M. 1. I confess there were some among us that were of the mind of Hooker, Bilson, Grotius, Barclay, and the common sort of Casuists, Politics, &c. and that thought that as in a doubt about Physic, the College of Physicians were most to be trusted, so in a doubt about Law, the Parliament had been most credible: And when the Irish had murdered two hundred thousand Protestants falsely pretending that they had the Kings Commission, and threatening to finish their works in England, there were many formerly tempted to fly in fear to the Parliament for safety; being ignorant that the Kings bare word, notwithstanding the Papists strength and interest, was more to be trusted with our Laws, Lives and Religion, than all the Lawyers, Courts and Parliament; and that if all the Protestants in England had been used as those in Ireland, they ought to have died patiently, unless the killers would have given them time to send to the King ⟨p. 216⟩to know whether he would have them live or die: They were ignorant that a Lord Proprietor may do with his own as he list. Who accuseth the owner for killing his own Sheep? But the times of this ignorance are past: The Long Parliament that made the Act of Uniformity cured it: And shall not the Act of Oblivion be permitted to reconcile us, and continue our peace?
2. But, Sir, Who be they that were thus deceived? I told you, 1. That of near ten thousand that had Churches under the Parliament and Cromwell, there was but two thousand that refused to Conform: And is not seven thousand Conformists more than two thousand Dissenters. 2. Many that were in the Parliament's Army Conformed; and some that were for the Kings Death, when the generality of those called Presbyterians abhorred it, and the Engagement; and brought in the King on reasons of mere Conscience.
3. I have told you that we will take it thankfully, if only those were silenced that had any hand in that War, believing that it will not now be twenty Ministers in England. And why are the rest that were Boys at School, accused for other Mens opinions or actions? For the time to come, you need not fear them. I heard some tell the Members of the Long Parliament that called them Rebels for saying, that a Parliament may use defensive Arms against the Kings Commissioned Soldiers;
M. 1. I confess there were some among us that were of the mind of Hooker, Bilson, Grotius, Barclay, and the common sort of Casuists, Politicks, &c. and that thought that as in a doubt about Physick, the College of Physicians were most to be trusted, so in a doubt about Law, the Parliament had been most credible: And when the Irish had murdered two hundred thousand Protestants falsly pretending that they had the Kings Commission, and threatning to finish their works in England, there were many formerly tempted to fly in fear to the Parliament for safety; being ignorant that the Kings bare word, notwithstanding the Papists strength and interest, was more to be trusted with our Laws, Lives and Religion, than all the Lawyers, Courts and Pariament; and that if all the Protestants in England had been used as those in Ireland, they ought to have died patiently, unless the killers would have given them time to send to the King ⟨p. 216⟩to know whether he would have them live or die: They were ignorant that a Lord Proprietor may do with his own as he list. Who accuseth the owner for killing his own Sheep? But the times of this ignorance are past: The Long Parliament that made the Act of Vniformity cured it: And shall not the Act of Oblivion be permitted to reconcile us, and continue our peace?
2. But, Sir, Who be they that were thus deceived? I told you, 1. That of near ten thousand that had Churches under the Parliament and Cromwel, there was but two thousand that refused to Conform: And is not seven thousand Conformists more than two thousand Dissenters. 2. Many that were in the Parliament's Army Conformed; and some that were for the Kings Death, when the generality of those called Presbyterians abhorred it, and the Engagement; and brought in the King on reasons of meer Conscience.
3. I have told you that we will take it thankfully, if only those were silenced that had any hand in that War, believing that it will not now be twenty Ministers in England. And why are the rest that were Boys at School, accused for other Mens opinions or actions? For the time to come, you need not fear them. I heard some tell the Members of the Long Parliament that called them Rebels for saying, that a Parliament may use defensive Arms against the Kings Commissioned Souldiers;
