And we do here declare, that it is farre from our purpose or desire to let loose the golden reynes of discipline, and government in the Church, to leave private persons or particular Congregations to take up what forme of divine Service they please; for we hold it requisite that their should be throughout the whole Realme a conformity to that Order which the Lawes enjoyne, according to the Word of God: and we desire to unburthen the consciences of men of needlesse and superstitious ceremonies, suppresse innovations, and take away the monuments of Idolatry. And the better to effect the intended reformation we desire there may be a generall Synod of the most grave, pious, learned, and judicious Divines of this Island, assisted with some from forraine parts professing the same Religion with us, who may consider of all things necessary for the peace & good government of the Church, and represent the results of their consultations unto the Parliament to be there allowed of and confirmed, and receive the stamp of authority thereby to finde passage and obedience throughout the Kingdome. They have malitiously charged us that wee intend to destroy and discourage learning, whereas it is our chiefest care and desire to advance it and to provide a competent maintenance for conscionable and preaching Ministers throughout the Kingdome, which will be a great encouragement to Schollers, and a certaine means whereby the want, meanesse, and ignorance to which a great part of the Clergy is now subject, will be prevented. And wee intend likewise to reforme, and purge the fountaines of learning the two Universities, that the streames flowing from thence may be cleere and pure, and an honour and comfort to the whole Land. They have strayned to blast our proceedings in Parliament by wresting the interpretations of our Orders from their genuine intention. They tell the people that our medling with the power of Episcopacy, hath caused sectaries and conventicles, when idolatry and popish ceremonies introduced in the Church by the command of the Bishops have not onely debarred the people from thence, but expelled them from the Kingdome. Thus with Eliah we are called by this malignant party the troublers of the State, and still while we endeavour to reforme their abuses, they make us the authours of those mischiefes we study to prevent: for the perfecting of the worke begun and removing all future impediments, we conceave these courses will be very effectuall, seeing the religion of the Papists, hath such principals as doe certainely tend to the destruction and extirpation of all Protestants when they shall have opportunity to effect it.
It is necessary in the first place to keep them in such a condition, as that they may not be able to do us any hurt, and for avoyding of such connivence and favour as hath heretofore been shewed unto them, That his Majesty be pleased to grant a standing Commission to some choice men named in Parliament, who may take notice of their encrease, their counsels and proceedings, and use all due meanes by execution of the Lawes to prevent all mischievous designes, against the peace and safety of this Kingdome. That some good course be taken to discover the counterfeit and false conformity of Papists to the Church by colour whereof persons very much disaffected to the true religion have beene admitted into place of greatest authority and trust in the Kingdome.
For the better preservation of the Lawes and liberties of the Kingdome, that all illegall grievances and exactions be presented, and punished at the Sessions, and Assizes: and that Judges and Justices be very carefull to give this in charge to the grand Jury, and both the Sheriffe and Justices to be sworne to the due execution of the petition of right and other Lawes: That his Majesty be humbly petitioned by both houses to employ such Counsellours, Ambassadors, and other Ministers in mannaging his businesse at home and abroad, as the Parliament may have cause to confide in, without which wee cannot give his Majesty such supplies for support of his owne estate, nor such assistance to the protestant party beyond the Sea, as is desired. It may often fall out that the Commons may have just cause to take exceptions at some men for being Counsellors, and yet not charge those men with crimes, for there be grounds of diffidence which lie not in proofe: there are others which though they may be proved yet are not legally criminall, to be a knowne favourer of papists, or to have beene very forward in defending or countenancing some great offenders questioned in Parliament, or to speake contemptuously of either Houses of Parliament, or Parliamentary proceedings, or such as are factours or agents for any forraine Prince of another Religion, such are justly suspect to get Counsellors places or any other of trust concerning publique imployment for money: For all these and divers others wee may have great reason to be earnest with his Majesty not to put his great affaires into such hands, though we may be unwilling to proceed against them in any legall way of charge or impeachment: that all Counsellors of State may be sworn to observe those Lawes which concerne the Subject in his libertie, that they may likewise take an oath not to receive or give reward or pension from any forraine Prince, but such as they shall within some reasonable time discover to the Lords of his Majesties Councell: and although they should wickedly forsweare themselves, yet it may herein doe good to make them knowne to be false and perjured to those who imploy them, and thereby bring them into as little credit with them as with us. That his Majesty may have cause to be in love with good Counsel and good men, by shewing him in an humble and dutifull manner, how full of advantage it would be to himselfe, to see his owne estate setled in a plentifull condition to support his honour, to see his people united in waies of duty to him, and endeavours of the publique good; to see happinesse, wealth, peace and safety derived to his owne Kingdome, and procured to his Allies by the influence of his owne power and government. That all good courses may be taken to unite the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland to be mutually ayding and assisting of one another for the common good of the Island, and honour of both. To take away all differences amongst our selves for matters indifferent in their owne nature concerning Religion; and to unite our selves against the common enemies which are the better enabled by our divisions to destroy us all, as they hope and have often endeavoured. To labour by all offices of friendship to unite the forrain Churches with us in the same cause, and to seeke their liberty, safety, and prosperity, as bound thereunto both by charity to them, and by wisdome for our owne good. For by this meanes our owne strength shall be encreased, and by a mutuall concurrence to the same common end, we shall be enabled to procure the good of the whole body of the Protestant profession. If these things may be observed, wee doubt not but God will crowne this Parliament with such successe as shall be the beginning, and foundation of more honour and happinesse to his Majesty, then ever yet was enjoyed by any of his Royall Predecessors.
FINIS.
Transcriber's Note
The cover image was created by the transcriber, and is in the public domain.