206 LIVES OF TEE PURITANS. the prince maketh and repealeth laws, as appears most for the safety of the state, and the benefit of the people; but in the church, there is only ONE LAWGIVER, even JESUS CHRIST. 18. Is the Queen of England the chief governor under Christ, over the whole church and state ecclesiastical in this realm, or but a member of it ? And may the church of England be established without the magistrate? This is answered under the seventeenth article. 19. Is the Queen of England bound to observe the judicial laws of Moses, in the punishment and pardon of criminal offences ? We ate sure that the law of Moses, was, to the people of Israel, an absolute and a most perfect rule of justice ; so that all laws ought to be made according to its equity. Yet, to decide on all particular cast's, dare I not. It belongeth to the Lord to say, I will pardon, or I will destroy. 20. May the Queen of England, of herself, and by her own authority, assign and appoint civil officers? I never knew a man who doubted this article. And sure I am, that her majesty, in her wisdom, may do as she thinketh best.. These were the articles proposed to Mr. Deering in the star-chamber, and this was the substance of thoseanswers which he presented to the court in writing. In these answers, says Mr. Strype, he made very ill reflections upon the reformation and religion of the established church.t, Whether this remark be consistent with christian liberality, or even common justice, every reader will easilyj udge. What could be the design of the commissioners in proposing such inquiries ? Some of them relating wholly to matters of state; seem designed to ensnare him. Others were evidently intended to draw him either to approve, or to censure, the corruptions of the church. And in general, it is extremely manifest, that they were put to him, to rack his conscience, and to get something out of him ; to make him an offender by his own confession. a For my part," says Mr. Peirce, when I consider the abominable tyranny of such pro= ceedings, and the barbarous wickedness of sifting the secrets of mens' hearts, about those matters, ofwhich perhaps they never spoke any thing in their lives ; I heartily bless my God that he did not cast my lot in those days, but reserved me for times of greater equity and freedom."1. 4, Parte of a Register, p. 1S-S0.-Strype's Annals, vol. ii. p. 280,251. Strype's Parker, p. 452. Peirce's Vindication, part i. p. SI.
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