Declaration Concerning the Late Tumults in Scotland, Floating text 6
THE CONFESSION OF FAITH OF THE KIRK OF SCOTLAND, SUBSCRIBED By the Kings Majestie and his Houshold in the yeare of God 1580. WITH A Designation of such Acts of Parliament as are expedient for justifying the union after mentioned; And Subscribed by the Nobles, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgesses, Ministers, and Commons, in the yeare of God 1638.
JOSH. 24.25.
So Joshua made a Covenant with the people the same day, and gave them an Ordinance and Law in Sichem.
2 KING. 11.17.
And Jehoiada made a Covenant between the Lord and the King, and the people, that they should be the Lords people; likewise betweene the King and the people.
ISAIA 44.5.
One shall say, I am the Lord: another shall be called by the name of Jacob: and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, &c.
The Kings Majesties Charge, to all Commissioners and Ministers within this Realme, in the yeare of God 1580.
SEeing that VVe and Our Houshold have Subscribed and given this publike Confession of Our Faith, to the good example of Our subjects, VVe command and charge all Commissioners and Ministers, to crave the same Confession of their Parochianars, and proceed against the refusers, according to Our Lawes and Order of the Kirk, delivering their names and lawfull processe to the Ministers of Our House, with all haste and diligence, under the paine of fourtie pound to be taken from their stipend, that VVe, with the advice of Our Councell, may take order with such proud contemners of God and Our Lawes.
Subscribed with Our Hand, at Haly-rud-house, 1580. the 2. day of March, the 14. yeare of Our Reigne.
The Confession of Faith of the Kirke of SCOTLAND.
The confession of Faith, subscribed at first by the Kings Majesty and His Houshold, in the yeere of God 1580. Thereafter, by Persons of all rankes, in the yeere 1581. by ordinance of the Lords of the Secret Councell, and Acts of the Generall Assembly. Subscribed againe by all sorts of Persons in the yeere 1590. by a new Ordinance of Councell, at the desire of the Generall Assembly: With a generall Band for maintenance of the true Religion and the Kings Person. And now subscribed in the yeere 1638. by us, Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgesses, Ministers, and Commons under subscribing: Together with our resolution and promises, for the causes after specified, To maintaine the said true Religion, and the Kings Majestie, according to the Confession foresaid, and Acts of Parliament. The Tenor whereof here followeth.
WEe All, and every one of us underwritten, Protest, That, after long and due examination of our owne Consciences, in matters of true and false Religion, are now throughly resolved of the Truth, by the Word and Spirit of God, and therefore we beleeve with our hearts, confesse with our mouths, subscribe with our hands, and constantly affirme before God and the whole World; that this only is the true Christian Faith and Religion, pleasing God, and bringing Salvation to man, which now is by the mercy of God revealed to the world, by the preaching of the blessed Evangel.
