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to be fo; in that they do expect to be admitted into the Preferments of the Church,and to be allowed to be publick Preachers in it; and yet at the very fame time, they do defire to be excused from declaring, that they are not of a Perfwalion, that there doth ly an obligation by Oath upon them themselves, the whole Nation, or (to fay no more) at least upon fome other Perfon, who ought to be nameless, to overthrow the whole frame of the Government of that Church, which they defire to be admitted into the Preferments of, and particularly of that Bishop by whofe hands they are admitted. I would fain know whether there be any other Part of the World, where any Perfons dare to demand of the prefent establishment, that it would for their fakes fo far relax it self, in order to their admiffion into it. Sure these menimagine,that the Church is in a very great neceffity of them, that it cannot stand one moment without them; when, in the very Terms of their Admiffion, they do demand no less than this, that

a new Law should be made on purpofe, whereby they may be privileged from declaring, whether or no it is lawful for them to fuffer the Church to continue two moments longer than there shall arise an opportunity, wherein they may be able to overthrow it.

As for the remaining Part of the Article concerning Superstition, Herefie, Schifm, Profaneneß, and whatsoever fhall be found contrary to found Doarine or the Power of Godliness, &c. I shall leave that to our Friends of the Prefbytery and their Separating Brethren to dispute about it: And it is clear enough, that they are altogether as unlike to agree in thofe Particulars, as I am with either of them: As lovingly as ever they may look upon one another at prefent, I am fure that the Covenant, when opportunity ferves, will be found to be levelled as directly against the Conventicles, as against the Cathedrals. I fhall obferve no more in this Article befides the great Charitableness of the Conclufion, That the Lord may be One and

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his Name One in the Three Kingdoms: As if the Church of England followed after strange Gods, and that those ordained by her were really no other than, as they are often stiled according to the good manners which the People learn of too many fuch Preachers, the Priefts of Baal.

ART. 3.

We shall with the fame Sincerity, Reality and Conftancy in our feveral Vocations, endeavour, with our Estates and Lives, mutually to preferve the Rights and Privileges of the Parliament and the Liberties of the Kingdoms; and to preferve and defend the Kings Majefties Perfon and Authority, in the Prefervation and Defence of the True Religion and Liberties of the Kingdom : That the World may hear witness with our Confciences of our Loyalty, and that we have no thoughts and intention to diminish his Majefties Juft Power and Greatness.

This Article hath been very much

and

and very much insisted on and gloried in for the feeming Loyalty of one Expreffion in it: But, in order to a right understanding; let us confider how Affairs ftood at that time: It is well known, that the Compilers and Enjoyners of this Covenant were, at that very time, in actual Arms (I hope that it is no offence, if I fay in actual Rebellion) against the King. This very Covenant was a great Inftrument by which they did carry on their Defign then on foot against Him: The King was betrayed and fold by one part of the Covenanters, those from Scotland, he was bought, imprisoned, and in effect depofed by another part of the Covenanters, thofe in England, and by the most Loyal of them, even the Lords and Commons Affembled at Westminster; who by their Votes of Non-addrefs, Febr. 17. 1647. (which, let us note, was long before the Seclufion by the Army) did declare, First, That they will make no farther Addreffes or Applications to the King: And in the fourth Vote, That they will receive no more Messages from

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the King, and do enjoyn that no Perfon whatever do receive or bring any Meffage from the King to Both or either Houfes of Parliament, or to any other Perfon; which Votes they published with a Declaration, wherein they lay down fome few of thofe many Reafons (as they exprefs it) why they cannot repose any more Trust in Him.

Nay, long before that time, when the Scots complained of fome rigours used towards His Majesty, as being contrary to the Covenant, the House of Commons did return them this Anfwer, Novemb. 18. 1646. We obferve that you mention the Defence of the King twice, from the Covenant; but in both places you leave out, in the prefervation of the true Religion, &c. A main Claufe without which the other ought not to be mentioned. Which very Answer themselves did afterwards receive from their own Army, in a Declaration from St. Albans, Novemb. 18. 1648. Where they reminded their Masters of their own Doctrine, The Defence of the King, fay they, is to be understood with this restriction; In the Prc

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