Chap. II. The HISTORY ofthe PURITANS. 477 God in purity, and ina right church way. Mr. 7acob continued with his KingJames I. people about eight years, but in the year 1624. being defirous to enlarge I> his ufefulnefs, he went with their confent to Virginia, where he loon after died. Thus according to the teftimony of the Oxford hiflorian,, and fome others, Mr. Henry 7acob was the firft independent minifler in England, and this the firft congregational church. Upon the departure of Mr. yacob his church chofe Mr. Lathorp their pallor, whofe hiftory will be refumed in its proper place. The king was fo full of his prerogative, that he apprehended he could King's dif courje in the preacher in the Star- chamber, and took his text, Pfalm lxxii. s. Give convince his fubjefts of its unlimited extent ; for this purpofe he turned betrr-cham- the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteoufn f to the king's fin. After dividing and fubdividing, and giving the literal and myftical fenfe of his text, he applied it to the judges and courts of . judicature, telling them, that the king fitting in the, throne of God, all judgments cen- Rapin, ter in him, and therefore for inferior courts to determine difficult p 393 queftions without confulting him, was to incroach upon his preroga- tive, and to limit his power, which it was not Iawful for the tongue " of a lawyer, nor any fubje& to difpute. As it is atheifin and blaf- ' phemy to difpute what God can do, Pays he, fo it is prefumption, and " an high contempt to difpute what kings can do or fay; it is to takeaway " that myftical reverence that belongs to them who fit in the throne of " God." Then addrefling to the auditory he advifes them, " Not to " meddle with the king's prerogative or honour. Plead not,, Pays he, upon puritanical principles, which make all things popular, but keep " within the ancient limits." In [peaking of recufants he bays there are three forts, " (a.) Some that come now and then to church; thefe [the puritans] are formal to the laws, but falfe to God. (z..) Others that have their confciences " milled, fume of thefe [the papifls that fwear allegiance] live as peace- " able fubjeá s. (3.) Others are prabtifing recufants, who oblige their f' fervants and tenants to be of their opinion. Thefe are men of pride " and prefumption. I am loath to hang a prieft only for his religion, and eo Paying mats ; but if they refufe the oath of allegiance, I. leave them' to the law." He concludes with exhorting the judges to countenance the clergy againft papijls and puritans; adding " God and the king will. e° reward your zeal:. It is eafy to obferve from hence, his majefly's implacable averfion to the puritans; was founded not merely or principally on their refufal of the ceremonies, but on their principles of civil liberty and enmity to ab- folute monarchy ; for all arguments againft the extent of the prerogative. ate Laid, to be founded on puritan principles.- A king-with fuch maxims fhould
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