Reasons against petitioning the King for restoring the deprived bishops without repentance by a divine of the Church of England.

Reasons against petitioning the King for restoring the de∣prived Bishops without Repentance.

By a Divine of the Church of England.

1. TO petition King William for restoring those Men to their Revenues, Dignities and Functions who think him an Usurper, and the late King James to be rightful King, and that all who have sworn Allegiance to King William, who h•••• formerly sworn to the late King James, are for∣sworn, is, in effect, to petition for the late King James that he might be set in the Throne, and for the French King his right Arm, and for the supposititious and feigned Prince of Wales, and for idolatrous Father Peters; it is to petition King William against himself, and against the Parliament, and against the present Government, and to undo all that hath been done, and involve three Nations in Confusion, and establish Popery and Slavery for all Generations: I say, to petition that they may be restored without Repentance of this their wicked Error, is plainly so.

2. The Persons petitioned for, while they retain this their wicked Error, cannot be restored without an essential Alteration of the present Liturgy, which the Petitioners themselves are utterly against, and the Persons petitioned for all along unto the present Change, have been utter∣ly against also; and must be supposed to be so still, unless Self-Interest, or some other Reason hath made them change their Mind. For the pre∣scribed Forms of Prayer for K. William and Q. Mary, are an essential part of the Liturgy, and no Man can, without notorious Hypocrisy and dissembling, use them, and unfeignedly assent and consent to them, and require of Persons to be ordained, instituted, and inducted, unfeigned Assent and Consent to them, who thinks in his Conscience that King William and Queen Mary are Usurpers, and that it is sinful to swear Alle∣giance to them. So that if the King and Parliament had made no Law for swearing Allegiance to their present Majesties, but had left all Mini∣sters free to swear or not, as they saw good, of necessity the Persons peti∣tioned for must have been Non-conformists to the Church of England in one essential Point, and to dissent in any one essential Point is instar omni∣um, as if they had dissented in all.

3. The Persons petitioned for have made themselves infamous to the Nation, and to all the Reformed Churches, and to the late King James, and all his Adherents, by their own notorious self-contradicting and self∣confounding Practices. For they by their published Declaration Decemb. 11, 1688. (to which I refer them) immedia〈…〉〈…〉 upon the late King's withdrawing himself, and real Abdication, and leaving his People as Sheep without a Shepherd, and by subsequent Acts pursuant to that De∣claration, did indeed, tho ••••t in word, renounce and disclaim all Allegi∣ance to the late King James, and betook themselves to the then Prince of Orange, as under God, the Saviour and Pr••tector of the Nation from Popery and Slavery. So that of all Persons in the Nation none have so little reason to scruple Allegiance to their present Majesties as the deprived Bishops. Let them but reconcile themsel〈…〉〈…〉 to their former Actions, and they must needs own and consent that his pr••se•••• Majesty is most rightful King. For them now to stand off from Alleg〈…〉〈…〉 to their present Ma∣jesties, what is it but to play fast and loose with God and Conscience in Matters which concern the Temporal and Eternal Safety of three King∣doms, which is very sinful and scandalous in a common Man, and much more in Bishops? They please not God, and are contrary to all Men: 1 Thess. 2. 15.

4. It is alledged that the Persons petitioned for, did in the Reign of the late King perform an Act singularly meritorious, which cost them Impri∣sonment in the Tower. Touching which, let these things be impartially weighed; 1. In the Judgment of the present Bp of H. it was no meritori∣ous Act at all, but criminal, as his own published Paper doth witness, and his sending abroad the late King's Declaration to the Clergy of his Diocess to publish it, contrary to the Judgment and Practice of the imprisoned Bishops: And therefore it is to be wondred at, if his Lordship shall now in petitioning for the deprived Bishops applaud that as highly meritorious, which some Years ago he did in Print declare to all the World to be vitu∣perable. 2. Admitting it to be singularly meritorious, it could merit only Temporal Glory, and this they have had, the Nation hath applauded them for it. This can be no Atonement for future Crimes and Scandals without Repentance. They have stained the Glory of their past Merit for lack of Perseverance, and by their Disloyalty to the present Govern∣ment: For the late French Invasion, and the Rebellion in Ireland, and united Endeavours of Papists, and other Sons of Belial, against their pre∣sent Majesties and their Government, are the genuine Consequence of this wicked Error and seditious Principle held by the deprived Bishops, that their present Majesties are Usurpers, and that it is sinful to swear Allegiance to them. 3. The deprived Bishops about the time of their Imprisonment

