4.16 The LIFE of the I_, >< $. I. difpenfing with his Subjeds Vows, is a bare pretence, and unproved , and difpro_ ved. 6. If it wouldhold, then it is in the power of Kings to fáve all their Sub- je&s from the guilt of Perjury, by difpenfing with all their Vows. 7. This Law in Numbers is no further in force than it appearechto belong to the Law of Nature, or of Chrift : For as Mofes's Law, it dyd with Chrift, and was nailed to his Crofs: Though the general equity of it beRill of force. 8. How many Thoufands in this Land and Scotland never knew of the King's Declaration againft the Covenant ? How then could that difpenfe with their Vows, which they never knew of, nor poffibly could know of, being in the Parliaments Garrifons or Quarters ? 9.What's this to all thofe that took it when the King was dead, and therefore could not di- fpenfe with their Oaths? to. What is this to the King himfelf, who took it long after his Father's Death, over whom no man had a difpenfing Power ? a t. What's this to all thofe that took it after the prefent King had taken it, and publifhed a Declaration for it ? Did not this then confirm the Obligation? (Thoughform, part I am one of thole that think that the Scots did ill, unmannerly , difobediently, unlawfully, inhumanly, foolifhly, inforcing the King to take the Covenant ageinghis will, and to pub- lif, fo barfh a Declaration againft bis Father's Athens, contrary to bit own Yudgment). Yet it is his open Declarations, and not his fècret Unwillingnefs, which his dillant Subjects could take notice of. So that this reason feemeth ftrongly to make againft the pleaders of it, becaufe of the King's confirmingAd. § ;78. 6. The fixth Reafon is, [ That the People cannot lawfully endeavour the change ofChurch Government without the Kmg]. Anfw. t. Cannot the Subjeds petition, and the Parliament peak and vote without him , and petition him alto ? z. Cannot a Bithop lawfully advife the King to do it , if the King ask his Advice ? ;.Cannot the Subjeds endeavour it if the King command them ? Are they all bound to dif- obey the King if he fhould command their Service for the Change of Prelacy in- to the Primitive Epifcopaçy?Their Place and Calling is to do it when the King com- mandeth them : And lb many of them underiìood and took it: And it feemeth too near a kin toRebellion, to fay that no Subject mull obey the King in filch a matter, though he fwear it. Ifyou fay,This is never like to be: I anfwer, No Man knoweth what Change the Mind of Kings, as well as other Men, may admit t And they that read theKing'sDeclaration in Scotland, thought they had a vifible proof of it. 4. And what's all this to the King's own Ad, who took it himfelf ; whom we mutt alfo by our Subfcriptiondifoblige? § î79. 7. Thefeventh Reafon anfwereth this, [That the King took not the fame Covenant mentioned in the Alt of Uniformity, but another]. Anfw. This is fo thin a fhift, that the Kinghimfelfdoth not own it, but faith, That his Enemies drove him to it againft his will. As if [mutatra mutandis] the various Names and Cafes of Perfonsmade an Oath or Covenant not to be the fame ! Becautè it's faid in the beginning [We Noblemen, Knights, &c. and not [We the King and Nobles] they fup- pofe another Name or Perfon maketh it fpecifically another Covenant. Or becaitle the Article ofprotelling the King's Perfon, belonged not to him to take. § ;80. 8. Another Reafon is, [That the King was forced to it]. Anfw. Themore to be blamed are they that did ir, then : But all the World acknowledgeth that the Will of Man cannot be forced abfolutely : and that a voluntary Ad, though cau. fed by neceffityor terrour, is moral ; and that a Promife made to Man ( much more a Vow to God) in materia licita, though forced by a Robber that would take away ones Life, may yet be Obligatory. A Man that may choofe whether he will vow or die, is bound by his Vow, if he choofe it, before Death: Though yet the choofing it may poffibly be his fin. § ;81. 9. Mr. Fullwoed's great Reafon is , That the King was pre-engagedto take the CorporationOath as Heir ofebe Crown, and confiquently engaged to Epifeopacy, and confe- quently be was not obligedagainft it by ibe Covenant. Anfw, t. If he were not obliged to take the Crown, he was not obliged to take that Oath. If he were obliged under the Peril of a Sin to take the Crown, thenCharles the Fifth, and other Princes that have laiddown Crowns, or refufed them, have finned : (unlefs force peculiar Reafon be here brought). But this is not affirmed by any, That a Prince may not lawfully refufe a Crown, un- lefs when it would hazárd theHappinefs of the Kingdom. z. He mighthave taken the Crown with an alteration of that Oath : Who ever Paid, That tire King and Parliamenthave not power to change that Oath, who can change the Laws. ;. Who AEI
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