The Oath of Allegiance and National Covenant Non-Obliging, Answer 2
There is one thing more which I think good to annex to what I have held forth in this Reply, viz. My Anſwer to a Querie, or Concluſion rather, which is drawn from my Poſitions, and is lately come to my hands, viz.
Querie.
WHAT may Conſcientiouſly be reſolved upon, in relation to the late Enacted Engagement, from the Principles and Premiſes laid down by me in the proſecution of my firſt Poſition? And whether I have not damned it, as to my ſelf, and to all thoſe who are of my mind, and perſwaded (fo far as my Poſition may prevail) all others not to take it?
For thus he Argues from my Poſitions;
If an Oath, or Promiſe, or Engagement, failing in any of thoſe Rules which in the Poſition are laid down, be unlawful, then the Enacted Engagement muſt needs be unlawful, becauſe firſt it is abſolute, without any Proviſo of their Ruling wel, that are, or may be in power. 2 It is ſingle, or without the Rulers Engaging to the Subject to Rule wel and juſtly. 3 It is to thoſe of whom we may be as much unſatisfied, how they wil prove hereafter, as we can be of an Heir. 4 It is to one kind of Government, called, The Common-wealth, as it is now Eſtabliſhed, and that deſcribed with contradiſtinction from, and Excluſion of King and Lords. It is alſo to continue in a conſtant way, for the words run, [I will be true and faithful.]
Anſwer.
If I ſhould look upon the Engagement, under ſuch apprehenſions as he hath looked upon the Oath of Allegiance, and pleaded for it, I ſhould not think it tolerable to be taken by any Conſciencious man. But I have other Conceptions of it.
1 I deny, That the Engagement is Abſolute, or that any ſuch Engagement can be abſolute, but that at leaſt there wil be a tacite Condition therein, for the Equity and Juſtice of the thing wil require it perpetually; and that (however it would be more ſatisfactory if the Condition were expreſſed, yet it is palpable enough that the Condition is implyed, though not one word ſhould be ſpoken. I have given Inſtance in Paſtor and People: If the people ſhould not indent with their Paſtor to Preach the Goſpel, but ſhould accept of him to be their Paſtor, and promiſe ſo much Maintenance unto him, yet it is implyed that it is upon the Condition of his Preaching to them; for no rational man wil conceive that they promiſed ſuch Maintenance in reference to ſuch an Office, without performing the work of the Office: So it is betwixt Magiſtrate and Subject.
2 I deny, That the Engagement is ſingle; for long ſince there came forth a Declaration from the Parliament, wherein they Engaged to Govern the Nation according to known Laws of the Land. And this Narrative was purpoſely ſet forth to ſatisfie the Nation, in reference to Jealouſies that the people lay under. And it makes the Engagement mutual betwixt the Magiſtrate and the People. And if it be mutual, then it cannot be abſolute, as he aſſerted. For I have ſhewed, That in a mutual Engagement the Obligation of the one, hath reſpect unto, and dependence upon the performance of the other, ſo that if the one violate the Engagement in his part, the other is diſcharged upon it.
3 I deny, That it is to thoſe of whom we may be as much unſatisfied how they wil prove hereafter, as we can be of an Heir; for the Engagement is to the Repreſentatives of the Nation, of whom we were ſatisfied when we Choſe them, and we exerciſed our judgement when we Choſe them; and if otherwiſe, it was the Common-wealths fault. And we know what they have been, they have ſought the Nations welfare; and time wil declare what they wil be, and let them not be prejudged. However, they are but temporarie Rulers, and not ſo much as for term of life, much leſſe are their Heirs to be chief Rulers after them.
4 I deny, That the Engagement is to one kind of Government abſolutly, whether hurtful or profitable, for the Repreſentatives of the people have power to change it, when they ſee cauſe, for the good of the Nation, and they neither have, nor intend to tye their own hands abſolutly, but that if they ſhould prove it to be pernicious, they might change it.
So that it is apparent, by what I have preſented, That he hath totally miſtaken the buſineſs of the Engagement.
FINIS.
End of the text · Samuel Eaton, The Oath of Allegiance and National Covenant Non-Obliging (1650)