KNIGHT. Mu. KNIGHT was of Pembroke college, Oxford, and one of the preachers to the university. He was adivine of good learning, great moderation, and genuine puritan pinciples. Havingdelivered a sermon on the Lord's day, Apri115, 1622, before the university, from 2 Kings, xix. 9., he advanced this position, "That subordinate magistrates might lawfully make use of force, and defend themselves, the common- wealth, and the true religion, in the field, against the chief , magistrate, within the cases and conditions following : 1. When thechief magistrate turns a tyrant. 2. When he forces his subjects to blasphemy or idolatry. 3. When any intolerable burdens or pressures are laid upon them. And, 4. When resistance is the only expedient to secure their lives, their fortunes, and the liberty of their consciences."* For this proposition in the sermon, Bishop Laud denomi- nates it " a treasonable sermon."+ The preacher was, therefore, sent for to court, and asked what authority he had for his assertion. He answered, that it was the opinion of Parwus on Horn. xiii.; but that Isis principal authority was King James himself, who was then affording assistance to the oppressed Rochellers against their prince. Upon this bold and unexpected answer, Mr, Knight was immediately committed to the Gatehouse; Parseus'st Commentary was ordered to be burnt at Cambridge, Oxford, and Paul's cross, London ; his assertions were condemned as false and sedi tious ; and the university of Oxford, in full convocation, made the following decrees : " That it is not lawful to resist the sovereign by force of arms, either offensively or de- fensively, upon any pretence whatsoever : that all doctors, masters ofarts, &c. within the university, shall subscribe to these decrees and censures : and that whosoever shall here- after take any degree, shall first acknowledge the truth and 'justice of these censures by subscription to the same ; and shall take his oath, that he doth from his heart not only condemn the said doctrine of Parwus, but that he will neither preach, teach, nor maintain the same, or any of them, at any time in future."§ Thus all the graduates in this 1. Neal's Puritans, vol. ii. p. 126. t Prynne's Breviate of Laud, p. 8, Parteus was highly celebrated for true christian piety, a most learned professor of divinity at Heidelberg, and rector of the university at that place. He was an admirable writer, a celebrated divine, and appointedby the elector palatine to attend the synod of Dort ; but, on account of his age and infirmities, he desired tobe excused.-Fuller's Abet Redivivus, p. 579, 580. MS. Chronology, vol. ii. p. 697. (26.)
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