Concerning Unequal Marriage, Title page – Preface
A RELIGIOUS SCRUTINY CONCERNING Unequall Marriage, To be represented To the Generall Assembly of the Kirk of SCOTLAND: Together with a POSTSCRIPT to the Commissioners of the KIRK.
Whereunto is subjoyned AN APPENDIX, Humbly tendred to the Parliament of ENGLAND, In reference to the late Transactions of State.
And now lastly is added A Faithfull and Conscientious Account FOR Subscribing the Engagement.
By Thomas Paget, Minister of the VVord in SHREWSBURY.
Jer. 6. 16.
Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the wayes and see, and ask for the old paths, which is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.
John 8. 31, 32.
Then said jesus to those Disciples which believed on him, If ye continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shalt make you free.
London: Printed by John Macock, and are to be sold in Popes-head Alley. 1650.
To the Reader.
THis last addition mentioned in the title of these following discourses, should have come forth eight moneths since; but many occasions intervening, and among them the Author observing that many learned discourses were about that time published by others on the same argument, he thought the world would have lesse need of his, but finding since that time (besides the perswasion of such as had viewed it, to whose judgement he owed much) many notable things come to passe in the event of affairs, in a manner then foretold to those of that faction (pretended to be the old Presbyterian) to whom the advertisement agreeing with the scope of the book, was particularly directed, and many dangerous conjunctions since discovered (which were then foreseen, when they seemed to be most conceal'd) repented him not that it was defer'd till now, having more hope that after so many means of conviction, they might be now found the willinger to open their ears to that evidence of truth which is laid before them, inducing them with the same solidity and clearnesse of Reason to submit to the Engagement, as he had done before, in exhorting them to a peaceable compliance with the present Government; though then for some private Reasons, under the assumed name of THEOPHILUS PHILOPATRIUS. And thus much was thought good to be prefixt to the former advertisement, which now follows,
By the same friend to pure Religion and his Native Countrey.
An Advertisement by way of Preface to the Neophyte Presbyterian Ministers of England and Ireland.
THe reverend Author of these several Discourses following, though a stranger to me, appears throughout the whole Treatise, to be of that judgment in Church-Discipline, which is called Presbyterian, but far different from some opinions which so many of those, who in these days assume that name, have under that pretext lately broached among us, with such disturbance of the Peace, and Civil Magistracy of the Land. His yeers likewise intimated in a passage of his Book, with other Arguments, give us to believe him more then ordinarily versed, both in the writings of the good old Non-Conformists of this Nation, and the acquaintance and familiarity of many grave and worthy Ministers, whose faith and constancy, endured the tryals of long persecutions and exiles, under the raign of the two last Kings.
Whereby the world may know (besides what hath been lately shewn in several other Treatises, and chiefly from Histories of the Scotish Reformation, penned by the most eminent of the Presbyterians, and principal managers of those Affairs) that these subscribers in London of the Representation, Vindication, &c. against the tryal of the late King, &c. and their copartners in subscriptions on the same accompt in Lancashire, Essex, or any other County of England, with the Presbytery of Belfast in Ireland (as many of them, at least, whose countenance, of names, have not been made use of without their knowledg) are not as they profess to be, the followers of those sincere, and pious men of this, or other Reformed Protestant Countreys, whose doctrine, and holy life, in the midst of all kinde of sufferings (unto which they were then exposed) hath yet left a Religious memory of a sweet smelling savor behinde them.
Which Contratenor of these mens, appears not onelyonly in those assumed Vindications, with their other slightings of the present Authority, and defaming the higher powers placed over them in the manage of their trust; and these Representations attended in odium tertii by an unnatural coition in so palpable steps with the tumultuous spirits of their old, and (by themselves declared) inveterate enemies; of that part of their old and once owned friends, which is now become unto them a principal abomination, by reason of those their late avowed and pursued principles, most inconsistent with their interest; and of the rude multitude, of whose crying one day Hosannah, and by and by Crucifie, they need not more experience: They all this while not foreseeing how naturally these courses do tend to settle on their own heads, by their own hands, those very evils, whereof they are most afraid.
But also that they may be sure to keep distance from their most faithful and inwardly approved friends, their countermining is yet more evident (a new opportunity to shew themselves arising) in their tenacious adhering to set days of Humiliation, in opposition to occasional; wherein the opinion, and practice of the Reformed Churches, and especially of the Church of Scotland (with whom they most plead to have uniformity) is cleerly no less against them, of the which, such of them as have either been conversant in their Writings, about their Discipline, against the Prelatical, or have had the opportunity of any free discourse with their Commissioners in the Assembly at Westminster, or elsewhere, cannot possibly have any colour to plead ignorance.
Into both of which so opposite aspects, that they did not upon their own principles chuse to fall, but were indeed by emergence of occurrences surprizing them, driven; is very apparent by that ready Testimony, which the most forward of them at first were observed to give (besides former expressions that way looking) to the very Remonstrance of the Army, in what concerned even the calling of the King to account, and afterwards so perfectly falling out with it, by reason of the maner of doing, viz. The suspension of some Members of Parliament, &c. The which maner notwithstanding made voyd, does sweep along with it (whereof they cannot be ignorant) the Alpha and Omega of their friends transactions, for the re-establishent and preservation of Presbytery, &c. in Scotland, against the Prelatical inundations, they having in the beginning of these conflicts, no Parliament, till their sword fencing their other addresses, begot both it, and their assembly; and that Parliament in a few successions degenerating; these again with their own sword assisted with the followers of their copy in this Land, having altogether overturned that line, and cut out a new Parliament in affect of another Constitution of Members, and … passed sentence of Non-Communion in an Admonition upon the acquiescers in the settlement of this Nation, upon the Concessions at Newport, as being destructive to the specially profest Interest of themselves, and their Presbyterian friends in England. The which acquiescers seeing they were those very heterogeneous Members, who could not but let any building, save on that foundation, till they were taken out of the way, what a chain of security, their continuance at the stern, might have framed, the consideration of the links of their adherents, Inchiquin, Belfast, Ormond, &c. Yet going on, who knows how far further? will help themselves to give judgment.
It is heartily therefore wished by me (and with me, I doubt not, but by all those who duely ponder the present carriage of the most of them.) That if their judgments be indeed inclined to the Presbyterian way, they would be more cautelous in the offering to engage a whole Party, in what is too too evidently the meer driving on of the self-interest of some discontented persons; and indeed apply themselves without partiality to the Law and Testimony, as they have this aged, and reverend Author, in these his grave and judicious Discussions (upon special Reason, we see directed to those our neerest neighbors of Scotland) for an example, together with such other worthy ancients, whether in yeers or understanding, which do yet remain exemplary, who (being of a fuller age in controversies of this nature, then by such as satisfie themselves to swim in a stream, is attained) by reason of use have their sences exercised to discern, and are become more skilful in the word of righteousness, and shine with greater brightness, in the rendring of what is due unto all, as ordained of God. And that they would timely cease their causing of many to stumble (an evil of old complained of by the Prophet, as raigning in the Ministery of that generation, see and consider Mal. 2. 7, 8, 9.) and that they would not go on to render themselves contemptible before the people, by their corrupting the Covenant, which is the main scope of this premised Advertisement to these Leaders of the over-credulous, into the snare wherein they have led themselves captive.
By a Friend to pure Religion, and his Native Country.