7be HISTORY of the PuRITANs. VoL. II, K. Charles I." fication of your ufurping an authority over king and parliament ~ " who are but fo many private perfons, and no part of the legiflature. ' " Moreover though the parliament took up arms in defence of the " laws, it was never their intention to do violence to the perfon of the " l1ing, or divefi him of his royal authority, much lefs to overthrow the " whole confiitution. " We therefore think ourfelves bound by our protefiation, and by our "Jolemn league and covenant, to appear for our excellent confiitution a- · " gainfi arbitrary and tyrannical power in the' king, on the one hand, and " again!l: the illegal proceedi.ngs of private perfons, tending to fubvert the •· con!litution, and introduce anarchy and coiflflion on the other. " Infiead therefore of confulting with you, we earne!lly entreat you, " as the ambaffadors of Chrifi, that you would confider of the evil of your " prefent ways, and turn from them. You cannot but know, that the " word of God commands obedience to magiftrates, and confonant to " fcripture this bath been the judgment of proteftant divines at home and « abroad, with whorn we concur; difclaiming, dete!ling, and abhor– ,, ring the pradices of jefuits, concerning the oppofing of lawful magif– '' trates by any private perfons, and the murthering of kings by any, '' though under the mofi fpecious and colourable pretences. Examine " your confciences, if any number of perfons of different principles from ' " yourfelves, had invaded the rights of parliament, imprifoned the king, " and carried him about from place to place, and attempted the diffolntion " of the whole government, whether you would not have charged them " with the highefi crimes? " We dcfire you not to infer the jufiice of your proceedings from the '' fuccefs, but to diftinguilh between God's permifiion and approbation, " and that God's fuffering men to profper in their evil courfes is one of " the fevcrefi judgments; the providence of God therefore, which is fo " often pleaded in jnilification of your adions, is no fafe rule to walk by, " in fuch adions which the word of God condemns. " Nor is it fafe to be guided by the impu!fes qf the .JPirit, whe!'l they " are contrary to the written word of God; we are to try the fpirits, and " to have recourfe to the law and the tefiimony, if they fpeak not accor– ,, cling to them, there is no light in them. " If you plead nece!Jity for doing that which yourfelves confefs to be· '' irregular, we anfwer, no necefiity can oblige men to fin; befides, 'tis « apparent,. yo\1 were under no neceffity, the parliament (till forced by " you) being full and free ; befidcs, you have engaged by oath to pre– <~-< ferve his majefty's perfon, and the privileges of puliament, and no ne. &.~ ceility can jufiify p~rjury, or difpenfe with !awful oaths, ~·We
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=