A88587:93
A modest and clear vindication of the serious representation, and late vindication of the…
A modest and clear vindication of the serious representation, and late vindication of the ministers of London, from the scandalous aspersions of John Price, in a pamphlet of his, entitled, Clerico-classicum or, The clergies alarm to a third war. Wherein his king-killing doctrine is confuted. The authors by him alleged, as defending it, cleared. The ministers of London vindicated. The follies, and falsities of John Price discovered. The protestation, vow, and the Covenant explained. / By a friend to a regulated monarchy, a free Parliament, an obedient army, and a godly ministry; but an enemy to tyranny, malignity, anarchy and heresy.A modest and clear vindication of the serious representation, and late vindication of the ministers of London, from the scandalous aspersions of John Price, in a pamphlet of his, entituled, Clerico-classicum or, The clergies alarum to a third war. Wherein his king-killing doctrine is confuted. The authors by him alledged, as defending it, cleared. The ministers of London vindicated. The follies, and falsities of Iohn Price discovered. The protestation, vow, and the Covenant explained. / By a friend to a regulated monarchy, a free Parliament, an obedient army, and a godly ministry; but an enemy to tyranny, malignity, anarchy and heresie.
London: printed for Stephen Bowtell, 1649
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answ. 1. With what face dare you who have been tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine, accuse so many grave and godly Ministers of fickleness, who have still kept their first steadfastness, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left? Indeed you and your teachers have been as changeable as the Vans, but the Ministers of London as sixth and immovable in their principles as the Steeples themselves.
Answ. 1. With what face dare you who have been tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrin, accuse so many grave and godly Ministers of •icklenesse, who have still kept their first stedfastnesse, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left? Indeed you and your teachers have been as changeable as the Vannes, but the Ministers of London as fixt and immoveable in their principles as the Steeples themselves.
2. If you mean by stirring up the People against the King, and for the Parliament; that the ministers did, being called thereunto, plead for the lawfulness of defensive arms against the King with his ⟨p. 23⟩forces, this I grant; for they were bound by a Solemn Oath to assist the Forces raised by the Parliament, against the Forces raised by the King without their consent. But if by stirring, up the people against the King, you mean the bringing of the King to capital punishment, or the taking away of his life, then I flatly deny that any of the subscribers did stir up the people to that end, or that they have any books or Sermons in print to that purpose. I am sure many of them in their Books and Sermons did express their utter abhorrency of any such intendment. I'll instance but in two of the subscribers (though I could mention many more) the one is Mr. Case, who though he were a zealous Anti-cavalierist, yet no Anti-carolist, in a Fast Sermon before the House of Commons 26. October. 1642. pag. 11, 12. hath these words. It is and hath been from ancient times the cursed policy of desperate malignant Courtiers and Counsellors, when they would arm Princes and Potentates against the poor people of God, to possess their ears and hearts with this prejudice, that they are enemies to Monarchy. With such jealousies did the enemies of God and his people in the neighbour Nation of Scotland labour to possess his Majesty towards those his loyal Subjects there; they were represented to His Majesty as Traitors and Rebels, that intended nothing else but to un-Crown and un-King him, when power shall be in their own hand. And is not the same design practised upon his faithful Parliament and Subjects here in England? Do not these Rehums and Shimhies fill his Royal ears with this odium, that the Parliament and the Puritans are enemies to Monarchy, and intend nothing but to bring all into a parity, and after they have pulled down Bishops, then down with King too? with a world of such calumnies invented by the father of lies; truly the Land is not able to bear their words. If Mr. Case then thought the Land could not bear such words, blame him not though he be so pathetic and compassionate (as you say he was) that he cannot bear your deeds, in imbruing your hands with the blood of your Sovereign, as you affirm he said.