ? Now,feeing we are willing to doe this, as we take GOD to witneffe, we are, how are we hated, maligned, and traduced as Enemies of theTrueth, only becaufe our Conicien- ces doe not furfer us to fubferive to that Interpretation of the Nega- tive Confeflion infert in the Covenant , ( concerning which we can fee no warrand of the trueth of it, nor lawfull Authority binding us to it ) and to the Politicke,or rather Military part of that Covenant, which is a thing without the compaffe of our Calling, and not be- longing to thu conrending for the faith once delivered to the Saints, of which S. Jude fpeaketh in his Epiftle. A N S W E R E, f Slncrno other meane could be found fo effettuall, for holding out *f Poperie, and forbearing of danger on* Novations in Religion, fucb 1 as the 2% Generali D e m a n d S as the Service Booke, and Canons, which as yet are onelie dif charge dy till in a faire and legall way they may be introduced ; and are by n* word of the late Proclamation dif allowed- although the Service Book, by the Proclamation, February 19. bt highlie fraifed^ as ferving to c- difcationyand to beat oat all Superftition: and nothing in thisAfphca- tion is abjured, but what was abjured in the former \ why jhall we fo- be are t& ufe ameane fo juft, andfo powerfully for the preservation of the furitie of Religion > .■& Here ye doe not pafricularlie anfvVere to our Demand, and feeffl unwilling to give that Teftimony of us. Your Brethren, concerning our fincerity in profeffing of the Trueth; which , all who know and judge unpartially of us, doe thinke to be due to us. It is f ufficit nrlie knowne, what paines we take, in difputing and writing againft Fa* fifts, in confuting their Erroures in our Pulpits , in leading procefTe againft them, according to the Order of the Church, and in doing|all thinges againft Romifh erroures , which can be expected from the moft zealous Proreflbures of the trueth. If ye , or anie other of our reverend Brethren, doubt of the fincerity of our Profefliori,then pofc us concerning any Article contra verted, and we ftiali be moft rea- dy to declare our minde concerning it before all men, and give a fuf- ficient proofe to the worlde, that we have pryed as narrowlie into the mifteries of Romifh Erroures, for refutation of them, as any of thofe who impiouQy, and uncharttablie traduce us, as favourers of Pope- iie. 2. We have other means, more erFe£luall,and lawfull, (whereas vve thinke this your Meane to be unlawf ull ) for holding out of Pope- rie : and in which we ought to confide more, then in all the promi- fes and vovves of men; yea, alfo, more then in all the United Forces of ail the Subjects oi this Land : to wit, diligent preaching, and tea- ching of the Word, frequent Prayer to GOD, humbling of our felvs before him,amendement of our livcs,and converfations,and arming our felves againft our Adverfaries, by diligent fearching of the Scrip- cures, and ufwg all other Means, wnereby we may encreafe in the knowledge A n s w e r i s and Replye £ '20 knowledge of the Trueth, and in ability, to defend it againft the ene- mies of it. 3 . The Subjects of this Kingdom, at lealt a great pare of them, either by their own inclination , or by the pcrfwaiion of o- thers, have fuch an hard conceit of the Service Books , and Canons, that if his Majeftieufea faire and legal! way of bringing them into this Church, efpecially fuch a way, as may give fatisfac~tion to all his Subje£ls,in all appearace,we need not to fear the in bringing of them. The Twelfth Demand* Whereas we heare of diverfe Diforders,and violent mifcariages, ttf thofe who have iubferived the Covenant, againft our Brethren of the holie Minittrie, who continue in their obedience to the Lawes of the Church and Kingdome ; which milcariages being done without all form of Juftice,or legall proceedings re an exercifing of Revenge, by private Authority,and confequently are forbidden in the fixt com- mandemenr -, which is one of the reafons which moveth us, not to joyne our felves unto their focietie : we would gladely therefore know of our reverend Brethren, who have come hither , to recom- mend the late Covenant unto us; firft, whether or no they doe allowe thefc diforders ? 2. If they allowe them, what reafon have they fo to doe ? and if they allow them not, how is it, that thefe Diforders and mifcarriages, are not publickly by them, and other Paitors of their Confederacies condemned , and iharplie rebuked in their Pulpits ? Why are the Actors of them not tryed, and cenfured > And why doe they delay to give out lome pubiickeDeclarationjeither in Print or writ, to this effect, being long (ince exhorted to doe fo ? Answere, 1 . Uardlie can a zealous' people afembled in a Kirke for the f+'or- frip of GOD, be kept front tHnnltjvhen Bookes%and a ft'orjhip which they either k»owy or conceive to be Pcpifh , are fuddenlie , and impc- Yivijl c obtruded Hfon them by the Leaders : and how fane the fcyrp- H ing 3d General 1 DemandsJ ing of the material I Kirkcs from the pollution of fVorjhip> belongeth t$ the People , and communitie of he Faithfall , fhonld be considered, i. Violence done in other place j, And upon other occaftonsy we no more AlloWythenvpc doe approve the afperfiotts of Perjtirky Rebellion, &c,\ vphichfome men doe put upon ns. Rep lye. It belongeth not to the People, or community of the Faithfull, to contemne Authority, and the LORDS Service, done in his owns, houfe, on his owne Day, f o farre as to put violent hands in Prelates, and Paltors, in time of Divyne Worihip, while they are practicing thofe things which are enjoined by the King, and his Counfell. Such Diforders,and contemptuous carriages, doe not befeem thofe whom CHRIST inviteth to come to him, and to learn of him, meeknefle, and lowlinefle of heart; chiefly, feeing there are many other wayes, whereby People may teftifie their averfation of thofe Books s > and JVorfhipy which they conceive to be Popifh „ If it be a finne in Pa- rents, to provoke their Children to wrath ; much more is it a finne in Children, to provoke their Parents, efpecially Patrem PatrU> the common Father of the Countrey, fo to wrath. 2. The keeping of GODS houfe,from the pollution of Worfhip,belongeth to thofe who are cloathed with lawf ull Authority. 3 . We not onely asked of you, Whether or no ye did allovve the Mifcarriages towards our Brethren 0': the holy Miniftery, mentioned in our Demand } but alfo, fuppo- fmg that ye doe not allovve them, we asked , How is it , that thofe Diforders, and Mifcarriages, are not publicklie by you condemned; and rebuked ? Why are the Actors of them not tryed, and cenfur- ed ? And why doe ye not give fome publick Document to the world, of your averfation of fuch Mifcarriages ? chieflie, feeing they are, as we have fhowne , a manifeft tranfgreflion of the (ixt Commande- menr. We can not fufficiently marvell, that ye have keept up your myndes in this matter, and not anfwered to fo important , and ne- celft rie a Demand. As for your Complaint,of Perjure and Rebel- lion, &c. if ye mean the Warning lately written to the Subjects in S-coilandy ye ilullknowe, that the Author thereof himfelfe is much difpleafed" A n.s w e r " e s and Re p I V e s^. 31 difpleafed with any offenfive afperitie , which hath becnc found in fome written Copies thereof, and hath already done that, for remo- ving of that offence : which, we hope, (hall give full fatisfaftion to all men. The Thirteenth Demand. Hew can wc fubferive that Covenant , without incurring many grievous Scandals; as firft, theScandall of Diflenting from oihcr re- formed Churches, and famous Divynes , thechiefe Internments of the Reformation of the Church in E u r o p e , who did hold thefe Rites which are abjured in this hit Covenant , as meerly unlawfull, PopinS, and Idolatrous, to be in their own nature, lawful!. Second- ly, the fcandall of diflenting from Antiquitie, and vilipending it al- together in matters of the externailPolicie of the Church; which we know, and have found by frequent experience, to be a thing that ma- keth manie Papifts more averfe from our Profeflion, then otberwife rhey would be. Thirdly, the fcandall of Perjurie , which fome of us can not efcape, who did (weare obedience to the Arciclcs o£Pearth3 and to our orcknarie, at our Admillion to the Miniltrie, Answer e.' That threefold fcandall ceaffeth upon the right* interpretation, oftht tUnfe of the forbearance of the Novations already introdnctd. We have fliown your interpretatio of the daufe of forbearance,noc to be righr, and have refuted it,wc thinke, by the very wordes of your Covenant; fo that none of thefe three fcandalls can be efchewed by us, if we fubferive to your forefaid Covenant. 2, Suppofe the other two might be efchewed , by that interpretation of the daufe of forbea- rance. 5 ^ Crcncrall Demands. ranee, yet the third can not be efchewed , feeing at our Adrniflion vve have fvvorne obedience to the Articles of Pearth, and to our Or- dinarie : Wherefore, ye muft either prove the Articles of Pearth, and Epifcypacjy to be unlawfull, or elfe, we can not,without violation of our Oath, made at our Admiflion , forebeare the pracYife of the forefaid Articles, againft the will of our Ordinarieaand ether our law-, full Superioures. The Fourteenth Demand. Laft of all 5 We pray thefe Reverend and Worthy Brethren, to e^nfider impartially, and charitably, feeing vve have all thefe fcruples in our minds concerning theirCovenant,as alfo feeing vve are yet moft confident, and aflured, of the lawfulnefie of t he Articles of Peart h, together with thelawfulnefle and venerable Antiquitie of Epifcopall Government, how we can, with a fafe Conference, give our content that they fhould preach in our Pulpits,who come profefledly to with- draw our People from that which we in the inmoft thoughts of our foules doe embrace as lawfull,* and from that obedience which they doe owe to their Gracious and Pious Soveraigne therein; Whofc lafi Proclamation hath given full iatisfaclion to us all, and much rejoic- ed our hearts, in refpec* he hath therein moft folemnly , and by his Oath declared, not onely his fincericy in proofing the Trueth, but alfo his pious Refolution,, to continue therein, and maintaine it con- fhntly to his lives end,moli gracioufly and wifelie removing thefe things which have occafioned the late perturbation of our Church. We wifti them like wife, to confider, how they can requyre this of us, feeing they would not ( we appeale their own Conferences ) be content that they lliould befo dealt with themfelves; we meane, that any fhonld goe up to their Pulpits, and condemne their Do- ctrine, and practife, and with-dravv their People from that which hath been before recommended unto them as frueth. We conclude : Exhorting earneftlie, enrreating lovingly, and Charging modHlly, thefe, and ail others , ov.r Reverend Brethren, before Afcs -weiTes and Replve^ 35 Before GOD, and the LORD JESUS CHRIST , who (hall judge chc quicke and the dead at his appearing in his Kingdom, if the re be any confolation in CHRIST , if any comfort of love, if any f cllow- ftip of the Spirit,if any bowells of mercies, to looke narrowlie to their •wn Consciences, in tnefe weighty matters; remembring that of J e - remiah, The heart is deceit full above all things,and defferatly wie- kjd, who can kpdw it : To judge charitably of us their Brethren; re- membering that of our Saviour, Judge not ; that ye be not judged: To deale with us in love and meekneile, ( it* fo be they thinke us to have gone aftray from the Truech; which, GOD knoweth , we no waves doe perceive ) remembering that of S. Paul, If a man be c- vertaken In a fault, ye that are spiritual, re ft ore fuck a one with the Spirit ofmeeknejfe ; as alfo that of S. Jamb s , The wifdome that is from Above, is first Jure, then peaceable , gentle, and eafie to be en* treated', full of mercy, and good fruits, &c. And laft of all, Tofeek Peace,and fo to follow after it; that this our deare native Count rey be notexpofed to a dangerous Warrefare , and to all the wofull Confe- quents thereof; of which our hearts can not thinke, without tremr bling and horrour. £* SWERE, \. Nothing in the Interpretation of the Covenant, against the law* fulnejfe of Pearth Articles, and of Epifcopall Government. 2. We never intended to draw the meaneft of the Subjects, from that Loyalty ef Obedience, which they owe to their Soveraigne, and ours. 3. The Counfell hath refcinded the Approbation of that Proclamation. 4. His Majesties Religious and Righteous Difpofition, hath been to us a Ground, and chief e Argument , of our hope of the hearing of all our Petitions. 5. We have no dejire to wrong our Reverend and wort hie Brethren; but rather to pajfe , in(ilence, the wrongs which we have fuflainedby them: and would approve our f elves unto our GOD, and frovc faithful in the imployments put upon us: earnestly defrr'mg,that every eye may perceive the wonderfull worke of G O D in this Land : {eft any of rnhf^upd fighting againft GOD; and7 that Ml of hs may I jimp 54 General! I> e m a k »$. ;o/W /7^4r^ 4;; J Handy for the Purity and Peace of the Kirfo of LORD JESUS CHRIST, BUJftd for ever. ^%6 ) "" USi ALEXANDER HENDERSON, Minifter at Lenchars. Mr. DAVID DICKSON, Minifterat Irving. Mr. ANDREW CANT, MinifteratP*/^/^ There is too much, as' we thinke, in your Covenant , againi* rhe lawfullneile of Peart h Articles. 2. Your Band' of Mmuall De~ fence , againft all perfons whatfoever , may draw Subjects, perhaps, to cake Ames -againlt their King, ( which GOD avert ) and con- fequently from tfnt Loyalty of Obedience y which they owe to their Soveraignc, and ours; except ye declare, & explaineyourielves bet- ter, then ye have htther-to done. 3. What the molt honourable. Lords of His Ma jetties Privy Counfell , have done concerning the- Kings Majefties laft Proclamation , is not fuflficiently known tOiis, and farre lefle upon what Grounds and Motives they have ( as you fay ) refcinded their Approbation of the late Proclamation. 4. Hi* Majeftics Religious and Righteous Difpofition , hath been to ls, and is,a maine ground wherefore we reft and relye upon his gracious Pro* damation, perlwading our felves , that he intendeth not, nor never intended, any' Innovation in Religion. 5. We fliall labour, by all m^anes, to eichew every thing, which in the 1 &li degree may wrong you, our Reverend and worthy Brethren. As for the Wrongs al- ready done by us to you, ( as yee pretend ) when4o-ever it fliatt pleafs f A H heres and Repl i e s. | $ pleife you to fpecifie them, we hope to give you full fatisfacYion, and to cleare our ielves of that Imputation. 6. The workc of G O D towards any Nation, how ftrange and wonderful! fo-ever it feem to be, is never contrary to his Word : and, therefore, we feare not to be found fighting againft GODS Worke , fo long as we fight not a- gainit his Truech, revealed in his Word. That all-feeing LORD knoweth, that we mentaine his Truech according t o the light of our Confciences , and are ready to joyne Heart ana Hand with you, for the Purity and Peace of this Chur;h, in every hwfull way,& COUEfe, as fincere lovers of Trueth and Peace, And now, Brethren, before we conclude, againe we entreat you^ and all orhers our dcare Countrey-men , efpecially our reverend Bretheren of the holy Miniftrie,ro judge charitablie of us, and of out proceedings at this time ; and in parcicubr, of thefe 01 rDemandes, and Replyes; which, G O D is oi:r vvicnefle, neither hatred of any mans person, nor love of Contention, nor any worldly refpedl ; buc only the Confcience of our Calling hath drawn from us. And as for our Arguments for not Subfcrivii 4Q3i 2S , 2$ 9$ *$ S& if: eart, and [ought Him with their whole -2_» m> ^^^^^yw^^^^^SX^Sc^S^^^^X^^ihSS To the Chriftian Reader; T Hat y 911 may krtovf our Trocee dings, hove we are brought up&& . the Stage , and contrary to our expiration, Are put in Print* Comming ^Aberd^ne^w Fry day, the after-noon, we recei- ved the Demands of our reverend Brethren, that night late; and for the greater expedition; without delay, we returned our fummarie An- fweres on Saturday at night. On the LO RJ)S Day following, we dc fired to expreffe our f elves to the People in pre fence of*tbe Mini(ie- rie, but the Pulpits and Kirhj were altogether refafed; and therefore in the most convenient place we could have , fub dio , and at fuch boures as were vacant from the ordinary exercifes of public ke fVor- (hip, we delivered our Meffage in the audience of many. After our iaslr Sermon, towards Evening, we found that our labour was not ia vain in the L O RD :for dyverfe per f ones, of sfeciall note, both for place and tvifdome, with willing heart, and great readineffe ofmwde^ did publivklie put tfoir hands to the Covenant. Having the week$ following feene fome parts of the Countrey, [where be fides the Prefm byteries Alforde and Deere, who had fubferived before, the Modern tor, and dyverfe of the Prefbyterie of ABERi/ENE,t^ Prefbyterie and People of Turreff, after they were fatisfied in fome fcruples , did alfo fubferive] we returned the next Satitmday to Kx E r d e n e: where finding that fome others had fubferived that weeke, we refolvej to preach upon the morne. That night we received a Rsplye , unf which before our returne home, we have made an Anfvvere. All thefe we defire may be unpartially confidercd: &lf k fhall pleafe the LORD, that any light fhall come from our Labour unto thy Minde, let it bee afcryved not unto us,( who neither had time nor helps for fuch a tafke ) but to the brightnejfe of the Trueth , and Caufe it felfe , and to the Father of Lights : f whotne be all Glories ■¥■«« a «■■■ ■■■■¥■ vtvtw ■■■■? yV TO To $ur Reverend Brethren, The Doctors and Minifters of Jherdene. r- Hat our Anfweres ( reverend and beloved Bre- rhren ) have nor given you full fatisfa&ion, as it may be imputed to our weaknefle , in the de- fence of io good a caufe, fo ir may proceed alfo from your own prejudice againft what could be faid by us which we have tome reaion to iufpedt for two caufes, one is, that your Demands which ive conceived to have been intended meerly for us-, and were fent un- to us from you in write,were published before our comming,in Print, like as ye have now printed and published your Re flics before ye had feen our Anfoeres unto that which we received from you laft in write; we having promifed to the bearer, to returne an Anfwere lhortly ere we departed the Countrey. This may feem rather to be a feek- ing of victory from pre judice,then a icarch of veritie for fatisfa&ion. The other caufe of our fuf picion , is , that the groundes of our An- nexes to you, have proven fatisfa&orie to others, who for Age and gifts of Learning and Underftanding , are pryme men in this Kirke and Kingdome,and to whom modefily will not furTer you to preferre your felves. But whether our weakneffe or )our prejudice be the caule, muftbe now judged by others,towhofe view ye have brought us : whom therefore we with you heartihe defire unpartially to con- sider our firft and fecond Axfveres; wiihing and hoping that partia- lity, prejudice, and all worldly refpe&s and feares , laideafide, the -*jked TrueA ftull befcen of all her lovers. Concerning your con- Ka fidence r4<& An s were? fidence of us, as we in love judge, that ye thinke not yaur felves A be (try ving againft the Trueth; fo may ye conceive , that we can no more bee brought to your mynde , then wee can bee drawne from the profelfion of our Religion , as it hath been reformed, fworne , and confirmed by the late and preceedir^ Covenants , and from following the example of our religious Reformer?, and the ma- nie Worchies fucceeding them in this Kirke , who would have been glad to have feen the dayes which we now doe fee : and for which we pray, that both yee and wee may be thankefull, fo ftiall it not be imputed unto us? that we have not difcerned and ufed the day of the LORDS vifitation: fo {hall we all rejoice together in the Day of the LORD, ! To the Fir& T{eplyeZ YOur experience in your Difputes againft the common Adver- fary, wherein ye fay ye are fo frequent, hath (no doubt) taught you, howeafiea matter it is to multiply Objections againft the Trueth, and Caufc of GOD : and your felves knowe, that your Objection againft our Calling, and the Warrand of our comming to you, was framed, and published in Print , before it was propounded unto us, and ere our Anfwere could be had ; but fo foone as we did heareyour Demands, we aniwered incontinent, in the humihtie and trueth of our mindes, that we were to obtrude nothing upon you, or your flock, by any particular Authority, Civill or Ecclefiafticke; but that we did come, in all meeknefle,to reprefent unto you the prefent cafe of this Kirke, and in love to intreat you, to joine with us, for the peace thereof; for which we truft, without wronging any lawful! ■ Authority,wc may claim the warrand of the higheft and greateft Au- thority, although we had not been fent from almoft the whole Kirke and Kingdom, lawfully conveened at this time, for the prelervation -of Religion, and of the Liberties and Lawes of this Kingdom, fo fore Shaken, by the ufurpation of the Prelates, and their Favourers. Lee *js confider one another , to provoke unto love, and to good works, ■<&c. fayeth the Apoftle , Hebr. ip. 24. And where ye object , that To the R e t lvfs, 41 that without your leave wc preached within your congregation; which is aggravated by you , as a heinous fault, both rgainl* bcr:pture,and againit the Canons of ancient Counfels , which ye have labonoufly quoted againlt us; we intrcat you, to be more fparing, left the guilti- ncfle, if there be any, reflex upon yourfelves : For your Pulpits and Kirks being denyed us ( not from any injurie done by us, but by your •own determination, before our comming) aneceffity was laid upon us, to deliver our meffage in fuch places, as your courtefie did per- mit; wherein no man will find, that we have failed , if he confider , firft,That there is as wyde difference betwixt Eccle(ja tnrbata & pa- cat *, the troubled and peaceable eftate of a Kirk , as is betwixt £r- clefja confthnenday & consbltutay and many things are necefiary in the one, which perhaps are not expedient, in the other. Ye fpeake of the Constitution of the Kirke this yea re, as if ye had beene fpeak- ing thereof many yeares before this time. 2. That the Word of GOD, and the Canons of Counfels , will have Paftors fo to care for their owne flockes, that they forbid them not, to care for the whole Kirke, efpecially in rhe time of a common Combuftion. When the houfe is on fire, every man ought to runne to all rowms, where hee may quench it : when a laik ftricketh up in a Ship, every Mariner, yea, every Paflfenger, ought to labour toftopit. Even he who is not univerfall Paftor of the Kirke, is Paftor of the univerfall Kirke : & the Apoftle hath taught us, That we are members one of another, Kom% 12. 4. As all the members of one bodie being many, are one body; foalfois CHRIST, 1 Cor. 12. 12. That the members fhould have the fame care, one for another, verf. 25. If fome members of rhis Kirk had not cared more kindly, in this time of comon danger, then other fome have done, the whole body had been ere now dan- geroufly, if not defparatly difeafed. 3 . That we made choife of fuch houreSjfor delivering our Meflage,that the people might attend your ordinary times of publick worlhip; which maketh your charge, of the peoples contempt, or ours, of your Miniftery, to be molt unjuft. In the fecond part of your Re f lye to our Anfaere to your firft Demand, ye might have made choife of words witneifing more re- fped to the moft part of the Kingdom now,'and to the Kirke in for- mer times, then of a Confederation, and negative Corfejfion : wc L knowe 4* AtfS WE *e's? know no other Confederation at this time, but this fame Laudable Covenant, which our Progenitors, and many yet living , made witk GOD, and amongft themfelves, at the Commandemcnt of Authcw rity, and according to the example of the people of GOD m former times. Neither is that iliort Cenfejfion meerly Negative, fmce the beginning thereof is afifirmative,and doeth virtually containe thefirft large Confejfion ratified in Parliament, 1567. 2. No Paiiors, in* our knowledge,have either been forced to flee toforaignecoumreys, or have been threatned with the want of their Stipends, for the re- futing their Subfcripticn : but this we have heard, that fome of them have of their ovvne accord, gone to Court, for procuring of protecti- ons againft their Creditors y and againft theLawes, and duety of good Subjects, have made lies between the K 1 n g and his People. Others wc know have wilfully refufed, to abide with their flock; and being earneftly intreated by them, to attend their Change, have left them, and have gone oit of the Countrey, for no reafon, but becaufe- the people had fubicrived; and, as ye knowe, that Arguments hav«- been raken from augmentation of Stipends, to hinder Subfcription ; fo ye may knowe, That fear of worldly lofle, rather hindereth men to fubfenve, then fcruple of Confcience. The Prelates flight, feem- eth rather to have proceeded from inward furies of accufing Confer- ences, or for fear of a florme, (which being procured by their owne doing, may be eaftly prognosticated by them) then from the inforc- ing of lublcriptionof the Covenant , which in our knowledge was ne- ver required of any of the Prelares, although they be groisly guilty of the breach of the CW^*tf,which they did iweare & iubfc rive before, 3. Your help, by your prayers, and other means, for extinguiftiing of the prefent Combuftion, we ftill defire, but with all intreat, that you would both joy» with the reft of the Kirkcs of the Kingdome, in pubiicke humiliation and faftwg , which the LORD himielfe doeth proclaime and call for at this time; fo fhould your prayers be the more effe£tuall, and alfo ye be good inftruments , according to your power, with your own people, and the countrey about , to joine in the Covenant^ fo fhould ye finde the worke of Pacification the more eafie. 4. The reafons which we touched in our Anfocre, for prow ing, that ye might, without juft offence to any, joine with us, in fub* icriving To the Replie *2 43 fcryving, arc not yec anfwered : for, firft, a found interpretation of the Covenant, although proceeding from a private pcrfon , and alto* rither voidc of externall Authority, can noc make a fubftantiall dif- rence : and if the interpretation be unfound, although it were con- firmed by Aurhority,it maketh not a fubftantiall coincidence. 2. Why ij itdenyed, that the former Covenant containcrh mutuall defence, fince all are obliedged thereby to defend Religion, actordingto their vocation and power, and the Kings pcrfon and Authority , which can noc poifiblie be cone, without mutuall defence : and fince that clauie of the Covenant, is lb expounded, and applied upon grounds of perpetual rcafon,ifl thegeneral Band drawn up,8c Printed byAuthori- ty^.i 590. 3. Ye mutt either prove ttiisCovenant to be fubftantially different from the former, which is impoflible, or ye muft acknow- ledge this to have the fame Authority with the former , fince we are really obliedged in the former Covenanted virtually the fame war- rand of Ki no, Count ell, and aflemblie, remaineth , and was never yet difchargeci : by vcrtue whereof the Covenant might havebcenc renewed yearly, by all the iubjec-ls of the Kingdome, no leffe then it kathbeene fubferived yearly by fuch as pafie degrees in Colic dges, and fuch as were fufpec-1 of Papiiirie, from time to time. 4. What was done by his MajelUes Commifficner, was not done in a corner, that it needeth to be pryed into, or doubted of, and what was allowed by his Grace, who had fo great power from his Majefty , to declare his MajelVies will, and to receive Declarations from his fubjects, and who was in every poynt fo zealous and tender of his Majeftics fer- vice and honour : who are ye , that it fhould be diflallowed by you ? Ye will have the Kingdome guilty of combination againlt Authority, and will not have the Ki n g to be fatisfied , when they have decla- red themielves to the contrary, and their Declaration is accepted by kisMajefties CommitTioner. This manner of dealing,is more futable toPapifts, and fuch Incendaries>then for you, who defireto prove good Patriots , in ufing all means of Pacification. 5. Wearefory, that ye fhould be the firft, who have accounted our Covenant to be a confederacie againft theTrueth , fince fome of your felves , and all every where have been conftrained, to acknowledge, that they aime 3£the, Tame end with us, to maintains the Trueck. And for that which '44 Answered which difpleafeth you in our way , that we deale after fuch a manned with people, co come in, we anlwere,that we have fcen in this Land, the Day of the LORDS Power, wherein his people have moft wil- lingly offered themielves in multitudes, like the dew of the morning : that o:hets of no f mall Note, have offered their fubferiptions , and have been refufed, till tyme fhould try, that they joine in fmcerity, from love to the caufe, and not from the feare of men : and that no threatnings have been ufed, except of the deferved judgement of G O D; nor force,except the force of reafon,from the high refpe&s which we owe to Religion, to our Kin g , to our native Countrey, to our felves, and to the Pofteriry; which hath been to fome a grea- ter conftraint, rhen any external! violence ; and we wifli , may pre- vaile alfo with you. To the Second. TTT 7*Ee perceive, that ye pafle in (ilence, that which wean- y y fwered concerning the pteventing of trouble, which by all appearance had been too fenfible to many before this time, if tha Conventions ceniured by you , had not been kept; we defire, that ye would here declare your felves, whether ye would have rather recei- ved the Service B*okey Books of Camnsy and other trafh of that kind, rending to the fubverfion of Religion , and to the prejudice of the Liberies of the Kingdom, then to have conveened in a peaceable manner, to prefent Supplications to his Majeftie* for averting of fo great evils. Neither doe ye fpeak a word of the Dying of K. fame /, which ought to be regarded, both for the witnefle fake, who is of (a great authority, and for the reftimony which contaireth fo great rea- fon. For,flull not the whole body of a Kingdom ftirre fro arts & f.cls ? or {lull our Religion be ruined, and our Light be put out, and all men holde their peace ? We told you alfo, that the firft part of the Ac* of Parliament, 1 58 5, is relative to another Act in Queen Maries time, which fpeutierh, what fort ot Leagues and Bands are forbidden, and fetteth us free from the breach of the A6t : but yes have To the Reply e $7 45 fiave anfwered nothing to this, and Hill difpute from the A& of Par- liament, rather then from other grounds , better befeeming your profetfion, and ours; and in this will fo precifely adhere to the letter 4£ the Law, that you will have no meetings , without the K 1 n g s confent, even in the cafe of the prefervation of Religion, of his Ma- jefties Authority, and of the liberties of the Kingdome, which we are fure muft be contrary to the reafon and life of the Law ; iince the, fafetieof the People \s, the SoveraigneLaw. Although it be true alio that for our Covenant, we have the conlent of Authority pref- fing upon all the fubjects in the generall Band,and confeflion of Faith, formerly fublcrived for maintenance of the Religion , their fubferip- tion and Oath.as a note of their foundnefle in Religion, and of their loyakieandridelitietotheKiNG, and his Crown, wherein Juris- consults, more f killed in this kinde, then we need to be , have given their Refponfes and Verdicts, in favours of us, and of our caufe. 