there can be no more expedite way than to condemn bypast
resolutions for the peremptoriness of them, and to make them grounded on
politic considerations, which are alterable, but it imports a great change
of principles. We conceive that all human laws that are not for the matter
grounded on the word of God, that oblige not conscience, but in the case
of scandal and in regard of the general end, are alterable and changeable,
whenever they come in opposition to the law of nature, self defence, and
the law of God written in his word. And therefore that act of parliament,
mentioned by the Commission, discharging all subjects from rising without
the king's command, which was made use of against our first taking arms,
was no ways binding on the subjects not to rise in defence of their
religion and liberties when in hazard.(362) And we wonder that that law
should be compared to our solemn engagements, which are grounded upon
oaths and God's word, as touching the very matter and substance of them,
as if our engagements did no more bind us now, in case of defence, than
that law did bind us then. Royalists might be excused for preferring the
king's will to God's, but we cannot be pardoned for equalizing them; and
especially while we consider that that forementioned act undoubtedly hath
been intended for the establishing of an arbitrary and absolute power in
the king's hand, that the subjects may not have liberty to save
themselves, except the king will. Where God hath given us liberty by the
law of nature, or his word, no king can justly tie us, and when God binds
and obliges us by any of these, no king or parliament can loose or untie
us. (3) The Declaration of the Commission and Assembly upon this invasion,
renews the same bond of our former engagements, yea, and speaks expressly
in the case of fewness and scarceness of instruments, against the unbelief
of people that are ready in danger to choose any help.(363) Therefore that
which is said in answer, that at that time there was a choice of
instruments which now is not, may indeed condemn and falsify the
declarations at that time, in the supposition of the paucity of
instruments, and in the application of that doctrine and divine truth to
that time, but it doth not speak any thing against the application of that
truth therein contained to our time, it being more manifest, that we have
greater necessity and less choice of instruments, and so in greater hazard
of unbelief, and overl