'J'he HISTORY of the PuRITANs. VoL. II. K. CharTes I. " chrifl.ian princes might be provoked to ufe more feverity towards thofe ~ " of the reformed_ reli_gion! if. not to root _it out of t~eir dominions; for " the yoke of ant1chnfi, If laid upon fubjects by thm lawful fovereigns •·' is to be thrown off by chrifi:ian boldnefs in confeffing the truth, and " fuffering for it, not by taking up arms, or violent refifting of the higher ,,, powers." After thefe remarks upon the feveral articles they take notice, Contradic-- ( 1.) Of the following feeming contradictions iin the covenant, as "the tions i11 the '' preferving, and yet reforming one and the fame reformed religion. The tovcnant. " refo rming church government according to the word of God, and yet lb. P· 2 u . " extirpating that government which we apprehend agreeable to it. The " extirpating herefy and fchifm, and yet diffolvi ng that government of '" the church, the want of the due exercife of which has been the occa– " fion of the growth of thefe evils. The preferving the liberties of the " kingdom, and yet fubmitting to a covenant and oath not efiablifhed by "law." .Doubtful ex- (z.) They obferve feme dark and doubtful expr~fiions wl:ich they don't prejjians in well underfiand; as, " who are the common enemres? Wh1ch are the befl tbe covenant. " reformed churches ? Who are malignants? How far the hindring refor– lb. P· 213· " mation may be extended, &c." .llhjitrditin, (3.) By the ufe that has been made of the covenant they apprehend, " the conduct of the parliament to be contrary to the meaning of it, for " infi:ead of reforming the wodhip and fervice of the church they have « quite abolilhed it; infiead of reforming the difcipline of the church it is " quite deftroyed, or put upon fuch a foot as is not agreeable to the word " of God, or the example of any church fince the creation. Jnfiead of t;X– ·~· tirpating herefy and profanenels, little or nothing has been done .towards " it but only the extirpation of prelacy, and fomething elfe that looks like « f.1erilege (fay they) that we dare not venture upon it. And as for the " prefervation of the king's honour and ejlate in defence if the true religion, « and liberties qf the kingdom, though we apprehend all other things fhould '' be fubordinate to it, yet by fame bold fpeeches that have been made, we " are afraid nothing lefs is intended.~'· Of the SALVOE S FOR TAKING THE COVENAN 'Y. Salvoes·for taking theco- ( r.) '' It has been faid, that W l may tale it in· our own Jenfl.. But thl~· }~~~~1;2 1 , "we apprehend contrary to the nature and end of an oath; contrary to &c. ~· the end of fpeech; contrary to the defign of the cov~nant,; and conl,!yry Salvo], 'J' to·
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