2. The poynt touching Authority ,is fo full of Thornes and Rockes, ufeth to be fo vehemently urged, to procure envye againft the Gol- pellofCHRIST,andcanfo hardly be difputed and di failed , ex- cept in a large Treatife, to the fatisf action of Kings and Kingdomes; and all having inter eft, that for the prefent we only wiili you to heare the teftimonies of two grave Divynes, the one is whit taker, in his Anfwere to Mafter Reynolds preface, fag. 6. Stirres and Tumults for matter of Religion, Reynold rehearferh , that hath been in Ger- mane, Trance, Bohemia, as though it were fufficient for their con- demnation , that they once refitted, and did not by and by admit whatfover violence was offered, cither to GODS Trueth,or to them- felves, contrary to Promife , to Oath, to publicke Edicts , to Law, whereby they were warranded to doe as they did : more of this mat- ter, will I not anfwere, being of anoiher nature,and cleared long fince from the cryme of Rebellion, not only by juft defence of their dos- ing, but alio by the Proclamations and Edicts of Princes themfelves. The other is Bilfw, in his Booke of Chriftian fubje&on , in defence of the Proreftants in other Countreys , againft the objection of the Jefnit, Pag. 3 32. affirming, thatfubje&s may defend their ancient and Chriftian liberties covenanted and agreed upon by thofe Princes to whom they fitft fubnutted themfelves, and were ever fwcecon- M firmer- 45 Ans WE R e s7 firmed and allowed by the Kings tfeat have fucceeded, they may rei quyre their own right , fave their own lives, befeech, that they bs not ufed as (laves, but like fubje&s ; like men, not like beafts ; tha* they may be convented by Lavves, before judges; not murdered in comers, by Inqufirors. This is alfo the judgement of Rivettu m bis Commentarie, Pfd. 68. which being looked upon by you, will furniih a full anfwere to what ye have cited at length from his JV* fuha Vaf.iUns.. For betwixt jefuiticall treafonable and pernicious doc*rine,and pra&ifes againft Princes and Magitlrats,refuted by him, and the ioyall and found do&rine of Proteftants, your felves know the difference and oppofition , like as it is cleare as the Sunne , by that fhorc Confeflion, by the Application thereof , to the times in this prelent Confelfion, by our publicke Proteftation, and by the De- da ration exhibited to his Majefties Commiflioner , thatwemeane not only mutuall concurrence, and afiftance in the caufe of Religion^ but alio to the uttermoft of our power ^ to defend the Ki n g s Ma- jeftie his Perfon and Authority. We would be glade , that ye and others were witnefTes to our private Prayers, and the moft fecret of our thoughts and atfe&ions , concerning our loyaltie to our dread Soveraigne ; fo iliould ye either ceafe to write in this fort againft us1 ♦r be forced to write againft your own Confciences. 3. When we juftifte our Conventions and Covenants , from thei* purpofed ends , we meane not only the lad and moft remote ends,- but the neareft and immediate , and if nothing in thefe can merite-. juft cenf ure, the Conventions and Covenants no more in that which ye-. call the Object, nor in their ends, can be culpable : what AfperfionS' rave been put upon our Reformation, and Reformers, by the malice cf cur Adverfaries,cannot be unknown to you. But we wifh, that your engynes and penns maybe better imployed, then to joinc with- them info bad a caufe, which we expect alfo from your prudence^ confidering the people and place where ye live. . Y To the Thirl Ee doe well and wifely , thatyefearch not curiouflyints Aer myadasef Princes. and Reafa* Ql Stuc ; bus whether all hb To the Re p l f e $; 47 Majeftie* fubje&s be fatisfied witk the laft Proclamation, needcth aodeep fearch. For although poiTibhe fomc had been more pleated with a Proclamation, commanding the Service Booksy fuch efpecially who neither will fee no errours in it, or have publickly profefled, thac chey have been groaning for it , yet the Protection of the Suppli- cants againft it, as it giveth moft humble and hearty thanks to His gracious Majeftie, for whit is granted; fo it tcftifieth upon undeny- able eviden:es, that the Proclamation is not a fatisfaction of our ji:(t defires : for,rirft, the Proclamation fuppoleth the Service Books to be no Innovation of Religion. 2. That it is not contrary to the Pro- teftanc Religion. 3. That the Proclamation giverh not order foe dif charging all the Acts made in favours of the Service Bookey efpe- cially that of the 19 of February ,which giveth un:o it fo high Appro- bation, as ierving for mancaining the true Religion, and to beat out all Sunerftition, andnovvayes to be contrary to the Lawes of this Kingdom; but to be compyled and approved for the univerfall ufe and edification of all His Majeflics Subjects. 4. It is fo f arre from difallowing tbefaid Booke, that it putteth us in feare, that it fhall be preft in a faire and legal way,and therefore,no:withftanding the Pro- clamation, the necetfity of Covenanting , which containeth nothing contrary to the fccts of Parliament,nor to the duety of good Subjects!) but is the largeft Teftimony of our Fidelity toGOD, and loyalrie to our Kin G,(whatfoever it may feem to you to import) doeth yec continue, that His Majeftie may be pleafed, to grant the full fatis- faction of our reafonable Petitions, and that our Religion, and Liber-, ties, miy be preierved for afterwards, VVhofoever profeffe them-. felves, to be perfectly fatisfied with the Proclamation, doe proclaim in the ears. of all the Kingdom, that they are better pleafed with the. Service Book? and Canons^ then with the Religion , as it hath heen& picfdfed in this Land face the Reformation. . W£ To the Fourths. E* were affured, that yeut T)em*nA proceeded from x Mistaking, and therefore according to our knowledge . "~~: ' did; Answeres did ingenuoufly, for your fatisfa&ion, expound unto you the mlncte of rhe Subfcrivers; but finds now, that we have laboured in vain, at your hands, from which we have received this Re fly ; unto which, concerning the firft Mils-interpretation, -we anfwere : i. That al- though we doe neither ufe threarnings, nor obtrude our Interpretati- on upon you, as bearing any obligatory Power, yec pardon us , thac We march you nor, and put you not in'the Ballance with the greateli part of the Kingdom,bo:h Ministers, and others, in whofe name we' recommend this Interpretation unto you , by all faire Means , and force of Reafon : and in fo doing, wee are to farre from the breach 0; our Solemne Vow , and Promife , that we efteeme this to be no fmall procfeof that goclinetle, and righteoufneite , wherein we are bound, by our Covenant, to walke. 2. The autcritative judgement of our Reformers, and .Prediceffors , is evidenced, not onely by the Confejfion of Faith, ratified in Parliament , but alio by the Books o£ Difcipline, Ae\s of Generall AfTemblies,and their own Writs; where- in, if ye will, ye may find warrand for this Interpretation; and in re- fpecl whereof, it is publick rati one medll, befides thofe midfes of Scripture, of Antiquity, and of the Confent of the Reformed Kirks, which are named for midfes by you. Concerning the 2 Mifsconftruttion , it is no marvell that Pre- judices, and Preconceived Opinions, potfetfing the minde , make men to fall upon Interpretations of theii own; but in the South parts of the Kingdom, where many learned and judicious men, both Pa- dors, and Profeffors, were a&mbled, at the firft fubferiving thereof, we remember of none that did fall into that Mistake. And the two forrs of Novations, fuch as are already introduced , and lucb as are fupplicated againft, are fo punctually diftinguifhed, that there is no place left to Ambiguitie : but on the contrary, the Novations which we promife to forbeare for a time onely , cannot befuppofed in the following words, to be abjured for ever, as Popiih Novations. 2. U- .pon a new examination of the words, ye perceive, that the Articles of P earth, and Epilcopacy , are condemned as erronious Corrupti- ons, became we promife, to labour, to recover the former purity 86 -liberie of the Gofpell : unto which our Anfwerc i*,that it appearctb, you will have all the Covenanters againft their intention, and whether To the Replie $; Jfe whether they will or nor, to difallow, and condemn, the Articles of Pearth, and Epifcopall Government, left they be tryedin a Gene* rail Ailembly : buc it is knovvne to many hundreds, that the words were purpofelie conceived , for fatisfaction of Inch as were of your judgement, that we might all joine in one heart, and Covenant , for cftabliihing Religion, and oppofing Erroures. And for your Argu- ment, whether the Articles of Peart h^nd Epifcopacy, be againft the purity and liberty of the Gofpel, or not, which is not determined by thefe words of the Covenant : but it cannot be denyed, firll, That if in a Free Affembly, they be found to be againli the purity and liber- ty of theGofpell, they ought to be abolifhed : in the meane time/ic being left free, by the words of thzCovenant^to all, who will, to fiind to the defence of their lawfulneffe. Secondly, how can it be denied, that many corruptions, contrary to the purity and liberty of the Gofpell, were they never fo innocent in themlelves , have accom- panyed thefe Novations, fuch as the fuperftious obiervation of Daies, feriation and ceflation from vvorkc , on thofe dayes , Feafting , Guyfing , err. many grofle abuiles have entered in the Sa- crament, upon Kneeling before the Elements, and upon the lawiefle yfurpationof Prelates : in refpeci whereof, even they who allow of Pearth Articles, and Epifcopacy, may fwear to recover the purity of the Gofpell. And thirdly, who can be fo great a Granger at home, as to deny, that many corruptions of Popery, and Arminianifm,have entredm, intheKirke, and have been vented, and defended, in fchooles, and Pulpits; by reafon whereof, we are bound, every one of us, according to the meafure of our light, to labour for recovery of oul former Purity ? And therefore , if you had caft your eyes upon the condition of this poore Kirke, as ye have pryed narrowly,into the ex- pressions of the Covenant , ye might have fparcd both your owne la- bour, and ours, and not laboured to fkarre both your felves and others, With this lhadow. In your Argument, adfominem, you fhould have confidered, that whatfo^er be our judgement, as we are particular perfons , yet, at this time, we were to be taken, as Commillioners, from the whole company of Subfcrivers,who, about this point,are of different judge- ments : and if fome of your own judgement, had either come alone N in our $o Amsw e r e $7 in our place, or had been joined in Commiflion with us, we had anrii eipate your Objection : and this ye have been forced ro fee; and fo your felves, in propounding your Objection , have anfwercd your own Syllogifme, in making us, to fay , that ye may fwearc and fub- fcrive feeing ye rhinke not thele things to be abjured in that Oath Xd^tAmo i 5 8 i : neither was it for you, to inquire in our private Opinion , nor neceffary for us, to make it knowne, but to have con- ceived of our minds, according ro our Commiilion , and the will of thof e who fent us. . Your Arguments need to be no impediments un- to your fwearing of the Covenant. For upon your grounds, ye would not have fworne the fhort Confejfiw, any time bypal* : yea, ye can no: fweare the Contention of any Kirke; nay, not the Articles of the Creed, becaufe of the diverfe Interpretations of the Article of Christ s defccnt into Hell; or fwearing them in Scotland and England, ye be- hoved to fweare them in diverfe lenfes. There be feme words of the Lords Prayer ,as Give us thi* day our dally headend of the ten Com-* mands, as the words of the fourth Command, which arc diverfly un- derttood; muft Chriftians, therefore, forbeare to joine in laying the Prayer, or [wearing Obedience to the Commandements > Neither for this doe we admit any Ambiguity, or Equivocation : the words certainly have but one true fenfe, and fignificationi but diverfe per- fons conceive and understand them, according to the different mea- fures of their lighr. Si»ce then your Difputation is buiided upon fuch a Suppofition, it muft cither fall to the ground , or hardly can any Confejfionof Faith, or religious Covenant, be fworne. Offend not, therefore, if we in modefty, prefent unto you, a diih of your owne drelftng; we meane, the like Argument, adhominem. The Rites and Ceremonies, which are not abjured in the negative Confejfion, are not abjured in this late Covenant. But the Rites and Ceremonies,which were concluded in Peart h Aflembly, are not abjured, as ye fay, in the negative Confcfjion, made Anno 1 581 : therefore, they are not ab- jured in this httCovenant. The firft Proportion is evident,becaufe in the late Covenant we are bound nofurder , concerning tktt nega- tive Confejjien, but to keep it inviolable : and therefore, what Rires are not abjured there, are not abjured here. Thefecond Propofirioir cannot be denyed by you ; for thefe twenty years by- gone ye have thought: To the Re pl y r. s7 51 thwhgt your fclves free of Perjury, notwithstanding of the Oath in 1 58 1 , and of your conforming your fclves , ro the Ordinances of f earth. And whereas ye alleadge, afterward, as before, that our Supplications are fatisfied, the contrary is kno,vne, by our publicke Protettation, and by our latt Supplication,and Complaint, prefented to his Mi jetties Conmiflioner. And urging of the Service Mtofy was a fufficient reafon, for forbei ranee of F earth A nicies, till an Af- fembly; at which time it may be determined, whether it be expedi- ent, that this Kirkc beany more troubled with them.. Neither nee- deth your Confcience to hinder you to tubferive the forbearance of thefe Novations, as if fwearing of forbearance , were a (wearing difobedience to Authority : firft,Becaule the fwearing of forbearance of a thing in your opinion, indifferent, in the cafe of Scandall, and of fenfible fea re in others, of Superftition, is the fwearing of Obedi- ence the Commandement of GOD, which forbiddeth us, to cettroy him,for whomChr";tt died,although man fhould comand the contrary,. 2. Becaufe the Articles of Pearth were concluded, forfatisfying the Ki n g, and not to prefle any man with the pra&ife of them, as was openly profeffed unto the Opponents , before the face of the whole Affembly : and becaufe the Ac\ it f elfe giveth warrand , to forbears the pra&ife at this time,when the memory of fuperttition is revived which maketh us tothinke , that they who have fqrbome the pra- 6tife of thefe Anicles,fincc the fuperftitious ferviceBooke was com- plained upon, make molt truelie confcience of obedience of the A& of Peart h^nd Parliamcnt,ratifying the fame, and are moft conforme unto the Confeilion of Faith, ratified in Parliament, declaring, that Ceremonies ought to be changed , when they rather fofter fu- perttition, then editie the Kirke , ufing the fame. Laft of all ; Ye lay, ye can not fwearc forbearance, becaufe ye can not abftaine from' private Baptifme, and private Communion; where we perceive, that in your judgement, private Baptifme and Communion, a re not any more things indirferen;, but ntcc^rj^ecejfitate pracepti, in fo farre, that the not ufing of them, is a contempt ot the means, and a tempt- ing of GOD. By this your Doctrine, firtt, The ftate of the Que. ttion,anent Pearth Arndes, is quite altered* for ye, and your Aflb- ciateSjdid ever, to this time, aJIeadgcthc Qucition,tobcof thinges.. ipdirferenc. $* A N S W E K i si indifferent : but now ye finde Tome of them fo neceffary, that altfti the generall Affembly of the Kirk, fbould difcharge them,yct ye be- hoved ftill, for confcience of the Commandcment of GOD, to pra- #ife them. If ye have the fame judgement of kneeling before the ^Elements, and of feftivall dayes , it commech to paffe amongff us, which hath been incident to the Kirke, in former Ages, that thinges 'have been firft brought in , as indifferent, then urged as neceffary. If confirmation alfo in your judgement, be not indifferent , but ne- ceffary, we defire to underftand, with what confcience it hath beene flighted, and utterly neglected by the Prelates, thefe 20 yearespaft ? and how it is, that ye have carried fo fmall regard to the Canon o£ the Kirke, and Act of Parliament, and to the benefite of young Children, as not to requyre, urge , and preffe the pracHe thereof, both in your own charge , and throughout the whole Kirke ? This would feem tobepartiall dealing , topreffefome Ceremonies , and neglect other fome; while both by the fame Canon of the Kirke, and A& of Parliament , are appointed. , 2. Ye doe hereby condemne rhe pra&ife of the Kirke of ScotU)dr£zo If they we re abjured for ever, before Pearth Aflembly, how is it that ye have admitted and praclifed them, fince that time; for this were Perjury ? And if they were not abjured, but by the fhort Confejfion were left indifferent, why may ye nor, for any impediment, ye have from that Confejfionjoibzzve now the pracHe of them? We look- ed not for Veiitations of this fort, which the change of Commiilio- ners fent unto you, might have prevented, but for fome folide and gnve reafons, why ye cmild not fubferive the Covenant, whether pre- fented from our hands, or the hands of others, our Learned and reve- rend Brethren , of your pra&ife and judgement, who might have becne To the Re pl ye $7 '53 beene fcntunto you in our place. In the mcane time, becaufe ma- flic areintangled with the word of Discipline, and Policie, we defire the Reader to remember, that fometimethe word is taken for the Rule of Government of the Kirke,and cenlure of Manners, by Of- fice bearers appointed by Chrirt; and thus it is unchangeable : fomc- times for the constitutions of Counfels, and Acts of Parliament, a- bout matters of Religion; and thus it is alterable, or conltant, accor- ding to the nature of particular Obiects : and thirdly, it is taken for the ordering of the circumfhnces, to be obierved in all actions Di- vine, and Humane; and thus it is variable. We appcale with you, to the indifferent Reader, who is judicious, whether it be neceflarie for your Subscription, to know our Opinion of fnch Rites and Cere- monies, as are not of Divine inftitution. We have reafon, [ for any thing that ever we heard to the contrary, thefc twenty years pjft ] to cleave unto the words of the Covenant^ concerning fuch Rites as are brought into the Kirke without, or againft the word of G O D. The Blelhng oi Mirriage ( now the fecond time inftanced ) we conceive, neither to be circumftance, it being neither time, place, order of doing, nor any luch thing, nor a Ceremony properly lo called, more then theBletfing of the People, commanded in the Law, and practr- fed before the Law, or praying for a Blelling upon the Ordinance of GOD, that it may be fanctiried unto His People : we neither exalt Marriage fo high, as with thePapifts, to thinke it a Sacrament; nor ^o If it be wrong, why fatten ye not yout ceniures upon the fountaine f rom which it is derived ? the loyalty cf our inrentions,co maintain the Ki n g s Per(on,and Honour,is fo fully exprefled , that it hath given content to thofe who are ne.irett his Majefty : and we fhould wrong, not only them, but alio the Cove- nant, and the iubferivers thereof , if we lhould make new Declara- tions to others, of greater dittance, who wrong bo:h the King, and themielves,in craving them. 3. To doe with a doubting Confcience, is a grievous finne; but to make and multiply doubts, for hindring a good workemd to oppofe againft a fhining light,is no leflc grievous. refpake before of a limitation, and now ye have added precifly; as if the naming o- one duery, were the excluding of all other duet ies0 We all, by our Oath of Alleadgeance, by his Ma jetties lawes, and by Other obligations, acknowledge, that we owe many other ductics ta the Kin G,which were very impertinent toexpres in this & vetuuit, 4. What kynde of conference ye meane, whether by word or write, we know nor; but ( while we were arriong you) yc know what notice P *' vas (5* Answers*? you were pleaf ed to take of us; and wc have no delight, co Jfcfcfct it£ To the Ninth.. FIrft, We are afliamed > to draw this Rug-favy of contention, t#. and fro, in a continuall Reciprocation, concerning the forbea- ranee of Pearth Arcicles : and therefore, forbearing to doe fo any more,we referre the Reader to our former Anfweres. 2. We doa not affirme, that the only reafon , why kneeling was appointed , was : becaufe all memory of fuperfitrion was paft There be indeed other jeafons expreffed in the A&, but fuch as the Authors thereof may be afkamed of,as both perverting the Texr, PfaL 9 5 . as making kneel- ing to be neceifary, in every part of GODS Worihip, and as giving-, matter to many Treatifes, proving kneeling before the Elements, 10 be Idolatrie, according to the Ae\,unto which we now referre you: but this we fay , ( which is manifeit by the A& it felfe ) that in the . cafe of prefent iuperftition, orfeare, thereof?all other realons had not beene forcible, to enforce kneeling then, nor can have force to con- tinue kneeling nowc This feare hath beenc great , this year by paft, throughout the Kingdom, by reafon of the many fuperftitions of the Service Books » which, it may be, ye no more acknowledge, then ye 4pz the fuperftitious difpofitio of the pepple,becaufe they are not that which they were at the time of Reformation. 3. We would heare what malice it felfe can fay againit the words of the Proteftation, That it (kali be fawfull unto w, to defend Religion ., And, theKmGS Anthoritjy in defense there of y and every one of Hi of another , in that canfe of maintaining Religion , and t he Kin Q s for ef aid Authority^ and to appoynty and hold meetings fo that r^jlikeas our Proceedings feavebeene in-themfelves moft neceffary and orderly means,agreablc rothehwesandpncHe.of this Kirke and Kingdom, to be conten- ded, as real! duties of faithfull Cbriftians, loyall fubie#s, and lenfible members of the body of the Kirke and Kingdome., and tende to n# . •rher end, but to the preservation of Religion, and maintainance of the Kin g s Authority. To your interrogatoures, ( which ye leeme to propone, rather to be frures to us, then for iatisfa&ion to your, felves ) we anfwere «jce for all in generall, that if this were the op- portunity pOfttinrtie of that difpuration,we fhall be found to deny not h'ngunt* Authority of that which ibe word of (JOD, the law of Nature, anil Nations, the Acts ot Parliament, theie Royalills, found Divines,and loyall Subjects, give unto Kings and Princes GODS Vlce-Gerems on Earth; and that not from refpect to our felves, but to the Ordinance d GOD, by whom Kings reigne. But feeing fo oft and to inftantly, you preffe us in this point,ye force us mutually to propone to you fucb Qneftions, as, it may be, ye will have no great delight toanfwcrejii 1. Wedeiire to underftand of you, whether ye allow, or difallow,the Service B?oke, and booke of ( anws } if ye difaliow them, as an in-* ■ovation of Religion, why hive ye not either joined in fuppltcatioir with the reft of the Kingdome, or made a fupplication of your ewn , agamft them , or tome other way tefhfied your Diflike ? Next; whether it be pertinent for men of your place and Qualitie, to move Queftions ot State, touching the Power ot Princes, and Li- berties of Sub ie6ts, after His Majetties Commitfioner , and wife- States-men, have received Satisfaction of the Subjects, for fuppref- fing fuch motions as yours > , 3. Whether doe rhe Subfcrivers more tender His Mijelties honour, by fuppoftng his conftancy, in profefii- •n of Religion, and equitable Difpoiition, in mimitration of Juliice; arye, who fuppofe he lhall fall upon his Religious and Loyall Sub- jects, with force of Armes,contrary to both ? 4. Whether the joyn- ing of the whole Kingdom, in the Subfcription of the Covenant, 01 \ the entercaming of Divifion,by your writing, preaching, and threate- ning of your People, otherwife willing to joine, be a more readie meane to fettle the prefent Commotions of the Kirke, and King- dom ? 5. If the Prelates, and their Followers, labouring to intro- duce Popery in the Land, make a Faction by themf elves, or as the Gmfians in France, did abtiie His Majefties name, in execution of the bloody Decrees ot Trent, ( which GOD forbid ) we aske, Whether in /Wi a Cafe, the lawful! defence of the body of the Kingdom , a- giinft fuch a Faition, be a refitting of the Magiftrate , and a taking Armes againft the Ki s o ? If ye affirme it to be, is not this to take part with a Faction , feeking their own ends, againft rhe common- Wealth of the Kirke, and Kingdom, and honour of the Kin g ? If ye fay nor, Why thenfinde yeuuit with our Probation , of defending &o Answe re $1 the Religion, Liberties, and Lawes of the Kingdom/)? rhe Kings Atf* chority,in defence thereof,and every one of us of another,and in that caufe, as if ir were an unlawfull Combination againft Authority > 6. Whether doe ye chink Chriitian Magiltrats to be o' fo abfolute 8c unbounded power, no'withftandingof any promife or paction made with the Subjects at their Coronation, or of any Law made tor elb- blifhing their Religion and Liberties , thac there is nothing left, but futferingof Manyrdome , in the citfe of publick Invafion , of their Religion and Liberties } If ycthinke, that any defence, is lawful!/ why mifconftrue vee the Subfcrivers of the Covenant > If nor, how can ye be free of Flattery ,and of ftirring up Princes againlt their ky* all Subjects, for fuch ends as your feives know belt ? We verily be- lieve, that ye fliall report fmall thanks, either of fo good and juii a King, oroffo duetifull Subjects, for entering within thefe Lifts, It is enough, that fuch Queflions be agitated in the Schooles , and chat with as great prudency, and as circumfpectly as may be. To the Tenth. FIrft, ye take us in our fourth Replje to be the penners of the Co- venant ^ and yet will rather wreft theworis o^ it, to your owne meaning, then receive the Interpretation trureof from us : for wee prejudge nor your liberty of conception of that ihorc Confelfion, but permit it to your felvss, whatfoever may be rhe private meaning of f ome who have Cubic rived; yei there is nothing in the late Interpre- tation that cendemneth the Articles of Peart hy and Epifcopacy , as PopifhNovations. Ye may voice and reai'on in an Afiemblie as free- ly concerning them, and give your judgement of them, without pre- judice,no: withstanding of you: Oath,according ro your own grounds, as you would have done at the Aflembly of Peart h. 2. We hope ve be not fo ignorant of the eftite of the Kirke,neither will we jvd^Q 1o un;hari'ably,as to thinke you fdcornipt,thar in your opinion there is nothing hath entred in the Kirkefince that time, defigned by von, befide Epifcopacy, and the Articles o: Peartt^ which can be thought prejudicial! to rhe Liberty and Purity of the Cofpell. To F LTothcR.EFLiEi: £% Tithe Eleventh. Irft, yc finde fault vvich us, that we have not upon this occasion, given you that tettimony which we owe to you, of your fmce- rity, in proofing the truech; and therefore, to lupplie our de- fe&s,have taken an ample Tclhmony to your felves, of paines in dif- puting, in wrytting , and preaching againft Popery , in procefllng o£ Papifts, and in doing all thinges which can be expected trom the moft 2ealous, of frequent prayer to GOD, of humbling your felves before him, ofyourholinefVeof Life , andConverfation, <*rc. which have made us who were defirous to heare that Teftimony, rather at the mouths of others, that we might be no more challenged as deficient inrhatkinde, but give unto you your deferved praife, to inquire in Riatrers ; whereupon, if we would believe the report of others , wee heare, that for all your pains, Papifts, andPerfons Popifhly affe&ed, are multiplied, and Papiliry increafed in your towne , more then in any other town of the Kingdom^ no lefle under yourMiniftrie,then any time before, (incerhe Reformation; that there be in private houfes MeffeSjCrucirixes, and other monuments of Idolatry; that ye have not many converts from Popery; that Jefuits, and Priefts; are countenanced there; that your People at home, and your Magiftrats abroad,complain, that yearebutroo fparing of your pains in preach- ing, and often fill your places with Novices : but this we are fparin<* to believe, and wi(h, that the not imploying of your Tongues, and Pennes, in the defence of the Service Booke mc\Canonsy which are fo peftred with Popery, [if the feeds of Romiih Herefie, Superftition, Idolatry, and Papall tiranny,come under that cenfure 1 and your willingneffe to joyne with the Kirke and Kingdom , in Failing and Humiliation, had been alfo Testimonies of your fincerity againft Popery. 2. The laudable means of Preaching, Praying, &c. which we Willi may be ftill in all faithfulnefl'e ufed by you , may very well agree with the renewing of our Covenant with GOD; and both being, joined, have, in a fhort time paft, produced more powerfull effects, to the comfort of many thoufands, then all our Prayers and Preach- ing hath dtne for a long time before : which teltifie , That , as it is Q^ warranded $r2 AnswexI?. warrandedby the Word of GOD; fo the morion hath pi*ceedci from GOD. Ail the Arguments and SubtiLties that can be devifed, will never make a People,(who at this time have found GOD dwell, ing, and working in their hearts ) to thinke the contrary. 3. The aaturall inclination of people to Popery ,and the perfwafion of others, of their difpofinon, may make the people to conceive other wayef of the Service > Books, and Canons > that ere it be long, they may be brought in, in a "f aire and legall way : and therefore, it is neceilary, for preventing of thoie, and other Evills of that kinde, that the Sub- jects joine in a Covenant jboth for themfelves, and their Pofterity, To the Twelfth. FIrft; we have ever preached according to our meafure,and have given example of reverence to Authority, and the L O R D S Service : but we neither acknowledge the ufurped Authority of prelates, for lawfull Authority, nor the Service Books fox the Lores Service. And therefore, it was lb much the more intolerable tor the Prelates, without Authority trom the Kirke, or Parliament, to bring in the Service Books into GODS own houfe, upon the LORDS "own Day. Which maketh it nothing ftrange , that people zealous of the Trueth, and of the Service of GOD, were ftirred up, to oppofe : and, We are very confident, that thefe who have oppoied , doe beare as loyall refpect to the K 1 n g s Majefty,and will be as loath ro provoke him to jult wrath, as their oppofites are. In the meane time, why doe ye not acknowledge,that the children were higher provoked to wrath, fey the Prelates, whom ye account reverend and holy Fathers? 2. As the prefervation of our own private Pofleifion, from Inv^fion ot 0- thers,belongeth to our iclves, under the Kings Protection; fo^he keeping of GODS Houfe, from Pollution, andSuperftition, belong- eth ro Authority, to the community of the Faithfull,and to every one in his own place, and order. 3 .. We told you before, that we aid n* more allow violences of that kinde, nor we did allow the foule ai per- sons of Rebellior.,Herefie,Schii'me,and Perury, put upon the Noble- men, ( ?nd remnant Covenanters. ) Ard where ye aske^f us, Why iheic tumults are net publickly by us condemned, and rebuked ? wc as£€ To the HeplHs; cj »ke againe of you,why yc did not condemne and rebuke fuch dealing, fince that is no lefle tranfgretfion , both againft the fixt and nynth Command, then the other is againll the fixt } And whereas ye are cow fo peremptorie, in drawing a Declaration from us, anfwearable to that which ye have given concerning the forcfaid Afperiions and Calumnies, we having no commuTion , to dechre the mindesof o- thers in this point, or o give Documents/or our own private judge- ment, doe hear. ily dif allow every wrong of that kynde. Asforthg Apologie of D. ] o h n F o r b e s of Gr/"»>»> voimt ctiderc ctidit fy»*. 6. Whereas ye defire us, to doe the like, if ye meane of us perfonaf- lie, we have declared our judgement,and (hall be carefull to approve our felves to G O D, and the confeiences of all men, in every f ucb duety : and if ye meane us, and thofe thatfenc us, we (hall noi faiil ra report unto them, what ye de(ire,although our Commilfion fron you had been the more acceptable, if ye had fpoken more reverently of our Cottfeflion and Covenant , then ye have been pleafed to doe, in the words of yourde(ire,and had put your hand unto the Covenant which would prefently have joined us in a greater Affection, and made way for union in judgement, and perfect peace, which is the defire of ouf Souks. 7* the Thirteenth. YEh pretended a threefolde Scandall,which fliould follow upoa your Subfcription : i . The Scandall of DilTenring from other Reformed Kirks, and famous Divynes. 2. The Scandall o£ Dufenting from Authority. 