A Vindication of the Ministers of the Gospel, Vindication
A VINDICATION OF THE Miniſters of the Goſpel in, and about London, from the unjuſt Aſperſions caſt upon their former Actings for the Parliament, as if they had promoted the bringing of the KING to Capitall puniſhment.
WITH A ſhort Exhortation to their People to keep cloſe to their Covenant-Ingagement.
Iſaiah 62.1.
For Zions ſake I will not hold my peace, and for Ieruſalems ſake I will not reſt, untill the righteouſneſse thereof go forth as brightneſſe, and the ſalvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
Prov. 24. 21, 22.
My ſon, fear thou the Lord and the King, and meddle not with them that are given to change.
For their calamity ſhall riſe ſuddenly, and who knoweth the ruine of them both?
LONDON, Printed by A. M. for Th. Ʋnderhill at the Bible in Woodſtreet. 1648.
A VINDICATION OF THE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL in, and about London, from the unjuſt Aſperſions caſt upon their former Actings for the Parliament, as if they had promoted the bringing of the KING to Capitall puniſhment.
IT cannot be unknown how much we, and other Miniſters of this City and Kingdom that faithfully adhered to the Parliament, have injuriouſly ſmarted under the ſcourge of evil tongues and pens, ever ſince the firſt eruption of the unhappy differences and unnaturall warre between the King and Parliament, for our obedience to the Commands and Orders of the Honourable Houſes, in their conteſts with his Majeſty, and conflicts with his Armies.
We are not ignorant of the over-buſie entermedlings of Prelates and their party heretofore, in over-ruling civil affairs to the great endangering of Kingdoms, and of this in particular, when private intereſts, ambitious deſignes, revenge, or other ſiniſter ends, engaged them beyond their ſphere. Howbeit, it cannot reaſonably (as we conceive) be denied, that Miniſters, as ſubjects, being bound to obey the Laws and to preſerve the Liberties of the Kingdom, and having an intereſt in them and the happineſſe of them, as well as others, may and ought, (without incurring the juſt cenſure due to buſiebodies and incendiaries) to appear, for preſerving the Laws and Liberties of that Common-wealth whereof they are members, eſpecially in our caſe, when it was declared by the Parliament, that all was at ſtake, and in danger to be loſt. No, nor as Miniſters ought they to hold their peace, in a time wherein the ſins of Rulers and Magiſtrates as well as others, have ſo far provoked God as to kindle the fire of his wrath againſt his people. And yet, for this alone, the faithfull ſervants of God, have in all ages, through the malice of Satan and his inſtruments been traduced as Arch-incendiaries, when only their accuſers are indeed guilty of both laying the train, and of putting fire to it, to blow up a Kingdom.
An Ahab and his ſycophants think none ſo fit to bear the odium of being the grand Troubler of Iſrael, as Elijah. Thus, the popiſh device was, to charge the Gun-powder Treaſon (had it taken effect) upon the Puritans: And, if you beleeve Tertullus, even a Paul is a peſtilent fellow, a mover of ſedition throughout the world, a ringleader of a ſect, and what not, but what he is? Yea, Chriſt himſelf (though a friend to Monarchy, even of heatheniſh Rome.) is proclaimed an enemy to Caeſar, to open a way to his deſtruction, by their malice, who never cared for the intereſt of Caeſar.
Wherefore, although with us, who have had experience of like uſage, it be a ſmall thing to be thus judged of men, when we regard only our own particular perſons: For, if they call the maſter of the houſe Beel-zebub, how much more thoſe of his houſhold? yet when we conſider how much it concerns the honour of our Maſter, and the good of all, to preſerve our miniſteriall function immaculate (our good names, being in that relation, as needfull to others, as a good conſcience to our ſelves) we dare not but ſtand by and aſſert the integrity of our hearts, and the innocency of all our actings (in reference to the King and Kingdome) for which we are ſo much calumniated and traduced.
This we are compelled to at this time, becauſe there are many who very confidently (yet moſt unjuſtly) charge us to have been formerly inſtrumentall, toward the taking away the life of the King. And becauſe alſo there are others who in their ſcurrilous Paſquils and Libels (as well as with their virulent tongues) preſent us to the world as a bloudy ſeditious ſect, and traiterous obſtructors, of what all the godly people of the Kingdome doe earneſtly deſire for eſtabliſhing of Religion and Peace, in that we ſtick at the Execution of the King, while yet we are (as they falſly affirm) content to have him convicted and condemned: all which we muſt, and do from our hearts diſclaim, before the whole world.
For when we did firſt engage with the Parliament, (which we did not till called thereunto) we did it with loyall hearts and affection towards the King, and his poſterity. Not intending the leaſt hurt to his Perſon, but to ſtop his party from doing further hurt to the Kingdome; not to bring his Majeſty to juſtice (as ſome now ſpeak) but to put him into a better capacity to doe juſtice: To remove the wicked from before him, that his throne might be eſtabliſhed in righteouſneſſe; not to dethrone, and deſtroy him, which (we much fear) is the ready way to the deſtruction of all his Kingdomes.
