's throne is highest, and his privileges supreme
as only King and Head of his church, albeit kings and magistrates may be
members in it. There is no authority to be balanced with his, nor posts
to be set up against his, nor Korahs to be allowed against his Aarons,
nor Uzziahs against his Azariahs. Is it so small a thing to have the
sword? but they must have the keys also. Truly, Sir, I am confident that
the parliament, and both nations will acknowledge themselves engaged
under this authority, and as they would not be drawn from it (for we
must deny our places, take up our cross, lay aside our love to father or
mother, paternal or civil, yea lay down our lives, to aver and confess
this truth against all allurements and terrors) so ye would never
endeavour to draw us to any other, and whatsoever reflection to the
contrary was insinuated by the deliverer of this message, I cannot but
impute it to personal passion, which long ago was known to the world,
but will never believe the honourable house will allow thereof, as being
far beneath their wisdom, and contrary to your merit.

And, Sir, seeing these queries are before you, I am confident that
whatever diversity of opinion may be among you in any particular, ye
will all hold out Christ's kingdom distinct from the kingdoms of the
earth, and that he has appointed the government of his own house, and
should rule the same; and that none of this assembly, even for the
gaining of their desires in all the points of difference, would by their
silence, concealment and connivance, weaken, commutate or sell a part of
this fundamental truth, this sovereign interest of Christ; and that ye
will all concur to demonstrate the same by clear passages of scripture,
or necessary consequences therefrom, and by constant practice of the
apostles, which are rules unto us.

Sir, I will close with remembering you of two passages of your
letter[265] sent, by order of the house of commons, to the general
assembly of the church of Scotland, that you will set out such
discipline as, to the utmost of your power, you may exalt Christ the
only Lord over the church, his own house, in all his offices, and
present the church as a chaste virgin to Christ; and for this end that
you were not restrained by the houses in your votes and resolutions, nor
bound up to the sense of others, nor to carry on a private design in a
civil way, but by your oath were secured against all flattering of your
judgment, and engag