3. The Scandall of Perjury. We an- fwered, That the contravened words of the Covenant being rightly conceived, and interpreted according to their true meaning, and not after the gloffe which ye have put upon them,doe put you out of dan- ger of all the three Scandalls, which yefetm to acknowledge of the hrit two, and may by the like reafon acknowledge of the third, o£ Perjury. We difpute nor of the lawfulneflfe of the Oarh given at your Admi(iion,by what Authority it was exacted , with what conlcience ic was given, nor how ye can anfwere for the Scandall rifen thereu- pon : but conceiving it according to your own grounds, none of you will fay, that ye have fworne the perpetuall approbation and pra&ife of theie things which ye eftecme to be indifferent, vvhatfoever bad consequent To the R £ p L y f. s7 6$ eonfeqiient of Popery , Idolatrie, Superftition, or Scandail (Wild follow thereupon : we ipeake here only of things indifferent, in your own judgement; tor ye have declared before, that ye thinke the Mints ftration of the Sicraments in private places, no more indifferent : ge therefore, can not forbeare the pnetife of thefe , although your Or- dinary,and other lawfull Superiours,ihould will you to doe lo; where- in Peart b Ailembly , for which you Ihnd, is wronged by you two tvayes : i. That ye differ in judgement from them, about the indif- ferencie of the five Articles : and next, that at the will of your Or- dinary, and wc know not what other lawfull Superiours, ye are ready to forbeare the practice of theie things which the Aflembly hath ap- pointed to be obferved. What Oaths ye hive given at your admif- (ion, we know not,becaufe there is no Ordinance made , Civill, or Eccleliiihck, appointing any fuch Oath,and becaufe the Prelats, who arrogated that power,prefented to the intrants diverle models of Ar- ticles, to be iubferived, dealing with fome more hardlie, and with o- thers more favourably,according to their own diverfc morivs,& con- siderations. For foine immediatly after Peart h Aflen.bly,wiihout any vvarrandfrom the Kirke or Parliament,were made to fweare at their Admiflion, that they iliould both in private and publick maintainc Epitcopall ]urifdi6tion, and in their private and publicke Prayers, commend the Prelates to G O D S mercifull Protection; that they fliould fubje& the ml elves to the Orders that prefencly were in the Kirke, or by the confent of the faid Kirke , iliould be lawfully elta- blilhed. The word lawfully , was not in the Principall firft iubferi- ved, [as we have learned] and if it had been exprcft, it is all one,for the Superiours were judges to this lawfulneiTe and unlawfulnefle. Wc will not labour to reconcile every Oath given by Minifters , at their entry with the prefent Covenant^ but wiili, and exhort rather , that they may be recalled, and repented of, as thinges for which they can not anfwere before a generall Aflembly., I To the Fourteenth. F the vWds of the Covenant be plaine, concerning the meere for- bearance, and Ipeake nothing oftheunlawtulneile, no man* R thoughts '66 Answeres? thought J can make a change. 2. By this Reply ye wrong yourfelve$2 informing from the words of the Covenant, impediments, and draw- ing ftumbling blockes in your own way, to hinder your fubfeription : ye wrong the iubferyvers, in changing the ftate of the queftion, and in making a divorce betwixt Religion and the Kings Authority ,whicb the Covenant joineth togerher, hand in hand : and , moft of all , ye wrong the Kings Majefty, in bringing him upon the ftage, before his Subjects, in whole mindes ye would beget, and breed, fufpicions of oppofing the trueth,of making innovation of Rdigion,and of deal- ing with his Subje&s, contrary to his Lawes and Proclamations, and contrary to the Oath at his Coronation. We are not here feeking infcltU Hpsp'vyfl" » or ftarring hole of ignorance , or of the f mallei! difioyalty of affection; but would willingly decline that for the pre* f ent, which neither his Majefties wifdome,nor the prudence of Stats- men, nor the modefty of good iubjects , will allow you or us to de- pute. The Crowns and Scepters of Kings , would be more tenderly- touched, then the ordinary fubjects of Schoole difputes. The naked naming, and bare propofall ofcertaine fuppofitions, fuch(asfome are made by you ) can not but reflex upon Authority,and found harfli in the eares of all his Majefties good fubjects,who wifh, that he may Jong and profperoufty reigne over us. 3. His Majefties moft honou- rable privy Counfell, hath proven more favourable to this caufe o£ maintaining the reformed Religion, then many Paftors , whom by reafon of their place and Calling , it beieemed to goe before others; and although according to their vyontedcuftome,they gave warrand, to make his Majefties Proclamation , yet on good groundes, remon- ftrated unto them by the Supplicants, they willingly refufed their approbation thereof; hoping that his Majefty ihould be moved t» give greater fatisfaction thereafter : and this is not our faying , but a publicke doing, before many honorable witneffes; of whicrf number fome were directed unto you; whole report ye have no reafon to call in queftion. 4. It becometh us, to judge charitably of the intentions of o^r Superiours; and moft of all, of the intentions of our dread So- venigne. Yet, if that hold good which the iupplicams have orTred to prove, rhat the Service Booke, and Canons , containe a reall inno- vation of Religion, we muft judge othexwiie, dc conditio* e cferu^oi the maw To the Re t l> 1 4? «7 IT* the matters containedin the Bookc, then de intention* »perantKy o£ his Majefties intention;although the intention of thePrelates,& their Aflociates,the Authors 8c contrivers of the Bookes,be molt juitly fuf- pe&ed by us. 5 . Ir is no delight to us,and can be but fmall comfort to you, to mention the wrongs, which by you are done to us all who have joined in this Covenant^ and doe adhere to the Religion as it was re- formed in this land;in your etfimation & writings,we are Rebellions, perjured, hereticks, icriLmaticks,blind guydes,feducers,miferable in- terprerers^ignopmsriVnl inch men ., they will not.fee\bm thej jhall feey and fa ■*% 4f[hwed} for their envy at the People yitth* i 6. 1 1 . . ' ±~ "' ^ Mafter Alexander Henderson, Minitter at Lexchars. Matter David Dicrs«i$ 9 Minifter at Irwin. «r 1 DIJPLYES | igg, OftheMnusTEis and Professors S|& of ABMDENE, •^8 CONCERNING THE LATE I % COVENANT- % *k ss» #& ; — $* ,»££ // / W f 4^? /art & f fo precious from the vyle , f hou jhalt tt&b ^l?* £* as my mouth : Let them returne unto thee, but re- LiT; . •SJjSj turnenot thou untothem. Jerem. 15. 19. cC^R* ffrpl Honour all men : love the Brotherhood. : feare COD : agf?1 T.O The fccond dnfwem of iomc Reverend Brethren » Honour theKiHG. 1 . Pec. 2. 17, IttttMl 54 iff Iff 2ff CCtft "Iff £ff iff iff iff iff i£ iff •O. ,«*, x»>, ,rfr sjx)P fo m 45?, Oft -jQ?> -»)?• -v?' A* §3* ilJIItilII*IIIi$iSii filflliiflfiiiffffii To the Unpartiall Reader. FT rcisy oe you havcnot,a$ yet,heird the true relation ^ ofofarpcoceedings^aiid carruge^owjrds thofe two re- verend Brethren, who came lately hither, to recom- mend :o i s, ;nd our People , the lare Covenant : We declare therefore co yoiyhn we hearing of their com- ming, and incention, and being of a contrary minde, rcfolved, that before wc flioflld give conlent,rbat they iTiould preach to our people , we would propone to tnem, by way of certainc De- ntandsjht chiefe reiions which mate us to be nvcrle from their pro- ceedings; promifing- to admit them to out puipu s,if they ihould give us fatisfaction , concerning -the late Covenant. We intended not to print thefe Demands at che tint ; but afterwards conlidering how much our people might be confirmed by them, in that pious refolu- tion wtveh they hate , to continue in the obedience of the Lawes of this Chi rch ind Kingdome, concerning Eplfcopacy) and thofe things whicli were concluded in Peart h Aflembly ; we thought good to put them to the Pretle, but determined not to make uie of them, by di- vulgating them, except we faw that our people flood in prefent need of them; which indeed came to pafle : for upon Fryday, the twenty of J ///;'ur fecond Anlweres.J not for love of contention^ nor defire ofvithry (G O D knoweth) but f ,r f ich reafons, as we have expreffed in our Preface to the impart mII Reader } whw we hope ne have fawfied in this point. T Twi\ To our Brethren 74 Totir other reafon is, that the grounds of your AnftvefS t$ us, have proven f atlsf alter y to others] who for Age and Learning , are prime men of this Kingdom : and to whome our mode ft ie will not fuffer hs, t§ freferre our f elves. Farre be it from us to be fo pref^mptuous, aste freferre our [elves tofo many Learned and -worthy Divines : and ai farre be it from us, to meafure the foliditie, and (uffciencie of your Anfvveres, by the liabilities or Induments of thefe, who have acqui- efced in them. If this your reafon were good, the Pzp'iih mi^ht more frobablie accufe us of prejudice, (as indeed they unjuftlie dot) be- eaufe their Anfweres to our Arguments,/^* proven fat i* faft or ie 1 9 many thoufands ofthofe,whoforprofunditie, and fubtilitie of wit, are inferiour to none of the World : but we regarde not this fender mo- tive, remembring thefe words of our Saviour , I thanke Thee, O Fa- ther, Lord of Heaven and Earch, becaufc Thou hafi hid thefe things from the Wife and Prudent, and haft revealed them unto Babes : even fo, O Father, for fo it feemed good in Thy fight. Be fides, if ye compare the Divines, Ancient and Moderne,who are of 'our judge- ment, with thefe who favour your opinion^ either in number, or in the excellency of their gifts , ye fhall fade that in this, the advantage i& greatlie ours. In the meane time ye fhall know, that we can bring far bet.er reafons to free our f elves of prejudice, then thefe which ye have brought again ft us, to wit, the foliditie of our ArgumencS, which have put you to juch ftr aits £ pardon us to fay that,tvhlch every one who have eyes may fee) that oft times ye doe not fo much, as attempt to anfwere them, being glad to paffe them by, with the (bow of an Argument /» contrariuiivr jW* other like jhift: our humble & earnefl attentions , in calli, gGOD,the onel'e competent Judge ,as witneffe of our fincerU tyjnthe wmoft thoughts of our foul;our ferioufly profeffedRefolutiony to concurre with you, fwe fhould get fat is fusion from you,the modef- tie, ingenuitie, and peace able neffe of our writings to you, and on the contrariety mr too great d'fdainfuhejfe and afperitie in your fec/nd Anfweres; beyvraying.nit one He the weakpeffe of your mindes, farre by §ur expectation^ but alfo the wsak*xffe of y^ur caufe to nnpartiall Reader s^who afarive this to the pungent force of ourht° ument Sludg- ing, that they have male yvi fwewhat more chderike then y >u were btfore. T% this wee wdladde the great relttRance, which J we of the 75 To our Brethren. moft Judicious Subfcri bents didfnde in their Confciences , beftrt theyfubferived pur Cov enmi;togct her with the Limitations, and Re* fervations , wherewith they fubfenved it; evidently ar gun: g their ftrong apprehenfion, of the danger out ambignttie and hasks founding eft he words of the late Covenant: fo that even the fe who are nor* joined with you, have been much affrighted with thofe things which temfe us. As for your Protcftacion in the end of your Epistle, that ye can no more be brought to our minde, then ye can be drawn from the frofejfii* of*ur Relgion, as it hdth been reformed, fwomc, &c. AU though this importeth no fmall prejud lefTe eafie, but altogether unprofitable : which we pray you take heed to. How forcible are right words } bnt what doth your arguing re f rove} Job 6. 25. 2. Ye fay, that our objection, againfl: your calling, and the war- rand of your comming to us, wis fnmed and published in Print, be- fore it was proponed unro you. and ere your Anfwcrc could be had. Indeed our Demands were at the Prefie at your comming, rhat tbey might be in readineffe; but were not published , betore your (elves in your Sermons did publickly read 1 hem, and diipute againft them, in audience ot fuch of our People as were there prelent for the time; albeit chat written copie of he n wis delivered to you onely , and not at thit time communicated by us :o any other. 3. Your Authority which ye acclaim, is neither from his Mife- ftie,nor warrandedby AS of Parliament, nor by the Lords of his Majefties Cor.nfell, nor by my Nuionall Synods ot" this Kinedom, nor by any Judicatory ellibliihcd in it. And bo h in yout firft An- fwerey as alfo now again ye profeffe,that ye came not hither to ufurpc the Authority, of any Qvili or Spirituall Judicatorie. As for your multitude^ Duply e s? 77 ^aiJcitu^e, ( which ye call almoft che whole Kirke ana * n ) ic being deftituce of Authority forefaid, maketh no n inary wiling. Therfore,ye feeme to prercnd an extraordinary calling GOD, alleadging an extraordinary neceilitie at this time , which cruely we Tee not in any fuch degree, as may delerve and warr.v greac a change from che received order, which is publickly by I. diablilhed in this Kirke and Kingdom. That faying of the Apoftle, Let uf consider on* another , to provoke unto love, and to good workfs , which ye alleadge for your extraordinary imploymenr, imporccth not an extraordinary calling, but an ordinary duety , to be performed by all Christians, according to their Callings. 4. The Word of GOD, and the Canons of Counfelts, doe to per- mit to Paftors, che care of che whole Kirke, as chey mult remember to doe all things, decently and in order, and not co interpone thern- felvesin cheir Brethrens charges, and againft their will. And pull- ed be GOD, there was not any Combuftion, Errour or Confufion, in thefe places of our charges, as ye doe alleadge: Neicher did our People ftand in need, of fuch helpe from you. And if ye mcane che Combuftion of our Nationall Kirke, we doe chinke your remeed not convenient,- as being, in our judgement , not agreable co che right way of Trueth and Peace. 5. Whereas ye alleadge, that if fome members of this Kirke, had noc cared more kindly, in this time of common danger, then others have done, the whole body had been ere now dangercufly, if noc def- perately , difeafed ; we aniwere , chac we molt heartily wilh , any difeafe of this Church,co be tymoufly prevenced and cured. Bur wich all we with chis ro be done without a rupture, and fuch a dangerous divifion : chiefly feeing our Church is noc infected with any fuch Er- rours, nor is in fuch dangers, as may give ju(t o-cafion, of fo tearful! a divifion : which in it felfc is a fore difeafe, and from which in holy Scripture, we are often, and very earncftly dehorted. Vionyfit* Bu fhop of Alexandria, in his Epiftle to Novation , recorded by Eujebi- us, Lib. 6. HiftcrU Kip iMg. Cap 37. worchily fayech , Ton ought rather to have faff 'ere d any th'ng wkufoever, for avoiding of cutting af under the Kirke of GOD: and Martyr dome for keeping the Kirk? from Schifme, u no lejfe gloriow, then which i^fnjfnedjfor not com* V mining 7* DuPLYEs! mining Idolatry. - ftanciall Difference beiwixt that Oath,& your late Covenant, Where- as ye alleadge , that the warrand which the old Covenant had- from King, Counfell, and Affembly, remaineth virtually, and was never yet dilcharged; we anfwere,it remaineth not, and that becaufe Ki n g James ot blcfled Memory,difalowed that little Confejfion, in rel'pecl: of the inconveniency of the multitude of Neguives, as is cleare by his Majelties words, published in the printed fumme of the confe- rence holden at Hampton Court, Anno 1 60 3 . And no former Ail of Counfell, made in the time of any former King , doeth fuffici- entiy warrand our Confciences to fubferive any Oath now , which feeme'hto us co be dtfagreable to the Act of Parliamen:;and which our prefent Dread Soveraigne LORD, the Ki n g s Maiefty, by his publick Proclamations; and other Intimations of his Royall pleafure, forbiddeth us to iubferive. And as for the Acts of rhefe two Aflem- blies, which did enjoine fi bfcription to rhe faid little Confejfion, they were relative to the Kin g s Mandate, which is now expired by his own Declaration, and with his Royall breath, according ro that co- mon Maxime : M>rte mandator is ex fir at mand'atam. Extra, De officio 'pot eft a? ejudlcis delegate, Cap. 19 reU.fim eft in gl off a t For the injunction was given tor'thattime onely, as we conceive, being vvarranded by the words of thefe AlTemblycs. 11. Thefe that were fuipe& of Pap fine amongfl: us , have not been urged by us to fubferive that negative Conftjfion; but onely forne Articles relative to the National! Ccnfeffiw. And as for fuch as re- ceive degrees, in Phiiofophie, in our Colledges,they doe ivvearc one- (yto the true reformed Religion, as ir is publicMy profeffed and preached, according to oODS word, in this Kirke of Scotland, and eihbliihed by piblicke Authority, with a "enenll abjuruion o£ all, bo h Popuh, and orhcr Hereiies contrary thereto. And thofc who receive degrees of Divinity, doe more exprelly fweare to the Ortho- dox deteriiitmtions of the ancient Catholicke Kirke, as is evident by the words of the Oath, whereof the tenor follower h. EGo A. R.fantte & ex animi coram omn'Jcio & omnipotent^ Deo confiteor cj- profiteor jidem earn qua. de fantta Trwltate, & Aiedatore Emmanxele a fanttis Patribm in [ex primis OEcx- wen i as c melius, contra Pauli Samofateni, Sabellu, Aru,Macedwity Apollina'is, Ne ft or it, Eutjchetis, & Monthelitarnm hxrefes pr.jpo- fita exfl'icata & defenfa eft, efe vere Ch istianam, orthodox am, Ca- tholicam, experts Canomcis fcriptwis hauftam ; Symbolum quoqut fanfti A hanafii ut ft tni liter orthodoxum me recipere. Item me ex a- nimo detest art h*refin Pelaginam, ejufqae reliquias Semipelagianas^ & eas htrefes qi* Imaginibm ant nlli ment creature ?eligiofam con- cedtint adjrationem. Item, me monarch'iam Pap* Romani in univer- [am Ecclejiam,& e)m cum in ^iritualibm turn in temporalibus pri- vatum, & jndi en Pap alls in rcligionis controversies infallibiitatem^ tanquam antiefaiftiana dehr amenta rejtce e. Omnes etiam alias h<£- refes turn ol'm invent as, turn recens fub Romani Pontificis tyranntde natas anathematize . Agnofco S 'pint urn fantl Am in Canon' els f^.cjr TV. Tcstamenti [cripturis per Prephetas, Evangelist as, & Apojiolos lo- qaentem, effe nobx nwctm, fuprcmum , tnfallib'lemy & ordir.ariunt omnium de fide v\taqieChri\Yianacontr aver [tar urn Judicem. Et Sm fcriptnram Canonic is V% ac N. Teflamenti Hbris cwprehenfam ejfi m cam, certam,ftabilem, perfettam , totalem regulam Qdei vitaquc Christian*, turn qu>, ad text urn, turn quoad interpret ationem authen- tic am fei dvm E Ive*bo proponitur decre- dendis, fperandis, amand s, drtlrlnam ejfe orthodoxam, Cat hoi cam. £t ipfam hanc Ecclefi* Scotican* doffrinam, me ad extremam ufque vitdme&halitum conftanterper D E 1 gratiam prof ejf arum & pr§ 9ttfaVQcatiQnedefenff4rHm{anc~te promhto}JHro, Infuper aim* hit's X ttnMrfi- &2 Duply e s J M'/iiverfttaticmhmcfcholaftiC'Am (do&urar Theologies) honor em de« t>ebo,m*m4nqnamlngratumfiittir!4m,{edfemper ei ex amm0 jatittt- mm, cjufque commoda, ple^erlo, fedulo, fide liter promotumm fanfte strnmsorameodem ommfao cjr omnipotent e DEO promhto, juro. Wc, who were graduated here, did fweare this Oath, and now, for fatisfaction of others, we all doefincerly atteftGOD, that we doe and fhall adheare to it, conihntly, all the dayes of our life. 1 2. Ye doe againe objeft to us, that we have prefumed to difal- low your explanation of the late Covenant, which hath beene publick- ly allowed by his Majeities Commillioner : adding therero , that we will have the Kingdome guiltie of combination againi* Authority, & that we will not have the Kin c to be fatisfied; whence ye inferre, that our dealing is more futable to Papifts, and luth incendiaries,then for us; who deiire to prove good Patriots, in ufing all meanes of pa- cification. But certainly ye wrong us : tor what was done by his Ma- jefties Commiflioner,anent your Declaration and explanation of youi Covenant, is evident by his Gracerown letter, lately written to us of that matter; whereby his Grace hath declared,that he was nowayes contented therewith, and that his Majelty harh not received any ia- tisfa&ion thereby. The lame is evident alfo, by his Grace own Ma- nifesto, prefixed to our Demands, your firft Anfweres , and our firlt Replies; reprinted zx. Edinburgh , by his Gr. fpeciall command. To the which Manlfefvo% or Declaration of his MajeiHes high Commif- fioner , we remit the Reader,for his full iatisfa6tion,in this,andfome orher points of your Anjweres. 13= We intend not to beare upon you, and your affociares, ( who take to your felves the name of the Kingdom, here in this y*ur An- fwere ) guiltinefle of combination again!* Authority, as wehave pro- tefted and declared, in the end of our fromer Replyes : but in the tendcrnefle of our Confciences, we doe uprightly i ignirie to you our fcruples,which hinder us from approving or fubferiving youtCovemnt. And we are to free of that odious imputation, of taking part with any Incendiaries, or imitating an$ proceedings of that kinde; as we hear- uty wiih^nd ihaU endeavour,to prove good Pat riocs^Bd Chriftians, IB D u p l y e S," 8 j in fuch evident love of trueth and peaces it fhall be manifeft, that we neither hive beene, nor lhall be Authors, or Fomenters, of this miferable combuttion. 14. Ye are Tory, ye (ay , that we ftiOuld accoimr your Covenant, robe a Contederacieagaintt the trueth ; and ye aflfirme, that ye la- bour vvirh men,io joine with you in lincerity, and not through humane s. Now, reverend Brethren, in the feare of GOD, laying afide all humane feare, we doe iincerely declare , that if we thought your Covenant , in all points ngreable to the truech , we lhould make no oppoficion thereto. And we doe heartily with , that according as ye doe here pr >feffe , lo indeed no mm be threatned with worldly rer- roures, to goe your way. We aimc indeed , at the fame end which yeprotefle, to wit, at the Trueth and purity of Religion, and peace of Church and Kingdom : But we are not as yet perfwided, that your way is lawfull and convenient, for attaining to this end, 1 The II. Duply. \ T\ TEdefireal troubles to be prevented by allowable means, Y/ V/ but are not pen waded to reckon in that number , this your covenanting, and conventions, which we efteeme to have been the occafion of much trouble. As concerning your queftion,whereunto ye fo earneftly require our Anfaere, to wit,whe- ther we would have received the Bwk.es of Service and Canons , or ufed fuch meanes, as ye have ufed for avoiding them? ye fhall know, that if we had been of your judgement , concerning thofe Bookes, we would neither have received them, nor yet ufed any meanes un- lawtull for oppofing of them,( fuch we thinke your Covenant and con- ventions, prohibited by Authority to be , untill we be better infor- med ) but would have ufed humble fupplication to his maje'rtie , for removing thofe evills: and if we had found no remeed thereby,would have reiolyed, according to the practife of ancient Chriftians, either to ftee his Ma jetties dominions,or elfe patiently to fuffer whatioevet punifhment it lhould have pleafed him to infli&.In the meane time, concerning thofe Bwks* °£ Service andGowr/, we reft content wirh his *4 —, r*, _, — , _^ UPLYES. his Mijefties gracilis Proclamation : and if hereafter our opinion o£ them {Trull be asked by Authority, we fhali (incerdy and unpartially declare it. 2. Yo:ir urging of us again, with the faying of Ki n g James, for- ceth us'rom.initeil his meaning by his own words, perhaps cowrry toyo'.:rwi(h or expectation. That molt wile and religious Kin g, neire the beginning of his Booke, concerning the Powder 7 reafj^ wrtreth expreily, that inch a riling up of the bodie, pro ari*,&fjcisy Cr pro pure patrid , ought to be according to every oaes calling and f acultie. Which words at leal* doe import, that the moving of the Politick body, in whole,or in pan,oughr not to be againfl: the will 2c direction of the heid. This is cleareby that which the fame King hath written in his Booke endtuled, The true Law of free Mmarchlesy Whereby many (hong Arguments , hedoeth at length demonit rate, that in a free Monarchie, (fuch he proveth this his ancient King- dom of Scotland to be) the Subjects for no occalion or pretext what- foever,may take Armes, withoutpower trom the K i n g; and much leife agiinft him, whether he be a good K in.g , or an opprelfour; whether godlie , or ungodlie j although the People have might and ftrength humanr. And comprehendeth the fum of all his difcourfe tod edit concerning this matter, in thefe words tollowing. Short He, then, to ann 1 6 1 6 ta^ H? m two or three fentences, grounded upon all tlxfe Argument S$ * out -of the Law of GOD, the duety and alleadgeance of the People x& 20*i " t^eir l*wf:itt King: their obedience, I fay, .ought to be to him, as ta GODS Lievtenant in Earth, obeying his commands. m all things, ex* cept directly aga'nfl GOD, as the commands of GODS Minister; ac- knowledging him a judge fet by G O D over them , having power to judge them, but to be judged oncly byG O D, whvme to or.ely he mush give count of his judgement. Fearing him, as their judge; I wing him as their Father; praying for him, as their Protettor ; for his continu- ance , if he be g ,od; for his amendement,'f he be wicked-following and obeying his hwfill commands , ef chewing and flee' ng his furie in his Hnlawfull, without refinance, but by fobbesand teares to GOD, accor- ding to thatfentence ufed in the primitive Church in the time of th$ per J "edition, Preces & lachrymfi, funt arma Ecclefia : .that is, Pwyersand Tears, are the amies of the Church. 3. Yd DupLYks; 85 3. Ye rold us before, and now againe doe repeat it, that the firft parr of che A£t of Parliament 1 58 5 , is relative to anorher Act in Qjeen Marks time, forbidding Bands of Manrent. We knew thac fufticiently before ye told it, and parted by that part of your At.fwere, as not percinenr for our Argument: fo that ye needed not now a- gaine, to put us in minde of it. But we may 'juftly challenge you, for not aniwering that which we objected , concerning the fecond pare of that Ac*; for it reacheth farther, then that Act made in Queen Maries time, and of new ftat uteth and ordaineth, That in t'me com* mingy no Leagues or Bands be made amongft his MaesTies Subjects of any degree , upon whatsoever colour or pretence, without his High* tieffe or his fucceffoures privity and confent, had and obtained thereto; finder the paine to be holden and execute a* movers of [edition and un* qxyetneff'e, &c. Whereunto alfo is confonanr the 131. A£t made in the 8 Parliament of King James the fixt, Anno 1 584; where it is ftatuted and ordained by the Kin g and his three eftates, that none of his Highneffe Sub jells of whatfoever quality, eft ate , or f unci ton they be of, spiritual! or temporally prefume or take upon hand to convocate^ ionveane, or ajfemble themf elves together, for holding of Councellsy Conventions, or Afemblyes, to treat , crnfult, and determinate in a* ny matter of eftate , Chill or Ecclepafticall ( except in the ordinary judgements ) without his Majefties ffectall commandement, or exprcs licence had and obtained to that ejfe£ty under the paine s ordained bj the Lowes and Alls of Parliament, againft fuch as unlawfully eonvocatc the Kings Liedges. And whereas ye finde fault, that wedifpute from the Ad of Parliament , and that we doe precifely adheare to the letter of the Law, we pray you to confider,that the nature of this queftion leadeth us to the Act of Parliament. Beiide, it feemeth ftrange, thit ye fhould challenge us in this kinde , fince for juftifying of your union ( as ye call it ) ye have amafled a great number of Acts of Parliament , and inferred them in the booke of your Covenant, We omit the mifapplying of thefe Acts, which were made againft Popery, and not againft all thefe things , which ye doe now reiift as Popifh. Neither can we perceive, how thele A6ts of Parliament ad- duced by }ou, ro juftifie your union , prove that point. Moreover, fome of thefe Ads cited by you, as namely , the 1 14 Act made in Y Parliamen Z6 Duply is? Parliament Ann* 1 592,111 fo farre as it is againft Epifopall Gdvero* menr, and all other of that fort , are exprefly refcinded by a pofte- rior Acl made in Parliament Anno 1 6 1 2. How could ye in a le°all difpute, for j unifying your union, produce refcinded Acts, as if they were fhndmg Lawes, and p.ifle by the pofterior Acts, which are yet Lawes Ihndmg m vigour, whereby chele other Ads are refcinded? *i (jLilayin^iftti tTLi*rx%tis i\xvf6'rhtLi n*y °7* ***** tint, 1. Z.Con- flitutiones tempore pjjteriures,potiores funt his qu* iff as prtceffcrtiB*. ff de conftitutionibus Prtncipum, L. 4. 4. We doe adheare in our former Rtplye, not onely to the Let- ter, but alfo (according to our conception, without prejudice of bet- ter information ) to the very reafon and life of the Law. The fen- XII. TVz-tence cited by you, to wit , Sains Reipub. fupremalex efto, or the bularum fafetj of the Common-Wealth jhould be the chief e Law, ferveth for a fragment a good direction to Rulers, in making or changing of Lawes , or in de officio judging according to them : whence in the Lawes of the 12 Tables, confute, theie words are applied to this purpofe. This is obferved by K 1 n g Regio im- fames of bleffed memory, in his ofcen mentioned Book of the true perio duo Law of free Monarchies : For albeit, fayeth he, that I have at length funto: licfe prove d> that t he K 1 n g is above the Law,a& both the author andgiv- pr&cmdo , er of ftrength thereto; yet a good King will not onely delyte to rule his indicando, Subjetts bj the Law bit even will conforme himfelf in his own alii- confulendo ons thereunto, alwayes keeping that ground, that the health of the co- pr Mores , mon-Wc tilth be his chief e Law. And where hefceth the Law doubt- judices/o'fome, or rigor ow, he ma) interpret^ or mitigate the fame, left other* fales appel wife iummutn jus be fumrna injuria: But this fentence doth no,vayes lantonmi- warrand Subjcfts to refufe obedience to Handing Lawes, againft the lititfum- will of the Supream Law-giver, who is a fpeaking Law. For this mum jus were to open a doore to all confufion, which would not prove rhefa- habento,ne fety, but the ruine of the Common-Wealth. As for that which yc mini par en faid before of the Gene rail Band, and ConfeUion of Faith, and whick to. S^hH here agiin ye doe alleadge for your Covenant , we have fignified our popuR fu- opinion thereof , in our preceeding Duply. The refponfes and ver- prema lex &&s of Juril-Confults concerning your Covenant, are not known to eft, „ us, nor yet the reafons and inducements, which moved them to give out their declaration in your favoures, as ye alleadge. Of DUPLYES. tf Of Obedience, due by Sub jeft*, to Authoritie. 5. The point touching Royall Authority, is nor Co full of thorns and rocks as ye give our , it men would be pleafed unpartially to hold the plain and patent way, laide before us by holy Scripture, and by Orrhodox Antiquity, and by many Eminent Divines in the re- formed Church , and learned Politicks; which we fhall here make manifeft, after the vindication of thofe three famous Theologues, ( Whitaker, B 'If on, and Rivet) whom ye would have the Reader to erteem favourers of your opinion. 6. Doctor nhltakers words againft William Raynold , tranGated into Englifh, out of the Latine Edition at Oppenheme , Anno 1612. Pag. 5 1. are thefc, He relateth the timttlts and troubles, which were raifed for Religion, in Germany, France, and Boheme : m if that one thing were fftfpclent to andemne them , becaufc once they did oppofe themfelves, and refifted the violence offered toG O D S Trtteth, and to them (elves : Whereat notwithstanding, Fayth, Oath, andpttbllckg Edltts,& finally the Lawes themfelves gave them warr and to doe the fame. I will njtfay more of this matter, which is nowlfe pertinent t* the prefent pttrpofe, especially feeing n$t onely their jftft Apologle, bite *Jfo the Edi&s of 'the Princes themfelves have liberated them from the crime of Rebellion. By t hele words of Doctor Wlnitaker , which ye Jiave cited, the Reader may eafily perceive, that he doth nowayes manxain or allo.ve taking of Ames by Subjects, without warrand of the publick Lawes , and approbation of the Prince ; but excufeth what was done in thofe warrcs , by the allowance of the Lawes and Edicts of Princes. 