And received, beleeved, and defended, by many and sundry notable Kirks and Realmes, but chiefly by the Kirk of Scotland, the Kings Majestie, and three Estates of this Realm, as Gods eternall Truth, and onelyonly ground of our Salvation: as more particularly is expressed in the Confession of our Faith, stablished, and publikely confirmed by sundry Acts of Parliaments, and now of a long time hath been openly professed by the Kings Majestie, and whole body of this Realme, both in Burgh and Land. To the which Confession and forme of Religion, wee willingly agree in our consciences in all points, as unto Gods undoubted Truth and Verity, grounded onelyonly upon his written Word. And therefore, Wee abhorre and detest all contrarie Religion, and Doctrine: But chiefly, all kinde of Papistrie, in generall and particular heads, even as they are now damned and confuted by the Word of God, and Kirk of Scotland: but in speciall we detest and refuse the usurped authoritie of that Roman Antichrist, upon the Scriptures of God, upon the Kirk, the civill Magistrate, and Consciences of men. All his tyrannous lawes made upon indifferent things against our Christian libertie. His erroneous Doctrine, against the sufficiencie of the written VVord, the perfection of the Law, the office of Christ and his blessed Evangel. His corrupted Doctrine concerning originall sinne, our naturall inabilitie and rebellion to Gods Law, our justification by faith onelyonly, our imperfect sanctification and obedience to the Law, the nature, number, and use of the holy Sacraments. His five bastard Sacraments, with all his Rites, Ceremonies, and false Doctrine, added to the ministration of the true Sacraments without the VVord of God. His cruell judgement against Infants, departing without the Sacrament: his absolute necessitie of Baptisme: his blasphemous opinion of Transubstantiation, or reall presence of Christs body in the Elements, and receiving of the same by the wicked, or bodies of men. His dispensations with solemn oaths, perjuries, and degrees of Marriage forbidden in the VVord: his crueltie against the innocent divorced: his divellish Masse▪ his blasphemous Priesthood: his profane Sacrifice for the sins of the dead and the quick: his Canonization of men, calling upon Angels or Saints departed, worshipping of Imagerie, Relicks, and Crosses, dedicating of Kirks, Altars, Daies, Vowes to creatures; his Purgatorie, praiers for the dead, praying or speaking in a strange language, with his Processions and blasphemous Letanie, and multitude of Advocates or Mediators: his manifold Orders, Auricular Confession: his desperate and uncertaine repentance; his generall and doubtsome faith; his satisfactions of men for their sins: his justification by works, opus operatum, works of supererogation, Merits, Pardons, Peregrinations, and Stations: his holy VVater, baptising of Bels, conjuring of Spirits, crossing, saning, anointing, conjuring, hallowing of Gods good creatures, with the superstitious opinion joined therewith: his worldly Monarchy, and wicked Hierarchie: his three solemne vowes, with all his shavelings of sundry sorts, his erroneous and bloudie decrees made at Trent, with all the subscribers and approvers of that cruell and bloudie Band, conjured against the Kirk of God: and finally, we detest all his vain Allegories, Rites, Signs, and Traditions, brought in the Kirk, without or against the VVord of God, and Doctrine of this true reformed Kirk; to the which we joyne our selves willingly, in Doctrine, Faith, Religion, Discipline, and use of the Holy Sacraments, as lively members of the same, in Christ our Head: promising, and swearing by the Great Name of the Lord our GOD, that we shall continue in the obedience of the Doctrine and Discipline of this Kirk, and shall defend the same according to our vocation and power, all the dayes of our lives, under the paines contained in the Law, and danger both of body and soule in the day of Gods fearfull Judgement: and seeing that many are stirred up by Satan and that Romane Antichrist to promise, sweare, subscribe, and for a time use the Holy Sacraments in the Kirk deceitfully, against their owne consciences, minding thereby, first, under the externall cloake of Religion, to corrupt and subvert secretly Gods true Religion within the Kirk, and afterward, when time may serve, to become open enemies and persecuters of the same, under vaine hope of the Popes dispensation, devised against the Word of God, to his greater confusion, and their double condemnation in the day of the LORD JESUS.
We therefore, willing to take away all suspition of hypocrisie, and of such double dealing with God and his Kirk, Protest, and call The Searcher of all hearts for witnesse, that our minds and hearts do fully agree with this our Confession, Promise, Oath and Subscription; so that we are not moved for any worldly respect, but are perswaded only in our Consciences through the knowledge and love of Gods true Religion, printed in our hearts by the holy Spirit, as we shall answer to Him in the day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed. And because we perceive that the quietnesse and stability of our Religion and Kirk doth depend upon the safety and good behaviour of the Kings Majestie, as upon a comfortable instrument of Gods mercy granted to this Countrey for the maintaining of His Kirk, and ministration of Justice amongst us, wee protest and promise with our hearts under the same Oath, Hand-writ, and paines, that wee shall defend His Person and Authority, with our goods, bodies, and lives, in the defence of Christ his Evangel, Liberties of our Countrey, ministration of Justice, and punishment of iniquity, against all enemies within this Realme, or without, as we desire our God to be a strong and mercifull Defender to us in the day of our death, and comming of our Lord Jesus Christ: To whom, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glorie eternally.