did in Print express Tenderness towards the Dissenters, and promised them fair things, when they should have opportunity in the next Parliament and Convocation: the generality of the Nation, both Clergy and Laity, did approve this their Promise. They have had the opportunity of perfor∣ming this their Promise, but they have not had the Honesty and Integrity so to do. For it is the deprived Bishops and their Adherents, who refuse to come to reasonable Accord with the Dissenters, and keep up the Breach between their Majesties Protestant Subjects, and dislike the Act for Tolera∣tion, and so render themselves dishonest and pe••fidious Persons, who in time of Affliction and impending Calamity make just and equal Promises, and when the Affliction is over, refuse to perform, and invent sinful Shifts and Evasions to cloak their Hypocrisy.

5. To petition the King and Parliament for restoring these Disloyal Per∣sons to their Profits, and Honours, and Ecclesiastical Functions, without Repentance of their 〈…〉〈…〉 Error against the present Government, is plainly to petition the King and Parliament that they will be unjust, and make themselves, and the Laws, and Government, odious to God and all good Men, by affording equal Honour, Countenance and Protection to good and bad Subjects, to loyal and disloyal Persons, to the worthy and unworthy. Sontibus nimis ignoscendo in sontibus fit injuria.

6. The present way of petitioning is not for mutual Forbearance and Condescension towards all such as agree in the Foundation, and do but differ in Circumstantials, and things indifferent, and variable Modes and Forms, no way destructive of the Foundation; such a Petition we are no way against, but greatly for. But it is that the King and Parliament will devise some way, whereby those may be restored to their Profits, Dignities and Offices, whose disloyal and seditious Principles strike at the Foundati∣on, and unhinge the Government, and tend to universal Confusion, and for which they stand justly deprived by Law. And so it is not a Petition for Order, and Unity, and Concord, and the common Good, but quite contrary, namely, for the countenancing and encouraging and upholding of a Faction, Sect, and Party of Men in the Nation, against Order, Uni∣ty, and the common Good, that they may have leave and license by Law and publick Authority to ridicule and libel the Government, to let in the common Enemy, to make their own terms with him, and betray the Na∣tion. For this one Principle, that their present Majesties are Usurpers, and that it is sinful to swear Allegiance to them, and pray for them as rightful King and Quen, is against the very Being and Foundation of the Government; it is pregnant of a thousand seditious and disloyal Practices, it is as Fire in the Thatch, and carries universal Desolation and Confusion in its Bowels. The Petitioners do not at all desire an Act of Union and

Comprehension for all such of their Majesties Subjects as agree in all Fun∣damentals towards God and towards the King, and differ but in variable Rites and Forms, not necessary to the Being of Church and State; such an Act would be a blessed Act; but thi•• they are against, this they dread: they only desire an Act for restoring a few peccant Bishops to their Profits and Places, whose deluded Consciences will not permit them to swear Al∣legiance to their present Majesties; that so being in Place; and having ob∣tained the establishment of their wicked Principle by Law, they may by Law undo the Government, and bring in Confusion.

