Conscientious Inquiries, Queries – Resolutions
Three Conſcientious QUERIES.
FIrſt, whether the removal of Kings, and the poſſeſſion of their Governments by others, are not alterations ordered by, and founded upon Gods Providence, and ſo proceeding from God himſelf, Dan. 2.21.4.17.25.32.notwithſtanding the miſcarriages of the Perſons who are Inſtruments therein. Whether this be not proved plainly from thoſe places in Daniel, where the Lord is ſaid to remove Kings, Dan 5.21.and ſet up Kings, to rule in the Kingdoms of men, and to give them to whomſoever he will: It being alſo ſaid of Baaſha, who obtained the Kingdom by Conſpiracy and Murthers, 1 Kings 15.27. for which he was puniſhed, 1 Kings 16.7. That he was raiſed up by the Lord over Iſrael, and by him exalted out of the Duſt, and made Prince over Iſrael, 1 Kings 14.14. 1 Kings 16. v. 2.
Secondly, Whether by the Stupendious and amazing Providences of God, manifeſted among us, 1. In the Deſtruction of the late King, of all his Adherents, Enemies to this preſent Power in ſo many pitcht Battles. 2. In this Nations Univerſal forſaking of the firſt-born of the Royal Line, when he came into the Land, to claim the Crown: and when it was in the power of many Thouſands in the Land to have Aſſiſted him; and its accepting this preſent Government manifeſted by a general contribution of Men, Money, and Armes in Defence thereof, and this followed with the total overthrow of Charles Stuart, and all his Armies: whether (I ſay) by theſe providences, God hath not, plainly removed the Government of this Nation, from Charles Stuart, and beſtowed it upon others, as ever he removed and beſtowed any Government by any Providence in any Age. And if we cannot ſay that theſe Providences ſhews God approving of all the means and ways uſed in and for the alteration of the Government: Yet who can deny that they manifeſt his pleaſure to have this alteration of the Government to be, if at leaſt any Providence can diſcover ſuch a pleaſure.
Thirdly, Therefore, whether a refuſal to yield Obedience and Subjection to this Preſent Government under pretence of upholding a more righteous title, be not, as contrary to the Law of England, (by which, the party in poſſeſſion of the Crown, is to be adhered unto, againſt the beſt pretender who is out of the poſſeſſion) for a refuſal to acquieſce in the wiſe and righteous pleaſure of God; an oppoſition of a Government ſet up by the Soveraign Lord of the whole world, a flat breach of the fifth Commandment and of that Injunction, Rom. 13.8. To conclude, ſuch a reſiſting, even of God himſelf, as none can have Peace in continuing in, much leſs in acting for, leaſt of all, in ſuffering for.
Theſe Queries are propounded by one who hath no deſign but to avoid ſin, and to know his duty.
Ezek. 21.
25. And thou Prince of Iſrael, poluted and wicked, whoſe day is come, when iniquity ſhall have an end.
26. Thus ſaith the Lord God, I will take away the Diadem, and take off the Crown, this ſhall be no more the ſame, I will exalt the humble: and will abaſe him that is high.
27. I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and it ſhall be no more, until *Jeſus Chriſt.He come whoſe right it is.
To the Supream Authority, the Parliament of the Common-wealth OF ENGLAND: The Humble Petition of William Jenkin, Priſoner:
Most humbly ſheweth,
THat your Petitioner, is unfainedly ſorrowful for all his late miſcarriages, whether teſtified againſt him or acknowledged by him, and for the great and ſinful unſuitableneſs of them to his calling and condition. That upon earneſt ſeeking of God, and diligent inquiring into his will, your Petitioner is convinced, that the alteration of civil Governments, are ordered by, and founded upon the wiſe and righteous providences of God, who removeth Kings, and ſetteth up Kings, ruleth in the Kingdoms of men, and giveth them to whomſoever he will. That the providences of this God, have in the judgment of your Petitioner, as evidently appeared in the removing of others from, and the inveſting your honors with the Government of this Nation, as ever they appeared in the taking away, or beſtowing of any Government in any Hiſtory of any age of the world.
That he apprehends that a refuſal to be ſubject to this preſent Authority, under the pretence of upholding the title of any one upon the Earth, is a refuſal to acquieſs in the wiſe and righteous pleaſure of God, ſuch an oppoſing of the Government ſet up by the Soveraign Lord of Heaven and Earth, as none can have peace, either in acting or ſuffering for; and that your Petitioner looks upon it as his duty, to yeeld to this Authority, all active and cheerful obedience in the Lord, even for Conſcience ſake, to promiſe (he being required) truth & fidelity to it, & to hold forth the grounds of his ſo doing to any, as God ſhall call him thereunto.
