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frame, that was covenanted against; and that which was then existent, that was taken down.

II. When the House of Lords took the Covenant, Mr. Thomas Coleman, that gave it them, did so explain it, and profess that it was not their intent to covenant against all Episcopacy; and upon this explication it was taken; and certainly the Parliament was most capable of giving the due sense of it, seeing it was they that did impose it.

III. And it could not be all Episcopacy that was excluded, because a parochial Episcopacy was at that same time used and approved commonly in England.

IV. And in Scotland they had used the help of visitors, for the reformation of their churches, committing the care of a country or circuit, to some one man, which was as high a sort of Episcopacy at least as any I am pleading for: besides that, they had moderators in all their synods, which were temporary bishops.

V. Also, the chief divines of the late Assembly at Westminster, that recommended that Covenant to the nations, have professed their own judgment for such a moderate Episcopacy as I am here defending, and therefore, they never intended the exclusion of this by covenant.

After the same author saith, As we have Prelacy to be aware of, so, we have the contrary extreme to avoid; and the church's peace, if it may be so procured; and as we must not take down the ministry lest it prepare men for Episcopacy, so neither must we be against any profitable use and exercise of the ministry, or desirable order amongst them, for fear of introducing Prelacy, &c.

There is another that has wrote a treatise on purpose, and that zealous enough, concerning the obligation of the League and Covenant, under the name of Theophilus Timercus, and yet, therein it is expressly asserted, That however at first view it might appear, that the Parliament had renounced all Episcopacy, yet, upon exacter inquiry, it was evident to the author that that very scruple was made by some members in Parlia

ment, and resolved, with the consent of their brethren in Scotland, that the Covenant was only intended against Prelacy as it was then in being in England, leaving a latitude for Episcopacy, &c.

It would be noted, that when that Covenant was framed, there was no Episcopacy at all in being in Scotland, but in England only; so that the extirpation of that frame only could then be merely intended.

Likewise, it would be considered of, though there is in Scotland at present the name of dean and chapter and commissaries, yet, that none of these do exercise at all any part of the discipline under that name, neither any other, as chancellor or surrogate, &c., by delegation from bishops, with total exclusion of the community of presbyters from all power and share in it; which is the greatest point of difference between that model and this with us, and imports so much as to the main of discipline.

I do not deny that the generality of the people, even of ministers in Scotland, when they took the Covenant, did understand that article as against all Episcopacy whatsoever, even the most moderate; especially if it should be restored under the express name of bishops and archbishops; never considering how different the nature and model, and way of exercising it, might be thought on under these names, and that the due regulating of the thing is much more to be regarded than either the returning or altering the name. But though they did not then consider any such thing, yet certainly, it concerns them now to consider it, when it is represented to them, that not only the words of the oath itself do very genuinely consist with such a qualified and distinctive sense, but that the very composers and imposers of it, or a considerable part of them, did so understand and intend it. And unless they can make it appear that the Episcopacy now in question with us in Scotland, is either contrary to the word of God, or to that mitigated sense of their own oath, it would seem more suitable to Christian charity and moderation, rather to yield to it, as

tolerable at least, than to continue so inflexibly to their first mistakes, and excessive zeal for love of it, as to divide from the Church, and break the bond of peace.

It may likewise be granted, that some learned men in England, who have refused to take the Covenant, did possibly except against that article of it as signifying the total renunciation and abolition of Episcopacy, and seeing that it was the real event and consequence of it, and they having many other strong and weighty reasons for refusing it, it is no wonder that they were little curious to inquire what passed amongst the contrivers of it, and what distinction or different senses, either the words of that article might admit, or those contrivers might intend by them.

And the truth is, that, besides many other evils, the iniquity and unhappiness of such oaths and covenants lie much in this, that being commonly framed by persons that even amongst themselves, are not fully of one mind, but have their different opinions and interests to serve, (and it was so even in this,) they commonly patch up so many several articles and clauses, and those too of so versatile and ambiguous terms, that they prove most wretched snares and thickets of briers and thorns to the consciences of those who are engaged in them, and matter of endless contentions and disputes amongst them, about the true sense and intendment, and the ties and obligations of those doubtful clauses: especially in such alterations and revolutions of affairs as always may, and often do, even within few years, follow after them; for the models and productions of such devices are not usually long-lived. And whatsoever may be said for their excuse in whole or in part, who, in yielding to the power that pressed it, and the general opinion of this Church at that time, did take that Covenant in the most moderate and least schismatical sense that the terms can admit; yet, I know not what can be said to clear them of a very great sin, that not only framed such an engine, but violently imposed it upon all ranks of men; not ministers and others public persons only, but the whole body and com

to such a hodge-podge of things of various concernments, "religious and civil, as church discipline and government, the privileges of parliaments, and liberties of subjects, and condign punishment of malignants,―things hard enough for the wisest and learnedest to draw the just lines of, and to give plain definitions and decisions of them, and therefore certainly as far off from the reach of poor country people's understanding, as from the true interest of their souls. And yet to tie them by a religious oath, either to know all, or to contend for them blindfold, without knowing of them, where will there be instanced a greater oppression and tyranny over consciences than this? Certainly, they that now govern in this Church, cannot be charged with any thing near or like unto it; for whatsoever they require of intrants to the ministry, they require neither subscriptions nor oaths of ministers already entered, and far less of the whole body of the people. And it were ingenuously done, to take some notice of any point of moderation, or whatsoever else is really commendable, even in those we account our greatest enemies, and not to take any party in the world for the absolute standard and unfailing rule of truth and righteousness in all things.

VOL. IV.

2 D

A FRAGMENT ON EZRA IX.

OUR joys and griefs are the pulse of our hearts, and tell the temper of them. Earthly joy and sorrow take deep with an earthly heart, but little affect that which is spiritual and heavenly; and in this, those prayers and griefs are strong that arise from spiritual causes, which most of men scarcely feel at all: yea, a holy heart stays not in its own interest, in its mourning or rejoicing, but hath more sense even of other men's sins, than commonly they themselves who are guilty. Rivers of waters, says David, run down mine eyes, because they keep not Thy Law. Psal. cxix. 136. Of this same temper was this holy man. Oh! how would a few, how would one such person in a congregation, advance the work of a public fast, more than hundreds of us! And such an one's silence speaks more than all our noises; his sitting astonished till the evening sacrifice. Little, shallow griefs find the tongue more readily, but the greater are not of so easy vent but stop a while though pressing to be out, as a full vessel with a narrow mouth. It was so with Ezra's sorrow for the people's sin; but when it gets out, it springs upward with the greater force, even up to heaven. I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to the Lord my God, and said, Oh! my God, I am ashamed, our iniquities are increased over our heads. q. d., These cover me with shame, and 1 blush to lift up my face to those heavens whither our iniquities are gone up before: when I would look to thee, I spy our horrible transgressions got thither first, and munity of the people, thereby engaging such droves of poor ignorant persons to they knew not what, and (to speak freely)

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