The resolving of conscience upon this question whether upon such a supposition or case as is now usually made (the King will not discharge his trust, but is bent or seduced to subvert religion, laws, and liberties) subjects may take arms and resist, and whether that case be now ... / by H. Fern.

The Contents.

• Sect. I. THe explication of the Question, and generall Re∣solution of it.
• Sect. II. The Principle or Ground on which they goe for Resistance examined by Scripture. Their chief Ex∣amples, (to which should have been added Libnah's revolt, answered now in the last Sect.) Scriptures against them, especially that of the 13. to the Rom. urged and cleared: where shewed, The King is that higher Power. That all are forbidden to resist, even the Senate, which by the fundamentalls of that State might challenge as much as our great Councell can. That prohibition concerns all times; and was good, not onely in that State, because they were absolute Mo∣narches, but in all States because of the pre∣servation of Order which should be in all, and was good not onely against the Christians, because their Re∣ligion was enected against by Law, but also against the Senate and People, though they were enslaved.
• Sect. III. Their principle examined by reason. Of Funda∣mentalls, their ground-work according to the pleaders for resistance, is the originall of Power from the People, and their re-assuming it, when the Prince will not dis∣charge his trust. The Power it selfe, (distinguished from the de∣signing of the Person, and the Qualification of it in

• severall forms of Government) is from God as an or∣dinance or constitution under that providence whereby God rules the whole World, Creatures reasonable as well as unreasonable.
• Sect. IV. That Power cannot be forfeited to the People or re∣assumed by them. They cannot prove it by vertue of the first election, or by any capitulations or covenant, or the Oath between Prince and People.
• Sect. V. Nor can it be proved by that necessity of means of safety which should be in every State to provide for it self: but greater dangers and inconveniences would follow by such means of safety as are pretended to by re∣suming the Power.
• Sect. VI. The Examination of the Resistance now made. Where shewen, that it is not so much as they themselves pre∣tend to, who plead for it; either for the generall and unanimous consent of the Kingdome; for it was not so agreed upon: or for the defensive way of it; because the King is upon the defensive, For He was not first in Arms, and the Contentiom must needs appeare to be for something the King hath right to hold, or is bound by oath to maintain. Also because to any Mans Consci∣ence it will appeare to he an oppugnation, rather then a resistance or meere defence.
• Sect. VII. The case is not in being. No Conscience can con∣clude the King to be, what they would have him suppo∣sed: because the jealousies are groundlesse. The King

• ... hath done sufficient to clear them, by Promises, Prote∣stations, acts of Grace. And Conscience if it hold the rule of Charity, will not against all those conclude contrary intentions in him, upon them to ground resist∣ance; but will, if it will not not be partiall, judge the King hath offered such reasonable meanes of securitie to this State as ought to have been apprehended, rather then this Kingdom embroyled in a Civil war, and Ire∣land neglected. Lastly, a Conscience that concludes for resistance, wants the perswasion of faith, and the judge∣ment of charity in an high measure, and cannot appeare safely at Gods tribunall.