LIke as many Acts of Parliament not onelyonly in generall doe abrogate, annull, and rescind all Lawes, Statutes, Acts, Constitutions, Canons civill or Municipall, with all other Ordinances and practicke penalties whatsoever, made in prejudice of the true Religion and Professours thereof: Or, of the true Kirk discipline, jurisdiction and freedome thereof: Or, in favours of Idolatrie and superstition: Or, of the Papisticall Kirk: As, Act. 3. Act. 31. Parl. 1▪ Act. 23. Parl. 11. Act. 114. Parl. 12. of King James the sixt, That Papistrie and Superstition may be utterly suppressed, according to the intention of the Acts of Parlament reported in Act. 5. Parl. 20. K. James 6. And to that end they ordaine all Papists and Priests to be punished by manifold Civill and Ecclesiasticall paines, as adversaries to Gods true Religion, preached and by law established within this Realme, Act. 24. Parl. 11. K. James 6. as common enemies to all Christian government, Act. 18. Parl. 16. K. James 6. as rebellers and gainstanders of our Soveraigne Lords authoritie, Act. 47. Parl. 3. K. James 6. and as Idolaters, Act. 104. Parl. 7. K. James 6. but also in particular (by and attour the Confession of faith) do abolish and condemne the Popes authoritie and jurisdiction out of this land, and ordaines the maintainers thereof to be punished, Act. 2. Parl. 1. Act. 51. Parl. 3. Act. 106. Parl. 7. Act. 114. Parl. 12. K. James 6. do condemne the Popes erroneous doctrine, or any other erroneous doctrine repugnant to any of the Articles of the true and Christian Religion publikely preached, and by Law established in this Realm: And ordaines the spreaders and makers of Books or Libels, or Letters, or writs of that nature to be punished, Act. 46. Parl. 3. Act. 106. Parl. 7. Act. 24. Parl. 11. K. James 6. doe condemne all Baptisme conform to the Popes kirk and the idolatry of the Masse, and ordaines all sayers, wilfull hearers, and concealers of the Masse, the maintainers and resetters of the Priests, Jesuites, traffiquing Papists, to be punished without any exception or restriction▪ Act. 5. Parl. 1. Act. 120. Parl. 12. Act. 164. Parl. 13. Act. 193. Parl. 14. Act. 1. Parl. 19. Act. 5. Parl. 20. K. James 6. do condemne all erroneous books and writs containing erroneous doctrine against the Religion presently professed, or containing superstitious Rites and Ceremonies Papisticall, whereby the people are greatly abused, and ordaines the homebringers of them to be punished, Act. 25. Parl. 11. K. James 6. do condemn the monuments and dregs of bygane Idolatrie, as going to Crosses, observing the Festivall dayes of Saincts, and such other superstitious and Papisticall Rites, to the dishonour of God, contempt of true Religion, and fostering of great errour among the people, and ordaines the users of them to be punished for the second fault as Idolaters, Act. 104. Parl. 7. K. James 6.