7. The Petitioners are Men that have sworn Allegiance to their present Majesties, and in their publick Prayers pray daily; From all Sedition—Good Lord deliver us. Now if this be not a seditious Principle, that their present Majesties are Usurpers, and that it is sinful to swear Allegiance to them, there is no such thing as Sedition, neither can it be declared what Sedition and Disloyalty is. Why halt ye betwe〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉o Opinions, between Loyalty and Disloyalty? If their present Majesties ••e not rightful King and Queen before God and all the World, why do you swear Allegiance to them? Why do you in your publick Prayers Morning and Evening each day, beseech God for them as rightful King and Queen, and for their Pro∣sperity and good Success against all their Enemies, and thereby notoriously dissemble with God and Men, and give occasion to all both Friends and Foes, both Protestants and Papists, to think and speak of you as perfidi∣ous and false Men? If their present Majesties be in your Judgment right∣ful King and Queen, why are you not zealous for them and their Govern∣ment? Why do you lean to their Enemies? Why do you petition for the countenance and upholding those, who by their refusal to swear Allegiance to them, declare to all the World that they think them to be Usurpers, and that it is horrible Perjury to swear Allegiance to them, and separate and divide your selves from your dissenting Brethren, whom you acknow∣ledg to agree with you in all Fundamentals respecting God and their pre∣sent Majesties?

8. It will perhaps be said, That the Persons petitioned for, are Reverend Fathers of the Church, Men of great Wisdom, Conscience, and Integrity; and if they had not just grounds for their Non-conformity, we may well think they would conform. To which, besides what is already said, I re∣turn these following Answers. 1. It is a saying of Luther's, Nunquam periclitatur Religio nisi inter Reverendissimos, the State of the Church is never in so much danger as from those who are stiled Most Reverend. 2. There be others of their Order, stiled Most Reverend Fathers of the Church, who do conform, and have given as good proof of their Wisdom, Conscience and Integrity, as those that do not conform. Now both cannot

be in the right, of necessity one of the two must be in an Error, and it is no small Error, it is an Error against the Foundation of the present Go∣vernment, both of Church and State. 3. As to Things Spiritual and Eter∣nal we know no Father, but our Father which is in Heaven, Mat. 23. 9. and as to Worldly and Temporal Government, the Nation knoweth no Father but King William. No Bishop, no Apostle is more than a Member of Christ's Body the Church, Jesus Christ is the sole Head, and the King is his Vicegerent, who ruleth all Estates as to Temporal Rule by the Sword. 4. There are conscientious Heathens, Jews, Mahometans, Papists, Arians, Socinians, Quakers, Hereticks, and Persecutors of God's Saints, who think they do God Service in killing God's most faithful Servants, John 16. 2. such an one was Paul before his Conversion. Error and Su∣perstition, and false Zeal, hath perverted and corrupted the Consciences of the Persons petitioned for. Their Conscience will give them leave to strain at a Gnat, and swallow a Camel; to be for an Oath of Obedience from Presbyters to Bishops, but not for an Oath of Allegiance from all the Subjects of England to their present Majesties; to silence, anathematize, suspend, imprison and undo multitudes of wise, and good, and useful Men for Non-conformity to things indifferent, and in their own nature not necessary in the Judgment of the most rigid Conformists: moderate Con∣formists confess them to be inconvenient, tho not flatly sinful; and the Dissenters conceive them to be flatly sinful. Their Conscience will give them leave to dispense with and keep up Ministers, Non-residency, and Pluralities (which even the Council of Trent condems) and selling Spiri∣tual Pardons and Indulgences for Money in their Courts, by Commutation of honest Repentance for filthy Lucre; it will give them leave not to la∣bour in the Word and Doctrine, and yet to expect and receive double Honour, and to prefer Ordination by unlearned, ungodly, idolatrous, per∣secuting Popish Bishops, before Ordination by learned, ancient, godly, or∣thodox and most reverend Protestant Presbyters. From such a Conscience I pray God bless me.