That though an Impriſonment, accompanied with the loſs of his eſtate, and to be followed (without your gracious prevention) on with a ſpeedy Arraignment, before an high & eminent Judicatory, are far from being pleaſing to Fleſh and Blood; and though the enjoyment of your grace and favor be a bleſſing moſt deſerving to be reckoned among the beſt of temporals, yet that neither the feeling & fearing of the former, nor the expectation of the latter, could have induced your petitioner againſt the light of his own judgment, and the prepondering part of his own Conſcience to have made, or preſented this acknowledgment; he ſadly forecaſting, that a whole skin is but a contemptible recompence for a wounded conſcience.
That nevertheleſs (he truſteth) he ſhall be excuſable in tendring thus far, even his outward condition, as to repreſent to your honors, that he is in moſt apparent danger of his irreparable loſs of his health (the ſweeteſt of outward bleſſings) unleſs by your gracious grant, he may ſpeedily injoy a more free and open ayre, then this his cloſe confinement will allow him:
And this Chriſtian favor (which even for Chriſts ſake your poor Petitioner moſt humbly beggs) Your Honors are as able to enlarge, even to a pardoning of his offences, and a perfect releaſing of him, from his impriſonment, as he is ſubmiſſively forward in deſiring them, though confeſſedly far from deſerving them.
He nevertheleſs promiſing, that your compaſſionate affording hereof, ſhall be a ſtrong and ſtanding engagement upon him, daily beſeeching the heart-making, and heart-changing God, that all thoſe who either through former accuſtomedneſs, or preſent inadvertancy, do not clearly diſcern the minds of God concerning the Alteration of this Government, may be obſerving your prime and pious induſtry, to advance throughout this Common-wealth, the power of godlineſs, a Scripture Reformation, and the Truth as it is in Jeſus, be won to a yeelding to your Honors, conſcionable obedience, and not only in word, but in heart and life, may be true and faithful to the preſent Government.
WILL. JENKIN.
Reſolved upon the Queſtion by the Parliament;
That Maſter William Jenkin be pardoned, both for Life and eſtate, for and in reſpect of the treaſons, & crimes whereof he is accuſed; & that Maſter Atturney general be authorized and required to prepare a Pardon in common form for that purpoſe to be paſſed under the great ſeal of England, and that the Lords commiſſioners for the great ſeal be authorized and required to paſs the ſame under the Great ſeal accordingly.
Reſolved upon the queſtion by the Parliament;
That Maſter William Jenkin be forthwith diſcharged of his impriſonment, and Bail, and his eſtate be diſcharged of and from ſequeſtration; and the commiſſioners for compounding, and other officers are to take notice hereof, and obſerve the ſame accordingly.
Upon ſeveral humble petitions of Maſter Thomas Caſe, Mr. Ralph Robinſon, and Mr. Thomas Watſon Miniſters; the Parliament did grant unto each of them the like pardon for life and eſtate, and diſcharged them from impriſonment, and the ſequeſtration of their eſtates.
Upon the humble petition of Mr. Arthur Jackſon Miniſter, the Parliament granted him a pardon for his life and eſtate.
Upon M. Attur. Generals report of the humble and penitent demeanor of Dr. Roger Drake, at his Tryal at the High Court of Juſtice, confeſſing the Treaſons laid to his charge, and his humble petition the Parliament did pardon him for life and eſtate, and ordered his releaſe out of priſon and his eſtate diſcharged from ſequeſtration.
The Parliament upon report by Mr. Atturn. General of the like deportment of Lieut. Col. Jackſon, Lieu. Col. Joſeph Vaughan, and Cap. Hugh Maſſey.
The Parliament likewiſe ordered for each of them a Pardon for life and eſtate, and diſcharged them from impriſonment, and their eſtates from Sequeſtration.
FINIS.
Mr. Jenkins Sermon Preacht before the Parliament at St. Margarets Weſtminſter, on Wedneſday the 24th. of September 1656. being the day of the publick Fast.
Printed by A. M. for John Dallam and are to be ſold at his Shop in Shoe-makers-Row in Black-Fryars near Carter-lane. 1656.
In which Sermon page the 33d you have theſe words.
Worthy Patriots, you that are Rulers in this Parliament, its often ſaid we live in times, wherein we may be as good as we pleaſe, wherein we enjoy in purity and plenty the ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt, praiſed be God for this, even that God that hath delivered us from the impoſition of prelatical Innovation. Altar genuflections and cringings, with croſſings and all that popiſh traſh and trumpery, and truly I ſpeak no more than what I have often thought and ſaid, the removal of thoſe inſupportable burdens countervails for the blood and treaſure ſhed and ſpent in thoſe late diſtractions.
Page. 3.
Excuſing their unſubmiſſiveneſs by aſperſing the Government.
Nor did I yet ever hear of any godly men, that deſired, were it poſſible to purchaſe their friends and Money again, at ſo dear a rate, as with the return of theirs to have thoſe ſoul-burdning-antichriſtian yokes reimpoſed upon us, and if any ſuch there be, I am ſure, that deſign is no part of their godlineſs, and I profeſs my ſelf, in that, to be none of the number.
End of the text · William Jenkyn, Conscientious Inquiries (1651)