Like as many Acts of Parlament are conceived for maintenance of Gods true and Christian Religion, and the puritie thereof in Doctrine and Sacraments of the true Church of God, the libertie and freedome thereof, in her Nationall, Synodall Assemblies, Presbyteries, Sessions, Policie, Discipline and Jurisdiction thereof, as that puritie of Religion and libertie of the Church was used, professed, exercised, preached, and confessed according to the reformation of Religion in this Realm. As for instance, Act. 99. Parl. 7. Act. 23. Parl. 11. Act. 114. Parl. 12. Act. 160. Parl. 13. K. James 6. ratified by Act. 4. K. Charles. So that Act. 6. Parl. 1. and Act. 68. Parl. 6. of K. James 6. in the yeare of God 1579. declares the Ministers of the blessed Evangel, whom God of his merciemercy had raised up, or hereafter should raise, agreeing with them that then lived in Doctrine and administration of the Sacraments, and the people that professed Christ, as he was then offered in the Evangel, and doth communicate with the holy Sacraments (as in the reformed kirkes of this Realme they were presently administrate) according to the Confession of Faith, to be the true and holy kirk of Christ Jesus within this Realme, and decernes and declares all and sundrie, who either gainsayes the VVord of the Evangel, received and approved as the heads of the Confession of Faith, professed in Parlament in the yeare of God 1560. specified also in the first Parlament of K. James 6. and ratified in this present Parlament, more particularly do specifie; or that refuses the administration of the holy Sacraments, as they were then ministrated, to be no members of the said kirk within this Realme, and true Religion presently professed, so long as they keepe themselves so divided from the societie of Christs bodie: And the subsequent Act. 69. Parl. 6. K. James 6. declares, That there is no other face of kirke, nor other face of Religion, then was presently at that time, by the favour of God, established within this Realme, which therefore is ever stiled Gods true Religion, Christs true Religion, the true and Christian Religion, and a perfect Religion. Which, by manifold Acts of Parlament, all within this Realme, are bound to professe to subscribe the articles thereof, the Confession of Faith, to recant all doctrine and errours repugnant to any of the said Articles, Act. 4. and 9. Parl. 1. Act. 45.46.47. Parl. 3. Act. 71. Parl. 6. Act. 106. Parl. 7. Act. 24. Parl. 11. Act. 123. Parl. 12. Act. 194. and 197. Parl. 14. of K. James 6. And all Magistrates, Sheriffes, &c. on the one part, are ordained to search, apprehend, and punish all contraviners: for instance, Act. 5. Parl. 1. Act. 104. Parl. 7. Act. 25. . Parl. 11. K. James 6. And that, notwithstanding of the Kings Majestes licences on the contrary, which are discharged and declared to be of no force, in so farre as they tend in any wayes to the prejudice and hinder of the execution of the Acts of Parlament against Papists, and adversaries of true Religion, Act. 106. Par. 7. K. James 6. on the other part, in the 47. Act. Parl. 3. K. James 6. it is declared and ordained, seeing the cause of Gods true Religion and his Highnesse Authority are so joyned, as the hurt of the one is common to both; and that none shall be reputed as loyall and faithfull subjects to our Soveraigne Lord, or his Authority, but be punishable as rebellers and gainstanders of the same, who shall not give their Confession, and make their profession of the said true Religion; and that they who after defection shall give the Confession of their faith of new, they shall promise to continue therein in time comming, to maintaine our Soveraigne Lords Authoritie, and at the uttermost of their power to fortifie, assist, and maintaine the true Preachers and Professours of Christs Religion, against whatsoever enemies and gainstanders of the same: and namely, against all such of whatsoever nation, estate, or degree they be of, that have joyned and bound themselves, or have assisted or assists, to set forward and execute the cruell decrees of Trent, contrary to the Preachers and true Professours of the Word of God, which is repeated word by word in the Articles of Pacification at Pearth the 23 of February 1572. approved by Parlament the last of Aprill 1573. ratified in Parlament 1578. And related, Act. 123. Parl. 12. of K. James 6. with this addition, That they are bound to resist all treasonable uproares and hostilities raised against the true Religion, the Kings Majestie, & the true Professors.