9. The Persons petitioned for, and their Adherents, have stood much upon their Loyalty to the Higher Powers, and have boasted of it and glo∣ried in it, as tho they had been the only Loyal Persons: and now by God's just Judgment themselves are fallen into the Pit of Disloyalty, and their deluded Conscience will not suffer them to come forth, and so it is not in our power to help them. Let them in God's Name repent, imitate Dr. Sherlock, shame themselves before God and the World by honest and wholsome Repentance and Confession of their false Principles concerning the Government, and then they will merit Pardon, and we shall not need to petition Authority for them.

10. Whether King William be rightful King or no, is not lawful to dispute; because such a Dispute in the nature of it, doth suppose the matter doubtful and questionable: Whereas it is unquestionably plain, that he is rightfully King; for he is in full Possession of the Throne by common Consent, and dis••enseth Law and Justice to all the Realm, and protecteth his Subjects in their Civil Rights, and in the free exercise of their Re∣ligion, and it cannot be proved that he is an Usurper. All that can be alledged is but Conjecture, and uncertain Opinion, and doubtful Disputation, which in a Point of this nature, signifies nothing at all: For unless it be plain and clear as the Sun at Noon-day, that he is not rightful Possessor of the Throne, if the Evidence be not so clear and plain, as fully to convince the Consciences of all impartial Men, sincerely studious of their Duty to God and the King; if there be twenty Reasons for, and as many Reasons against King William, the Consciences of all in the Nation are bound to own and sub∣mit to him as rightful King, and to renounce and disclaim Allegiance to the late King James, as having no Right at all to the Throne.

11. The Nation hath not deposed the late King, but he hath deposed himself, and abdicated himself from the Government, by invading the Fundamental Laws of the Nation, whereby the mutual Rights of Prince and People do consist, particularly by going about to impose on three Kindoms a suppo〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉ce of Wales, in order to bring in the Papacy, and subjecting them to a Foreign Ju〈…〉〈…〉ction, as to Ecclesiastical Causes, and enslaving them as to their Civil Rights, and excluding the right Heir. Against this Invasion of the Fundamental Laws and Rights of the Nation, the Nation having no other Remedy, did, by the Prince of Orange, their Head and Chieftain (whom it principally concerned in right of his Princess) justly appeal to God the su∣pream Judg, with their Swords in their Hands, and God received their Appeal, gave Sentence for them in wonderful manner, and made the late King, by real Abdication, to quit all Right to the Throne, and the whole Nation unanimously by their Representa∣tives lawfully and peaceably assembled, to fill the Throne with their present Majesties. Not they who fight for, but they who fight against the Fundamental Laws of the Na∣tion, by which the mutual Rights of Prince and People do con••ist, are to be esteemed and judged Fighters against God's Ordinance and just Authority.

12. Earthly Kingdoms and Monarchies are an Image and Resemblance of God's Kingdom over all. Now God claims no Allegiance and Subjection from any Man, but in consideration of those Benefits and Favours which he affordeth in common to all Men, as their Creator and Upholder, and to all elect Men in special, as their gracious God in Christ; and if he shall not perform his Oath and Covenant to all Men in general, to all elect Men in special, he is contented that we esteem him no God, and renounce all Subjection and Allegiance to him; and he makes our own Consciences Judges between him and us: Isa. 5. 3. Gen. 9. 8, 9, &c. and 18. 23, 24, 25. Heb. 11. 6. 1 Joh. 1. 9. There is therefore a mutual Covenant, tacit or express, in every legal Monarchy, where∣by the mutual Rights of Prince and People consist; which Covenant being broken and made void in the substantial Branches of it, the innocent Party hath ground of Appeal to God the supream Judg and Disposer of Crowns and Kingdoms, in whose Decision all Sides and Parties are to acquiesce. But where this Appeal cannot be made by the Sword without ruine of the State, and doing more hurt than good, it is not to be at∣tempted, no Remedy can be eligible which is worse than the Disease.