7. So alfo Doctor Bilfon, in his Book entituled, The true differ ecc betwixt Christian (abjection, and nnchrifiian Rebellion , Printed at Oxford Anno 1585, Pag. 382. in the wordes cited by you, declar- cth evidently , thit he fpeaketh of fuch Republickes and States , as have defences warranded by fundamental! Covenant , in that Go- vernment. But what is that Doctors minde , concerning the duetie tf Subjects, in a free and abioluce Monarchy , is evident by his own worcl* 32 ~~~ Duplyes: words in that fame book, Pag. 380, wheredifptitingagainfta Jefuir, he fayeth; fVarre for the Cawolick^Religion}ts both lawfull and honou- rable^ you fay : you mult adde , of the Subjetts againsl their Prince, or elje yo% range cleane be fides our queflion. Weflrive not what caufes way leadChrijlian Princes to make Warre on their Neighbour esy but Tvhe.her it be law full or to/ 1 or able for the Subject, to be are Armes again ft his naturall and abjoltte Prince. Ton prove ywh\ch is nothing to oar purpofe. B ny Sir, in this enter 'priz^e , the perfon mufi be re- setted as well as the caufe : Be the cavfe never fo j*ft, if the perfon be not authorised by GOD to draw the Swordjhey be no jn& nor law- full Warre . Private men may not venter on fVarres , unleffe they be dircttly warranded by him that hath the Sword from GOD. And a- gain in that fame Book, Pag. 502 , GVr Saviour for teaching his, that they fhould be brought before Kings and Ruler syand put to death, and hated of all men for His Name Jake : addethnot , as you would have ity and he that firft rebelled, bdt , hje that endureth to the end, {hall be faved; and again, Not with violence reftrain themtbut in pa- tience pr, 30, and 33. and 37. telieth vs, that the ancient Chriftians in his time, although havin° a» heathen and perfecting Emperour,did honour him,as chofen of GocJ, and fecond from GOD, and tirft after GOD, ancl did choofe rather to fuffer, then to make refinance by force of Armes , although they lacked not number, and ftrength to doc it. 11. The like example have we in that renowned Thebexn Legion of 6666 Chriftian Souldiers, called Agannenfes^ from the place of their f uffering, who without making rdiftance , as they had ftrength of h 2nd to have done, futfered themfelves rather to be (lain, for their Chriftian profetfion, by the Officers of Maximian the Emperour, executors of his cruell commandement againft them. This fell out in the 18 yeare of Diocletian^ Ado Viennenfis vvriteth in his Chronicle, which was the yeare of GOD 207, as Cardinali Baronius reckoner h in his Annalls. And of that their Chriftian cowrage, and pious reso- lution, Vsnanuus Ponmatw, an ancient Bifhop of Poittiersjtizth left unto us thefe Encomiafticke lynes, in the fecond book of his Poems, Biblioth. Patr. Tom. 8. Edit. 4. Pag. 781. Octets , poftti* gladips^jtint ar.mac dogmate Panliy Nomine pro CHKISTI dnlcins effe mori. PeBore belllgero pot er ant qui vincere ferro, Invltant jugulis vulnera charafni*. 12. Grtgorie Naz,ianz,eny'mh\s firft Oration ,fpeaking of the per- secution by Julian the Apottate , when the Chriftians were moe in number, and ftronger in might of hand,to have made open refiftance, if they had in their confeiences found it agreable to their. Chriftian profetfion,declareth plainly,that they had no other remedy againft that perfection, but patient faff ering for Chrift, with gloriat ton in Chrift. Vv e^a «•/!•? irn'Sla. papf.*H«T) /*l*V \t\l (IS t'ikkv , (Jy Xf rmay re/ift.quam VH And m thefecond book of his Epiftles, and 14 EpilHe , to h:s Sifter deferam, Aforf Rogamus , Augu(ley non pugnamus. . Trader e Baflicam non poffum, fed repugnare non debeo, 14. Such alfo was the do&rine and pracYife of many other great Lights^ which fhined in the dayes of Julian the Apofiate , and in the dayes of tbe^rW^wEmperoures, and Gothicke Arrian Kings. 15. S. A tgus~l /^writing of a lawfull Warrc,acknowledgeth that only robe lawfull, which hath authority from the Prince. For it is Interejf e- much to be regarded, ( fayeth he ) for what caufes, and by whofe an- nim quib* thorny, men undertake Warres : But that natural I order, which is ac- caufts.q'ti- commodated to the peace of mortall men, requlreth this, that the an- buf% an* thority and counfell of undertaking warre,be in the power of the Prince, thorib* ho- mines ge- renda bella fufcipiant : or do tamen Hie naturalis , mortalium pad accomodates hoc pofcit, ut fttfeipiendi belli authority , at que conflium penes Principem fti Aug. Lib. 22. contra Fauftum, Cap. 75. 1 6. The imperial Lawes doe fay the fame, f. Ad legem Juliam majeflatis. Leg. 3. Eadem lege tenet ur , cjr qui injuffu Prmapis hel- ium gefferit, ddetlumve habuerit, exerdtum cemparaverit. EtCod*. ut armor urn ufpts injcioPrltdpe irterdiHtu ft. Nttlli prorfus nobis infdis , at que inconfultit quorum I i bet armor urn movendorum copia tribuatur £* DuPtYEsi tribmtnr. Thefe 'are the words of the Emperoure* Valenuman 'an4 f*/*/*/. £r CW. /*£//>*, Cap. 10. Num. 1$ f and 1 56, ( Pag. 244. £<&Y. iW/W. 4. #r/>//. ^»o 1 601 . ) reckon- eth among the proper rights of Majtlty,the right and power to nuke Warre : and this he fliOweth to appertain , in a free Monarchic > t« the Prince onely. 18. To this meaning fayeth Peter Martyr; As concerning the efficient cauie, it is certain chit Warre may not be made without the authority of the Prince. For Paul fayeth , that he beareth the Sword : therefore he may give it to whome he willeth, and may take it from whome he willeth. Loc. Com. Claf. 4. Cap. 1 6. $ 2. And a little after, to wit, $ 7. he reciteth and commendeth a faying of Hoftienfis to the fame purpofe. 19 .Calvlrty in thefourch Book of his Inftitutions^n the laft Chap, ter of that Book, difputethrhe Queflion at length , and by many ftrong Arguments evinceth, and concluded), that it isnowifelawfull for Subjects , to refift their Prince by force of Armes; whether the Prince be godly, and juft; or ungodly, and unjuft in his converlation, and commandements : and, that nothing remaineth to Subjects in fuch a cafe, but to obey or fuffer. Where underftand , that Fleing is a fort of Suffering. Neither are his words fub;oined in the 31 Sett, to wit, I fpeake alwife of private men , &c. contrary to this. For firrt Calvin in this Difpute, inditferently ufeth the names of private men, and Subjects : And therefore , in the 22 Sett, at the <7ocro- beginning of it, hetermeth thofe of whole duety he difputeth, Sub- tiusde ik- ic^s- Anc^ ^n^ce<^> whofoever is a Subject, is alio, in refpeel; of the re belli & fuPKarn Ruler, a private man. Although M:igi(trats,who are under Paris lb 1 tncKlNG>be publick perfons,in refpectof thcr Infenours; yet be- cap A ' ino c°nfidered, with relation to him that is Supream, 1. Pet. 2. 1 $# mm 6 t'lc^ arc '3UC Pr*vate« As *n &*leftkks , an intermediate^;^, al- though in refpe& of the inferiour ffecies , it be & genus; yet in rela- tion to the fuperiour genus jit is but a species. .All Power of Govern- ing, is fofubjecled to the Supream Power , that whatfoever is done agaiaft D u ? l y e £» 53 againft the will of the fupream Ruler, is deftitute fef that Power; and coniequently, is to be eiteemed tor a private act. For, as we are caught by the Philofophers , Order can not be, but with a reference io that which is firft. Hence King Jam e s, in his Book of The true Averron Law office Monarchies, Pag. 206. affirmeth, that all the People are 5. Meta- but private men, the authority being alwlfe with the Maglftrate. Se- phjf. com- condly, this is manifeft from the very words of Calvin, in that fame mem. 6, 31 Sett, for there heexcepteth none from the neceflity of obeying, or futfering, when Kings command things unjuft; but onely popular Magiilrars, appointed for retraining the licenrioufnefle of Kings. Now, where fuch Magiftrats are erected, it is certain, that a King, infuch a Common-wealth, hath not the fupream power : For if he hid the fupream power, none could force him, fince an Inferiour can not force his Superiour. This can not be done, but onely by hrm,who is Superiour, or at leaft equall. Thirdly, this is clear alio by the ex- amples adduced by Calvin ; namely, the Lacedemonian Ephorl, the Roman tribunes, and the Athenian Dcmarchl. When the Ephori Were fee up in Lacedamon, the Kings of Lace demon, were but Kings See Hugo in name, and had not the Supream power , as it is confetfed by the Grotius,^ Learned. So when the Tribunes had their full power in Rome, the Jure belli Supream power was in the People : and in hke manner it was in A. & pacis, thens, when the Vemarchi had power. Therefore, from this nothing Pag . 66. can beinferred for the lawfull refiftance of Subjecls,to a Monarch, or where he King, properly fo called. Fourthly, Calvin applying this to the King- citeth fun- domes tbac now are, fayeth no more,but that peradventure the three dry anciec Eilates affembled in Parliament, have that fame power, which the Authors, fore-mentioned Ephori, &c. had. Here iris to be marked, that he fayeth onely, peradventure it is fo ; which can be no warrand to a mans confcience,in a matter of (0 great importance. For he that re- filleth his Superiour by force of Armes, (hould not onely thinke, that peradventure he hath power, but fhould be affuredly perfwaded, that he hath power fo to doe. When there is no more faid, but that pcr- tdventure fuch a thing is, it may be as reafojdplie faid , Peradven- ture fuch a thwg is not. Neither doeth he give this power even per- adventure,but to the three Eftates aflembled in Parliament. Hence che learned &w, fpeaking of Calvm his mindein this place,fayeth, A a chag 94 Duplye §2 Rivet , in that hegiveth no power to feople over Monarch* , proper Ij fo tailed hxsjcfmta The fame alfo is oblerved, concerning Calvin his minde, by Alien* vapulans , ens Gent His, in his third Royal Diffutc. Cap. 13. 20. The lame doctrine alio is delivered by King James of blef- fcd Memory, in his Book entituled The true Law of free Monarchies^ by Hugo Grot tus in his firft Book de jure belli ejr pacisy Cap. 4. by Leonhartus Huttems, in h«s common places., Locm$i. Cap. 3. Jo- hannes Gerhardtis in the 6 Tom. of his comon places, in his Treatife de maftittratu politico^ Num. 48 3. where he difcourfeth accurarly of this matter: Zepperus'm his 3. Bookie Politia Ecc lefiaftica ,inthe laft Section of the 1 3 Chapter,/^ 57 3. Edit. Berborn. 1595. Al- bericus Gentilisjn his regall difputations, disjut. 3. ^ vi avium in Regemfemper injufia. J^Bifhop of Rochefter ,in his work writrei* againft Bellarminey de pot e si ate Papa tn rebus temporalibus, Lib. 1. Cap. 8. Claf. 2. Where he adducerh a clowd of many moe Au- thors. M . Antonius deDominisjn his Bcok called Oftenjio error um Francifci Suarez, , Cap. 6. § 27. Johannes Angelius Werdcnhagen* I. C. in his Politic 'a generalise Lib. 3. Cap. lo.Q^efl. 14. 2 1. By thefe Tet?imonies we intend not to by upon you , or any of our Country men, any imputation, or to take upon us 10 give fen- tence concerning their proceedings : but oneiy being invited hereto, by your laft An[voeres^z thought it our duety,to (ignifie to ihe Read- er, that many ancient and late famous Writters are not of that opi- nion, either to think the queftion touching Authority, fo full of Rocks and Thorns, as you call it, or yet to favour lucha d.fenfive taking of Armes,as you think to be allowed by f^hitaker^Bilfon^ and Rivet* 22. Now to profecute what remaineth of your A^fwere : where- as ye fay, that when ye juftifie your Covenants and Conventions/rom their purpofed ends, ye meane not oneiy the laft andmoft remote ends, but the nea reft and immediate ; we pray you tell us what ye meane by the neareft and immediate end : if ye meane the object it it felfe,( which the Schoole-men call finem intrinfecum & proximum) then the lawfulneffe 3&cj, equity of the matter, vowed and promifed in the Covenant j& all one with the goodneffe of the end of it. Whence We inferre, that feeing the matter promifed by you in this your Co- venant^ to wit, your mutuall defence againft all perfons, none excep- ted. Dun. yes; 95 ted, Is ia our judgement unlawf ull, and forbidden by a lawfull Au- (honey; the end, of your Covenant is meerly cvill : but if by the near- eft end ye mcanc any thing which is diverfe from the object , theft we liill affirme againft the laft pare of your rirlt Anfwere> to our fc- cond Demand'ythiz Conventions,and Covtnantsymd all other anions, are to be cileemcd and judged of, firft or principally by the equity of the object, and rhen by the goodneffe of the ends of it, whether they be fixes proximi, or fir.es remotl. 23. We doe not joync with the Papifts , blamers of our Rcfor- KUtion, ( as ye ieemc ro beare upon us ) becaufe they hate and op- pugneour reformed Religion , wnich we love* and defend. Neither doe we take upon us to cenfure the proceedings of our Reformers: but weftryve,by rheGraceof GOD, fo to carry in our own time, and to walke wilely in a perfect way, as our adversaries the Papiftes,may get no advantage to pleade for their unwarrantable doctrine and pra&ifes, by any pretence of our example. The III. Duply. IN your third Advert, patting lightly from our Reply, ye fall int* fome unexpected aigreiiions, concerning the Service Book^znd. our thoughts thereof : we eiteeme it a matter beyond the com. pafs of humane judicatory , to lit upon the thoughts of other men. As for thofc outward expreflions, which ye alleadge upon fome of us, of not feeing erroures in that Pook, or groaning for it ; ye fliall un- derstand, that iuch multiplicity of Popith erroures , as was alleadged by fome of you, to be in that Book, wis mvifible to fome of us. Al- though ro enter in a particular examination or cofide ration ,of every poynt and fentence in that Book, is not now time nor place. Neithet did any of us profefle groaning for that Book in particular, but for an, uniformity of divyne Service throughout this Nationall Kirk y and a more perfect forme then we yet have, that the publick Service were not permitted to the feverall judgements, and private choife of every Minifter and Reader. Which alio was thought convenient by the Na- tionall Affembly of the Kirk of Scotland , holdenat Aberdene, A»m 1 616. a. Whether •* DUP'LYIS 2. Whether that Service B)0\^ (now difcharged) contained any Innovation of Religion, or any thing contrary to the Proteftant Re- ligion, (as ye alleadge) we doe not difpute now. But we doe affur- edly believe, rhe piety and fincerity of His Majefties intention, ever to have been, and ftill conftanriy to be, as it is gracioufly declared by His Majeliies late Proclamation. And we are certainly perfwaded, that His Majefty hath given order, to difcharge alUhe A&s of Coun- fell,made anenc the Canons and Service Bookj> and are credibly in- formed, that they are dilcharged by A& of Counfell, [at Holy-R0o for removing of any juft Feares , that his iacred Majetty fhould difallowe that Service Book^ as ye require; but it was fufficient, to difcharge it, in manner forefaid. 3. Ye doe conclude your Anfwere unto our third Replye, wirh an uncouth and incredible Pcfition , whereof ye bring no proofe at all, but onely this bare Affertion; Whofoever profeffe themfehesyto bee perfectly fatisfied with the Proclamation, doe proclalme In the ears of all the Kingdom, that they are better pleajed with the Service Book, and Canons, then with the Religion , as it hath been prof effed In this Land fmce the Reformation. This your Thefts, is fo evidenrly weak, that we need no more for the over-throw thereof , but to oppofc thereunto this our playn and undenyable Ami: hefts ; who profeffe themfelves to be perfectly fatufied with that Proclamation , whereby the Service Book, and Canons are difcharged, and the Religion pro- fejfe din this L&idfince the Re f 'or mat i on, is eftablifhed, dee proclaims in the ears of all the Kingdom, that they are better pleafed with the Religion profe fed In this Land fmetht Reformation, then with the Service Book, and Canons. THE The IV.Duplt; YEl alleadged before, and now again doe afn*rme,thar we have miftaken your Interpretation of the old Covenant , as if ir had been given out judicially by you, and, as if ye had intended to tnforce it upon others. To free your felves of this imputation, ye faid in your firlt Anfwere, that ye intended onely To make knowne joht own meaning according to the mynde our Reformers , and in charity t§ recommend it to others. Hence we inferred in our Reply e , that ye ought not to obtrude your Interpretation upon us, nor moleft any man for not receiving the fame. To this now ye fay in your fecond Anfwere; Although y ott neither vfe threat Kings, nor obtrude your In- terpretation upon ns,yet wemttft far don yon, if ye match tanot with the great eft part of this Kingdom, in rvhofe name, by all fair meanes ycrccommendittoM. Truely, Brerhren, we are not offended with you, for preferring the judgement of fo many, to our judgement,who are but few in number : neither need ye to crave pardon of us for this. But concerning thefe faire meanes , and that force of reafon whereby, ye fay, ye recommend your Interpretation of the old Co-, venant to us, pardon us, if the experience we have , both of your writings and proceedings , make us to oppofe this your affertion. For in your writings we expected indeed, but have not found that force of reafon,whereof ye fpeake: and as for the proceedings of thofe who have fubferived your Covenant, we of all men haveleatt reafon to believe that they ufe no threatnings/eeing we hear daylie fo muck their threatnings againft our lelves. 2. Whereas for clearing of that which ye faid before, concerning the minde of our reformers, ye affirme, that The authoritative judge* ment of ottr reformers is evident, not only by the confejfton of Faith ra- tified in Parliament, but alfo by the books of Difcipline, Acts of Gene* rail AJfembl'es, and by their own writes : Firft, we marvell , how ye can fay, that theprivare writings of Matter Knox, and others, who with him were inftruments of that great worke ot Retormation,have publtcke Authority to obliedge the Subjects of this Kingdom. The legifUtive, and obligatory power of the Church, is only in Synods or B b conventions D U P t Y E s) conventions ©f Bifhops and Presbyters , and not in particular petw fons expretfing their minds aparc. Next, this Church in the former age, by abrogating the office of Supenntendants , clUbliftied in the firtt book of Difcipline,hath declared, that the ftatutsand ordinances contained in thofe books, are not of an authority perpetually obliga- tory, but may be altered or abrogated by the Church , according to the exigencie of ryme. The fame likewile is maniftlt by the ^bro^a- tion of lummary excomunication, which this Church did aboliih, al- though ic wis eftablifhed in Cenerall Aflemblies, wherein Maftei Khox> and other Reformers were prefent. We need not to infift much in this, feeing fo many of you, who are Subfcribents, mif- re- gard the ordinances of our Reformers, prefixed to the Pfalm Book* concerning the office of Superintendants, or Bifliops, Funerall Ser- mons, and fet formes of Prayer, wfrch they appointed, to be pub- lickly read in the Church. Hence the Reader may perceive, that ye have no warrandfor your Interpretation of the old Covenant , from the authoritative, and obligatory judgement, of the Reformers; fee- ing ye can not ground it upon theConfeffion of Faith ratified in Par- liament. As for thofe other meanes mentioned by us, to wit, Scrip- ture, Antiquitie,and confent of the retormed Churches, that they tru- ly make for us, and againft you, the unpartiall Reader may perceive by thefe ©ur Difputs. J .Whether or not Epifcopacie and T> earth Articles, be abjured in the late Covenant. 3. As for the fecond mistaking menrionedby you in your An- fwere, we did /how in our Rep!yey 1 hat in your Covenant , Pearth Ar- ticles, and Epifcopacy, are abjured. And for proving of this , we afkedof you,whar ye memedby the recovery and liberty of the Gof- pell, as it was eihblifhed and profeffed before the forelaid Novati- ons ? and what is rhat period of ty me,to which your words there have reference ? that is , Whether it be that period of time, when the Service B 90k > and Book of Canons , were urged upon you ? or if it be the time, when Pearth Articles , and Epifcopacy , were received in this Duplyes: SJ in this Church > But, truely, your Arfwtre to this , is nowife fatis- faftory, nor hith (a much as a ihow of fatisfa&ioD. For ye arc afraid to cxprcflc that period of time, left ye be forced to grant, that which ire before objected. And yet your fpcach bewriyeth you : For feeing ye anfwerc oncly to thic which we faid concerning the laft of thefe two periods, we colled, that by the recovery of the liberty and puri- ty of the GoipeH , as it was eftablifhed before the fore-laid Novati- ons, ye mean i n: reducing of the Policy of this Chi reft, unco that c- ftate in which it wis, betore P earth Articles, and Epiicopacy, were eftablifhed. And hence we inferre, as we did before, that in that part of your Covenant, ye condemne and abjure Peart h Articles, and Epiicopacy, as contr. ry to the Purity and Liberty of the Gofpell. 4. Yefeeme to aniwere, that in that part of your Covenant, ye condemne not, Pe>mh Articles, and Epitcopacy, but thofeabufes 8c corruptions, which have accompanied them ; fuch as the Superflu- ous obferving of dayes, cetfuion from work on thofe dayes, Feafting, Guyfing, and the groffe abufes, which have entered in the Sacramet, upon kneeling belore the Elements: and, that in refped of thefe a- bufes, we who allow Peanb Articles , and Epiicopacy, may fwearc without prejudice of our caufe, to recover the Purity and Liberty of the Gofpell, ask was eftabliihed, and profefled, before theie Novations. 5 . But, firft, let any inditferent, or unpartiall man, who knoweth the ftate of our Church, judge, whether or not it be lykely,that your Vowe, of the recovering the Liberty and Purity of the Gofpell, as it Was before Epifcopacy, and P earth Articles, were introduced, im- porteth onely an intention of removing of the confequents of Pearth Articles, and Epifcopacie, and not of the removing of thoi'e things themielves ? Truely we are peri waded, that they who know the ftate of this Church, and your mind, concerning cheie things , will think this your Gloffe of your own words, to be violent, and excogitated for eluding our Argument. 6. Secondly : Who can th:nke, that ye, and others, contryvers of the late Covenant ^ who condemne Pearth Articles, and Epifcopacic, as much as yc doe the confequents ot them, have only vowed, to re- aiove their confequents, and not remove tkemfelves ? 7, Thir-cW 100 DUPLTES, 7. Thirdly, is it poffible, that any can promife and vow, to labout for che curing of fo many , and fo great pretended deieafes of this Church, ( we meane thefe abufes which ye fay , have accompanyed Peart h Articles and Epifcopacie,) and in the mean time promife,and intend nothing concerning the removing of the caufes of them ? 8. Fourchly, how can we, without great prejudice of our caufe, acknowledge, that thefe groffe abufes mentioned by you , have cn- tred in the Sacrament , by kneeling before the Elements ( ye fhould have faid at the receiving of the Elements} for feeing kneeling at the receiving of the Sacrament , is confeifed by us to be a mat- ter indifferent; if in our Oath, we acknowledge thefe groffe abufes to have entred in upon kneeling, it will probably follow in the judge* ment of fome, and in our judgement, who recommend this Oath wu to us, it will follow infallibly, that kneeling for the evill confequences thereof, ought to be removed. Doe ye nor here cunningly deale with us ? For although ye urge us not, as ye fay, to fweare and promile the removing of kneeling, yet ye urge us, by yo?r own confeflion, to promife the removing of thefe abufes occasioned by kneeling : which being acknowledged by us,ye will then take upon you to demonftratc, that kneeling it felfe ought to be removed : for ye hold it for a Max* ImCy that things indifferent, being abuied and polluted with Superfti- tion, fhould be abolifhed. We cannot fi fficiently marvell, how yee who are of this migde, can fay to us , that we who allow Pearth Ar- ticles and Epifcopacie, may fweare to recover the liberty and purity of the Gofpell, as it was before, drc. For ye meane, that we may doe fo, without prejudice of our caufe. But we have already (hown, that according to your judgement and doctrine, if we fweare thatwhick ye would have us to fweare, our caufe fhall be much prejudged, yea, utterly loft. 9. Fiftly : How can we fweare, to remove thofe groffe abufes en- tered in upon kneeling, as ye alleadge; feeing we rhinke,that no fuch abufes have enrered in upon it ? Yea,our People,try them who pleafe, will lhow,that they are as free from all erronious conceis,conccrning that holy Sacrament , as any living in thefe Congregations where kneeling is daylie cryed down. 10. Sixtlie, as for thefe abufes and corruptions, reckoned up by you I ou, as the consequents of the obfervation of Fcftivall dayes, to pafs y chat which before we marked concerning Kneeling, to wit, that the granting of this were a great prejudice to our caufe,fome of thefe are not abufes at all, as, ceilation from work. Again, fome of them have not come in upon the obiervation of the Articles of Pearth^ ai Guyfing, and Fearing, ( ye mean excetfive Feaftmg, for otherwife it is not an abuie) which onely fall forth on Christmas Feftlvhie. For fure we are, that thefe abufes have not come by the annivcrfary com- memoration oiCHRISTS Nmvitiet in the which by the ordinance of Pcartb Affembly, all Superftitious obfervation, and Prophanarion of that day, or any o:her day, is prohibited, and appoynted to be re- buked. This che reverend and learned Bilhop of Edinburgh^ in his defence of the Ad of Pearth Affembly, concerning Fettiviiies, Pag. 63. proveth, becaufe (fayeth he) we have lacked preaching upon Chrilt-mis-day, thefe fifty feven years bygone, in our Church , yec Ryo:, Prophinaeffe, Surf et , and Drunkenneffe , have not beene wanting. xi. Seventhly,as for Superftitious obfervation of dayes, (whereof hirhero we have had no experience) we marvell, that ye can reckon it, amongft che confequents of the obfervation of dayes : lee- ing in your judgement , it is all one with the obfervation of dayes. For ye think the obfervation of any day , except the LORDS Day, to be, in the own nature of it, Superftitious, and Will-worihip, 12. As for the laft part of your An[werc to our Argument ■, con- cerning the forefaid period of time ; where ye alleadge, that many corruptions of Popiih and Arminian doctrine , have entered in the Kirke, &c. we aske you, Whether ye defigne here another period of time, then ye did before ? or if ye defign onely this felf fa me pe- riod of time, Lin the which both the forefaid practical! abufes , and thefe Dodrinall ccrruptions,have entered into this Church, accom- panying^ ye alleadge,iVrfn h Articles,and Epifcopacy ? ) Or, laft of all, If ye defign no period of time at all ? If ye take you to this laft, profefling, that ye have here defigned no period of time; then ye an- fwere notour Argument, wherein we particularly, and exprefly po- fed you, concerning that period of time,unto which your words cited oft before^have reference. If ye defign the fame period of time,rhen C c look #€T2 DUUYI^ look how ye ttn efcape our preceeding Arguments , concerning tfcft period of time. 13. But if ye defign an other period of time , then we aske yot?, Whether it be prior or pofteriory to the period of time already men- tioned; to wit, the time preceeding the bringing in of the Articles of Pearth ? Ye can not fay, that it is pofferior to it : for ye complain^ of Amman corruptions , even before Pearth Aflembly; bran. ding fome of the moft learned of our Church, with that Afperfion. And of Popifh corruptions of Doftrine , ye complained,when Pearth Articles, and Epiicopacy were eifoblifhed. For the Do&rins, of the lawfulneffe and expediency of thefe things, are, in your judgement-, meerly Popifh, and Antichriftian. Neirher can ye fay, that it is pi* or to the forefaid period of time: for the time preceeding the infring- ing of Pearth Articles, comprehended all that tra& of time whick inrerveened betwixt the Reformation, and Pearth Aflembly. 14. But we will yet more evidently convince you , by two other Arguments, drawn from that part of your Covenant , of which we are now fpeaking, and from the words of this your Anfwere to our fourth JZeplye; for hrft in your Covenant ye promife, and alfo will have us to promife with you, To forbeare for a time, thepraftife of Pearth Ar- ticles, untill they be tryed, as ye fay, in a free Aflembly. But this for- bearance imporcerh a manifeft prejudice, and wronging of our caufe: for this is a fore-acknowledgement , either of the unlawfulnefle, or elfe of the inexpediency of the matters, concluded in Pearth Aflem- bly. For wherefore ought we in this exigence of the Church, r 0 for- bear the prac-Yife of Pearth Articles,rather then of other Rites of the Church,except for fome greater evill comprehended in them ? This will appear more evident, if we fhall confider the reafon alleadged by you, Pag. 17, wherefore we ought now to forbear the pra&ile of thefe Articles: to wit, becaufe in rhe cafe of Scandall, andienfiblc fear of Superftition, we ought to doe fo. Now this cafe of Scandall is not in your judgement, a temporary, but a perpetuall confequent of Pearth Articles. For ye think it will ever Scandalize the Papifts, as if we were approaching to them : Likewife ye think every one of them, and efpecially Kneeling, to be indu&ive to finne, ex cctiditi- 9tc opcrisy by the very nature and quality of the work it felf. Whence it.fol- Duplies: *ej it followetb, that they artieceffarily and imniutablie fcandalous; for ffhariocvcr agreeth to any thing , in rcfpeft of the nature of it, it agrccth ncceflarily and immutably. If therefore wc in this refpect, fwear the forbearance of Fttrtb Articles, we (hall be holdcn to for- bear Ptarxb Articles, not for a time, but for ever. \ . 15. Next, we pray you confider , what is meaned by the foresaid Norations, in that part of your Covenant , wherein ye promifc to la- bour to recover the liberty and purity of the Gofpcll, as it was before theforefaid Novations. Certainly thefe words cannot be underflood of Novations to be incroduccd, and which have not as yet entrcd un- to our Church. For the liberty and purity of the Church is not as yet loft, yea, not impared by them y and fo needeth not to be recovered by the removing of them. They muft then be underftood of the No- vations mentioned in the Parenthefisofyour Covenant; that, is of all innovations already introduced by Authority,and thei r alleadged con- fequents, which ye promifc to forbearc , untill they be allowed, and tryed by a free AiYembly. Hence any man may conclude^ hat although in your Parenthefis, ye promife only to forebcare thefe Novations for a time, yet in the words immediatly following, ye condemne and abjure them. For the recovering of tie liberty and purity of the Gofpell, as ic was eftablilhed before the forefaid Novations , impor- teth manifelily a removing of all thefe Novations, which either in themfelves, or in refpc& of their confequents, are contrary to the purity and liberty of the Gofpell. But all Novations already intro- duced, are in your judgement of this kinde,and therefore your vow* of the recovering the liberty and purity of the Gofpell, importeth a removing of all the forefaid Novations. 1 6. To conclude this Argument : Ye may fee,that we have pryed no more narrowly into the expreflions of your Covenant , then we bad reafon; and have laboured, not to fcarre our fclves , and others, with meere Aaadowcs,as ye affirme. <~*~— » Of our Argument j Jd hominem* and the weak Retorfion of it, by the Jnfwercs. *7. Now we come to our Argument/^ Syllegifme^ homintm> which i«4 Dupl ve£ which hath fo pinched you, that ye have not attempted to anftvef* to any of the propofiuons of it. Our intention in that Argument, Was to prove , that wherher Pearth Articles be abjured in the late Covenant, or not; yet ye [_ who came hither , to give us fatisfa&ioa concerning ^Covenant ] can not, with a fafe conference , averre, or declare to ns,thi: they are not abjured in it. This we did evident- ly prove, reafoning thus : Whattoever Rites are abjured in the old Covenant, they are alfo, in your judgment , abjured in the late Covu ftant. But Pearth Articles, and Epilcopocie, are,in your judgemenr, abjured in the old Covenant : Ergo, they are, in your judgement, ab- jured in the late Covenant : and, confequently , if yedeale lincerelf with us,ye muft averre,that they are alio abjured in the late Covenant. 