The HISTORY of the PuRITANs. Vet. H. K. Charles I." leges, as are not fit to be taken, and prefent their opinion to the com. ~·" mittee abovementioned; provided always, that if any of the mail:ers ·•' fcholars, fel!ows, o/c. fhall find the~felves grieved by any fentence gi: " ven by the v!litors, It a1all be lawful for them to appeal to the committee " of lords and commons, who are authorized finally to hear and determine ·" every fuch cafe brought before them." .sAhjlrall of Before the vifit~tion could take place,. th~ vice-chancellor Dr. Fell {um~ the univerji- mooed a convocatiOn [June I.] wherein It was agreed not to fubmit to ty'r .reafons the parliament vijitors; a paper of reafons againil:: the covenant, the ne– ~!;;'!!jn~~~c. gative oath, and the directory, drawn up. chiefly by Dr. Sande1jon, was Bp. Sander- alfo confented to, and ordered to be publ1fhed to the world both in lati 11 fon's life, and en.glijh, againft the time the viiitors were to come down, under the App6end•x, title of reajons of the prefent judgment of the univerjity if Oxford, conp. 1 9 · I d l . h d .cermng the folemn eague an covenant, t .1e negative oat , an the ordinances concerning difcipline and worfhip, approved by general confent in a full convocation, June I. 1647. an abfhaet of which 1 fhall now fet be– fore the reader. ,To T ·HE l'REFACE OF THE COVENANT (tranfcribed under the year 1643.] E . ·They declare, " We cannot fay the rage, po~ver, and prtfumption of g;~::j/;~:sa· ·" the enemies if God (in the fen{e there intended) is encretifed. Nor prefact, " that we have confented to any jitpplication or remoi?Jirance to the pur- " pofes t.herein expreffed. We do not think the taking the covenant " to be a lawful and probable means to preferve ourfelves and our reli– ·" gion from ruin; nor do we believe it to be according to the commend– " able praClice if theft kingdoms, or the examples if God's people in other '~ nations:: .Jfgainjltbe covenant in .general. To THE COVENANT IN GENERAL, " We are of opinion, that a covenant ought to be a voluntary contraCl, " and not impofed. Now we can't voluntarilyconfenttothiscovenant with– " out betraying our liberties, one of which is, not to be obliged to take any " oath but what is eflablijhed by aCI if parliament; and without acknow· " !edging in the impofers, a greater power than has been challenged in for· .cc mer time, or can fubfift without our formerprotefiation. But if the eo~ '' venant were not impofed, but only recommended, we apprehend the · - - - ·· ," taking
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