Like as all lieges are bound to maintain the K. Majesties Royal Person and authority, the authority of Parlaments, without the which neither any laws or lawful judicatories can be established, Act. 130. Act. 131. Par. 8. K. Ja: 6. & the subjects liberties, who ought only to live and be governed by the Kings lawes, the common lawes of this Realm allanerly, Act. 48. Parl. 3. K. James 1. Act. 79. Parl. 6. K. James 4: repeated in Act. 131. Parl. 8. K. James 6. VVhichWhich, if they be innovated or prejudged, the Commission anent the union of the two kingdomes of Scotland and England, which is the sole Act of the 17. Parl. of K. James 6. declares, such confusion would ensue, as this Realme could be no more a free Monarchie, because by the fundamentall lawes, ancient priviledges, offices and liberties of this kingdome, not onelyonly the Princely authoritie of his Majesties royall discent hath bin these manie ages maintained, but also the peoples securitie of their lands, livings, rights, offices, liberties & dignities preserved; and therefore for the preservation of the said true Religion, Lawes, and Liberties of this kingdome, it is statute by Act. 8. Parl. 1. repeated in Act. 99. Parl. 7. ratified in Act. 23. Parl. 11. and 114. Act. of K. James 6. and 4. Act. of K. Charles, That all kings and Princes at their Coronation and reception of their Princely authoritie, shall make their faithfull promise by their solemn oath in the presence of the eternall God, that enduring the whole time of their lives, they shall serve the same eternall God, to the uttermost of their power, according as he hath required in his most holy VVord, contained in the old and new Testaments. And according to the same VVord, shall maintain the true Religion of Christ Jesus, the preaching of his holy VVord, the due and right ministration of the Sacraments, now received and preached within this Realme (according to the Confession of Faith immediately preceding) and shall abolish and gainstand all false Religion, contrarie to the same, and shall rule the people committed to their charge, according to the will and command of God revealed in his foresaid VVord, and according to the lowable lawes and constitutions received in this Realm, no waies repugnant to the said will of the eternall God, and shal procure, to the uttermost of their power, to the kirk of God, and whole Christian people, true and perfit peace in all time comming; and that they shall be carefull to root out of their Empire all Hereticks, and enemies to the true worship of God, who shall be convicted by the true kirk of God of the foresaid crimes; which was also observed by his Majesty at his Coronation in Edinburgh 1633. as may be seene in the order of the Coronation.
In obedience to the commandement of God, conform to the practice of the godly in former times, and according to the laudable example of our worthy and religious Progenitors, and of many yet living amongst us, which was warranted also by Act of Councell, commanding a generall Band to bee made and subscribed by his Majesties subjects of all ranks, for two causes: One was, for defending the true Religion, as it was then reformed, and is expressed in the Confession of Faith above written, and a former large Confession established by sundrie acts of lawfull Generall Assemblies, and of Parlament, unto which it hath relation, set downe in publicke Cathechismes, and which had beene for many yeeres with a blessing from heaven, preached, and professed in this Kirk and Kingdome, as Gods undoubted truth, grounded onelyonly upon his written Word: The other cause was, for maintaining the Kings Majestie his Person and Estate; the true Worship of God, and the Kings authoritie being so straightly joyned, as that they had the same friends and common enemies, and did stand and fall together. And finally, being convinced in our minds, and confessing with our mouthes, that the present and succeeding generations in this Land, are bound to keep the foresaid nationall Oath and subscription inviolable, We Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen Burgesses, Ministers, and Commons under subscribing, considering divers times before, and especially at this time, the danger of the true reformed Religion, of the Kings honour, and of the publicke peace of the Kingdome, by the manifold innovations and evils generally contained and particularly mentioned in our late supplications, complaints, and protestations, doe hereby professe, and before God, his Angels, and the World solemnely declare, That, with our whole hearts wee agree and resolve all the daies of our life constantly to adhere unto, and to defend the foresaid true Religion, and forbearing the practice of all novations, already introduced in the matters of the worship of God, or approbation of the corruptions of the publick Government of the Kirk, or civill places and power of Kirkmen, till they bee tryed and allowed in free Assemblies, and in