1 8. To this ye fay, firft, that whatfoever be your judgement, as ye are particular perfons, yet, at this time, ye were to be taken, as Commilfioners from the whole company of Subfcrivers. Truely we did rake you fo; and did think, that ye who were Commiilioners from fuch a multitude of good Chriftians, would have tolde us your minde fincerely, concerning the full extent o£ the late Covenants and , that ye would neither have affirmed any thing as Commiflioners , which ye doe not think to be true,as ye are particular perfons;nor yet would nave laboured, fo to ininare us , as to have bidden us fubferive a Ce- tenant, really, and indeed, in your judgement, abjuring thofe things, which we, with a fafe confeience, can not abjure. For, in your jndge- ment, Pearth Articles , and Epifcopacie, are moft really abjured in the late Covenant, although ye plainly affirme the contrary, in your Anfweres to our fourth,fifrh,and fixth Demand. And ( which is much to be noted) in your Anfweres to our tenth Demand, ye affirme, concerning your felves, that ye, in this late Covenant, havepromifed only forbearance of Pearth Articles. We wonder much, how ye can fay fo. For whofoever by their Oath hive tyed thcmfelves to a Con- feffion, in the which they firmly believe Pearth Articles, and Epifco- pacy,to be abjured, thofe have indeed ab;ured Pearth Arrides, and Epifcopacy. But ye in the htzCovenant , hive tyed yourlelves*by your Oath, to the little Confeifion, or old Covenant, in the which ye firmly believe, Epifcopacy,and Pearth Articles,to be abjured: Ergo, in your late Covenant ye hare abjured Pearth Articles,*; Epifcopacy.' And DupEves. re 5 And not only ye, but ali thofe who are of that fame mlndc with you. Whence we inferred,in that tenth Demand,zhit none of you can vote freely in the intended Ailembly, concerning P earth Arcicles , and Epilcopacie. 19. Secondly, ye fay, that if others of the fubferibents, who arc of our jndgement, ( thac is, who are not perfwaded that Peart h Ar- ticles, and Epifcopacie, are .ib.ured in the old Covenant, ) had come as Commillioncrs at this time to us, our Aigument 4^6^/009, had beene afiricipated,becaufe it would not hive been pertinent for them. But ye are deceived , for we h/ve ever looked principally to thefc, who were the firft contry vers of the late Covenant , or had fneciall hand in it, that is, to yourfelves,and to others, who thefc many years bygone, have oppofed P earth Articles, and Epifcopacie , as Popifh. corruptions, abjured in the old Covenant i and confequently have, in this late Covenant, [ in the which that former Covenant is renewed ] by your own perlonall Oath, abjured Pearth Articles, and Epifcopa- cie. If then that other fort of CommuTioners had come unto us, we would have faid to them, that we can not fvvear the late Covenant, becaufe Pearth Articles, and Epifcopacie are in ic abjured. And this we would have proved by the like Argument ad hominem , that is, by an Argument grounded upon the judgement of the contrivers of the late Covenant : as ye may eafily perceive. 20. Thirdly,ye fay, that we have perceived the infufiF.ciencie of our Argument, becaufe we objected this to our felves : that feeing we think Pearth Articles, and Epifcopacie , not to be abjured in the old Covenant , we may fubferive the new Covenant, in the which that old Covenant is renewed. Truely ye might have alleadged this, if we had propounded that objection, and had left it unanfwered. But we an- fwered it, and brought fome reafons [ which ye wifely did paffe by, perceiving the force of them ] to fhow, that we can not convenient- ly fubferive your late Covenant, nocwithlhnding of our judgement, or rather opinion of the meaning of the old Covenant. We fay opinion : for to fpeak truely what we thinke, we doubt, and fo doe others with us, concerning the meaning ot fome parrs of the old Covenant, touch- ing matters of Ecclefiafticall policy .and have not fo full a periwafion in our mindes concerning thoie partS^ as may be to us a warrand of our Oath. Dd a 1. Fourthly 106 D UP LYES.' 2 1 , Fourthly, whereas ye fay , t hat it was not for is to inquire in your private opinion, concerning the meaning of the late Covenant in that part of ir, where it tyeth us to the inviolable obfervaiion of the old Covenant i nor was itneceffaryfor you, to make it known to us; We anlwere, trnt we inquired not your private opinion,but rhe com- mon judgement of all thofe, who with you thcfe twenty j «. rrs bypaft, have accufed us of Perjury, for the alleadged violation of the old Co- venantyWotnz by our Predeceffours. And truely we had more then reafon to doe fo; becauie we moft juftly feared, that ye , who have fo oft accufed us of Perjury ,for prattifmg Rites and Ceremonic s abjured as ye alleadge, in the old Covenant, i\vom by our Predeceflburs,woiJd much more vehemently; yea, alfo with a greater (Low of probability, accufe us of Perjury, for violation of the old Covenant, iworn and ra- tified by our 1 elves in this late Covenantjtwe fheuldfland to the de- fence of Peanh Articles in time to come. It became us therefore, for efchewmg of this inconvenient , to inquire of you , and you alio fincerely and plainly to declare to us,whether or not we may fubfcrive and fweare the new Covenant , as it includeth and ratifieth the old, and yet be really free from all abjuration, or condemning of Peart h Articles, and Epifcopacie ? And likewife whether or not ye, and all orhers who are of your minde, will hold and efteem us free from ab- juration of chem, notwithftanding of our fubfcriving of your Cave* nant. Thefe Queftions require a punctuall Anfwere. For if our fub- fcriving of youtCovcnatit ,may either import a real abjutario oiPearth Articles, or if it may make you to think, that by vertue of our fub- fcription, we are really, and indeed , bound to reject them forever; neither can we, with a good conicience, fubfcrive your Covenant-, nei- ther can ye, with a good confeience, require it of us. 22.Fiftly,from our refufmg to fubfcrive the late Covenant jn fo far as it reneweth the old Covenant, or little ConfeJJton; becaufe that CW- fejjlo according to your Isterprecation,or conception of it,importeth an abjuration of Peart h Articles,yecolle6^,firft,thacupon this ground we Would not have fubferived the late Confejfion any time bypail.Se- condiy,thatwe can not fwear the Confeflion of anyChurch,no,not the Articles of the Crekd petitions of theLORDS Pr AYER,nor Pre- ceptsof the ten C o m m an d e m e tf t s,in refpeel of the di verfe In- terpretations, DUPLYES, XO? f}retations,which men give of them. We anfwcre,fir(fyhat fincc the ictle CoTjfeJfiotty is nor of Divine Authority, and fince tbp Humane Authority which it had, hath thefe many years bygone ceafled, ( as The Peaceable Warm ng, .lately given to the Subje&s in Scotlandjpiov- eth ) we would have refufed our Subfcription unto it, ever fince we heard, that it imporcech an Abjuration of all Rites, and Ceremonies, which were not received in our Church in the year 1 68 1; except we had gotten (ome evidence to the contrary , luflkiently fatisfying our minds. Secondly : As for the Creeds LO RD S Prayer , and ten Commandements , your Argument taken from the varietie of mens Expofitions of them, is far from the purpofe. For, fince we are per- fwaded, that the Author, or Pen-men of them, neither intended, nor yet delivered any thing in them, but Truerh : and that their expref- fion is aurhentick, we are bound to embrace, and receive them, not- withstanding of the varietie of Interpretations, which men give of them : neither is it lawfull to us, to refuie our Subfcription, or aifent, to them, whatfoever be the judgement or affent of thofe who require it of us : being alwiie bound to acknowledge the infallible Authority of them, even when we doubt of the true meaning of them. Thirdly: As for any of thefe later Confefflons of Churches,if the cafe be fuch,as now it is in this particular of this late Covenant, that is, if we be not bound by any (landing Law , to fubftrive it, and if it be folyable to the variety of Interprecati6s,fthat k nuy probablie import that which we think to be contrary to the Trueth , and if thefe who require out Subicription, be, incur judgement, Oppofers of the Trueth, in any point contained in that ConfeJfiony and may make advantage of our Subfcription, alleadgeing, that we are tyed by it, to confent to their Doctrines, or Pra&ifes : we may juftly, in fucb a cafe, deny out fub- fcription to that Confeflion, for the ambiguitie of it ; and much more may defire thofe who urge us to fubferive it, to declare unto us,be- fore we give our Subfcription, Whether or not , that Confejfiox, in their judgemenr, will tye i.s to their Doctrines and Pra&ues. 2 3. Laft of all : In modefuV, as ye fay, but with a jetting comple- ment, ye prefent unto us, a Dil'h of our own dreffing : ye mean, the lyke Argument, Ad homir.emi which is this : The Rites and Cere* •monies which are not abjured in the negative Confeffion} are not ab- jured 108 Dup lyes' jured in this late Covenant : Bur the Rices and Ceremonies , which were concluded in Peart h Aftembiy, are net ab,ured , as ye lay, in the negative ConfeJ]ionjXiute.Ann 1 5S 1 therefore they .ire not abju- red in this lare Covenant . The hni Prot)oiinon, s ye lay, is evident, becaufe in the Lire Covenant we are bounG no i «rrru r, concerning the negative Confeflion, but to keep it inviolable : And hcrefore, what Rites are not abjured ihere, are not abjured tkre. Likewife ye lay, thit thefecond Proportion, can no: be denyed by us,in refpe&thde twenty years bygone, we hive thought our ieives tree of Perjurie, notwithstanding the of Oath made 1 5 8 1 , ard of our conforming our ielves to the Ordinance of Peart h. Good Bre: hren, ye have retorted this Argument very weakly upon us. For, hilt, we flatly denye the Major of your Syllogifme; and withall doe rcpell the confirmation of it. For although Pearth Articles, were not ab ured in thelateG?- venanty in fo far as it reneweth the negative ConfeJfi,n; yet they may be, and,»as it is already proven, they are abjured m ihat other part rt of it. If ye had had evidence of the trueth for you, ye would no: onh have retorted our Argument, but alfo by anfwering it punctually, (hown, that iz Itrairerh not you: and if ye had been exa6t Relolvers,ye would not have gone about to have iatisfied us with a naked Arguments cwtrar'wm. % 24. Before DUPLYE S." IO9 14. Before we leave this point, that ic may be known to all,what reafon we have to infill in this our Argume-nt, ad homlr.em, and that we have proponed it, not to catch advantage of you, but to get fatis- faction to our own mindes, concerning the Covenant , and ycur fm- cericy in urging us to fub.crive it, we will collect out of that which hath beene already laid, i'ome in:errogatories , which we pray you to anfwer punctually , if ye intend to give us latistaction. Thenrltis, whether or not your declaration of the extent of the late Covenant^ r/it, that ir extended no: it ielf to the abjuration diPearth Articles, be no: only vera, true in u ielf, but alio verax, that is, coribnant to your minde, and to the mindeotthe chief contrivers of it ? The reafon wherefore we propone this queltion,ye will perceive by 1 chit follow. Secondly, feting ye and others .he chief recommence rs of the old Covenant, hav 1 been ever of this mmce, that Pea^th Ar- ticles, and Epifcopacy, are abjured in it; we :ske,whether ) e all tying your lelves by this late Covenant, to the inviolable obfervation ci the old Covenant\ hive ryed your [elves to it in all the particular points, which ye conceived to be contained in it, or only in fame of them ? did ye by mentall refervaaon, except any part of that old Covenant, or in par.icuhr did ye except that part of it, in the which perpctuall continuance in the doctrine and difcipline oi this Church is promised? Or if that part was not excepted, did ye put any new gloiTe upon ic which it had not: before > And it ye did not, whether or no: ye re- newing the Oath of perpctuall cbiervarion, of the doctrine and dif- cipline of this Church, as it was Amm 1 58 1, have no: only really ,buc alio according to your own conception of that part of the old Covc- ?:v.t , abjured all Rites and Ceremonies, added to the discipline ot this Church, hnce the feiefaid year, and confequently , the Articles of Peartb, and Hpifcopacie ? rnirdly,leeing ye 10 confidently averre, that Pearib Arcicles are ab'ured in the ole Covenant, how can ye de- ny rhem to be abjured in the new Covenant, except ye acknowledge a lub(hnualldifference,betwixc the old and newG^^^r ? Fourthly, if ye grant that thej are really and indeed abjured in the late Covenant, how can ye faithfully and fincercly fay to us,or to any othe:,that they are not abjured in it ? Fiftly, how can ye, and ail others, ( who with you have really, and alio according to your own conception ct the old E e Covtwiy 110 DUPLYE?; Covenant i abjured P earth Articles, and Epifcopacie, by renewing o£ ic ) voice freely, in the intended Aflcmbly, concerning thde/thingsj feeing ye are tyed by your Oath , to condemn and abrogate them } Sixtly, How can we concurre with you in an Oath, wherein we are in- fallibly perf waded that ye have abjured Peart h Articles, and Epifco- pacie ? Seventhly, It we concurre with you in thar Oath, will ye not ( as we objected in our Reffy but ye have not anfwered it ) chink us bound by our Oath, to condemn P earth Articles , and Epifcopacie ? and will not ye chinke your felves bound in confcience to tell us, and all others, that, which ye think to be trueth , and may make much for your caufe, to wit, that the words of the Covenant have but one lenfe, and that in that one fenfe Pemh Articles are abjured ? 25. Ye, and all others, may now fee , how injuftly ye faid , that we would have the Covenanters, againft their intention, and whether they will or not, to difallow, and condemn Pearth Articles,and Epif- copall Government, left they be tryed in a free Affembly. GOD knoweth, how far we deteft all fuch dealing , and this vindication of our two Arguments [ we added alio a third, but ye have fwallowed it ] brought by us, to prove, that Pearth Articles, and Epifcopacie, are abjured in your late Covenant nm\\ fufEciently cleare us of this im- putation, to all unparnall Readers. 2 6. We did not only alleadge, as ye fay, that your fupplications to his Majefty were fully fatisfied by the laft Proclamation; but ground- ing an Argument upon your An[werey to our fourth Demand, we rea- fonedthus : If in all your fupplications, ye have only fought the re- moving of the Service Book,, book of Canons , and new high Com- mitfion; not complaining of any other Novations,already introduced: and, feeing his Majefty hath granted this unto you, what rcafon have ye to fay, that his Majefty hath not fatisfied your fupplications? this our Argument, ye have turned to a meere alleadgeance,left ye (hould have troubled your felves, with aafwering it. Whether, DUPLYES, 111 (Whether j or not, we may forbeare the pra&ifc of T earth ArticleSjiintill they be tryed in a free Aflcmbly^ 27. We come now to the confide ration of that, which your Cove- nant, by your own confetfion, tyerh us to; to wit, The forbearance of Pearth Articles, untill they be tryed in a free Aifembly. And iirtt, whereas ye fay, That the urging of the Service Book > is a fumctent reuonfor forbeannce of Pearth Articles, till an Affembly; we pro- feife, that we can not fee the equity, and force of this reafon. For the Service B o^may beholden out, albeit Pearth Articles were not forborne at this time; yea, although they ihould never be removed. And the more obedient, Subjects were at this time, to his Majefties lawes already ettabliihed,the greater hope might they have of obtain- ing their deftres. 28. Ye bring two Arguments, to prove the lawfulneffe of the forbearance of Novations already introduced. One is, that the Ar- ticles of Pearth efhbliihing them, were concluded onely forfatisfy- ing the K 1 n g, and not to pretfe any man with the pra£tife of them : And becaufe the Act it felfe ( ye mean the Act concerning Kneel- ing ) giveth warrand , to forbear the prac~tife of them at this time, when the memory of Superftldon is revived. But this reafon doeth nowife fatisfie our confeiences. For, to begin with the laft part of your Af.fwre ; The Memory of Sufer Ft it ions CelebratUn of the LORDS Suffer, is not renewed in this Kingdom, for ought we know. And, if ye mean, that it is renewed by the Service Book^; fuppone that were true, yet,ye know, the Service Bookjs difcharged, by the Act of Couniell, at his Ma jetties commandement. Secondly, theAc~l of /Wf/?,giveth no warrand to forbear Kneeling,upon every fufpition or apprehenfio of Superttition, re-enrring unto this Church. Your Argument, which ye brought to prove this, from the narrative of thac Act, in your Anfwere to our ninth Demand, is confuted mott plainly by us in our Re f lye to your Jnfrvere : a»d we fball again fpeak ef it in our Dvflye, to your fecond Anfmre concerning that Demad. lit D U P L Y E sl 29. As for the other two parrs of your reafon , they are'contrary to the very words of the Acts of P earth Atlembly. The firft pare is contrary to the Narrative of all thefe Acts , wherein no mention is made of fatisfying the Kin g, but of other motives taken from the expediencie, or utility ot the matters themfelves. The fecond pare is contrary to the tenor of the Decifion, or Determination of thefe A£t$ : in the which by thefe formall words, The Affembly thinketh good : the Atfembly ordaincth : Kneeling in the celebration of the Sacrament, Feftival dayes,<£x are enjoined. 30. We hear of achildilh, and redici;ious concept of fome, who think that thefe words, The AfTembly thinketh good, import not an Ecclefiaftick conftitution, but a meere advice or Counfell. This ap- prehennon proceedeth from ignorance : for that phrafe is moft fre- quently ufed by Counfells, in their decrees. In that A poftolick Coun- fell, mentioned Afkt 1 5, the word u*%* , and u>%n s^iv, are expref- ly ufed, verfe 22.25.28. In the CounCell oi Ancyra, Can. 1. dr 2. the word u%%*. is ufed.In that great and firft OEcumenic i Couniell of Nice fan. 5-yehave thefe words^^xa? S*«v U^iv.Can.S.Uo^ ^ *y« nxl ntylK* fuvaSy Can. Mjtfef a' *? Lege 1 : Where Quod Principi placuit >C\gmR- Cth as much, as Quod Princeps con ft it mt. 31. Your other reafon, [ which ye bring to prove the lawfulnefs of the forbearance oiP earth Articles ] is , that it is lawfull to (wea* the forbearance of a thing indifferent, in the cafe of fcandall,and fen- fiblefearof fuperftidon, in others. Yea, ye think, that by do!ng fo, ye have fvvorn obedience to the commandement of GOD,which for- biddeth the doing of that whereby others may be fcandali zed. This reafon moveth us no more then' the firft: for,as for your fear of farther fuperftidon, DUPLYES; II} fuperfVition, it isnowgroundleffe, and caufeleffe , in rcfpett ofrhe gracious promifes contained in his Majefties Proclamation. But al- though in were a fear jultly conceived, and although the ef chewing of an Evill juftly feared, be a thing good and deferable ;yet we ought not, for the efchewing of it , difobey the lawfull commandements of our Superioures. For this were to doe Evill, that good might come of it; which the Apoltle condemneth, Rom. }.verfe$. Of Scandall; and whether or not we may de- ny obedience to theLawes of our Superi- ours,for fear of fcandal caufelefly taken? 3». As for that other motive, of fcandall , for which ye alleadge, that we who think the matters concluded in Peart h Affembly, to be inditferent, and lawfull, may fwear the forbearance of them; we pray you, ceil us, what kynd of fcandall it is, which, as ye alleadge, is taken at the pra&ife of Peart h Articles? Ye know, that paflive fcandall, is either procured by the enormitie or irregularitie of the fac~l it felf,[ to wit, when either it is a Cinyox elfe hath a manifeft {how of (in ] or elfe it is not procured,but caufelefly taken by fome,either througb malice, or elfe through weaknefs. Now, which o£ thefe two (orts of fcandall would ye have us to acknowledge, in the pra&ife of P earth Articles? If the firft, then ye would have us to condemne Peart h Articles, be- fore they be cryed in a free Affembly : which is contrary to your proteftation, and no lefle contrary to our refolution. For, if we ac- knowledge any enormitie in the practife of Peartb Arcicles, ex if [a condition*- operis, we ihall be holden to condemne them, and abftaine from them for ever. 35. If ye will have us to acknowledge, that the fcandaH following upon the pracYtfe of Peartb Articles, is of the fecond fort, that is, is caufelefly taken; and , chat for fucb a fcandall , whether it bof taken through weakneffe, or malice, we ought to abftaine from the doing of a thing indifferent, although it be enjoined by a lawfull Authority ; ( for ye generally affirme, that all things , which are nor. neceflary, and dirc&ly commanded by GOD himfelf, ought to be omkted,for Ff any 114 DUPLYEST a-ny fcandall whatfoever,alrhough it be caufelefly,yea, and mcft mali* cioufly caken , and that notwithftanding ot any humane precept , oc law , enjoyning them. See the Difyute agamft the English Popijh Ceremonies, Van. 2. Cap. 8. SeB. 5. (fr 6. IiemCap 9. Sett. 10. ) then we pro reft, that we ditfer fo far from you in this point, that we chink, that for no fcandall, caufelelly taken , can we fwear fuch a for- bearance of Peart h Articles , as ye would have us. And we marveli from whence ye have learned this ft range , and moft haske doctrine, that for fcandall,caufelefly,yea,mah'ciou(ly taken,a man m?y totally, and abfolutely, deny obedience, to the lawes of Superioures. 34. The Author of the difpute even now cited, alleadgeth for his opinion, fome Schoole-men, acknowledging the truerh of it : and he nameth Cajetaney and Bennez,, who ( fayeth he ) affirme , that we fhould abftain, even a ffiritualibus non neceff arils, when fcandall a- rifeth out of them. He might have cited for this tenet, Thomas , and all his interpreters,[evcn although he had been but ilenderly acquaint with them ] as well as thele two : for they all doe fay fo. But truely he much miftaketb them , when he alleadgeth them for his opinion. For, firft, none of rhem'ever taught, that we ought to abftaine totally and altogether, from any fpirituall duety for the fcandall , either of the weak, or malicious. Secondly, when Thomas and others following him, fay, That bona ffiritualia non necejfaria funt dimittenda propter [candalum, they fpeak directly de eis qua [ant fub concilio non vera fubpr&cepto, of matters of Councell , and not commanded by any Authority, divine or humane : and the moft which they fay of them, is,that fuch things [tint inter dum occult anda,vel ad tempus dijferenda, that is, may at fome times, and in fome places , be omitted, for ef- chewing the fcandall cf the weak. Thirdly , the moft accurate Ca- fuifts, and interpreters of Thomas , differ much about this queftion, Whether or not, things that are commanded by pofitive hawes, ( ivily and EcclefiaTticall) may be omitted at any time, for efchemnv Scanda- furh pufillorum , thefcandal of the weak. Dyverfe of them deny this, tomx,Navarrm,in Manual. Cap. 14. § ^.Vafque^Tom. 5. Tract, de \candrio, dubio prima, §. ^. Bee anus In fumma TheologU, Fart. 2, Tom. po ft eriori, Trail. 1. Cap. 2 7. Q^iast.^. Ferdln.de Cafiro Falao in opcre m9r.?r!,7raft.6>Dii]),6,P;Mbl. 16, Duvallius, in 2am. 2X. D, Thw& DUPLYESI 115 ThomdyTratt.de Charitate,Quaft. 1 9 .Art, 5. And for their judgemcc chey cite Thomas^ Dnrandns^ Almainus, Anton. Plorent. and many ethers. Fourthly : Thofe of them who think, that things commanded by humane Lawes, may be omitted in the cafe of fcandall, admit not as ye doe , fiich an omiilion of che thing commanded in the ofe of fcandall, as is conjoined with a flatte difclaiming of the Authority of rhe Law. For they tell us, thu we ought not, for any fcandall of the weak, deny obedience to ihe Precepts, or Lawes, of our fuperioures, whenfoever ail other circumltances being confidered, we are tyed, or obliedged,to the obedience of them. The omuTion,then, of the thing commanded, which they allow, is only a parriall and occafionall for- bearance , and not a total!, abliinence from obedience, or difclaiming the Authority of the Law. See Valentia, Tom. l.Vifp. 3. Qnaft. 18. Puntt, 4. & Sxarez*. de triflici VlrtHtey Trad:. 3. P/f/?. 10, Sett. 3. §.9. 3 5. But the forbearance of Pearth Articles, which ye require of us,is conjoined with a flatte difclaiming of the Authority of all the Lawes which eftablifhed them. And ye will have is to forbear thefe Articles, at this time, when all the particular circumftances', which we ought to regard, being confidered , we are tyed to obedience of them, efpecially, if we look to the will and minde of the Lawgiver?, andofourprefent Superioures. We juftly fay, that you will have us to difclaitnc, altogether, the Authority of thele Lawes. Foi whofoe- ver refolve and determine, not to pradife Pearth Articles, untill they be tryed in a new Affembly,& cftabliihed by a new Parliament; thefe are purpofed, never to obey them, except they be tyed by new Lawes and Ads, concluded in a new Affembly , and Parliament: And, confequenrly, are refolved, never to regard and obey the lawcS or Acts ofc Pearth Affembly, and the Parliament 1621, which efta- bliilied thefe things. But fo it is, ye would have us to refolve, yea, to promife, and fweare, not to pradife Pearth Articles , untill they be tryed in a new affembly,and eftabliihed by a new Parliament : Ergv% je would have us to promife. not to pradife Pearth Arricles,except we be tyed> or obliedged,by new Lawes, to pradife them : *and, confequently , would have us, never to regard, or obey, the Ads of Pearth Affembly, and Parliament \6iu 36. This l\6 DuPLYEsi 36. This kinde of forbearance , to wit , which is conjoined withaplaine difclaimmgof the aurhority of the Lawes made by our Superiours , can nor be excused with your pretence of fcandall caufelefly taken. This we prove : Firtt, by a poiicion granted by your felves, andfo evidently true, rhat no man can deny k. The Author of the Difpute, againft Engllfh Popifli Ceremonies, Part. 1 . Cap, 4. Sc&. 4. fayeth, That it were Scandall, not to obey the Lawes of the Church, when they prefcrive things neceflary , or expedient for the efchewing of Scandall : And, that it were contempt , to refufe obedi. ence to the Lawes of the Church, when we are no: certainly perl wad- ed, of the unlawfulneffe or inexpediency of things commanded. Now, if fuch a refufing of obedience, be both a Contempt, and a Scandall, it followeth manifeftly, that no man for el chewing of Scandall caufe- lefly taken, ought in fuch a cafe to refule obedience. Hence we reafon thus: whofoever are not perfwadcd of the unlawfulneffe or inexpe- diency^ the things commanded by their Superiours; and on the con- trare think them to be expedient ai vltandum Scattdalf*m;thde ought not for efchewing of Scandall, refufe obedience to the Lawes and or- dinances of their Superiours. But fo it is, we are neither perfwaded of the unlawfulneire,nor of the inexpediency of Peanh Articles: yea, on the contrar'te, we think that the A6ts of f earth Affembly, enjoin- eth things very expedient for efchewing of Scandall : ErgojNZ ought not for efchewing of Scandall caufelefly taken, to refufe obedience t6 them. The Ma] or of this our firft Arguments already proven. The Minor is conformeto the light of our own consciences, as G O D knoweth : and therefore folong as we are of this minde, we cannot deny obedience to the ordinances of owr Superiours , for any fear of Scandall caufelefly taken. 37. Secondly, that which may be removed by information or in- ftruclion, can not be warrand to us , of a totall abftinence from the obedience of Lawes, or, which is all one, of an avowed difclaimmg of the Authority of them. But the Scandall of rfie weake, taken by the pracliie of P earth Articles, may be removed by information, or in- flection : Ergo> it can not be a warrand to us,of a totall declaiming of the Authority of the Lawes, whereby thefe Articles were efta- bliflied. 38. Third- DUPIYBS 117 38. Thirdf?: If for fcandalls taken, efpeciallyby the malicious, we may difciaime the Authority of a.Law,then we may ever difclaim the Authority of all Lawes , of the Church or Mate. For there is nothing commanded by Lawes, but fome either through weakncffe, or through malice, may take offence at it. 39. Founhly,we ought not for efchewing fcandal caufelefly taken, to injure or oifend any man, by denying to him, that which is due to him, and therefore we ought not, for efcnewing fcandall caufelelly ta- ken, to offend and injure our iuperioures, in Church and Policy , by denying to them that obedience which is due to them. The antece- dent is clear by many examples. For if a man be excommunicated, fliall his Wife, Children, and fervants flee his company, and fodeny to him thefe dueties which they ow to him , for fear that others be fcandalixed , by their keeping of company with an excommunicate Perfon> And if they may not for efchewing of fcandall, abftaine from thefe dueties, which they ow to a private perfon, much lefle may we ablHne from that obedience, which we ow to our fuperiqurcs, having publkke charges in Church and Policy, for efchewing of fcandalli caufelefly taken by others. 40. Fifdy, what if the thing commanded, be enjoined by the cu yiil Magiftrate,under paine of dearh,and by Ecclefiafticall Authority, under pa>ne of excommunication,lhaU we for fear of a fcandall caufe- lefly taken, which may be removed by informauon,or for the fcandall of the malicious, who will not be informed at all , abftaine from the doing of a thing lawfull and expedient, enjoined by Authority,and by fo doing, incurre thefe moft grievous punifhments of Death tempo- fall, and lpirituali ? We believe, that your felves, who fpeak molt o£ kandall, would be loath to take fuch a; yoke upon you. 41. Sixtly, The denying of obedience", to the lawfull "commande- menrs of our fuperiourcs, is forbidden in the fife Comm ancle ment, and confequendy it is a fin. Shall we then for £ icandall caufelefly taken, deny obedience to our iuperioures , and fo incurre the guilti- nefle of fin > Ye commonly anfwere to this , that the negative pare of the fift Commandemenr, which forbideth the reftftln^ of the power, Rom, 1 3. verfe 2. and in general! the denying ^f obedience ro fupe- ricures, is to be underftood with the exception of the cafe of an v fc 1 n- G g dall taken 1 I 8 DUP L Y E S? dall taken by others. For if we fee, ( fay ye ) that any may, or will take offence , at the doing of that which is comanded by our fupe- rioures,we are not holden to obey them : and our denying of obedi- ence to them in fuch a cafe,is not forbidden in that Commandement. 42. But, firlt, we afke, what warnnd ye have to fay, that the ne- gative part of the fift Commandement, is ro be underiiood with the exception of the cafe of fcandall , more then other negative precepts of the fecond Table ? Secondly : As men may take otfence , either through weakneffejOrmalice, at our doing of the thing commanded; fo they are moft ready to (tumble at our denying of obedience to the lawfull commandements of our fuperioures : for they will take occa- sion, by our carriage, to doe that, unto which by nature, they are moft enclined; to wit, to vilipend Lawes, and the Authority of their fupe- rioures.Shall we,then, for the efchewing of a fcandall caufelefly taken, nor only refufe to our fuperioures,the duety of obedience,which they crave of us; but alio incurre an other fcandall , and that a farre more perilous one. Thirdly : we have already Aiown,that the negative pare of the fife Commandement, is not all wayes to be tnderftood with the exception of the cafe of fcandallcaufelefly taken. For, Wives, Chil- dren, and Servants, mult not deny obedience, and familiar conver- sion to their Hufbands, Parents, and Mafters, which are excommu- nicated, for fear that others, through weaknefle, or malice , be fcan- dalized thereat. Fourthly: As ye fay, that the precept concerning obedience ro fuperioures , is to be underftood with the exception of the cafe of fcandall caufelefly taken; fo we, with farre better reafon, fay, that the precept, of efchewing fcandall caufelefly taken, is to be underftood with the exception of tiie cafe of obedience perempcorly required , by our lawfull fuperioures , as we (hall flaow in our next Argument. Whether the Precept of Obedience to Su- perioures;, or the Precept of efchewing fcandall, be more obligatory ? • 43. Laftof all: when a man is perempcorly urged by his fupe. riouresato obey their lawfull Commandements,and in the meantime feareth, DUPLYES. II9 fearecb, that if he doe the thing commanded by them, fome, through weaknets, fhall be fcandalized, by his carriage; in this cafe, he is not only in a difficulty , or ftraic , betwixt the commandement of Man, and the Commandement of GOD, whoforbiddeth us to doc thac whereby our weak Brother may be offended; but alio he feemcth to be in a ftrait betwixt two of GODS Commandements ; to wit, be- twixt that precept which forbiddeth the doing of any thing, whereby the weake may be fcandalized, and that other precept which forbid- deth the refitting of Authority ; and telleth us,that whofoever refifteth rhe Power, refilteth the Ordinance of GOD. Now, feeing GODS Precepts are noc repugnant one to another , neither doeth GOD by his.Lmes lay upon us a neceifity of (inning, out of all queftion , in this cafe, we are fred from the obligation of one of thefe .precepts : and fhir which doeth not fo ftridly tye us, or is lelfe obligatory, muft needs give place to the other, which is of greater obligation. Ye com- monly fay, that the precept of obedience to humane Authority, muft give place to the precept of efchewing fcandall, although it be caufe- lefly taken : And, to confirme your Affertion, ye fay, that the ordi- nance of a fuperiour, can not make that fact to be free of fcandall, which otherwife would be fcandalous; and, that a faft,upon which any fcandall followeth , ought not to be done for the commandement of Man. Whence ye collect, that, in fuch a cafe , we ought not to re- gard, or obey the Commandement of our Superiours. 