160 ¡be LJFEej the Part III VII. And left this A`& for Concord, lhould occafion Difcord, by emboldening ùnpeaceable and unruly or heretical men, be it ena&ed- ----that if any either in the allowed or the Tolerated Affemblies that !hall pray or Preach Rebellion, Sedition, or againft the Government or Liturgy of the Church, or Rail break the Peace by tumults or otherwife, or Itir up unchriftian hatredadd ftrife, or (hall preach againft, or otherwife oppofe the Chriftan verities or any Article of the facred Do&rine which they fubfcribe, or any of the 39. Articles ofReligion, they fha11 be punifhed as by the Laws againft filchOffences is already provided. Iwill here alfo Annex the Copies offene Petitions, which I'wasput to draw up, wine, never were prefented. I. The firft was intended whilethe Parliament was fitting to havebeen offered ; bat wife Parliament-Men thought it wasbetter forbear it." IL The fecond was thought fit for fome Citizens to hare offered; but by the fame Councel it was forborn. Ilk The third was thus occafioned:.Sir yohn Babor told Dr. Manton that the Scots being then fufpe&ed of fome infnrre&ion, it was expefed that we renewed the profeffion of our Loyalty, to free us from all fufpicion of Confpiracy with them. We faid that it feemed hard to us that we Ihould fall under fufpición, and no caufe alledged :' -We knew of no occafion that we had given: But we were ready to profefs our continued Loyalty, but defired that we might with it, open our juft refentment of ourCafe. They put me to draw it up : but when it was read, it was laid, by, none daring to plead our. Caufe fo freely and fignify any fenfe of our hard ufage. I. May it Pleafe Your Majefty, with the Lords and Commons Affembled in Parliament. WHen the Common profeffion of refolved moderation had abated Men's fears of a Silencing Prelacy ; and the publifhed Declarations of Nobilitie and Gentry againft all dividing violence and revenge, had helpt to unite the endeavours of Your Subje&s which profpered for Your Majeflie's defined Re- ftoration ; when God's wonderful providence had diffolved the Military Powers öfUfurpers,which hindered it; and when Your welcome appearance, Your Alt of Oblivion, Your Gracious Declaration about Eccleliaftical Affairs ( for which the Houfe ofCommons folemnly gave you thanks) did feem tohave done much to the Cureof our Divilons; we had fome hopes that our common revived Love and Concord, would have tended toYour Majefly's and our common joy, in the har- mony, ftrength'ând profperity of Your Kingdoms ; and that we might among your inferionr Subje&s have enjoyed our part in the common tranquility. Butthe ear t66a. dilihlved thofe hopes, fixing our old Difficuties, and adding more, which fine then aifo have been mach increafed : Beeing confecrated and vowed to the facred Miniftry, we dare not defect it, left fhortly' appear beforeour Judge, in the guilt of facriledge, & perfidioufnefs gainst Chrift and the people's Souls. But we are forbidento exercife it, unlefs we will do that whichwe profefs as Menthat are palling to our final Dóom, we would readily do, were it notfor fearof God's difpleafure and our Damnation. Deprivation of all Miaifterial-main- tenance, with heavy Mul&s (on filch as have not money to pay) and long sin- prifonments in the Common Goals with Malefa&ors, and bamlhment (to thofe that. (hall furvive them), and that into remote parts of the World, were the pe- nalties appointed for us by your 'Laws. Voluminous reproaches are puhlifhed a- gainft us ; in which our Superiours and the World are told, that we hold= that things indifferent are made unlawful by the Commands of lawful Gayer- ours,,
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