Parlaments, to labour by all meanes lawfull to recover the purity and libertie of the Gospel, as it was established and professed before the foresaid novations: And because, after due examination, wee plainly perceive, and undoubtedly beleeve, that the Innovations and evils contained in our Supplications, Complaints, and Protestations have no warrant of the Word of God, are contrary to the Articles of the foresaid Confessions, to the intention and meaning of the blessed Reformers of Religion in this Land, to the above written Acts of Parlament, and doe sensibly tend to the re-establishing of the Popish Religion and tyranny, and to the subversion and ruine of the true Reformed Religion, and of our Liberties, Lawes, and Estates. VVe also declare, that the foresaid Confessions are to bee interpreted and ought to be understood of the foresaid novations and evils, no lesse then if everie one of them had beene expressed in the foresaid Confessions; and that wee are obliged to detest and abhorre them, amongst other particular heads of Papistrie abjured therein. And therefore from the knowledge and conscience of our dutie to God, to our King and Countrey, without any worldly respect or inducement, so farre as humane infirmitie will suffer, wishing a further measure of the grace of God for this effect, VVe promise and sweare, by the Great Name of the Lord our GOD, to continue in the Profession and Obedience of the foresaid Religion: That we shall defend the same, and resist all these contrarie errours and corruptions, according to our vocation, and to the uttermost of that power that God hath put in our hands, all the dayes of our life: And in like manner, with the same heart, we declare before God and Men, That we have no intention nor desire to attempt any thing that may turne to the dishonour of God, or to the diminution of the Kings Greatnesse and Authoritie: But on the contrarie, we promise and sweare, that wee shall, to the uttermost of our power, with our meanes and lives, stand to the defence of our dread Soveraign, the Kings Majestie, his Person and Authoritie, in the defence and preservation of the foresaid true Religion, Liberties and Lawes of the Kingdome; As also to the mutuall defence and assistance, everie one of us of another in the same cause of maintaining the true Religion, and his Majesties Authoritie, with our best counsell, our bodies, meanes, and whole power, against all sorts of persons whatsoever. So that, whatsoever shall be done to the least of us for that cause, shall be taken as done to us all in generall, and to everie one of us in particular. And that we shall neither directly nor indirectly suffer our selves to be divided or withdrawn by whatsoever suggestion, combination, allurement, or terrour, from this blessed and loyall Conjunction, nor shall cast in any let, or impediment that may stay or hinder any such resolution, as by common consent shall be found to conduce for so good ends. But on the contrarie, shall by all lawfull meanes labour to further and promove the same: and if any such dangerous and divisive motion be made to us by VVord or VVrit, wee, and everie one of us, shall either suppresse it, or, if need be, shall incontinent make the same known, that it may bee timously obviated; neither do we feare the foule aspersions of rebellion, combination, or what else our adversaries from their craft and malice would put upon us, seeing what we do is so well warranted, and ariseth from an unfained desire to maintaine the true worship of God, the Majestie of our King, and the peace of the Kingdome, for the common happinesse of our selves, and the posteritie. And because we cannot look for a blessing from God upon our proceedings, except with our Profession and Subscription we joyne such a life and conversation, as beseemeth Christians, who have renewed their Covenant with God; VVee, therefore faithfully promise, for our selves, our followers, and all others under us, both in publike, in our particular families and personall carriage, to endevour to keep our selves within the bounds of Christian libertie, and to be good examples to others of all Godlinesse, Sobernesse, and Righteousnesse, and of everie dutie we owe to God and Man. And that this our Union and Conjunction may bee observed without violation, VVee call the living God, the Searcher of our Hearts, to witnesse, who knoweth this to be our sincere Desire, and unfained Resolution, as we shall answer to JESUS CHRIST in the great day, and under the paine of Gods everlasting wrath, and of infamie, and of losse of all honour and respect in this World: Most humblie beseeching the LORD, to strengthen us by his holy Spirit for this end, and to blesse our desires and proceedings with a happie successe, that Religion and Righteousnesse may flourish in the Land, to the glorie of God, the honour of our King, and peace and comfort of us all. In witnesse whereof we have subscribed with our hands all the premisses, &c.