44. This your Re.ifon can not be good, becaufewecan eafily retorc the Argument, and fay to you, that in fuch a cafe we ought not to regard the fcandall caufelefly taken by our weak Brethren , fo far, as to deny {implie, and abiolutely , Obedience to our Superioirs for it: and thatbecaufe the fin of Dil obedience ought to be efchewed and no Scandail of weak brethren caufelefly taken , can make that £a£t, not to be the (in of difobediencc, which otherwife, that is, ex- tra caftan fcandall^ would bee the fin of difobedience. For it is cer- tain, that (laying alide the cafe of fcandall) to deny obedience to the ordinance 0: our Superiours, enjoining, and peremprorly requiring o£ us, things lawfull', and expedient, is really the (in of difobedience. Ye will fay, that the fcandall of weak brethren, may make that Fact, or Omiirion,not to be difobedience, which otherwife would be dff- obedience- I20 Duply eS obedience ; becaufe we ought not for the Commandement of man,' doe that whereby our weak brother may be offended : and fo the pre- cept of obedience bindeth not, when offence of a weak brother may be feared. On the contrary we fay, that the lawfull commandemenc of Superiors, may make that fcandall of our weake brethren, not to be imputed unto ns, which oiherwife would be imputed unto us, as a matter of our guiltineflfe; becaufe we ought not, for fear of fcandal caufelefly taken, deny obedience to the lawfuil Comoundements of our Superiours. 45. Again, ye fay, that when fcandall of weak brethren may be feared, the precept of Obedience is not obligatory , in refpe& the thing commanded by our Superiours , although it be in it felf law- full, yet it becometh unexpedient , in refpeel: of the Scandall which may follow upon it. Now , ( fay ye ) the ordinances of our Superi- ours are not obligatory, when the things commanded by them are unexpedient. We, on the contrary, fay , that when our Superiours require of us obedience to their lawfull commandements, the pre- cept of elchewing fcandall,is not obligatory , in reipec-fc we ought nor, for Scandall caufelefly taken, omit neceffary dueties, which GOD in His Law requireth of us : In which number , we moft jultty doe reckon, The dnety of Obedience, which we owe to the lawfull Com- mandements of our Superiours. 46. As for that which ye fay, that when Scandall may be taken at the doing of the thing commanded, then the thing commanded be- commeth inexpedient, and fo ought not to be obeyed; that ye be not more deceived by this errour, we pray you marke, that a thing com- comanded by our Superiours, in Church,or Policy, mif >be two wayes inexpedient, to wit, either in refpect of fome particular Perions,who through weakneffe or malice doe ftumble at it, orelfe in refpect ©f the body in generall, becaufe it is contp-ry-to Order, Decency, and E- dification. If the thing commanded be inexpedient the firft way on- ly, we may indeed, in fuch a cafe, for elchewing the fcandall of the weak, forbear the practice of the thing commanded lie , & nmc, in fome particular places , and times: providing alwifewe doe this, Without offence of our Superiours,and without the kandal of others, who by our forbearance may bz made te vilipend the Authority of Lawes5 DUPLYE jffr I 2 I Livves. But we can not in fuch a cafe totally and absolutely, deny o- bedience ro a L uv,as we have already proven. Neither is yen r A rgu- ment brought to the contrary valide , in relpec-t we ought mo e to Jook to the utilirie and benefitc, which the body ot ihe Church may jreceive by the thing commanded, and by our obedience to our Supe- noures, then to the harme which lome particular Perfons may re* ceive thereby. 47. It" the thing commanded, be in our private judgement inex- pedient thefecond way , we ought not tor that to deny obedience to the Liwes of the Church,- for when the inexpediency of a thing is cjiietfionuble,and probable Arguments may be brought pr Lib. 2. Caf% 17.5.13.) the honouring and obeying of Parents, is called by pro- phane Authors Religion and Piety. Secondly : This precept, is the grouni 124 DUPLYE$J ground and (inewe, ( fayeth P*r^, in his Catechetick explication of the file precept,) of the obedience which is to be give to al the reft of the precepts, of the fecond Table. Two reafons a^re comonly broughc of this : one is, that ail Societies , orconomick, Civill and Ecclefta- fticp.U,doe confift and are conserved, by the fubmiilion or fubjeefcion of Inferiours to Superiours, which being removed,confufion necefifa- rily followeth.The other is,that the obedience of this precept,maketh way to rh? obediece of all the reft. For ourfuperiours arefet over us, to the endjthat they may make us to doe our duety to all others .And coniequently our obedience to them,is a mean inftituted by GOD,to procure our obedience to all the reft of the Precepts of the fecond Table. Now, would ye know what followed! out of this , let your own Amefmt, whofe words are more gracious unto you,rhen ours,tell you it : Seeing (fayeth he,C*p. citato, §.6.) humane focietie hath the prf-.ee of a foundation or ground, in reffeft of ether dueties, of Ju- stice and Charitie, which are commanded tn the feeond Table of the Law : therfure thefe crimes which direSlly procure the perturbation, confu[ion, and everfion of it, are more grievous then the violation of thefmgular Precepts. Now we fubfume : the denying of obedience co Superiours, enjoining fuch things as in themfelves are lawfull and expedient, directly procureth the perturbation and confi fion of hu- mane fociecy. And therefore it is a crime greater then the violation of other particular precepts of the fecond Table. For this caufe , Dionyftus Bifhop of Alexandria, in his Epiftle ad Novatum, cited before, declaring how much the unity of the Church ( which is moft frequently mured by the difobedience of Inferiours to their Superi- ours,) ought to be regarded,! ay zihjhat Martyrdom fafferedforef- chewing of Schifme , is more glorious, then Martyrdom faff ered for ef chewing IdoUtrie. 51. Thirdly : Thefe offices , or dueties, which we owe to others by way of Juftice, are more ftrickly obligatory , then thefe which we owe ro them, ondy by way of charity. And confequently, thele pre- cepts which prefcriveduetiesof iuftice, are of greater obligation.then thefe which prefcrive dueties of charity onely.Buc we owe the duety of obedience to our Superiours,by way 0^ juftice, and therefore it is more obligatory, then the duety of efchewing Scandall caufelefly ta- ken DUPLYES! I 2 J ken, which is a duety onely of charity. The Major, or ruftpropod- tion of this Argument , is clear of it felf , as being a Maximo not onely received by the Scholafticks and Popifh Cnluiiis,buc alio by our Divines. See your own Amefnu, in his Medulla, Lb. 2.Cap. 1 6. § . 58. 59.60. 61. 62. 62. where he not onely proponeth this Aiax- imcy but alfoproveth it by two molt evident examples. The Minor is like wife clear : For, firft, the duety of obedience, which we owe to the publick Lawes of che Church and Kingdom, belongeth to that Generall JulVice, which is called Juttitia legalis. For the legnll Ju- &ce, as it is in InferiourSjOrfubjccts^t is a vertue inclining them to the obedience of all Lawes,made for the benefite of the Common- wealth, as jiriHotle declareth in his fift book of the Ethickj^ Cap. 1. Secondly: Debitum obedient Uy the debt of obedience, which weow to our fuperioures, is not only debitum morale; a debc o,r duety, unto which we are tyed by morall honcfty, and GODS Commandement, but alfo debitum legale, or debitum juftittay( quod viz,, fundatur in propriojure altcritu) a debc grounded upon the true and proper right,w-hich our fuperioures have to exact this duety of us j fo that they may accufe us of injury ,and cenfure us,if we performe ic not. There is a great difference betwixt thefe two fores of debt ; and the laft is far more obligatory, then the firft : As for example, a man oweth moneys to the poor, by a morall debt , but to his creditor he aweth them by a le°all debt, or debt of juftice : and therefore, he is more ftri&ly obliedged to pay his credttor,then to give almes. Such- like, by morall honelty, and GODS precept alfo, a man oweth to his neighbour, a pious carefullneffe, to impede (in in him, by admonition, initrucYion, good example, and byommitfion even of things lawfull, when he forefeeth that his neighbour in refpeft of his weakneffe, will be fcandalized by them. But his neighbour hath not fuch a right to exact thefe things of him , neither can he have action againfVhim, for not performing of them, as our lawfull fuperioures have for our due obedience. In what fenfe the adminiftration of the Sacraments, in private places, was thought indifferent inP^r^Aflembly. 1%. Iu our Rtpij we profeffed, that we can not abftaine prefently Ii from 126 DuPLYEsE from private Baprifme, and private communion, being required to adminilirate thefe Sacraments to fuch perions, as can not come,orbe brought to the Church. Hence, firft, ye take occafion to object to us, th.it the ftate of the quefhon concerning Peart h Articles, is quite al- tered, in rqfpe& we and our afiociates , did ever before aileadge the quefUon to be of things indifferent , but now we think them to be fo neceffary, that although the generall Affembly of the Church ftiould diicharge them, we behoved dill to practiic them : We anfwere, firft, that the Affembly of Peartb hath determined nothing , of the indifferencie or neceffity of thefe things. Secondly: If any who al- lowed theie Articles,did at that time in their difcourfes and ipeaches call them indifferent , they meaned only , that in the celebration o£ thefe Sacraments, the tircumfiances of place and time are things in- different of their own nature : or, which is all one, that we are not lo eyed to the ad minift ration of them in the Church, and ac tymes ap- pointed for Sermon,but we may celebrate them in private homes,and at other times. But judicious and learned men , even then thought the denying of thefe Sacraments to perions, who can not come, or be brought to the Qiurch, to be a re (training of the means of grace, al- together unwarrandable by GODS word. Whence ye may collecl:, whether or not they thought ittobeunlavvfull. Thirdly : Ye have no vvarrind from our Reply, to fay, that we would not abftaine from, private Ba-ptifme, and Communion, although our nationall Affembly thould difcharge them. For as we are very unwilling to omit any neceffary duety of our Calling : fo we cary a lingular refpeel: to law- full Authority, and to the Peace, and Unity of the Church, abhorring Schifme, as the very Peft of the Church. But of this we lhall fpeak hereafter in the thirteenth Duply. 5 3, Next, ye fay, if we have the fame judgement of kneeling, in the receiving of the Communion , and of FealVtvall dayes , ir com- meth to paffe among us which hath been incident to the Churth in former ages,that things have been firft brought in as indifferent, then urged as neceffary. Certainly, Brethren, none are fo guilty of this, as your felves, and your afiociates : for ye have now made fome things robe efteemed neceffary by your followers, which have been accoun- ted indiifercnt, not only fince the Reformation , but thefe fifteenc hundieth DUPLYES, I27 htmdreth ye#s bygone. And in fome other things, which'the ancient Church did wifely forbid, ye doe now make the Liberry of the Goi- pel to confitt. &s for us, we ftand as we flood before , and doe yec thmk kneeHng in the receiving of the Sacr ment,and the five FcflU vall dayes, to be Rites indifferent in their own nature ; but indeed very profitable, and ediricative, if Pallors would doe cheir dueiy in linking their people fenfible,of the lawfulness & expediency of them. 54. We are of the fame judgement concerning Confirmation , which Calvin, wrizcing upon Hebr. 6. z. acknowledged! , To have been undjubteily delivered to the Ch.irchby the Aju files : and with the fame Author, in the tourth book of his Initi ut.G*/\ 19, §. 14, we with, that the ufeof it were agiin rdtored r fo far are we from that par.ull dealing with the Articles of Pearth, which ye object un- to is. Whit huh moved our molt reverend Prelats, co abftain hi- ther o from he pncVling 0': it, we know no: : they cm themfelves belt fatisrie you tn this point. And we modeitly judge, that this 0- m.fion huh proceeded from weight/ and regirdable caufes. Ir wis fuflfreienc tor us, to hive a cire ot our own aueties, in our particular ftauons. But the urging and preifing of that pradife upon the Bi- fhops, rcquireth higher Authority, then ours. In the mean* time, ye know theBuhops never difclaimed the Authority of the ad of Pearth^ concerning Confirmation, or of any other of thefe Ads, as ye have done, who hive been hnherco ptofefied and avowed difobeyers of the n all. Wherefore we with >ou, hereafter noc to bring this omif- fion of the Biihops, in the matter of Confirmation, as an Argument: for that forbearance of Pearth Articles, which ye require of us : for there is a great difference betwixt the omitfion of a duety comman- ded by a Law, and an avowed, or profeffed, yea,fworne dif obedience of the Law. 5 5. Laft of all, whereas ye fay, that we, by manralning the ne- ceffity of private Baptitme and Communion , doe condemne the practife of this our Church, from the Reformation, till Pearth Af- fembly, and put notrmll guiltinetTe upon other reformed Churches, who ufe not private Baptifm and Communion at all,but abftain from them as dangerous : we ant were, that we have, in all modefty, pro- poned out own judgementrconcerningprrvauBaptifm,and privare Communion, \l% DUPLYES? C6\ri\xri[on)nemirjer9t-}ttdicA»tes(asCyprUnhid of (Aiyln confilw Car* thag. in frtfat. ) nor taking upon us , to cenfure or condemne the pracVife either of this Church, in times proceeding P earth Ailembly, or of other reformed Churches. We can not indeed deny , but we diffent from them : and if this be a condemning of rhem, we may no leffe juftly fay to you, that you condemne the pradtife and do- ctrine notonely of our Reformers, in the particulars mentioned be- fore in this fame Duply ^ bur. alfo of diverfe reformed Churches, and of the ancient Church, as we declared in our fixt Demand, and (hall a- gain fpeak of it in our fixt Duply. A Defence of our Doctrine andPra&ife, concerning the Celebration of Baptifm and the L O R D S Supper in private places. 56*. Yedefireus, wifely to confider, whether the defire which our people have of Baptifm and Communion , in time of fickneffe, be noc occafioned by prevailing of Popery,and through a fuperftitious conceit that people have of thefe Sacraments,as neceffary toSalvatio. We are loach to come fhort of you in dueties of charity , efpecially in good willies; and therefore, welikewifewifhyou, wifely to con- fider, whether the neglect of thefe Sacraments in the time of fick- neife,which is in many pares of the Kingdom, proceed not from Tome want of a fufficient knowledge, and due efteem of the fruits of thefe high and Heavenly Myfteries.* 57.1c is well that ye acknowledge,that we minifter thefeSacraments in private,as neceffary onely by the necefiity of the Comandement o£ GOD;but wichall ye conceive,that our people imagine, or feem to i- magine them to be fo neceffary means,as thatGod hath tyed his grace to them. We defire you to judge charitably of thofe who are unknown to you; and withall we declare, that neither we doe teach our People, nor doe they think, for ought we did ever know , that Baptifm is Co neceffary a mean unto Salvation, that without it G O D can not, or will notfave any : yea, on the contrary, we are confident, that when Baptifm is earneftly fought for, or unfeignedly defired , and yet can not be had, the Prayers of the Parents , and of the Church , are ac- cepted by GOD,in ftead of the ordinary mean, theuie whereof is hindred Duplyes; 129 hindred, by unavoidable necellity : and fo in this we depart from the Ambrofe rigid renec of Papifts. On the other pare, we hkewife teach, and ac- in obitum cordingly our People learn, that Baptifm is the ordinary mean (6 Malawi a- our enterance into the Church, and of our Regeneration , to the ufe ^/.SeeDo- whereof, GOD, by his Commandernent, hath tyed us. tfor Field 58. If the commandernent of our Saviour, Matth. 28. 19. Goe in his 3. je, therefore, and teach all Nations, baptising them, In the Name of book of the the Father, and of the Son, and ofthehdj Gbott, tye not Parents to Church. feek Baptifm to their Children, and Palters to adminifter, when it Cap. 72. is fought, then have we no commandernent ac all , for biptizing of Infants , which is an Anabaptiiticall abi'urdity : But if Parents and Pafbrs, are tyed by this Commandemenc , then Parents oughc to feek Baptifm, to their dying Children, not baptized before ( for then, or never ) and Paftors miift accordingly performe thac duety. then, which rs incumbent upon them. This is that which King. James of blcfled memory, in a conference at Hampton-comt, Pag. i7,rcporteth himfelf,to have aniwered to a Scott fh Minitfer , while he was in Soot land : The Minifter afked, If he thought Baptifm fo ne- ceffarie, th.n if it be omitted, the child fh out d be damned } No, fa id the Kin g; but if you beinv called to baptise the child, though pr/- vatlie, jhould refufe to come, I thinKyouftould be damned. 59. Ye fay, ( to avoide the ftrength of this Argument ) that the necellity of the commandemenc, Itandeth ondy for Baptifm in pub- lick; and, that no precept require: h Baptitm^bit when it can be had orderly, with all the circumltances thereof: whereof ye fay this is one, that it be admuv ftred in the prefence of that vihble Kirk,wher- of the Children t re to be members. Thus, firft, ye condemne as un- lawful the adminiff ration of Baptifm even in the Church, God-fa- thers, and God-mothers, being prefenc, if the whole Congregation AhareVa be not prelent there ; and the like doctrine we find in others, zKomafcen, p. cited on the Margin , which foundeth ioharfhly in the ears of fome 828. ar.d of your owii acherents , that they can not be perfwaded that this is 8 5 3. Re- your doctrine. Secondly: the Commandernent of CHRIST tying us examina- to Baprifme, hath nofuch addition either of the pretence of the Con- tion of the greguion, or yet of the materiall Kirk. This belongeth but to (he Aflemblie folemnity, and not to the neceiVary lawfull ufe of Baptifme. Where of Tc.mh% Kk GODpag. 227. *3° Dupl yes; GOD hath eyed this folemnity to Baptifm, ye can not fliow by holy Scripture : but where GOD hath ryed us to Baptifm, we have already ftiown. It is true, (olemnities Qiould not be lightly omitted i but the In refill's ^m ty^hjvhen evident equity requireth,they may be difpenfed withe iiiYiti ^°r accorc^no t0 fhat fame Law , That which is chief and principal, fe -J R fooy'^mt be ruled by that which is ace eff or y, but contra riwife. As for a\ ° €^% r^e P*ace °^ Baptifm, we may fay of it , as Tertnllian fayeth of the * ' time thereof, in the 19 chapter of his Book of Baptifm, Every day is the LORDS, every houre, day, and time, is ft for Baptifm: it may ream of the folemnity, but nothing of the grace. Neither is iuch a num- ber, as ye require to be prefent, necciTary in this cafe. Our Saviour hath taught us, Matth. 18. 19. That if two (ball agree on Earth, as touching any tbing that they fh all aske , it ft all be done for them, of his Father which is in Heaven : For fayeth he, where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midfi of them. We befeech you, therefore, Brethren, to take heed, that ye prefenbe not to mens conferences, Rites of neceffity, without clear warrand from GODS word , by which ye will never be able to prove the neceffity of this circumftance required by you in Baprifm. 60. The pradife of the primitive Church, both in the Apoftles times, and thereafter, agreeth with this do&rine and pra&ife of ours. Sained Philip baptifed the Eunuch on the way, Ab~is 8. Ananias bap- * tized Saul in a private houfe, Ails 9. Saincl Paul baptized rhe-J ay- lour in his houfe, Acls 1 6. If ye anfwere as others doe , that the ne- ceffity of the infancy of the Church, excufed the want of the prefence of a Congregation : we reply, that the fame neceffity is found in the cafes whereof we fpeak : for as unpolfible it is for a dying infant, who about mid-night is at the laft gafpe, to enjoy the prefence of the congregation^ it was impoffibie for any of the afore mentioncd,the Eunuch, Saul, or the Jailor, to have had a Congregation prefent ac their Baptifm, yea, more impo(fible;and why lhould there not be the fame effe&, where there is the fame reafon > 61. The pra&ife of the ancient Church, in this , is alio clear for Grcgoric us. This is manifeft from the 76 Epiftle of S. Cyprianftom the Ora- Nazjtanz,, tion of Gregorie Nyffen , againft them who delayed their Baptifm, Orat. 40. from S. Bafilljin his 1 3 Homitiefilrikh is an exhortation to Baptifm, Tom. 1. DUPLYES. 131 Tom. 1 . from Gregorie N*zianz,etty in bis 40 .Oration, vvhofc words £'•« «>«*• we have cited upon the margine. Hence although two fee times were *"T"^ . appointed, (or iolemn Baptifm, yet the cafe of neceflTity was ever ex- **$£££»! cepted. This is clear by the forcfaidTeftimoaies, as alfoby thefe fol- i#»#i«i Al- lowing:, Strict** Epifr„ 1. cap, 2. Tom. I. Cor.ul. Gdaf. Epifl. 9. ad MW*»5t*»i Epifapos Lxcamtyl om. 2. Concil.Conc,Ar,ti[iodvr. cap. 18. Toni.2. 'ra * 6frat Qor.c.Mat'fcon.z. cap.i.7om.2. Condi. Cone. Me Idem .cap. 48 .CW. ?£"*", «>«. Triburiens.cap. 1 z.ConcllJrt Palatio Vernis cap.-]. Core. Wormatiens. #Wf«,J t*l cap. 1 .Tom. 3 .Cor-cl I. Thzlcynzd Cau fa fan, in his i6exercitation,co- t; xa/-^i fidering'all this, fayeth,^* to them, that in the adminifiration of this (*2%mt%yl,m Sacrament^ deny their dttetyto dying Infants , under pretence of I ' T rV » r ^7^ Mb w/W Vifcipllne. To this lame purpole the learned Martin **\ e Artery in the 15 Chapter of his cenfureof the Erghfn Liturgie^??? lS » confiderino Baptifm of fick Infants privatly,fayeth. In this Conftitu- u-'T^ t/w,*// r/wag j <*rf /> Pag. 48. f ^ h thus ; Baptijmum(ufcipe quamdiu winime circum te pugnant is quite baptifml aqua tingere par at , & qui pacuniarum tuarttm hares fut urns eft. I lie videlicet ftudiofe agens atfycontendens at ca qu!? •" unto them; and Baptifm}if they be not baptized. Hznczftiftiop Jewel ^ifTjovC, m nis Difpute againli Harditgs, Pag. 32. iayetb, That certain god. »iTifT@-T^ ly perfons, both men and women, tn time of perfection, or of ficknefsy fxiToL-x^v or of other necejjitie, received the Sacrament in their houfes, it is not •"Xf'f''"**' denyed. The ancient Farhers alfo call this Sacrament viaticum , or vdZ'i™* ^prcvifionforour journey. So the Fathers, in the fourth counfell of ^•jwf**c/*c Carthage, fpeak, Canon 78. So Gaudcntiw in his fecond Treatife on ptlttltKr* Exodus. So in S. Bafill his Liturgie , we find this Prayer , that the t«- ^o?po- participation of thefe facred things, may be the viaticum of eternal! *k:' lite. SoConcil.Vaf. 1. Can. 2. So Vaulinm in vita Ambro(\lp~ Whence Caufabon} in hi-s ani were to the Epiftle of Cardinall Perron, ' Par Dun ye s\ 135 Fa%. 49. fayeth, The Church of England not mfy iiftrilmt'etij th Balfamon myfticall bread to the f ait hf nil in the publick Congregation , but a/fo his WordeS admlnljhateth to dying perfws this viaticum, as the Fathers of the tie, 'o'-t% Counfell of Nice, W all Antiquitie, tall it, >•* "«*•> 64. Learned £Vz//« was of this mind : v^*j W weight ie rea- fans, fayeth he, Epitt. 361. move me to think*, that the C nrm;;nlon fhould not be denyedto fick^pcrfons. Zepperus, in his firlt Bock of Ecclefiafticall policy, and 12. Chapter, hath thefe words of this mat- ter, One thing remameth jet to be refolvedjo W\i, concerning the comi union of [ick^per fjns. Albeit fomethlnk^otherwife,yet it feemethjhat the holy Supper may not, nor ought not, to be denyed to them thatjeek^ it. For if it was appointed for the confirming of our faith, and increafe of our Comunion with Chrift; if we ought by the ufe of it to teftife our faith cr ftudle of repentance; why fhould they be deprived of fo great a good , who fight with long dlfeafes^or are in danger of their life ? When doeth Sat-an labour moreflronglie to (hake nnd br angle our faith, then when we are e-xercifed with bodily dtfeafes } When do our conferences tremble more, and fl and in need, of the most ample corroboration of faith, then when ree find that death is knocking at the doorey and that we are cal- led to compear before the Tribupall of GOD } Hleronymns ZanchiHS% is of the fame mind. Thus he writech in an E piftle of his to fhn Crato, Phyfician to the Emperour, / have nothing to fay of the que- stion proponed by you, but that I fubferive to yo-tr lodgement, provid- ing this be done when neceffitle requireth,and it be adminijhed to them, • who through ftekneffe, cannot come forth with others in ptibllck^. For fince CHRIST deny eth this to none of his D fclples, how can we refufe it to fickperfons, who de[ire it before they^ depart hence , and that not out of any fupers~bition, but that their minds mty be the more comfor- ted, and raifed up > Martin B tcer, in the 22. Chaprer of his tore- mentioned cenfure, confidering that part of the Lhmrgtt , wherein the admini ft rating of the Communion to fick perfens is let down, fayeth, Things here commanded, are agreeable enough to h>Aie Scilp- usrt 'for it availethnot a little, to the comforting of troubled Soules9 L 1 to re- 134 Duply e?.] t o receive' the Communion of the L O R D. Yea , he hath written ft particular and molt devote Trearife, dir^ciing Paftors how ro admi- p nifter the Communion to Tick perfons : and yet we trull, ye will not call him a Papift, fince he was lo hatefull to Papifts, that after he was dead, they railed up his bones and burnt them. Peter Martyr , writ- ting upon the i o. Chapter of the i . Epittle to the Corinth, tpeaking of the LORDS Supper, hath thefe words, They fay it moft be given to popper fins : I ' confejfe fayeth he, hit the myHery may be celebra- ted before the fckjer funs. It is to be remarked alio, that often times it fallech out, that fome perfons are affixed to their beds by ficknefs, for the fpace of five or fix, yea, ten yeares, or more : And how can we deny the comtort of this holy Sacrament to thofe all that [pace, efpecially when they earneftly long for it > 6$. This doctrine and pra&ite of ours , tendeth not to the con- tempt of the Sacraments, ( as ye would bear upon it ) it is plains contrary : for by this pracYife, we (how, how much we reverence the Comrmndemcnt of GOD, and how highly we efteemof his ordi- nances, which we fo earnetfly feek after; whereas on the other parr, the pracYifc of others, leadeth people to the contempt of the Sacra- ments, becaufe they are moved thereby, to thinke, that there is no luch neceflity and efficacy in them, as Scripture, and the confent o£ Chritlians, hath afcribed thereunto. As for orher abufes,rehearfed by you, as f mites of private Baptifm,(inceyou bring no proofe for what ye fay in this, we oppone our juft denyall, to your bare and unjuft af- fercion. 66. Laftly, ye advertife the Reader, that ye think not the mate-' rail Churches, but the ordinary meetings , neceffary to the lawful! adminiftration- of the Sacraments , left any ihould conceive that ye entercaine a fuperftitious conceit of places. We think,ye might have fpared this advercifement : for we find , that they who oppugns our doitrine and pra£tife in this point, are fo far from being in danger of AltareDa tie extremity mentioned by you, that on the contrary they teach, ma\cen. p. that the Church is a place no more holy, then any other , and that ic £4i.dtlp. may be indifferently ufed to facted or civil ufes : which in our judgc- agauiflthe roent is nor agreable, either to holy Scripture, or to found Antiquity. Magfjh See Euftiim in his ecclefiaftick Hiftory, Lllr. io* cap. 3. Chyfofl^ p., bomilQ DUPLYES; 135 hrml. 16. oft the fifft Epiftle to the Corinth. S. Aitufllne, in hlsPoprjh CV- firft Book of the city of GOD, cap. 1. Codex The$da(ianus, Lib. 9. remonUs^ Titnl.tf.de his qui ad Efcle(tai conftigerattt .Cone fi angren[t Can.i 1 , Part . 5, .frtf. 2. Re-examination of the Articles af Pearth. fag. 143. ^' *• The V. Duply, THe indifferent Reader may perceive , by our former Dttpfy$ that your Anfwtri to our ftrft exception , taken from the obe- dience, due ro Authority, and from our judgement , concern- ing the adminiftration of Baptifm, and the LORDS Supper, to dy* ing perfons in private places, hath not given fatisfaction. a. We afked of you, in our fife Demand , how we can fubferive the negative Confelhon, as it is propounded by you, without contra- dicting the pofirive Confelfion , approved by Parliament , holden -4**0 1567, foce the poiitive ConfeiTion, chap. 21. declareth, that Rites are changeable, according to the exigency of time, and conse- quently that no perpetuall Law , may or ought to be made of them, and the negative ConfeiTion maketh a perpetuall Law, concerning the externall Rites of the Church ; at leaft according to your judge- ment, who urge the fubferiving of this Covenant and Confelfion upon us ? we urged farcher in our Reply, that the late Covenant bindeth us to the oid Covenant made Anno 1 58 1 ; for by your late Covenant, yc profeffe your I elves bound ro keep the f ore! aid nationall Oath ( as yc call it ) inviolable : and that old Covenant, or Oath, bindeth us to the difcipline which was then; and that difcipline comprehendeth all the externall Rites of it , ( as ye have in all your writings profeifed, ef- pecially in that late Book entituled, The difyme agawftthe Engiifh Popifi) Ceremonies : whence in your Sermons,and printed Books,hnc« the Aflembly of Pearth, ye have been ftill accufing us of Perjury. ) So from the firft, to the laft, the hxtCovmant bindeth us to the po- licy which was then ; and confequently , maketh a perpetuall Law, concerning the Rites ef the Church, as if they were unchangeable. 3. Your Anfwere to this Argument, is not fufficient, nor to the purpofc. V36 Duuyes: purpofe. i .Ye put off, without any Anfwere -that which we allea dge out of a Dilute , againft the Englifh Pepifh Ceremonies; and , in f ftead of anfwering, with, that what we have thence, or from any o- ther Treatifc of that kind, were keeped to another time. Pardon us* that we Willi greater ingenuity , and a more di red: Anfwere. Con- fide* the words of thatTreatife before cited, Part. 4. Cap. 3. Sell.8. No man amongst ,m oan certainty know^tbkt the Difcipline weaned and Spoken of in the Oath? by thofe that (wear It , comprehends h not under It thofe points of Difciplinejor which we now contended which this C birch had In uje at the [wearing of the Oath. Shall we7 then% put the breach of the Oath in a fair hazard } G O D forbid. The fame we find to be the judgement of others alio, who have oppofed the Articles oiP earthy and Epiicopall Government. Since , there- fore, we defire to be refolved , concerning the right meaning of the negative Contention, left by it we condradict the pofitive Confeffion, approved in Parliament : Had we not reafon to propone this difficul- ty to you, who require ourfubferiptio^and came hither , to refolve our Scruples ? If ye condemn the judgement of thefe your Brethren, who were Authors of thefe Treatiies, why doe ye not openly profefs, that ye, and the reft ot the Authors of the late Covenant ^ diiallow it ? If ye doe approve it, as we have great reafon to think ye doe , fince ye have ftill oppofed the Articles o£ Peart hy and Epifcopacy,and doe exprefly referre us to thofe Treatifes in your ninch Anfwere : How doe ye not fee, that, with a good confeience , ye can not require us, to fwear , and fubferive , that which ye know to be contrary to our minde > Remember, we pray you, the words of the former Treatife, in the place before cited, put the cafe ,k were doubtfull and queftion- able, what is meaned by the word Difcipline in the Oath; yet pars tutior^ the fafer way were to be chofen; which is affirmed there to be this : that the points pracVifed by us , are abjured in the negative Confeffion. 