13. This is the true Mean between the Doctrine of resisting Authority supream and subordinate, and the Doctrine of not resisting those who pretend Authority, but really have none, but are Cut-throats, Murderers, Assassins, and Invaders of just and lawful Rights, having no Authority so to do. To resist Authority supream and subordinate, is not to resist Man but God; and they who resist him, are guilty of Folly and Impiety,

and can look for nothing but Damnation. Not to resist those who pretend Authority, but really have none, when we are sufficiently able to resist them, and to save our selves from their unjust Violence, is not to be Martyrs, but Fools, unworthy of God, and those Blessings and good things he doth be••rust us with, which he will call us to account for, and damn us if we have not been w••se and faithful Stewards thereof. Now the Undertaking of the Prince of Orang••, and his Adheren••s, was not a resisting of Autho∣rity, but a just V••••dication of those Rights which the late King James, without all Au∣thority, did seek by Force and Fraud to deprive them of. For the Question between the late King on one side, and the Prince of Orange and his Adherents on the other side, being plainly this, Whether the supposed Prince of Wales was really born of the Queen or not? Here it is evident, that the late King was not Judg, but a Party. And it is un∣reasonable, and against all Laws of God and Man, for any Man, yea, for the Emperor himself, to be Judg in his own Cause, as ••p Ʋsher grants in his Book of the Power of the Prince, pag. 162. The late King being no Judg as to this Point, he could have no Authority, his refusal to give the Nation just and reasonable Satisfaction, was a refusal of common Right, contrary to the Law of Nations, and to the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom, whereby the Throne is upheld, and upon which, as a Foundation, the Crown stands; which F〈…〉〈…〉tion falling, the Crown must needs fall with it, and the Conscience of the Subject •••• discharged from all Ties and Bonds of Allegiance.

14. Admitting the Prince of Wales to be feigned, the Consciences of the late King and all his Partakers, both Foreign and Domestick, will compel them to yield, that it was a Complication of horrible Crimes against all Law, both Divine and Human, that all the Subjects of these three Nations and Kingdoms were bound in their several places, all that in them lay, to withstand and hinder such a Villany and Injustice from taking effect; and that all who fight and take up Arms in defence thereof, are Fighters against God, against common Honesty, against those Fundamental Laws of the Nation, which secure the mutual Rights of Prince and People, and which the late King was sworn to observe inviolate: and that they who fight against the Authors and Abettors of this Villany under the Conduct of the Prince of Orange, in right of his Princess and the next Heir to the Crown, are fighters for God, and for common Honesty, and have Law and Conscience on their side. Now the late King refused to give the Nation just and rea∣sonable Satisfaction, and put himself upon trial and decision of his Cause by the Sword; and sinking in his Undertaking, withdrew himself, left the Throne, and the Nation to shift for it self, and see to its own Safety: which accordingly it did, by placing their Majesties in the Throne, and thereby securing publick Peace, and laying a sure Foun∣dation for future Peace and Tranquillity to all Generations. As for those who think it is sufficient for the saving their Consciences if they swear Allegiance to King William, as King de facto, not de jure: I do very much question it, non tali auxilio nec defensoribus istis tempus eget; this present Cause needs no such Advocates. I see not how they can ex∣cuse and defend those of the Nobility, Gentry, Clergy, and Commonalty who did invite the Prince of Orange over, and hazard their All in his Cause after his landing. Debile fundamentum fallit opus; The Superstructure can be no stronger than the Foundation: and if the Prince of Orange had no just ground for his Undertaking, I see not how his Adherents can be justified. I say not that the business of the Prince of Wales was the only ground for his now Majesties Undertaking, but I think it was a principal one, which considered in its Causes, Concomitants, and Effects, is abundantly sufficient for Vindication of the present Settlement, and for ever stopping the Mouths of all its Op∣posers. I do not build the Justice of his Majesties Cause upon bare Success; but yet a righteous Cause I hope is not the worse for being blessed by God with wonderful and astonishing Success.