That which put on any of us at firſt to appear for the Parliament was, The Propoſitions and Orders of the Lords and Commons in Parliament (Jun. 10. 1642.) for bringing in of money and plate, &c. wherein they aſſured us that whatſoever ſhould be brought in thereupon, ſhould not be at all employed upon any other occaſion, then to maintain The Proteſtant Religion, The Kings Authority, his Perſon in his royall dignity, the free courſe of justice, the Laws of the Land, the Peace of the Kingdome, and the Priviledges of Parliament, against any force which ſhall oppoſe them.
And in this we were daily confirmed and encouraged more and more, by their many ſubſequent declarations and proteſtations, which we held our ſelves bound to beleeve, knowing many of them to be godly and conſcientious men, of Publike ſpirits, zealouſly promoting the common good, and labouring to free this Kingdome from tyranny and ſlavery, which ſome evill inſtruments about the King, endeavoured to bring upon the Nation.
As for the preſent actings at Weſtminſter, ſince the time that ſo many of the Members were by force ſecluded, divers impriſoned, and others thereupon withdrew from the houſe of Commons (and, there not being that conjunction of the two Houſes, as heretofore) we are wholly unſatisfied therein, becauſe we conceive them to be ſo farre from being warranted by ſufficient Authority, as that in our apprehenſions they tend to an actuall alteration (if not ſubverſion) of that which the honourable Houſe of Commons, in their Declaration of April 17. 1646. have taught us to call the Fundamentall conſtitution and government of this Kingdome, which they therein aſſure us (if we underſtand them) they would never alter.
Yea, we hold our ſelves bound in duty to God, Religion, the King, Parliament and Kingdome, to profeſſe before God, Angels and men, That we verily beleeve that which is ſo much feared to be now in agitation, the taking away the life of the King, in the preſent way of Trial, is, not only not agreeable to any Word of God, the principles of the Proteſtant Religion (never yet ſtained with the leaſt drop of bloud of a King) or the fundamentall conſtitution and government of this Kingdom; but, contrary to them, as alſo to the Oath of Allegiance, the Proteſtation of May 5. 1641. and the ſolemn League and Covenant: from all, or any of which Engagements, we know not any power on earth, able to abſolve us or others.
In which laſt, we have ſworn (with hands lifted up to the moſt high God) That we ſhall with ſincerity, reality, and conſtancy, in our ſeverall vocations, endeavour, with our eſtates and lives, mutually to preſerve and defend the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments, and the liberties of the Kingdomes, and to preſerve and defend the Kings Majeſties Perſon, and Authority, in the defence of the true Religion, and Liberties of the Kingdomes: That the world may bear witneſse with our conſciences of our Loyalty, and that we have no thoughts our intentions to diminiſh his Majesties just power and greatneſse.
And we are yet further tied by another Article of the ſame Covenant; Not to ſuffer our ſelves, directly or indirectly, by whatſoever combination, perſwaſion or terrour, to be divided or withdrawn from this bleſſed union and conjunction, whether to make defection to the contrary party, or to give our ſelves to a deteſtable indifferency, or neutrality in this Cauſe which ſo much concerns the glory of God, the good of the Kingdomes, and honour of the King: but ſhall all the daies of our lives, Zealouſly and conſtantly continue therein againſt all oppoſition, and promote the ſame according to our power againſt all lets and impediments whatſoever. And this we have not only taken ourſelves, but moſt of us have by command of the Parliament adminiſtred it to others, whom we have thereby drawn in to be as deep as our ſelves in this publike engagement.
Therefore, According to that our Covenant, we doe in the Name of the great God (to whom all muſt give a ſtrict account) warn and exhort all who either more immediatly belong to our reſpective charges, or any way depend on our Miniſtry, or to whom we have adminiſtred the ſaid Covenant (that we may not by our ſilence ſuffer them to run upon that highly provoking ſin of Perjury) to keep cloſe to the waies of God, and the rules of Religion, the Laws, and their Vows, in their conſtant maintaining the true Reformed Religion, the fundamentall Conſtitution, and Government of this Kingdome, (not ſuffering themſelves to be ſeduced from it, by being drawn in to ſubſcribe the late Models, or Agreement of the people *Declared by both Houſes (for the ſubſtance of it) to be Deſtructive to the being of Parliaments, and to the fundamentall Government of the Kingdom, in Decemb. 1647▪ yea, condemned heretofore by the General, and his Councel of Warre, and one of the ſouldiers ſhot to d…a…h for promoting it., which directly tends to the utter ſubverſion of the whole frame of the fundamentall government of the Land, and makes way for an univerſall toleration of all hereſies and blaſphemies (directly contrary to our Covenant) if they can but get their Abettors to cover them under a falſe guiſe, of the Chriſtian Religion) as alſo in preſerving the Priviledges of both Houſes of Parliament, and the Union between the two Nations of England and Scotland: to mourn bitterly for their own ſins, the ſins of the City, Army, Parliament and Kingdome, and the wofull miſcarriages of the King himſelf, (which we cannot but acknowledge to be many and very great) in his Government, that have coſt the three Kingdomes ſo dear, and caſt him down from his Excellency into an horrid pit of miſery, almoſt beyond example. And to pray that God would both give him effectuall repentance, and ſanctify that bitter cup of Divine Diſpleaſure, that the Divine providence hath put into his hand; as alſo that God would reſtrain the violence of men, that they may not dare to draw upon themſelves and the Kingdome the bloud of their Soveraign.