4. Secondly : whereas ye fay , That none of you would refufe to fwear the (hort Confeffion, becaufe we have expounded fome Ar- ticles of it contrary to your minde : we reply, that this anfwere fa- cisrieth not : for you f wearing the negative Confeffion, notwithstan- ding of the contrary Interpretation of them who differ in judgement Duplyes] 137 from you,fhoweth not,how the apparent contradiction betwixt it,and the pofaive Confesfion, objected by us, is reconciled by you the pro- pounders and urgers of it. Moreover, if we did urge you to lubfcrive the negative Congestion, when in the mean time wc were perfwaded, that our interpretation ot the Articles thereof, were contrary to your judgement ; we were bound to labour to informe your judgement, before we did exa& your Oath : and , confequently , by the law of Charity and Equity, ye are obliedged, not to require our Oath , till firft ye doe that, which is fuflfkienr,co make our judgement conforme to yours : which as yet ye have nor done. 5. Thirdly : ye fay, your detire is, that both of us keep our mean- ing of the negative Confefsion, according to our diverie meafures of light, and only promife forbearance : which, ye fay, we may doe, be- caufc that we think che points conrroverred,to be indifferent : we an- fwere, that ye ftill flee the point in queliion : for it is another thing for us, to keep our meanings, and another thing for us, tofwear a Co- venant, when we are not perl waded of the truech thereof. Ye might, and may i\ 11 enjoy your meaning for us : but how we can keep our meaning, and lubferive your Covenant, we fee noti (ince we think the one repugnant to the other. Neither is it forbearance only that is re- quired, as we have fhown before; nor yet can we fwear forbearance, the L iff ft mding (till in vigour, and Authority requyring obedience. La lily : We think not all the points concraverted , to be indifferent, as w^s before declared. 6. Thus it may appear, how ye have dealt with our Strifes , as ye call it. The like dealing we find anent our Dilemma, ; the homes whereof, ( as ye fpeak ) ye labour ro turn againft our f elves, bv afking. To which of the members of the diftinction , we referre Pexrth Articles and Epifcopacy } If fay ye, they were abjured in the negative Coxfefli My we are perjured for the prattifwg of them : and if left ixdiff vent, by that ConfeJJijK, we may, notwithftanding of that Confejfim, forbear the pra&fe rf them. Firft, Your Que Ft Ion is not pertinen: : Fcr the distinction is not ours, but yours. And to what purpose is it to you, to know, to what member of your diftin&ion.we referre the Articles ot Pearth, and Epifcopacy ? Secondly : There is no ftrength in either oi the Homes of your Dilemma j For, by turn- Mm ing ic 133 DUPLYE sl ing ic wrong, you have made it your own. The one home is , That. if the Articles of Pearth, and Epifcopacy, be left indifferent , by the fhort Confeifion, we may forbear the pra&ife of them. Firlt, This meeteth not the home of our Dilemma^ which was, if we be not tyed4 by the negative ConfefTion, to the omrniilion of thefe things ; then why haveye^n all your writings againft us, exprobrated to us,Perjury, for viohcing of the Oath contained in that Confdlion > To this no word by you is answered here. Secondly : Suppone thefe things were left indifferent by the negative Confeision; yet may we not forbear the pra&ife of them : becaufe, fince that Confefsion , Lawes have palled on them; which remaining in vigour, require our Obedience as we faid before. 7. The or her home of your Dilemma^ that if thefe points were abjured for ever , before P earth A (Terribly , then wee, who pra&ife them,are perjured. To which we an^were, Trnt it followeth not : for we never did fwear to that negative Confeision. And therefore, though thefe points were abjured therein , yet are we free from all guiitinelFe of Perjury. And in the mean time, ye have not relolved, how he wh© is pen waded, of the lawfulnefle of thofc points can fwear the negative Confefsion, if by it the Swearer be tyed, to the abjuring of thofe points, which was the orher part of our Dilemma. Thus i£ ye will consider rightly, ye may perceive,that, our D lemma ftandetl\ unmoved, With che homes of it ftill towards you. Ye farther insinu- ate, trnt ourRealons, are notfolide and grave, but velitat ions of iuch a fort as ye looked not for. Let the judicious Reader , pronounce his fentence of this ; only we wifh, that ye had chofen rather to faclsfie, then to contemn our reafons. That which ye here againead^e, con, cerning the change of Comhlioners^s anfwered in our fourth Duply, 8. To give light to your former difcourfe,ye fubjoine a distinction of difcipline, into three members : Firir, ye fay , it is taken for the rule of Government of the Church, ?nd cenfure of manners, by office bearers appointed b) CHRIST : and thus, ye fay, it is unchangeable. Secondly,for conftitutions of counldls,and Ads of Parliamenr,about matters of Religion : And thus, ye fay, it is alterable, orconftant, according to the nature of particular objects. Thirdly : for the or- dering of ureumftances, tobeobterved in all a&ions, divyne, and humane, Duplyi s^ i 39 humane : and fo ye fay it is variable. Firft, by thefe diftindions, the matter Ceemerh lathes to be obfeured, then cleared. For ye doc not expreffe, in which of thele fenies the difcipline mentioned in the ne- gative Confeflion, is to be taken, which was the point required of you, 9. Secondly : ye feemby this diftin6\ion, tointangleyourfelves yet more. For, firrt, if ye take the name of difcipline, in any one, or any two of thefe lenfes , what fay ye to thele following words o£ your dispute aga'nfi the English Popljh cedent wles , Parte 4. cap. 8 , Sed. 8. he B'fkop doeth bat needle fly qieftlon , what id mealed by the difcipline whereof the Oath speaketh. For howfoever In Ecclejiafli- call ufe, It (Ignlfie h often times , that Pollcle , which standethin (he cenfttrlng of manners; yet w the Oath it mufr be taken In the large ft fenje; namely, fr the while Policy of the Church. For, 1. iheuhJe Policy of this Church, did, at that ttme.g e under the name ofdfclpllrx: And th?fe two B ,okj where'.-* this Policy id contained, were called the Books of difcipline. A..d without all doubt, they who fwore the Oathy punned by difcipline, that whole Policy of the Church which Is contain- ed In thofe Bj: kj, 10. Secondly, when that little Confeflion was framed, the go- vernment of the Church was only by Presbyters,md not by Bifhops: and, therefore, if ye think, that the name of difcipline, in that Con- feifion, comprehended under it the firii part of your diftinction, ( which, as we conceive , ye will not deny ) ye may eafily perceive, that we are urged by you, to i we are , and fubferive again!* our Con- fciences ; fince we think the rule of the government of the Church, which then wis tobechangeablejand, that the Government was law- fully changed, by following Atfemblies, and Parliaments, from Pref- byters, to Bifhops. 1 1. Thirdly : If chefe Conductions of Counfells,conce:ning objects akerible,mcnt ioned in the l'econd member of your diftinc>ion,be one, & the ume,wirb ordering, of variable circumftaccs,rnentioncd in the third member;why have ye diftmguifhedtheore from theorherpBut, if they be ditfirent,then ye granr,that Eaclefiillick conftitution$,rnay See the be maJe concerning fome alterable matters of Religion,whkh ire not D'fpute a- bare circumftances; wnich is repugnant to your ordinary doctrine \ galrft the whereby ye nuntain, that nothing changeable, is lac lo the deter- Erglljh minai ion Po- I40 Duply es, Popi[h Ce- mination of the Church, in matters of Religion ; but onely circunu remmies, itances of A&ions. We can not fee, how ye can mantain this do- f art. ^. cap ftrne, and yet oppofe the determinations of the Church , concern- 7jf*#. 5. ing Ceremonies, which are indirferenc. 12. We had reafon to inquire your judgement, concerning Rites or Ceremonies, which are not of divine Inttitution > whether they be lawful!, or nor, though ye (till fhun tho declaring of it. Since by your Covenant, ye intend a reformation of Religion, and a reco- vering of the Liberty and Purity of the Gofpell, as ye fpeak; if ye in your judgement, condemne fuch Ceremonies , ( as ye infinuate ) we can not expect, but that, if ye obtain your defires, all fuch Rites fliaJi be expelled and condemned, efpecially fincc by this your late Cove- nantee tye your fehres to that old CovenantjNhetein ye difclaim and The late ^zte.^. all Rires brought into the Church,without the word of GOD. Confejfion Now, we can not concurre with you, for promoving this end,becaufe of Helve- fuch a judgement, is plan contrary to ours, yea , contrary to the u- tiaycaf.2j niverfall judgement and pra&ife, of the Ancient Kirke, repugnant Confejfion alfo to the judgement of the Proreftant Churches, and moft famous of Bihem. Divines therein, as may appear by the quotations on the margine. cap. 15. But if ye be of the fame mind with us,and think, that there are fome Englijh Rites of that kind lawfulUwhy doe you hide your minde from us,and Confejfion, others, fince the acknowledgement and mantfetfing of this Trueth, art. I 5. Co would be no fmall advancement to your caufe , by removing this feffion of great offence ? Jlnsfturg. art. 1 5. art. J. Confejfion of Wirt ember g. art 35. Confejfion of Sweveland, cap. 14. Calvin. Infitut.lib. 4. cap. 10. §. ^O.OecolampadiHS Epift. Lib.^.pag. 818. ZeppermPolit. Ecclef. pag. 1 38. 142. 143. Zanchlusyw qnartum fra* ceptiw. Aielanchtor.) in many places. &c. Of Matrimoniall Benediftion^ and Gr od- fathers in Baptifm. 13. As for folemn bletfing of Marriage, we afked, what warrand ye had for it, by precept or prac^ife, fet down in GODS Word. In your DliP L Y ES; 141 your Anfwere ye infmuare , that it is a Wetting of the people com- manded in the Law , and more plainly we find this fet down in the Difpute,againlt the English Popifh Ceremonies, Part. 3. Cap A, Sett, jo. Tet flam it is from Scripture it felfy that Matrimoniall Bene* diction > ought to be given by a Paflor^ forGOD hath commanded his Miniflers to bleffe his People ', ( Numb, 6. ) Firft, who ever before you, did ground the neceifity of folemne blefsing of Marriage upon thefe words, Numb, 6.23. Syeakjtnto Aaron , and unto his fonnes% faying , on this wife ye (hall blejfe the children of Ifrael^ faying unto them : the LORD bleffe thee^ and keep thee : &c. Learned Melanch- tony was not fo well verfed in Scriptures, as to lee this. For he fayeth in his Epiftles, Pag. 328. Ye fee that the Rite of the Ancienrs is, that the Bridegroom and Bride, are joined before the Altar , in the fight of.GOD , and with the incalling of GOD. Which cuftome un- doubtedly hath been ordained by the firft Fathers, that we may con- fider that this conjunction was appointed by GOD, and is aififted by Him. 14. Secondly : By this command ement of G O D , to bleffe the people, Numb. 6. either there is a neceffity laid upon the Church, to bleffe Marriages folemnly, or not. If ye fay, there is not a necef- fity, then there is no Commandement of GOD there-anent , for it is neceffary to obey GODS Commandement. If ye fay , there is a neceflity , what fay ye then to your friend Didoclavey who in his Al- tar of Damafcx4ypag. %66 , affirmeth , that neither the prefence of the Congregation , norbleffmg of the Minifter , is neceffary to this action } And if ye diffent herein from him , ye are holden to prove your opinion, by a neceffary confequence from holy Scripture, which we are perfwaded ye are not able to doe. 1 ?. Thirdly : the commandement,to bleffe the people, is no leffe, if not more generall, then that, 1. Cor. 14. 40. Let all t hinges be done decently , and in order: on the which words , both ancient and recent Divynes,doe ground the lawfulneffe of the Ceremonies which We allow. 1$. Fourthly : Since that commandement, of blefsing the people, is generall, what reafon have ye , for not including other civill im- portant ContEa&s , efpeciaily that are performed with a Vow , or N n promiffoiie 14* DuPLYES, promifforie Oath? A vow made to GOD, is a Covenant with GOD, as well as the Matrimoniall Oath.- All Vows and Oaths, are Aots o£ religious Worfhip, although they be joined to civiil Contracts : and, therefore, if becaufe of the Covenant with GOD , yeblefle Marriage folemnly, ye ought to doe the fame, to other civiil Contra6ts,wherein there is the like Covenant, by vertue of an Oath or Vow. 17. Fifcly : Whereas ye fay, that though Marriage were a paction, meerly Civiil, yet becaufe it is fo important, ye would not with-hold Ecclefiaftick Benediction from it , notwithstanding of the abufe of Poperie : we would underftand , how this agreeth with the currenc Doctrine of thofe that are of your minde: for we read in the Abridge- ment of Lincolne, pag.ij. that we fhould c aft away evenfuch things^ 06 had a good originally ( if they be not Hill neceffary, and commanded, of GOD ) when once they are known to be defied with Idolatry, or a* bafed by it. So in the dilute against the Englijh Popijh ceremonies^ Parte 3. cap, 2. Scft. 2. it is affirmed, that Rites, ancient, lawfully and agr cable to GODS Word, fbould, notwithstanding, necejfarily be abolijhed , becaufe of their fuper flit ion , and wicked abufe. Ye adde, that ye will not ufe Marriage fuperftitioufly, according to the prefcript of the Service Book.. Ye did not find the Service Book., neither in our Demands, nor in our Reply es ; yet we know not, how ye fo often reach unto it. 18. Laftly : of the ftipulation of God-fathers in Baptifm, inftan- ced by us, in our fife Demand , ye have fpoken nothing particularly, « p either in your firft or fecond Anfweres. We have no precept, or ex- Y? et€r ample of it in holy Scripture : yea, fome of our learned Divynes af- Mart, on £rm^ rhac ic was inft;tucec}ky pope Bigynm : and ye will not deny, \ f e h ' f chac lt hath been much abuied in PoPery • Hovv cornrnetn ic co Pa#e> ot trie £- ci]en^ t^it t^s Ceremony is allowed , and ufed by fome of you ? we h R -C° ftfr fome; for vve are informed> that ^orne of y°ur minc*e, doe not ufe teG™' it at all. See D. Mortonjn his defence of the three ceremomesrfaga^ ditSyVCiLoc rheoiog. The VI. Duply. Tom. 4. TN your firft Anlwerc to our fat Dewant, ye anfwered nothing to * ' that DllPLYES? 143 that,which we affirmed concerning the judgement of Divines , an- cient and moderne, who either have absolutely allowed thefc Rites, which were concluded in Pearth Affembly,or elie have thought them tolerable, & fuch as ought not to make a ftirre in the Church: neither did ye touch that,which we obje£tcd,coceming the venerable cuftom, and prac^ife of the ancient Church, and the moll eminent lights o£ it, which ye condemn in your interpretation of the negative Confef- fion, contained in the late Covenant. Wherefore,in our Reply to that Arfwcrc of yours,we did hold your filencc,for a granting of the trueth of that which we faid, concerning fo manyDivynes, ancient and modern, who ftand for us. Now in your fecond Arfwere. to that D cit- ing the wordes of the PJalm. 9 5 . is not ( as ye doe interpret ic ) any perverting of the Text, neither tendeth it to inferr thereupon, abfo* lute neceliity of kneeling, in all worfhipping of GOD, or in this pare of his Worihip,in the celebration of the holy Communion : but only to inferr the lawfullneffe, and commendable decency of kneeling, in divyne worship; and that it is fuch a gefture, as our lawfull fuperiours miy enjoine to be ufed, in GODS worfhip; and that religious adora- tion, and kneeling, is to be done to GOD only, although they fin nor, who ufe another gefaire, where this is not required by Authority ,but another DUP L Y E S? 147 another appointed, or permitted. 3. We doe not kneel before the Sacramentall Elements, making them the objecl of our Adoration, either mediate, or immediate : neither doeth the Att of Pearth Affembly import any fuch thing. But all our Adoration, both outward,and inward,is immediately directed to GOD only, with Prayer, and thankfgiving, at the receiving of fo great a benefite. Wherefore,* your objecting of Idolatry , againft us here, and in your other T readies , is molt unjuft. We marvell alfo, how ye doe here refer us , to thofe Treatifes, which in your twelfth >4#/W,ye feem to difclaime, finding faultjthat any of us fhould lay hold on th-cm, or build any thing upon them. As likewile ye here al- leadge, that the Affembly of Pearth made Kneeling neceflary in all points of GODS Woifhip; and, confequently, in receiving the holy Eucharift : not remembering, that in your feventh Anfeere, ye faid, the Affembly had concluded the five Articles as indifferent. 4. Concerning the Service-Boo^ ( which now is not urged ) we have already anfwered. Neither find we any reafon, of your uncha- ritable conftrudhon of us, or of the difpofition of the people , as if they were now become fuperftitious. Nor doeth this time give any juft caufe of fuch feares, as are fufficient to overthrow the reafons of that Aft of Peanh Affembly. 5. We did not in malice, but in love, fay, that fuch a defence as ye profeffc here , according royourProreftation,and fuch meetings and conventions doe require the K 1 n g s confenr, and Authority, to make them lawfull, accordirig to our judgement : whereof fome rea- fons we have expreffed before in our fecond Miply , which as yet ye have not fatisfied. 6. It feemeth, that ye are either not able, or not willing , to an- fwere particularly and plainly,to our interrogatories proponed in our ninth Reply : and we would wnde rftand fome reafon, why ye doe fo, in fuch a free and brotherly conference; feeing although ye doe other- wife interpret our meaning, yet truely we did not propone them to be fnares to you , but to obtain fatisfa&ion to our felves and others, for a peaceable end. As for your Queftions, which ye throw againft us, with plain profeflion to work us difcontentment thereby, we fhal here make an anfwere to them in meeknefs, and evident demonftra- tion of 148 DuuVe si don of our peaceable difpofition. Queftions Anfwered. 7. "VT^Our firft Queftion, concerning the Service.]? ook,y and book : of Canons^ is nowife pertinently proponed to us. If we did urge upon you the faid books of Service and Canons , as ye doe now the Covenant upon us, we ftiould particularly and pun&ualft declare our mind concerning them. 8. To yourCecond Queftion, we anfwere, that it is ourduety to enquire caref ully,what is incumbent upon us by the Law of G OD,and man,towards our Prince.We doe not move queftions of ftate,but doe anfwexe to your propofitions , refulting upon matters of ftatc, and we doe labour, as it well becommeth all good Subjects, to be well in- formed, before we put our hand to any thing, which concerneth our due obedience to our Prince. As for that which here again ye alleadge, of hisMajeftiesCommiflioner, and wife States-men, as having re- ceived fatisfa&ion from you, we referre you, as before, to our An- fwere made thereto, in our firft Dnfly. 9. To your third Queftion, we anfwer f our aflertion concerning the uniawfulneffe of Subjects their refitting the Authority , of free Monarchs, by force of Arms , even although they were enemies to the Trueth, and perfecuters of the profeffors thereof, can not in the judgement of any reafonable man, import that we have the leaft fuf, pition of our Ki n g, that either he {hall change his Religion, or ihall tall upon his religious and loyall Subjects with force of Armes. We have often declared in thefe our Difputs, that we are fully perfwaded of our Kin gs Majefties conftancy, in profeflion of the true Reli- gion, and equitable difpofition in minift ration of Juftice. And inte- ftification hereof, we reft fatisfied with his Majefties Proclamation, againft which ye have procefted. 10. To your fourth Queftion, we anfwere, tecaufe that we doc efteemfubfeription to your Covenant , neither to be warrantable by GODS word, nor to be a convenient mean for pacification, we hold it our duety, both to wkh-hold our hands from it, and to dehort our people from it. xi. To Duply ie si 14^ 11 . To your fife Queftion, we anfwere : 1 . We hold it a wrong fuppofition which ye make, that che Prelates and their followers, are labouring to introduce Popery, and to make a faction. 2. Wc know •ur gracious Kin g, to be fo juft,and fo wife, and fo ripe in yeares and experience, that he will not iutfer any of his Subjects, to abufe his Majeflies name, in the execution of any injuilice. 3. To make: refinance by force of Arms, againft the K 1 n g s publick ftanding Lawes, and againft his Majefties publick Proclamations, is not ( in our judgement) a convenient orlawfull way , for defending of the Religion , of the Liberties , and Lawes of the Kingdom , and of the Kings Authority; but on the contrary it bringeth fcandall upon our profeilion. See our Reafons in our fecond Duply. 12. To your fixt Queftion, we anfwcr,that in all free Monarchies, there is nothing left to fubje&s, in the cafe of perfecution , by their own Sovcraigne Princes, but patient furfering,with Prayers and Tears to GOD, or fleeing from their wrath , as we have at length proved in our fecond Duply. This doctrine did the people of Alexandria, learne of their holy Bifhop Athanafitts , as is evident by their own words, in their Proteftation, fubjoined to the Epiftle of Athanafius, ad vitamfolitariam agentes. If (fay they ) it be the commandement of the Emperour , that we be perfected , we are all ready to fujfer Martyrdom, 'e'i ph £r <&i* troifAOt «r£*l\t (t*etPTt/p»fai. I om.i.Oper.Athanaf.Pag.%6%. Edh.Parif. 162J. As for the nature of the Government of this Kingdom of Scotland, read the Book of King J a m e s the fixt of bleffed memory,enrituled, The true Law of free Monarch >j,and the Preface of the firft Book of RegiamMajesiatem ; where it is exprefly faid, of the K 1 n g o£ Scotland^ that He hath no Super tour, but the Creator of Heaven and, Earthy Ruler of all things. This our Anjwere , neither proceedeth from flattery , neither from any intention, to ftirre up Princes a- g^inft their loyall Subjects, nor from any aime at other worldly end?, ( as ye doe uncharitably judge ) but from our due fidelity to our K 1 n G,from our true love to our Countrey,and from our upright de- fire to the Glory of GOD, and the comfort of our own Souls, in the Day of our Accounts. p? ' THE £•56- D u p l V e $1 The X. Duply: f A Lthough we take you to be of the number of thofe who permed A\ rhe late Covenant, yet pardon us , ro call your Gloffes of it in queftion, fo long as ye doe not fatisfie our Arguments , which prove them to be contrary ro the very words of your Covenant \ . We hive fhown, in our Replies, and now again in our fourth Duply, that the words of the Covenant import a perpetual adherance,to the whole externall Policy of the Church, as it was Anno 1 58 1; and the remo- ving of V earth Articles, and Epifcopacy, as of things contrary to the Liberty and Purity of the Gofpell. Whence we ftill inferre , that thefe who have fworn the Covenant, are tyed by their Oath, to vote againft V earth Articles, and Epifcopacy : and, confequently, can not, without prejudice, either difpute,or give out a decifwe fentence con- cerning them, in the intended AiTembly. 2. Ye fay, ye will not judge fo uncharitable of us, as to think us fo corrupt, that, in our opinion, fince the time defigned by us , nothing hath entered into the Church, befide Epifcopacy, and the Article sol: T earth, which can be prejudiciall to the libercy and purity of the Gof- pell. We are glad, that although ye judge uncharitably of us, yet ye judge not fo uncharitably : and, although ye think us corrupt , yet ye think us not fo corrupt,as not to be ferfible of thefe things. We told you our minde before, in our fourth Duply, concerning thefe abufes, which ye think to have been occasioned by V earth Articles : and now we tell you, that if Vearth Articles , and Epifcopacy , for thefe their alleadged confequents, be altogether removed, the benefite which ye think our Church may receive,by removing of them, &all not, in any meafure, equall her great loffes. ;vv The XL Dupl r« Ee complained in our Demand of the uncharitablenelle of your Followers, who calumniate us , as if we were fayoujcK of Popery, jknd to ihow how unjuft this ca- lumpie Duply e si \<>i lumny is, we declared, that we are ready, to fwear, and fibfcrive, oar narionall Confeilion of Faith, ratified and regillrated in Parliament: to which Declaration, we have now added our Oath , which we did fwear, when we received the degree of Dodorate in Theologie, and have folemnly again renewed ir, Pag. 8 1.82. In your Anfveer to that Demand , ye flighted our complaint , and did not Co much as once mention it^ which made us in our Reply, to complain alfo of you,who have fhown your felves fo unwilling to give us that teftimony of our fincerity in profeiling the Trueth, which all who know us,tbmk to he due to us. We expecAed,that in yourfecond Anfwer to that Demand, this fault (hould have been amended. But, contrary to our expecta- tion, we perceive , not only that ye are infenfible of the grievous in- jurie done to us, by the calumnious reportes of others; but alfo, that ye have bufied your own wittes, to enquire, as ye fay, in matters, to fearch, and to try our waves , and to explicate what ye could agiinit us, by the unfriendly testimony of lome, wao, perhaps, are difpleafed with us, as Achat was with M<:ca'ahy for the freedome of our admo- nitions. Charity, ye know, thinks- h no evill , 1. Cor. 13.5, and co- vereth a multitude of tranfgrejfi.ns^ Prov. 10. 12. 1. Pet. 4. 8. But uncharitable inquiiirion, and prying into other mens doings, not only difcovereth thofe infirmities, unto which GOD will have every one of us fubjecfc , for humbling of us ; but alio bringeth even upon good men, a multitude of undeserved Afperfions. Brethren, we intend not to give yoa a meeting in this; for our refolution is, not to be overcome of evilly but to overcome evill with good, Rom. 12. 21. And we are glad to fuffer this fsrhiscaufe, whole Trueth we mantaine, pitying in you this great deleft of Chnftian and Brotherly companion ; and praying GOD, not to lay it to your charge. Wherefore, we will not fearch and try your wayes, as ye have done ours : but we will reflect our thoughts upon our felves, and fee whether or not we be guilty of rhefe things, which ye here reprehend in us. 2. Ye fay, firft, That we have taken an ample teftimony to our felves. But what, we pray you, have we teftified of our felves ; but this onely, that in fincere and zealous profeflion of the Trueth , we are not inf criour to others ; and, according to our meafure, have dri- ven to bs faithf uU in all the dueties of our Calling ? Ye have, indeed, put $5$ DuptYE$J put more into our Apology, and fay, that we have praifed our felves,r from our frequency of Prayer, extraordinary Humilations, and holy- neffe of Life, and Converfation , &c. For, as ye are loach to fpeak any good of us; fo ye would have the Reader believe , that we fpeak too much good of our felves. But in this, as ye wrong us, fo ye make the Reader to fee, how negligently ye have read and confidered our words. For, whereas in the (econd part of our Reply , we told you, that we have other meanes, and more effe&uall,chcn your Covenant , to ufe, for holding out of Popery; mentioning in particular, extraor- dinary Humiliation, frequency of Prayer, amendement of life, dili- gence in Preaching, and fearching the Scriptures, &c. Ye imagine, that we doe arrogate to our felves , fome Angularity, in ufing thefe means; not confidering, that it is one thing to fay, that we may and ought to ufe thefe means, and another thing, to fay, that we are An- gular, and eminent, above others, in the diligent ufe of them. 3. Next : Whereas ye fay, that ye were defirous, rather to hear that teftimony, at the mouths of others, (as if ye had never heard our Pains and Labours, for the Trueth, commended by any) who know- eth not, but in this cafe, in the which we ftand for the prefent, it is lawfull, and moft expedient to men,to vindicate themfelvs,and their fidelity in their Callings,from the contempt and calumnies of others. We have in the Scriptures , notable examples of G O D S dearell Saints, who in fuch cafes, yea, in other cafes alio, without any dero- gation, to their Angular humility, did fall out into high expreflions, or their own vertuous and pious carriage. Who ever fpake fo hum- bly of himfelf as Paul , who calleth himfelf lefe then the leafl of all Saints^Ephef. 3. 8. U yet eifewhere he fayeth,r]W he was not a white behind the very chief eft Apoftles ; and, that he laboured more abwi- dantlie then they all, I. Cor. 1 5. 10. 2. Cor. 1 1. 5. 4. The defects, which by your ftrift and curious InquiAtion , ye think ye have found in us, may be reduced into two points: One is, that we are too fparing in our paines, in Preaching; and, that we often fill our places with Novices. The other is, that the fmall pains which we have taken, are not fruitfull. And, to prove this, ye fay, that Popery huh no lefle increaled in our City, under our Minifterie, then any time before fince the Reformation. As for the firft of thefe, to omit DUPL Y E Si I 5} -to omit that which modefty will not permit us to fpeak, either of oux own paines in teaching, or of yours, it is very well known, that in the cafe of fkknefs,and exrraordinary imployments in our callings,which but feldom doe tall foorth to us, it is both lawfull, and commendable to fee, that our places may be filled., either with fome aciuall Mini- fter, or, failing of that, with able itudents of Divinity , approven by publick Authority, whereof your felves can not be ignorant,in refpeel of your frequent Peregrinations, from your Stations. 5. As for the next point : Although it were true, yet the Tar die §f the feed fovcen in diver fe forts of ground , and the dolorous com- plaints, which theie molt painfull and thundering Preachers, Eliah, 1. King. 19. 10. Ifaiah, 53. i. Paul Gd. 1.6. and 3. 1. yea, of CHRIST himfelf, Matth. 23, 37. and Luke 19. 41. 42. made of the hard fucceffe of their laboures , may learne you to be more be- ninge in your cenfures of us , then ye are. In the mean time , it is known to his Ma jelly , to the Lords of fecret Counfell, and to all the Countrey here; as alio it is evident, by many publick extant Acts of the faidfecret Counfel^and of our Diocoefian Aifemblies, that we have been as diligently exercifed, inoppofmg of Popery, as any Mi- nifters in this Kingdom. Neither hath our fucceffe herein been fo badde, as ye have given it out : for fiince our entry to the Miniftry here fcarce hath any man been diverted from the trueth,to Popery; fome Papifts have been converted, to the profeflion of the Trueth, and 0- thers who were incorrigible , have been forced to depart from this Countrey. Yea, we think, that our fucceffe, in dealing with the Pa- pitts, had been undoubtedly greater, if they had not been hardened in their Errour, by your ftrange and fcandalous Do&rins, repugnant to Scripture, and found Antiquity. ^ 6. That which ye fay in the fecond part of your Anfwer, concer- ning the powerfull effects of your Covenant , meeteth not with that which we did object,concerning the unlawfulnes of it. For,that which is not in it f elf lawfull, can never be truely profitable to any. And Sohmonhith told us, that their is no mfdomey nor under ft ar.dir.^ j- gaitift the LORD, Prov. 21. 30. 7. As for the Lift part of your Anfwer, we have fo often told you that your fear of the inbnnging of the Sefvice.Boot, and Canons, is Qj) caufelelfe : 154 DuplyesJ caufeleffe : and ye have fo oft denyed this, that it were folfy to wea- rie the Reader any more with this matter. In the mean time, we tell you, that if your Covenant be unlawful! in it felf, (as we ftill think it to be ) your fear, although it were jufriy conceived, will neverfrce your Souls of the guiltinefle of it. T The XII. Dun v. O juftifie or excufe your omiflion , of publick difallowing and condemning the publick difcrders, and mifcarriages of iome who have fubfcrived the Covenant; efpecially the ottering of vi- olence to Prelats, and Mintfters, in time of divine Service, and in the HouteGOD, whereof wefpake in our twelfth Demand^ and Reply : ye anfwer, firft, that ye acknowledge not the Service-Book., for the LORDS Service. Ye might fay the fame of any Service Book, (I£ ye allow the Reafons -lately fet forth in Print againft the Service- &*?