HifÑory ofthe Puritans, examin'd. 32 lr and good Logick : not that the Prefence of the Biíhops of that time was fo efl'ential, that no AEA íhould pafs without them, which had given the Voice in the Matter, as Negative as the King's; and themfelves in their * Ínftrunzent difclaim'd the leaft pretence to fuch a Qualification, But becaufe a Violence offer'd to the Freedom oîaiy one Member, is a Violation to all the real.. As if a Council confif of Threefcore, and the Door to that Council be kept by armed Men, and all fuch wifeOpinions are not liked, are kept out by Force ; no doubt the Freedom of thofe within ' is infringed, and all their Acts are void and null, as if they were lock'd in, or kept without Meat till they alter'd their judgments.' {-' ' This Action of theirs (fays another Author) was unaccountably voted High - Treafon, and * The Words in the Humble Petition, and Proteflation of the Bithops, printed i64.z, 4to. They likewife humbly proteft before your Majefly, and the noble Houfe of Peers, that fàving " unto themfèlves all the Rights and Interelts of fitting and voting in that Houle as at other Times, they dare not tit or vote in the Houfe of Peers, until your Majefty fha!l further fecu-e them from all Affronts, Indignities, and Dangers in the f Premifles. Lattly, Whereas their Fears are not built upon Phantafies and Conceipts, but upon fuch Grounds and ObjeEts as mail weIl terrify Men of good Refolutions, and much Contlarzcy; they do in all Duty and Humility proteft before your Iv(ajefly, and the Peers of that molt honourable Houfe of Parliamnt, againft all Laws, Orders, Votes, Refòlutions and Determinations,' as in themfelves null, and of none Effe&; which in their Abfence lince the 27th of this Inftant Month December 1645, have already paired; as likewife againft all fuch as íhall hereafter pats in that molt honourable Houle, during the Time of this their forced and violent Abfence from the laid molt honour- ' ab'e Houfe. Not denying, but if their abfenting of themfelves 'were wilful, and voluntary, that moll honourable Houfe might proceed in all theft Premiffes, their tlbfence, or, this their Pro' teffation notwithflanding.' -{t Seditious Preachers, Ungodly Teachers, &c. agsfn!t Dr. Calamy's Abridg°meat of Baxter's Life, 1709, p. 56, 57. Penes me. Y ' corm.
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