And now, we have good reaſon to expect that they who brought us under ſuch a bond, and thereby led us into the neceſſity of this preſent Vindication and manifeſtation of our judgements and diſcharge of our conſciences, ſhould defend us in it. However, we reſolve rather to be of their number that tremble at his Terrours who is a conſuming fire, and will not fail to avenge the quarell of his Covenant, upon all that contemn it, then to be found among thoſe who deſpiſe the Oath by breaking his Covenant (after lifting up the hand) although it had been made but in Civil things only, Lev. 26. Ezek. 17. 2 Sam. 21.and that with the worſt of men.
C. Burges, D.D. Preacher of the Word in Pauls Lond.
Will Gouge D.D. Paſtor of Black-friers.
Edm. Stanton D.D. Paſtor of Kingston.
Tho. Temple D.D. Paſtor of Batterſey.
Geo. Walker Paſtor of John Evang.
Edm. Calamy Paſtor of Aldermanbury.
Jer. Whitaker Paſtor of Mag: Bermunſey.
Dan. Cawdrey Miniſt. of Martins in the Fields.
William Spurſtow Miniſt. of Hackney.
La. Seaman Paſtor of Alh. Breadstreet.
Simeon Aſhe Min. of Michael Baſingſhaw.
Tho Caſe Miniſt. of Magd. Milkſtreet,
Nich. Proffet Miniſter at Fosters.
Thom. Thorowgood Miniſt. of Crayford.
Edw. Corbet Miniſt. of Croyden.
Henry Roborough Paſtor of Leonards East-Cheap.
Arthur Jackson Paſtor of Michaels Wood-ſtreet.
Ja Nalton Paſtor of Leonards Foſterlane.
Tho Cawton Paſt. of Bartholomewes Exchange.
Charles Offſpring Paſtor of Antholins.
Sa. Clark Miniſter of Bennet Fynk.
Jo. Wall Miniſter of Michael Cornhill.
Fran. Roberts Paſtor of the Church at Austins.
Mat. Haviland Paſtor of Trinity.
John Sheffield Miniſter of Swithins.
William Harriſon Miniſter of Gracechurch.
William Jenkyn Miniſt. of Chriſtchurch.
John Viner Paſtor of Buttolph Algate.
Elidad Blackwell Paſtor of Andrew Vnderſhaft.
John Croſſe Miniſter at Mathews Fridaystreet.
John Fuller Miniſter at Buttolph Biſhopſgate.
William Taylor Paſtor of Stephens Colemanſtreet.
Peter Witham Paſtor of Albanes VVoodſtreet.
Fran. Peck Paſtor of Nich. Acorne.
Chriſtopher Love Paſtor of Anne Alderſgate.
John VVallis Miniſter of Martin Ironmongerlane.
Tho. Watſon Paſtor of Stevens VValbrook.
Tho. Bedford Paſtor of Martins Outwich.
William VVickins Paſtor of Andrew Hubbard.
Tho. Manton Miniſter of Stoke Newington.
Thomas Gouge Paſtor of Sepulchers.
William Blackmore Paſtor of Peters Cornhill.
Robert Mercer Miniſter of Brides.
Ra Robinſon Paſtor of Mary Woolnorth.
John Glaſcock Min. at Ʋndetſhaft.
Thomas Whately Miniſter at Mary Wool-Church.
Jonathan LLoyde Paſtor of Iames Garlick Hithe.
John Wells Paſtor of Olaves Iury.
Benjamin Needler Paſtor of Margaret Moſes.
Nath. Staniforth Miniſter of Mary Bothaw.
Steven Watkins Miniſter of Mary Overies.
Jacob Tice Paſtor of Buttolph Billingsgate.
Iohn Stileman Miniſter at Rotherhithe.
Ioſias Bull Paſtor of North Cray.
Ionathan Deverux late Miniſter at Andrews Holburne.
Paul Ruſſell Preacher at Hackney.
Ioſuah Kirby Miniſter of the Word.
Arthur Barham Paſtor at Hellens.
FINIS.
End of the text · Cornelius Burges, A Vindication of the Ministers of the Gospel (1648)