Answ. No. They engaged only in their places and callings, and so far as lawfully they might to preserve Religion in the Church of Scotland against the Common Enemy, notwithstanding which the Scots might reform ought that was amiss or defective, with his Majesties leave and consent, in a legal manner. And the English Covenanters were not bound to model the Church-Government in England according to the pattern of the Kirk of Scotland, but according to the Word of God and the best Reformed Churches. Whether Scotland, or Holland, or Geneva, &c. was the best Reformed Church, was not determined. And the English were not engaged in their places and callings, and so far as lawfully they might, by the Covenant, to follow the Model of any one of these, or all the Reformed Churches, in any thing disagreeing from the Word of God; and in case a primitive Episcopacy (that is, Church-Government by a Bishop, with a Presbytery as his Counsellors and Assistants) prove most agreeable to the Word of God, they were bound to set up, (only in their places and callings, and so far as lawfully they might) that Government in the Church of England: Notwithstanding what the Earl of Bristol, when Lord ⟨p. 141⟩Digby, hath written in his Letters to Sir Kenelm Digby, viz. He that would reduce the Church now, to the Form of Government in the most primitive times, should not take, in my Opinion, the best nor the wisest course, I am sure not the safest; for he would be found pecking towards the Presbytery of Scotland, which for my part I believe, in point of Government, hath a greater resemblance than yours or ours, to the first Age of Christs Church. But whatever was the meaning of the Imposers or Takers of the Covenant in those days, I have heard an eminent Person, a Doctor that had taken it, though a Nonconformist, declare, That he was not bound by it to endeavour any other Reformation than what he had been obliged unto, if he never had taken the Covenant; that he is not bound to use any unlawful or seditious means, or endeavours, to bring about a Reformation. That the Law of the Land is the Rule to judge by, what means or endeavours are unlawful and seditious.
Answ. No. They engaged only in their places and callings, and so far as lawfully they might to preserve Religion in the Church of Scotland against the Common Enemy, notwithstanding which the Scots might reform ought that was amiss or defective, with his Majesties leave and consent, in a legal manner. And the English Covenanters were not bound to model the Church-Government in England according to the pattern of the Kirk of Scotland, but according to the Word of God and the best Reformed Churches. Whether Scotland, or Holland, or Geneva, &c. was the best Reformed Church, was not determined. And the English were not engaged in their places and callings, and so far as lawfully they might, by the Covenant, to follow the Model of any one of these, or all the Reformed Churches, in any thing disagreeing from the Word of God; and in case a primitive Episcopacy (that is, Church-Government by a Bishop, with a Presbytery as his Counsellors and Assistants) prove most agreeable to the Word of God, they were bound to set up, (onely in their places and callings, and so far as lawfully they might) that Government in the Church of England: Notwithstanding what the Earl of Bristol, when Lord ⟨p. 141⟩Digby, hath written in his Letters to Sir Kenelm Digby, viz. He that would reduce the Church now, to the Form of Government in the most primitive times, should not take, in my Opinion, the best nor the wisest course, I am sure not the safest; for he would be found pecking towards the Presbytery of Scotland, which for my part I believe, in point of Government, hath a greater resemblance than yours or ours, to the first Age of Christs Church. But whatever was the meaning of the Imposers or Takers of the Covenant in those days, I have heard an eminent Person, a Doctor that had taken it, though a Nonconformist, declare, That he was not bound by it to endeavour any other Reformation than what he had been obliged unto, if he never had taken the Covenant; that he is not bound to use any unlawful or seditious means, or endeavours, to bring about a Reformation. That the Law of the Land is the Rule to judge by, what means or endeavours are unlawful and seditious.