TO dispute against this Covenant scholastically, or otherwise then by vindicating Our Royall Authoritie, and the Monarchicall government of that Our ancient Kingdome, is farre beneath Us; and therefore Wee would onelyonly know, how they can possibly answer these foure questions to the world.
First, by what authoritie they entered into this Covenant, and how they durst presume to exact an Oath from any of Our subjects to it, or any thing else; it being an irrefragable proposition, That no publike Oath can bee administred but by a Magistrate, or by one sufficiently deputed by authoritie to administer it: For it is a badge annexed to Magistracie and Authoritie, to have power of giving and taking an oath; and therefore they cannot satisfie the world by what Authoritie or deputation from Authoritie they did give this oath to, and receive it from Our subjects. They do answer, that though they have no Law for it, yet they have President; For this Confession of Faith (say they in the title of their Covenant) was subscribed by Our Father of happie memorie, and his houshold, in the year 1580. thereafter by persons of all ranks in the yeare 1581. and that by the ordinance of the Lords of the Secret Councel, and Acts of the Generall Assemblie: Subs…ribed againe, by all sorts of persons in the yeare 1590. by a new ordinance of Councell at the desire of the Generall Assemblie, with a generall band for maintenance of true Religion and the Kings person. Now, was this their Confession of Faith, and Covenant annexed, commanded to bee sworne and subscribed by Us, by any order from Our Councell, or by any Act of Generall Assembly? But they will say, that it being once commanded, that commandement is still in force and vigour. That is indeed a good ground or president for Us and Our Councell, to command this same oath to be renewed when We shall see cause; but the repetition of it must still be by the same Authoritie by which it was at the first injoyned: Now, the first injunction of this subscription was made by Our Royall Father, in the yeare 1580. the first renewing of it in 1581. was (as they say themselves) by an ordinance of the Lords of the Secret Councell; the second renewing of it 1590. was by a new ordinance of Councell at the desire of the Generall Assemblie. By which it is plaine, that the judgement of the Generall Assemblie, (which in those daies was at the highest, and was not wont to derogate from their owne power) was, that this oath could not be renewed, nor any band, but by authoritie from Our Royall Father and His Councell. Againe, have they not printed in the frontispice of this their Covenant Our Royall Father his charge to certain Commissioners, and all Ministers within that Realme, for requiring this oath, with a command to returne to the Ministers of his house, the names and processes of all such as should refuse to take the said oath. Now, did any of all these precede their Covenant? Was Our authoritie, or the authoritie of Our Councell so much as asked, much lesse obtained? Were there any Commissioners by Us, or Our Councell appointed to receive this oath in the severall Shires? Nay, as shall appeare afterward in due place, when We, with the advice of Our Councell, by Proclamation did command the renewing of that oath, and designed Commissioners throughout the severall Shires of the Kingdome for administring of it, did not those, who call themselves of the Table, refuse to sweare it themselves, and command that none of the Kingdome should sweare it by any authoritie from Us? And is not this pulling down of Our authoritie, and setting themselves in Our place? So that if the Reader look upon the title and inscription of their Covenant, he shall finde (as Wee said) that it carrieth the overthrow of it in its owne front.