15. That which in my Observation makes the Enemies of the Government to bear ill-will to it, is Hatred to impartial Godliness. The Devil doth not use to envy Men Prosperity in Wickedness; but the more they prosper in Wickedness, the more he is pleased, they may take their fill of it, he will not disquiet them. And if the present Settlement were only Prosperity in Evil, Satan would not envy and he so much a∣gainst it, as it is visible he is, by his Agents and Instruments. King David once said, •• am this day weak, tho Anointed King; and these Men, the Sons of Zervi〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 too hard for me〈…〉〈…〉 the Lord shall reward the Doer of Evil according to his Wickedness; 2 Sam: 3. 39. There have been among us, and yet are Sons of Zerviah, too hard for the Government; but the comfort is, the Government is like the House of David, waxing stronger and stronger, and these Sons of Zerviah, the Doers of Evil, wax weaker and weaker. The Sons of Zerviah were those who adhered to David against the House of Saul, and were Men of great Interest and Power, they were a Combination and Faction in the State, who took advantage of the Weakness and Infancy of the Government, to the com∣passing of their own Ends and politick Designs against the general good of Prince and People. The like we have among us at this day, but the Lord shall reward the Doer of Evil according to his Wickedness.

16. I see not how ••••y Man can be a good Man who is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 peaceable Man, and I see not how a Man can be peaceable, who governs himself •••• unpeaceable and sedi∣tious Principles. Loyalty and Allegiance to the higher Powers is an essential Branch of the fifth Commandment, comprized in our Baptismal Covenant, and taught to Children in the common Catechism. And tho many may be loyal to their King and Country, who are void of holy Love and Loyalty towards God; yet I see not how a Man can be truly holy and loyal towards God, who is not a good Subject, a good Common-wealths Man, who is not zealous for the publick Good, who governs him∣self by Principles destructive of human Society.

17. Upon the same grounds that the Persons petitioned for, scruple Allegiance to their present Majesties, they might have scrupled Allegiance to those who were last in the Throne, and the Subjects of any King now on Earth may scruple Allegiance to their Soveraign. For I would ask them, what better Right to the Throne had the late King James after his Brother's death, than their present Majesties now have? They will say, The Right of Succession. Very well. Now all sides grant, that a successive Kingdom is no Inlargement of Right, but a Continuation of what the Predecessor had. For he that succeeds, succeeds in universum jus defuncti, into all the Right of the deceased. Now because there cannot be processus in infinitum, infinite proceeding, therefore of ne∣cessity we must come to some first, in whom the Monarchy began. But no legal and just Monarchy can begin and be constituted without mutual Compact and Covenant tacit or express between Prince and People. It were easy to shew this at large from Scripture, Natural Reason, the Custom of Nations, and approved general Usage, and the Concessions of Adversaries. Now this Right their Majesties have, as good as Will. the Conqueror had, and as good as Henry the 7^th had. As for the grand Objection of a former Obligation to the late King; the Answer is, that he was as truly and as strongly bound to us as we to him, and we did not first forsake him, but he forsook us; we did not resist lawful Authority, but only those who pretended Authority, but really had none. For no Law, whether Divine or Humane, gave the late King Authority to impose upon the Consciences of all in three Kingdoms a feigned Prince of Wales, to the Ex∣c••u••ion of the right Heir, and overthrowing the Right of Succession. He by engaging in defence of this Villany, did engage against God, against the Law, against common Honesty, against the common Good, and made himself no legal Monarch, but a Sub∣verter of the Legal Monarchy, and so he did discharge us from all ties of Allegiance o him, and it became our Duty, by force of Arms, to stand up for the legal Mo∣narchy against its Enemies.

FINIS.

Notes

• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 A cer∣tain Grand Jury were severely re∣proved by an emi••ent Judg for offe••ing this Petition; which is a suffi••ient E∣〈…〉〈…〉ce of the Illegali∣ty thereof.