Exceptions Many and Just Against Two Injurious Petitions, Section 3
SECT. III.
The Petition.
And for as much as thoſe many victories, mercifully vouchſafed by Almighty God, in approbation of his cauſe, hath not been obtained at a low and eaſy rate, but as through a Sea of bloud, and all kind of miſeries, whereof we have had a large proportion, thereby rendring the cauſe more pretious to our thoughts.
ANSWER.
HEre 1. They make mention of our manifold victories. 2. Of the meanes by which they were obtained, the vouchſafement of Almighty God. 3. His meaning by that mercy to ſhew his approbation of that cauſe which prevailed. 4. The price the ſucceſſe hath coſt, not being obtained at a low rate, but as through a Sea of bloud, and all kind of miſeries. 5. Their own participation of them, in a large proportion. 6. Their more pretious eſtimation of the cauſe for that reaſon. And what is all this, or any of this, to the taking away of Tithes.
1. We have had many victories, thence it may follow we may be able to put downe Tithes but not that it is a matter of duty, or juſtice ſo to do.
2. The meanes whereby theſe victories were obtained, was the Mercy of God vouchſafed. If ſo, we have cauſe to conceive that mercy was vouchſafed, becauſe the Parliament ſo ſoone as they were Aſſembled was reſpective of Gods ſervants making itaMay Hiſt. Parl, L. 1. p. 78. their firſt care to vindicate deſtreſſed Miniſters and afterwardsbSo in the Letter M. Speaker to the Moderator of the generall Aſſembly of Scotland, written by the command of the Commons Aſſembled in Parl. Aug. 3. 1648. p. 8. Augmenting their Maintainance out of the Impropriations of Biſhops the Eſtates and Revenues of Deanes and Chapters and out of the impropriations of Delinquents which they bought out and ſetled upon Churches that wanted maintenance to a very great valew, rather then that this Mercy was afforded that Miniſters might be reduced to a more miſerable condition, than the meaneſt labourer in the land, who for the worke he doth may recover his wages in a courſe of law, which as theſe Petitioners would have it, Miniſters may not.
3. If his meaning in that mercy were to ſhew his approbation of the Cauſe (as I believe it was) yet we may be too haſty to conclude that God likes out cauſe, becauſe we like our ſucceſſe againſt our enemies. By the warrs between the Iſraelites & the Benjamites Jud. 20. That cauſe muſt be juſtly conſidered, and if ſo, no man can adviſedly ſay it was any part of Gods intention by our victories either to Ratifie or Nullifie any claime, or right, or title to Tithes which was no part of the conteſtation betwixt the Parliament and the Kings party nor betwixt the Engliſh and the Scots or Iriſh, no more than it is now betwixt the Engliſh, and the Dutch.
4. Whereas they ſay theſe victories were obtained, as through a ſea of blood and all kind of miſeries though their Hyperbole ſwels high, yet will it not I truſt be able to drowne the ancient Right of Miniſters Maintenance, while the Appeale is made unto them who wil act by the dictates of their one judgment, and conſcience and not by the paſſionate expreſſions of men.
5 For their owne participation of the bloody miſeries of warre in a large portion, ſure they have ſurvived their ſufferings we cannot conceive how that ſhould concerne the Miniſters portion ſave that if it were as ſouldiers their receiving of pay for their employment, is a warrant for us to do the like for ours 1 Cor. 9.7. Who goeth a warfare at his owne charge?
6. If as they ſay this renders the cauſe more pretious to their thoughts, (though for Gods and their Countries ſake, they ſhould more highly value it for their owne) we kmow not why the price ſhould be ſo much increaſed upon us (above all the free borne ſubjects of this Nation, that we and our ſucceſſors muſt looſe all our dues aſſigned for our duty, and ſetled upon us in Right of perpetuities, by many reiterated lawes of the land wherein we live, while others enjoy what they have, whether by Gift, or purchaſe, or Inheritance without impeachment.