£.) for there a Prefcript form of Prayer, is condemned , which dire&ly crofleth the practife of the univerfall Church of CH R I ST, Ancient, and Recent. Altar. Va~ \. Ye alleadge, that ye acknowledge not the ufurped Authority tttafc. par. of Prelats, for lawfull Authority. For ought we can perceive, by the izo'.Difp. Do&rins of thofe with whome ye joine,ye acknowledge no lawfull atrainfl the Authority at all in Prelats, above your felves, and other Minifters : EngHSb and ye feem fo to infinuate fo much here, by blaming u3 , for calling Popijb Ce- them, Reverend and holy Fathers. We are perfwaded of the law- remomes, fulneffe of their Office, and therefore are not alhamed, with Scrip- farti $.cap Cure, and Godly Antiqutty,to call fuch as are advanced to this facred &J'gr*Jfj Dignity, Fathers, and Pvevcrend Fathers. Neither fhould perlonall 6 * faults, alleadged by you, hinder our observance, till what is alleadged Favorabi-bz clearly proven. For, folong as things are doub'iull , we {hould liores rel interpret to the better part,L*4* <5, 37. And it is a rule ofLaw,that in f oh* qua a doubtfill cafe,the ihee of a Poffeflbr,is beft; and, confequently, of aVtores ha hicti thit htther-to hath been in a poffetfion of a good name : as alio, kentur'.jf. thit in things doubtfull, we {hould rather favour the perfon accufed, Lit. 50. then him that accufeth, i^.125, ..'* J** DUPLYE S J 155 $. If ye be of this fame judgement, with us, concerning the law- ful nefle of their Office, why doe ye not reverence them, asweil as ^/^ jm we ? Buc if their very Office fcem to you unlawLuil , we eiieern your an E -^u judgement conrrary to holy Scripture, to all found Anriquity, and to J the belt learned amongit reformed Diving. Hear what Mclanchton • ^ ./ fayeth, I would toG O D,I would toGO D, it la) in me, not to Cm- r] , . m firm the Domini**, but to / ejf^re 1 he G sjerr.ment of Bijkops : for [fee ' ** wh*t manner of Policy we (hall have; the Ecc!e[iafl:c/Jl Policie being , , , diffolvcd : I d,efee% th it hereafter will grow up, a greater tyrannie in an c^iii the Church , then ever was before \ And again, in another hpiltle to ' * c Canter ar'iM. he fayeth, Ton will not beleeve how much I am hated, by • r '" th-jfe of None a fhops. So oir Ct the Kingdom of . Rtgll,CHRISTI,PaS.67. .gJJJ bis dijfolvere *roxiT«'*» Eccleftaflicam ? Si Ep'fcopl nobis concedar.l ilia, qua &- quum effe eos crr.cedere ? Et at liceat^certe non expedit. Semper ita fen(it ipfe LutheruS, qutm nulla de ca/tfa, quidemut video, amant, nifi qua benefit 10 e m fentiunt Je, Ep fcopos excuffiffe & adept os libertatem minime at Hem ad pofte- ritatem. So in an Epift, ad Ep'fc. Aigus~ven. Deinde velim hoc tibi perfua- dea* de me deque mult is aliis not optare tit pace conftituta Epifcoporum ptejfasy fit wcclumis. Et haxc plurimum prodejfe Eccle(i:s jtidicamus. 4. Thirdly, Ye alleadge the zeal of the People, by reafon where- of ye fay, that it was nothing ftrange, that in fuch a cafe , they were ftirred up to oppofe. Suppone they had oppofed,yer, that they fhould have fo oppofed,as to have offered violence to facred Perfor.s,Prelats or Minifters, who are fpirituall Fathers , fee'meth to us very linage, for all that hitherto ye have faid. There is no zeal, without the ex- traordinary infllncl of GODS Spirit, which can warrand men defU- tute of Authority, to lay their hands on fuch perform. Torch net mr e anoynted, and doe my Prophets no harme, fayeth the L O R D, Pf«l. 105. Let all things be done decently , and in order , fayeth S, Paul, J. Cor. 14. 40. (SOD is not the author of cenfufion or timult,but of Qtf.u^y peace, fayeth-that fame A pottle there, verfe 72. To this nurpofe x"ei! x7* Oregor:e N*z*ianz*cn in n:s 26 Oration, fpeaking ot the cruet cauies ^ Avrt^j of 1 5 6 D u p l y e $• of divifion in the Church, fayeth, One of them is unr title, ferventnefs without reafon and knowledge , and that another is , Dif order and undecenc e, Arabia k*S *%<> t^t/ec, 5 . The Sonne fhould account the per f on of his Father f acred, jf. de obfequiis, Leg, 9. So we ought alfo to efteem of our fpirituall Fa- . . ^ thers : and, therefore, to offer injury to their perfons, and that, in bi quis ch cjme 0r divine Service, mutt needs be a grievous fin. In the Novell [acra my- Confutations of J 'toflinian,Authent. Collat. p. Tit. 6. Novella 1 2 3. Jferia cele- je Sancliff. Epifcopis , &c. Cap- 3 1 . there is a remarkable Law to" branttorjn ^ purp0['e> cicec| Up0n cne Margine. The like Law we find in Cod. lytamEcJtottin. Lib. 1. Tit\ 3. de Epifcop. & Clericis Leg. 10. Now al- clejiam in- chough in thefe imperiall Lawes, the fan&ion be fevere,yet we wifli gyyd\es,E- no ^ feveriCy t0 bz ufecj amongft us, but praying G O D, to for- ficopo,atot give them vvho have tranfgreiTed : We defire them to confider, that cUncisaut ancientjy amongft Christians, fuch doings were greatly difallcwed. alus Ecclefa injtoriam aliquam infer at : jubemm htonc verbera fnftinere, & in exilitom mitti. Si verb hozc facra Minifteria conttorbaverit ,am celebrare prohi- btoerit: capitaliter ptoniattor. Hoc ipjo cjr in Lit amis, in quibus Epifcopi, atot Clerici reperiantttr cuflodiendo. Et fiqtt 'dem injuriam folum fecerit , verier ibas exilioque tradatur. Si vero etiam Litaniam concufferit, capitale periculumfu- flmebit : cr vindic are jtobemm non foltom civile 's, fed etiam militaresjudices. 6. C&rj/^yW/peaking of the reverence due by people to Paftors, In hisfecod ^ayetn> ^ mm maJ f2oW fee* x^At t^ere are mt f° £reat fC6Jfs an^ re- homilie u- proaches,ufed by the unfaithfully aqainft the Rulers , as by thofe that pon thefe feem t0 k'e faithfully and to be joined with us. Let us therefore inquire • wordes fa- ™bence commeth this negligence, and contempt of pietie, that we have lure Prifcilfab a hoftilitie again f. our Fathers. There is nothings here is nothing 1 1 and Ajbat canfo eafilie defiroy the Church, as when there is not anexaB q toiLt TomJ9'"ritHre of Difciplesyto their Mafters; of children to parents, and of % Edit Sa- ('oem l^at are THls^ Wlt^ t^e^r Rulers. He that but speaketh evill a- vil Da? gahfl his brother , is debarred from reading the divine Script nres,^ \ii ( for what; haft thou to doe to take my Covenant in thy mowth fay eth the LORD ; and fubjoineth this caufe, Thou fitted and fpeakeft evill of thy brother , ) jmd thinkesl thou th] f elf wort hie to come to the jacred Duply e $2 * 57 fared porches, who accufeth thy sfirituall Father } How agreeth this mth rcafon ? For if they who jpeakj evlll of Father or Mother, fhould dre, according to the Law; of what judgement is he worthie, who dare fpeakj evill of him who is ranch more neceffarie, and better , then thofe Parents ? Why fear eth he not, that the Earth fhould open, andfwallow him, or that thunder fhould come from Heaven, and burn up that ac- cu(jng tongue } See him alfo,L/£. 3. de Sacerdotio, Cap. 5. er 6. 7. In 1 he next place, yc lay, ihat the keeping of G O D S Houfe, from pollution and fuperitition, beiongeth to Authority, to the com- munity of the faithfull, and to every one in his own place, and order: but, certainly if every one , or all the community , keep their own place, and order, they can doe nothing in this, by way of force, with- out, far leffe again!* Authority. Hence Zanchius, in his firft Book of Images, Thef. 4.fayeth, Without Authority of the Prince, it is law- full to none in this Countrey , to take Idoles out of Churches , or to change any thing tn Religion : he that doethfo, fhould bey unified, as f editions. Tnis heconflrmeth by reafon, and by the teftimony of S. Auguflin, Tom. 10. de Sermone Domini in Monte, Homilia 6. And a little after, he fubjoineth; Auguflin handleth this Argument piouf- Iie, he dehorteth his people, from fuch a praclife, and fayeth, That it is pravorum hominum, & furio forum circumcellionum. 8. As for your vehement accufations and threatnings, ( here, 8c Anfwer 14 ) againft the writer of the late Warning to the Subjects in Scotland , ye may eafily perceive , by the printed Edition of that Warn in g, ahd by the Printed Editions of our Replyes , that , that oifence is taken away. And now, reverend Brethren, why are ye pieafed thus to digrefle from the matter in hand,to waken and hold on foot, perfonall quarrels agunft your brother, by digging up buried words, and renewing haske interpretations thereof, contra- ry to his loving intentions, and after thathimfelf, for fatisfa&ion to all men, hath fo publickly difallowed and aboliilied thefe words? This uncharitable dealing , can bring no advantage to the caufe which ye mantain, but rather maketh it the more to be difgufted , in confide- ration of your too great eagernefsto ftir up hatred againft your neigh- bour, and to work him trouble; whome ye ought not to perfecute with implacable wrath , which worketh not the righteoufnefie of Rr GOD I5« — i -—^ Du PL YES* GOD; nor to exafperat againft him his other dear Countrey-men ? but rather, as well befeemech your profeflion and calling , ye ought A-tg. Lib. to exhort them to the mott favourable conftru&ion of things, and to de unico chriftian placability, and to the entertaining of their wonted loving Baptlfmoy affection towards him. As for thefeour preient queftions, we defire Cap. i 5, Theologically oriely, and peaceablie , to conferre of them wich you, O cjHum de or any other our reverend Brethren, of our own calling. teftandus ; 9. Ye fay that Matter Knox fpared not to call Kneeling a diabs- eft error I j call Invention. If ye allow this faying, how can it be , that in your hominum> Covenant, intended for removing of Innovations, and recovering of qui claro- the purity of the Gofpell, ye exprefly aimed not at the abolishing of rum viro- this ceremony,which is fo hatefull in your eyes } But if ye doe not ap- rum qua- prove this his faying,why did ye not choofe rather,in charity to cover dam nm this efcape of fo worthy a perfonage, then openly to bl? ze it abroade? recle fatta. 1 o. Ye have needlefly drawn into your difcourie, mention of /- hmdabili- ten', cum. Of which work,for mittigation of your unpeaeeable cenfure, terfe imi~ be pkafed.ro take notice of the. judgement, of that mott worthy Pa- taripHtat ttor, and mott grave and learned Divine, P. James Ujher, Arch-Bi- & quorum ^°P of Armacb^ Primate of all I^te^inthis his Epiftle written to virtutibui^Z Author.. &lleni[unt0. VIR. EXIMIE. Sllmma cum voluptate -'ei^ikov tuum perlegl: camj^ PatrU tu& fcelicitatem fumgratulatns, quod novum tandem produxerit 'e<^- v«/ov, qui earn i/fi pYaflhit dil'gentiam & virtutem , quarn olim V I r ' eyter^ Ec-jlefiis ( quumnon admodumdiffimdes de adiaphoris oborta ' lites ear urn paccm perturbarent )'exhibuit ille vetus; qui p^*,^©*- Tmr\~hn Nulla [aim bello : ipji% bel/ofalus fi qua fit, non alio quam pads ' ~\ nomlne ea tontinetur. Nam & de pace belli Uriam> opinor, a David* ' ' *liq'Aandointerr.ogatnm.memimfti,. |.- v '*r;- Jamvero^prteUifwcKj** [criptum remltto tibl ego nroUpnitUi fed vvi- ' ' q'todjucundum prabcat fbeciaculnm- wdianltkomm fatellitum inter Je manum DuPLYEsJ 159 fe manum conferevtitm, & wHtno itto kello EccleftoU noftrd, pactm Tti qaicqu'id, hoc eft, wtomfculi , fe ab homlnt optime irg* te J- [eVto trwfmijfum fttfcipe, & me(ut fact* ) ama. Fontan*, in Hiberma , III. U. Decembr . anno rcparaiA fa! at is 1632. Tuusin CHRIS TI Mi- nifterio confcrvus JACOBUS ARMACHANUS. Arth; Me javat alma qu'ies, gens hdcfera bella minatur^ J o n s t . Et quoties Facem pfcimtis, arma crepat . Paraph. Pial. 1 20* The XIII. Duply; YE repeat your former Jnfrver, concerning your interpretation of the claufe of forbearance, which we have already refuted in our former Repljesyneithzr doe ye bring here any new confir- mation thereof : And therefore all the three fcandals , mentioned in our 1 3 Demand, doe yet remaine un removed. 2. Although your interpretation were admitted , which we can not admit, yet at leaft the third-fcandall were nowife avoidable ther- by, ( whatfoever may be fuppofed concerning the other two, ) and that becatife of the reafon exprelTed in our 1 3 Reply ; to which your Anfaers here are not fatisfac"tory. 1 . Ye doe infinuate, that ye think our Oath of obedience to our ordinary, and ? 9 arth conllitutions, not lawfull in it ielt": which we are perfwaded is very lawfull. 2. Ye would feem to infer the unlawfullnefle of ir, by challenging, the Authority whereby it was exacted ; and alleadging that their is no ordinance made Civill or Ecclefiaftick, appointing any fuch Oath. This reafon (although it were granted ) hath no fhength at all , to prove that which ye intend, to wit, that either our Oarh is in it I elf unlawfull, or that we may now lawfully break it ; for our fwearing of that Oath is not rl€0 DUPL Y E S? ~\— - not againft any lawfull Authority , either divyne or humane : and i& fuch a cafe, Oathes concerning things lawful! , ought to be keeped, whether they be required by appointment of apublick ordinance, or not : which whofoever denyech , he openeth a patent doore to the breaking of lawfull Oathes, in matrimoniall and civil Contracts, and many other cafes, daylie incident in humane converfation. Alfo the exacting of that Oath , was clearly warranded by two Acts of Parlia- ment, viz. Parliament 21. of KingjAMEs the 6. holden at £<&»,. burgh^ Anno i6n.Chap. i. and Parliament 2 3. of King James the 6. holden at Edinburgh^ Anno 162 1. Ad 1. 3 . Ye take upon you to call in queftion,with what confcience that Oath was given. How oft, Brethren, fhall we exhort you to forbeare judging of other mens confciences , which are known toGOD =onely } Judge not, that ye be not judged. Matth. 7.1. 4. Ye alleadge, we can not anfwer before a generall Affembly for our Oath, and the fcandall rifen thereupon. No man needeth to be afhamed, before' a generall Affembly, or any other judicatory, of his lawfull and due obedience , which he hath given to the publick con- ftitutions of the Church of Scotland , and to his Majetties ftanding Livves; or of any lawfull Oath , whereby he hath promifed that obe- dience. As for the fcandall, it was not given by us, but unneceffarily, and unjuftly taken, by you, and fome others, upon an erronious opi- nion , obftinatly mantained againft the lawfulneffe of the matters themfelves. 5. Ye fay, that conceiving the Oath,according to our own grounds, none of us will fay, that we have (worn the perpetuall approbation and pracWeof thefe things, which we efteem to be indifferent,what- foever bad confequent of Popery, Idolatry, Superftition, or Scandall, fhould follow thereupon. We anfwer, 1 . Thefe bad conlequents are atleadged by you,but not proven. 2. Evils of that kind ihould be avoid- ed, by fome lawfull remedy. And we doe not efteem it lawfull for us, to difobey Authority in things lawfull , although in themfelves indifferent : for obedience commanded by the fif t Precept of the De- calogue, is not a thing indifferent. There be other means which are lawfull and more effectuall againft fuch evils, as we have fpecified in our eleventh Reply : 3 We did ..Affir-_ i6i Duplyes, iThom ii . 9. Affirmative preceptes, doe binde at all times , but not to all 2p%\ as Judgement, Mercy, and in i.fent. Faith, Matth. 23.23. Otherskffe weighty, fuch as are thofe of the difi. y.cju. Pearth Articles; which we call neceffary, and ye doe reject. mnicajium 1 1 . The exercife of fome affirmative neceffary dueties , may be 4. fome times omitted, by Authority ,without fin, for the publick peace, or fome preffing neceflity. Thus Mofes permitted repudiation of a nuns married wife,not fallen into adultery ;neither did he ur^e ftri&ly the affirmative duety of adherence, and that for the hardneffe of their heart. Wherein Mofes had refpeft to the peace and unity of the Tribs otlfraell, as Alexander Alenfis obferveth in his Summe of Theologie, Part. 3. Qa. ^6.Membro 1. Art. 1. & Art. 2. David did not execute , in his own time, judgment againft Joab , tor his murthering of Abnery and Amafa , becaufe the fonnes of Zeruiah were too hard for him. Circumcifion was omitted, becaufe of the uncertainty of their abode in one place , when the people were with Mofes in the Wildemeffe. 12. Exercife of ecckfiafticall Discipline , againft open obftinate offenders, is an affirmative duety, incumbent, by divyne Law, upon the Paftors, towards thofe who are committed to their charge. Yet it may, and ought to be forborn , when it can not be ufed without an open rupture, and unavoidable Schifm. Becaufe in fuch a cafe the GreTor.re- publick peace is rather to be looked to,left in our inconfiderate zeal to fponf.ad j. feperate the Tares,we pluck up alfo the Wheat. And what we can not mer'roga- gtt corrected by cenfure, we can doe no more but mourn for it, and timemAu patiently wait till GOD amend it, as AagvMin proveth at length, guftimCa Lib. 3. contra Epifiolam Parmeniam^Cap.i.& Cap.2.& Lib.de fide tHarienfrs. & operibvufap^.Por in this time (fayeth Gregory) the holy Church In hoc e- doeth correBfomething b) fervom \fomething jhe tolcrateth b) meekncst ninf Dup lyes'. 163 . fome things by cotift deration fhe diffembleth,& bearethjothat °fte.\mr^^ by bearing &diffcmbltng,fhe compefceth (or futteth away ) that evill ^J**^ which fie hateth. \nd Profp. faith; for this cauje therfor,they moft with ^ ^ gentle piety be borne with,who for their infirmity , may not be rebuked. ? , rem corrigiti quddam per manfuetudinem tolerat, quddam per cenfiderationem dijjimulat, at que poytat, vt fape malum quod adverfatur , port and, C7 dijfimtU landocompefcat. Proffer, Lib. 2. devita csxtemflativa, Cap. 5. Proper I : ergo, blandapict ate port andi funt) qui increpari prof ha infrmitate nonpoffunt. 1 3. When a doctrinall error ( no: being fundamentall ) prevail- erh by publick authority in any Church , a private Pallor o: Doctor eipying it, may lawfully and laudably,forbear pubiick driving againlt it, when he evidently perceiveth, thac unavoydable Schifm would fol- low thereupon. In fuch a cafe he fhould content himfelf, to feed his hearers with that wholefome Milk of the Word, which they may re- ^ . ceive? and delay the giving of Wronger Food , unto them becaule ^V?!****** their infirmity : Considering that more necellary and weightier due- r* ' rie, which he oweth for prerervation of order and peace ; and labour- tom' l '?*& ing, in a milde and peaceable manner,to cure them. To this purpofe 44° • **. belon°ech that faying of Gregorie Na&ian^en , Let no man, there- 447- dlt fore% be more wife then is convenient, neither more le gall then the Law, '^c'a * neither more bright then the Light, neither more fir night then the Rale, r'J ' "a°m neither higher then the Commandement. But horofhall this be } If we l 3 °# take knowledge of decencie, and commends the lawe of nature, and fol- low reafon , and defpife not good order. (,x«iV» Jrif»«j»/m Ivt«£iW,') And thac of the ancient Church of Lions in France , near eight nun- ^cc^f\ dreth years agoe ; who doeth notcalmlie andpeaceablie moderate thzt j **^*J which he thinketh> but is readie incontinent to contentions, diffentions ^e ******* and fcandalls, although he have not an kerettcall fer.fe, mofi certain- ver,fMt§ lie he hath an hereticall minde. Script :ir;es,& fcarMUftiamfi nonhabeat H&reticum fer.fum, certiffime habet Hareticum animum. 14. Divine Institution, by the Miniftery of the Apotfles, craveth Deacons, ordained by impofition of bands , for all their life time, 4fts 6. Yec in our reformed Church of Scotland wc have no luch Deacons- i6a Da pl yes? Deacon?. Which aecomenicall defect , necetfitated by detention dt Church manrenancc neccilary for their fomentation, we hope (hall not be imputed to our Church , as fin, To long as fhe defpiieth not that Initiation, and acknowledged!, and lamenteth, this deficiencie, and endeavoureth,by peaceable lawfull means, to have it remedied. i 5. Although Tome affirmative Dueties,nece(fary by divine pre- cept, doe give place, fome times, ro other more weighty, and more prelfing duet ies, ( as the faving of a Granger may be omitted, for Ca- ving my father or my brother, or my fan , one of the fame danger, when I am able onely to fave one of them. And many fuch like ex- amples doe occur re : ) yet it is never lawfull to condemn or oppugn fuch Dueties, as evill , or fuperftitious, or fcandalous in themielves, neither to rank them amongti things in themfeives indifferent. itf.Hence we doe inferre, that notwithstanding of the neceffity of thofe of the /V#rf AArticles,which we call necetfary,yet fometims the pra&ifing of them,may become not nece(Tary,and the omiffion there- of not finfull,publick authority^ neceflity of the peace of the church, fo requiring. Sometime indeed,the omiffion of a thing prefcrived by an affirmative Divine or Humane Lavv,may bef auldeile : But it is ne- ver lawfull for Subject?, to tranfgretle the negative pare of the divine Thorn. 2a Precepc,by refilling with force o; Arms,thic power whereunto GOD 2«e qn. 4 3 i^jj fu'Djec^ecj them, and to which he huh forbidden them, to make an.j.frop fucjj fefiitince. Neither is it at any time lawfull , for Pattors and ter milium Teachers,to teach erronious Doctrine. fcattMam ^ ye doe attribute to us, as a great abfurdity,that at the will of q%od{equ\ our ordinary, and other lawfull Superiours,we are ready to forbear the vid?jit:ir , prIC>;r- cf thefe things which the Affembly hath appointed to be ob- deost bomi ferVed.And this ye inferre from the neceflity of adminiltration of the frAtemijja Sacnrnerits,(om crimes in private places,according to our judgment. venjate, Certainlie, ye will have much adoc, to make good, by right Logick, fal{itatem ^js y0ur inference f rorn fuch an Antecedant.But to ipeak of the mat- decore. ter ^ ^ Confequent, for fatisfa&ion to the Reader, we find no fuch abfurdity in it, as ye feem to proclaim. For, if fome Dueties appoin- ted by divyne Law, give place fome times to other weighty dueties, fuch as is the keeping of publick peace and good order, as we have al- ready iliown,much more may a thingmotwithftanding of any humane Law appointing ic to be oblerved, be for thefe refpects omitted, at the DUPLYES. i<5> the will & direction of thole fuperiouiV0 whom we cvv our obedience required by that: humane law>c< who have power lo difpeoce with our practife in that pare. The XI V. Duply. IF the words of the Covenant be plaine, ( fay ye ) concerning the meer forbearance , and fpeak nothing of the unlawfullncis, no mans thoughts can make a change, But we have given our rea- fons, which juftly move us to require greater plainnefs; neither have wc as yet received fausfaction, concerning thofe reaions. # 2. In our 14 -fop/^we faid,that your Band of mutuall defence againft all perfons whatsoever, may draw fubjects,perhaps,to take Aimes a- gainft their King,(whichGod avert)& cofequently from that loyaltie of obedience, which they ow to their Sovereign, & ours;except ye de- clare, and explaine your felves better,thcn ye have hitherto done. To this ye anfwerjthatjby this Reply we doe a threefold wrongtone to our felves, another to the fubferivers , the third to the Kings Ma jetty. But ye have not directly anfwered to the point proponed by us. 5 . The wrong which ye fay , we do to our felvs,is in forging from the words of the Co^»^f,impedimcts,& drawing ftumbling blocks in our own way,to hinder our fubfcriptio.This your wrongous affeveratio,we juftly deny,protefting,as we have often done,that we do walk fincerly in this matter, according to our light,not forging to our felvs impedi- m£cs,noi drawing ftumbling blocks in our own way;buc clearly iliow- ing the impediments, and ftumbling blocks, which the contry vers of the Covenant have laide in our way, by their very incommodious ex- pretfion, irreconciliable [ in our judgement ] with your expofition. 4. Ye fay, we wrong the fubferivers, in changing the Itate of the Queftion,and in making a divorce betwixt Religion,and the Ki n gs Authority, which the Covenant joineth together, hand in hand. We doe nowife wrong the fubferivers, when we propone uprightly our juft fcruples, as we in our confeiences doe conceive them, whereby we are moved to with- hold our hands from that Covenant : whereof one is, the fear of Hnlawfuli reiiftance to Authority, if we fhould hold to that Covenant; howfoever ye will not fuffer to hear patiently this objecti- on, becaufe in your Covenant ye doe profeffe, the conjunction of Re- ligion, and the Kin g s Authority: which profeffion of yours, doeth not fufficiently ferve far a full anfwer to our objection, againft thofe T c other r66 DUPLYES. other words of that fame Covenant, whereupon our fcruple did arife." To clear this , we wiih you to anfwere directly ( to this our prefenc Demand:) whether or no,in cafe of difagreement, (which .Godavert ) think ye that thz Covenanters ar obliedged,by vertue of their Covenaty to make open reiiflace,by force of Armsplf ye think they are obliedg- ed to make refiftance,then we deftre yourAnfwer to the Reafons and teftimonies broght in our 2.D#/>//>proving the unlawfulnes of fuch re- (iftace. But if ye think that they be not obhdged,the declare it plainly. #5. But molt of all, ye fay, we wrong the Kings Majefty ,in bringing him upon the ftage,before his fubje6te,in whofe minds we wold(as ye do unjuftly alleadge ) beget and breed fufpitions of oppofing the trueth, of making innovation in Religion ,and of dealing with the fubjects, contrary to his Lawes and Proclamations, and contrary to the Oath at his Coronation. We anfwer ; we have not brought, but have found his Majefty upon this unpleafant ftage , oppofmg bim- felf openly to your Covenant ,with folemn proteftations,againft all iuf- pitions Ol oppofing the trueth,or making innovation of religio^r deal- ing with the fubjects contrary to his lawes & proclamati6s,or contrary to the oath at his coronatio .this his Majefties declaratio againft which ye have protefted,we have willingly received, & do truely believe it.. 6. What the moft honourable Lords,of his Majefties privy Counfell have done,cocerning his Majefties laft proclamation,^ upo what mo- tives, their Hs. thcmfelves do know,&c his Maj&fties high ComifliO- ner,hath publickly declared in his printed ManifeftoyQonmiy to fome of your all'everatioSjCocerning the proceeding of that honorable boord. 7. Ye profefs here, that, it becometh you,to judge charitably of his Mijefties intentions,aitho ye difallow the Service 2?^,and Canons^s containing a reall innovation of Religion; and doe affirme,that the in- tention of the Prelats, & their affociats,tne Authors and contrivers of the books, is moft juftly fufpe&ed by you.We have told you already, that, concerning the matters, contained in thole books, it is not now time to difput,the books themfeivs being dilcharged by his Majefties. proclamation,and a royall promife made,thathis Majefty will neither now nor herafter, prels the pra&ife of the forfaid Caviis & Service book, nor any thing of that natnre,but in fuch a fair & legall way, as fhall fa- tisfie ail his Majefties loving fubjects; &,that his Majefty neither in- csndeth innovation in Religion or Lawes. As for the intentions of his facred DUPLYES. 167 facred Majefty,we do heartily & thankfully acknowledge them, to be truely conformeto his Majeities gracious declaration, m that his hit Proclamation. And,indeed, it becommeth both you and us, to think To of them.Nehher do we take upon us,to harbour in our breaits,any un- charitable iufpition, concerning the intetions of thofe others of whom ye fpeak ; feeing they itand or fall to their own Matter , and the thoughts of their hearts are unknown, both to you and us : and in a matter uncertaine it is fureit to judge charitably. Yea, we have ma- ny pregnant Arguments to petfwade us,that thofe reverend Prelates, and their Aflbciates, had no luch intention, as ye judge. 8. Ye make mention of three wrongs, done by us to you : the one, in tiit Warnings whereof ye have an anfwer already given in our 12. Duply, where ye did ufe great exaggerations, then either the intenrio of me warner did merit, or became your ch.miy and profeflion. And by your repetition of it in this place, ye {how, that ye have too great de- light to dwell upon iucbexpoitihtions,whens theolcgicall reafons of the matter incontroverfie,would better become you in fuch a Dljput. The fecond wrong is,that ( as ye alleadge ) we have wronged you, in with-holding our hand and help from fo good a caufe,of purging Reli- re- gion, & reforming the Kirk, from fo many grofs abufes,and oppofmg J^,0^' all thofe who have modeftly laboured for Reformation. But certainly, f° %ta the wrong is done to us by you,in that ye do, without warrand cf Au- p^Jr thority ,o5trude upen us, and thofe comitred to our charges,the fwear- ".***• ing of an Oath>which is againft our own confeiences : and becaufe rf/i??'r our juft refufali & oppofition, ye do wrong us alio, in misinterpreting -^ S 5* our pious and upright meanings,and in making and ftirring up collate- " JroPfIlr rall,and perfonall quarells againft us, and tbrearnin* us therwith.Thus rfm* a* (it GOD by his fpecial grace did not uphold us) might we be driven, nJ *{?? by worldly terrours,to do againft the light of our own confeiences. t1??s . ->m . , CtfllKtS, ut cpiI refpondere non fottteris, caput anferas ; & linguam, qua tacere non pot eft fe- ces }Ncc magnopere glorieris^fi facias quod Scorplones poffunt facerc,& Can- t bar ides. Fecerunt bac & Fulvia in Ciceronem, & Herod'nu in loannem : quia veritatem non poterant audire : & linguam veriloquam difcriminali act* confo- derunt. ■ Alvcrfum impiifftmos Celfum at que Porpbyrium q^anti [crip- fere noftrorHm}QHis omijfa caufajn fuperflua criminam objettione ver fains ift9 9. The third wrong, wherwith ye charge us,and for the which ye do infinuate;that we may fear trouble, is(asye alleadge) in our f peaches, • in pi.r> ■it* ^ DUPLYES. in publick,and privati,and in our mitfives, &c. Hereunto we anfwer, as in our former Reylyes, that whenfoever it (hall pleafe you, to fpeci- fie thefe fpeaches,we hope to give you,and all peaceably difpofed chri- ftians, full fatisfa£tion, and to clear our felves of that imputation; fo that none (hall have juft realon, to work us any trouble. In the mean time,if our ingenuity would permit us, ( as k doth noc ) to think it a decent courfe,to make ufe of hearkeners,and catchers of words, and to wait for the haulting of our Brethren , fome of your own fpeaches might be reprefented unto you , wherein ye would finde weaknetfe. io. As tor thefe owtward, or externall Arguments, which ye bring here,to prove your Covenanting, to be the work of God, from the fuc- cefs of your enterprize , from the multitude of fubfcrivers, and from their contentment^ from their good carriage,(which we wold wiih, in many of them, to be more charitable, and peaceable, and fo more chriftian, then it is) we cannot acknowledge^ be a Comentary writ- ten by the Lords own hand, (as ye pretend) in approbation of your G- venmt junlefs ye firft clearly {how us the text or fubftance of your Co- venant, to be written in the holy Scriptures, in all points therof; efpe- cially in thofe points, wherin ye and we do controverted which only, at this time, can be pretended againft us , feeing we make oppfition only in thofe points. And we wifh heartily, that leaving thefe weak nots of Trueth,to the Papirts,chief acclaimers of them, amongft chri- f tians^thac We ipeak nothing ot aliens from chriftianixy) ye would be pleafed to adhere,with us into the holy Scriptures, as the only fure & perfect rule of true Religion, and the heavenlyLamp,which God hath given us,to {how us the way of rrueth & peace: wherin the G O D of Trueth and Peace dire& ail our fteps, for J E S U S CHRIST our Saviour, who is our Peace : To him be Glory for ever : Amen. JOHN FORBES of Cotfe Do ft or and Profefor of Divinitie in Aberdene. ROBERT BARON, Potior and Profefor of Vivimtie, and Adinlfter in Aberdene. ALEXANDER SCROGlE,Mimfter at old Aberdene, D. D. WILLIAM LESLIE, D. D. and Principal of the Kings Colledge in Aberdene. J A: SIBB ALD, V. of Dlvimtie and Minifier ^Aberdene AL : ROSSE, P. of Dlvimtie, and Minifier at Ab e rd e n e , FINIS. cfy< oUuju ™> ^ &»UA~' / .r>