Secondly, say they had power to command the new taking of this oath, (as they had not,) yet what power can be pretended for their interpretation of it? It being a received Maxime, That no lesse authoritie can interpret a Law or Rescript, then that which made it, or those, whom they who made it have constituted Judges to give judgement and sentence according to the true meaning of it. This oath then being first framed and urged by our Royall Father, with the advice of his Councell, can it be interpreted by any but by Us, and His and Our successours? And have either We or Our Councell given any such interpretation? Nay, can any man, though in authoritie, indued with Religion or reason, with any conscience or honestie, give not onelyonly so false, but so ridiculous and absurd an interpretation of that Confession of faith, as those of the Table have given? For they have declared, That this Confession is to bee interpreted, and ought to be understood of all the pretended Novations, no lesse then if everie one of them had beene expressed in the said Confession. Had they said that they themselves did prohibite these pretended novations, as other points of Poperie in that confession abjured, the words had then carried some sense, as intimating that they themselves did now think that they did tend to Poperie: But that they should force any man to sweare that the framers of that Confession at the first did so, they being all dead, & so never were asked, nor can bee asked the question; or that they should make men living sweare what was the minde of the dead, concerning the five Articles of Pearth, the Service Book, the Book of Canons, the high Commission, things of which in their lives they never heard, nor perhaps did ever imagine the introduction of them, (they in that Confession abjuring onelyonly those Romish corruptions, which in their time had infested the Church,) is such a profane and foolish interpretation, that one would wonder how any one that either hath the knowledge, or maketh conscience of an oath, can either himselfe take, or desire others to take an oath so false and foolish as this: And therefore, with more wit then honestie, where they met with no scrupulous people, they suffered them to swallow down that wicked glosse which corrupteth the verie text of the Confession: But where multitudes, especially of the Ministers, (who at their admissions had sworn obedience to, and practise of these points which they call innovations,) quarrelled at this their interpretation, they assured them, that it would breed a great division if they should desire but the least alteration of the words in which their Covenant was conceived, but yet that they might verie well sweare all, with a reservation of not abjuring Episcopacie, the five Articles of Pearth, or any thing established by Acts of Parliament and Generall Assemblie: With which Protestation and reservation, and not otherwise, many, especially of the Ministers, did sweare their Covenant, as they themselves do well know: which was such a notable peece of Jesuiticall equivocation on their parts, who exacted this oath, and contrarie to the verie letter and grammaticall sense of the oath it selfe, especially in that part of it which containeth their interpretation of the Confession, as the like hath scarcely beene heard.
Thirdly, where was it ever heard that men, pretending for a ground of their proceedings, the president of a former Confession and band annexed, did dare to adde any thing to the text of that Confession and band upon which they meant to build their actions? But these men have taken upon them, not onelyonly without authoritie to make an interpretation of that Confession, but flatly against Authoritie, to adde to the verie text of the band of maintenance: For whereas the band annexed to the former Confession was made in defence of Us, Our Authoritie and Person, with their fortunes, bodies and lives, in defence of the Gospel of Christ, and liberties of that Our Kingdome, &c. they have added a mutuall defence of one another; So that the band, which was at the first made against those subjects who went about to correspond with forreiners for the subversion of Our Religion and Kingdome, is now made against all persons whatsoever, who shall oppose them in their courses. That band which was made in defence of Our person and authoritie, against all treason at home and invasion from abroad, is now principally made against Us, if We shall oppose their courses; and next, against all such of Our loyall subjects as shall adhere to Us in defence of Our person and authoritie: For these words, against all persons whatsoever, not excepting Us, shewes their bad meaning too well. Now, whether Our Royall Father in the first band, by defence of His person and authoritie, meant maintenance against Us His successor, Our person and authoritie (for they urge the intention of the first Confession and band as a warrant for this new one of theirs,) or whether the words of the Emperour, or any Monarch, or any other Law-giver, in any of their Lawes or Rescripts, can bee taken in any tolerable construction against the Crowne and Dignitie of themselves and successors; Or how these new Covenanters can with the same breath blow both hot and cold, with the same hand both strike and stroake Us, in one sentence swearing to defend Our person and authoritie, and yet in the next swearing to defend one another against all persons whatsoever, not excepting Us, if not principally intending Us, We leave it to the world to consider.
Fourthly, what shew of defence can these men make, to save themselves from being punished with all rigour, as movers of sedition, and disturbers of the publike peace and quietnesse of the Kingdom, since the Act of the tenth Parliament of James the sixt, Act. 12. and the 75. Act of the ninth Parliament of Queene Marie, to which the Act last mentioned relateth, have declared all leagues of subjects amongst themselves, without the privitie and approbation of the King, to be seditious, and the Authors and Abetters of them to be punished as movers of sedition?