A DECLARATION OF THE Presbyterians, CONCERNING His Majeſties Royal Perſon, and the Government of the Church of ENGLAND.
WHereas there hath aroſe ſeveral Diſputes touching the great and weighty Concern of the Diſcipline of the Church of England, upon the ſence and ſolution of the Solemn League and Covenant, ſo far as it relates to the Government of the Church by Epiſcopacie: And whereas the ſence and very Letter of the Covenant is clear againſt the unjuſt and Anti-chriſtian frame of Government; ſo are they2 not againſt the abſolute extirpation of Prelacie; but it is the abuſe, not the thing; the adjuncts, hot the ſubiect; the defects and exceſſes, not its Fabrick, is covenanted againſt; but that they are willing to become inſtrumental, to cement the ſad differences in the Church; deſiring all ſuch who have adhered thereto to produce thoſe clear, pregnant, and conſtant beams of right reaſon, and true Religion, which ſhineth in the brightneſs and ſtability of Divine and humane Laws, which may be the Pillars of this truth, firm ſupports of duty, ſure bounds of obedience, and ſafe repoſe of Conſcience in this point; greatly darkned by the many diſputes of Biſhops and•reſbyters, Papiſts and Proteſtants: nay by the poſſitive aſſertions of both Papiſts and Proteſtant Divines, and determinations of Schoolmen, who have concluded Biſhops and Preſbyters to be Miniſters ejuſdem ordinis, equal in Office and Authority, and in this very caſe of Government.
And we doubt not, but all on the contrary ſhall finde every conſcientious Covenanter enjoy the comfort of his accompliſhed Oath, when•n his place he hath ſeaſonably adviſed, humbly petitioned, and lawful•y endeavoured, to remove Englands old Hierachy; and to reſtore ſuch an Epiſcopacy, to be exerciſed by the Officers of the Church in common and good order, as is neareſt the Scripture, primitive practice and perſwaſion of ſober, grave, pious, and learned men, ſuch as was the late Primate of Armah; but if either his moſt ſacred Majeſty, or any other in Authority fail in the exerciſe of their capacity to effect the ends of the5 Covenant, we hope it ſhall be no offence to mourn for their iniquity, and the iniquity of the Land; nor will it be inconſiſtent to that humble ſubmiſſion, a••ive or p•ſſive, we confe•s we all owe unto his moſt ſacred Majeſty: what ever ſhall be the eſtabliſhment in the Church (though never ſo corrupt, yet) whileſt conſiſtent with Salvation, though it may occaſion to my ſuffering, and a ſuſpence of my Miniſtry, by Gods grace it ſhall not effect in me, or ſuch on whom I have an influence, Schiſm from the Church, or reſiſtance of his Majeſties juſt Right and Authority; for whom as we have not ſuffered the l•aſt, ſo if God ſhould ſo farre leave him (which God forbid) we are ready by him to ſuffer the utmoſt, in adherence to the Solemn League and Covenant, until it be diſcovered a band of iniquity, a ſnare and gin for Schiſm and Sedition to act by, to the diſhonour of God, and reproach of reformed Religion: Yet we cannot but moſt heartily pray for the honeſt and ingenuous reformation of Epiſcopacy beyond the former defective or exceſſive conſtitution or execution of it; which I doubt not will ſatisfie the expectations of all that Covenanted.
2We confeſs every conſciencious Covenanter oweth his Juſtice and Duty;
1. To God, to approve, love, deſire, and uſe what is good, not being within his own power, and excluded by his Oath or Covenant; may, and muſt, are things very indifferent.
2. To obey the King as chief Governour of Church and State enjoyning things lawful and honeſt (ſo not covenanted againſt) though not the very beſt.
3. To pitty the Biſhops and Fathers of the Church who have been there too injurious, or injuriouſly uſed, and pull down all proud Prelates, and paternal Authority over Presbyters, which abuſe their Brethren, and debaſe their Miniſtry becauſe in a Black Coat.
4. To encourage Miniſters, and endeavour the reſcue of them from dividing Factions, and popular inſolencies which have befallen them for want of the King, and Eccleſiaſtical Order, but may be enjoyed without a Biſhop advanced in power above his Brethren.
5. Love to the Church, in indeavouring its unity, peace, and proſperity in the ruine of Prelacy and Eſtabliſhmens of an Epiſcopacy and over-ſight duly conſtituted and carefully executed.
56. Care to his own ſoul, inward and eternall peace, not to be couzened by glones, courted by Rhetorical flouriſhes, no••udgelled out of his Covenant by moſt bitter ſufferings, but to•leave unto it with care, conſtancy, and diligence, and take heed of all ſophiſtical ſolutions, and ſubtle reconciliations, which endeavour to baffle the Covenant, and break in pieces the very power of Religious Bonds. And we can not but further declare, That Covenant-breaking is ſo direful a God-provoking ſinne, that we tremble to think of Englands leaſt tendency to it; whatever men fancie to themſelves of the Covenant being the Rock of his late Majeſties ſhipwrack, it is viſible that the violation of it hath been the deſtruction of our late Uſurpers, who laid it aſide that they might leap into the Chair of State; and it cannot be denied to have been the chiefe and onely means of his Majeſties moſt juſt and honourable Reſtitution; and an adherencie to it (We doubt not) will prove the eſtabliſhment of his Royall Throne.
And to the end, that the Cauſe of the Covenant may be pleaded, We deſire it may be weighed in the ballance of Reaſon and Religion, whileſt we are reſolved to approve our ſelves no leſſe zealous in6 the Religious than he hath appeared in the Political or Civil part of the Solemn League and Covenant; and make it his care to giue God the things that are Gods, as Caeſar the things that are Caeſars.
And ſo
God ſave the KING.