1. An Encroachment on the Civil Rights and Government of the Nation, in the Courts and Jurisdictions pretended to belong or to be annexed unto this Church State over the Persons, Goods, and Liberties of the Subjects, (yea in some cases their Lives.) It is the undoubted Right and Liberty of the People of this Nation, that no actual Jurisdiction should be exercised over their Persons, Estates, or Liberties, in a way collateral unto, and independent on the Public's Administration of Justice unto all, derived from the Sovereign Power, and executed by known Officers, Rules and Orders, according unto the Laws of the Realm. If this be taken from them, all other Pretences of securing the Liberty and Property of the Subjects, are of no advantage unto them. For whilst they have Justice in legal public Courts, duly administered unto them, they may be oppressed and ruined (as many are so every day) by this pretended Collateral irregular Power and Jurisdiction over their Persons, Good and Liberties; from which it seems to be the Duty of the Parliament to deliver them. And it is the Right of the Kings of this Nation, that no external Power over the Subjects be exercised but in their name, by virtue of their Commission, to be granted and executed according unto the Laws of the Land. This Right of Kings, and this Liberty of Subjects also, are so sacred, as that they ought not to be entrenched on by any pretence of Church or Religion. For what is of God's own appointment will touch neither of them. But the administration of this Jurisdiction as it is exercised with a side wind Power, distinct, different from and in some things contrary unto the public Justice of the Nation, (wherein all the Subjects have an equal Interest) and by the Rules of a law foreign unto that of the Kingdom, is a great cause of the continuation of Divisions among Protestants, unto the weakening of the Interest of Religion itself.
1. An Encroachment on the Civil Rights and Government of the Nation, in the Courts and Jurisdictions pretended to belong or to be annexed unto this Church State over the Persons, Goods, and Liberties of the Subiects, (yea in some cases their Lives.) It is the undoubted Right and Liberty of the People of this Nation, that no actual Jurisdiction should be exercised over their Persons, Estates, or Liberties, in a way collateral unto, and independent on the Publicks Administration of Justice unto all, derived from the Sovereign Power, and executed by known Officers, Rules and Orders, according unto the Laws of the Realm. If this be taken from them, all other Pretences of securing the Liberty and Property of the Subjects, are of no advantage unto them. For whil'st they have Justice in legal publick Courts, duely administred unto them, they may be oppressed and ruined (as many are so every day) by this pretended Collateral irregular Power and Jurisdiction over their Persons, Good and Liberties; from which it seems to be the Duty of the Parliament to deliver them. And it is the Right of the Kings of this Nation, that no external Power over the Subjects be exercised but in their name, by vertue of their Commission, to be granted and executed according unto the Laws of the Land. This Right of Kings, and this Liberty of Subjects also, are so sacred, as that they ought not to be entrenched on by any pretence of Church or Religion. For what is of God's own appointment will touch neither of them. But the administration of this Jurisdiction as it is exercised with a side wind Power, distinct, different from and in some things contrary unto the publick Justice of the Nation, (wherein all the Subjects have an equal Interest) and by the Rules of a law forraign unto that of the Kingdom, is a great cause of the continuation of Divisions among Protestants, unto the weakning of the Interest of Religion itself.
