mens minds against it, that what
they want of Reasons or primitive Patterns, they supply with violence
and oppressions; wherein some mens zeal for Bishops Lands, Houses and
Revenues hath set them on work to eat up Episcopacy: which (however
other men esteem) to Me is no lesse sin then Sacriledge, or a robbery
of God (the giver of all we have) of that portion which devout minds
have thankfully given again to him, in giving it to his Church and
Prophets; through whose hands he graciously accepts even a cup of cold
water, as a libation offered to himself.

Furthermore, as to my particular Engagement above other men, by an
Oath agreeable to my judgement, I am solemnly obliged to preserve that
Government, and the rights of the Church.

Were I convinced of the unlawfullnesse of the Function, as
Antichristian, (which some men boldly, but weakly calumniate) I could
soone, with Judgement, breake that Oath, which erroneously was taken
by me.

But being daily by the best disquisition of truth, more confirmed in
the reason and Religion of that, to which I am sworn; How can any man
that wisheth not my damnation, perswade me at once to so notorious
and combined sins, of Sacriledge & Perjury? besides the many personall
Injustices I must doe to many worthy men, who are as legally invested
in their Estates, as any, who seeke to deprive them; and they have
by no Law, been convicted of those crimes, which might forfeit their
Estates and Lively-hoods.

I have often wondred how men pretending to tendernesse of Conscience
and Reformation, can at once tell me, that my Coronation Oath binds
me to Consent to whatsoever they shall propound to Me (which they
urge with such violence) though contrary to all that Rationall and
Religious freedom which every man ought to preserve, & of which they
seem so tender in their own Votes: yet at the same time these men
will needs perswade Me. That I must, and ought to dispense with, and
roundly break that part of my Oath, which binds Me (agreeable to the
best light of Reason and Religion I have) to maintain the Government,
and legall Rights of the Church. 'Tis strange, my lot should be valid
in that part, which both my Self, and all men in their own case,
esteem injurious and unreasonable, as being against the very naturall
and essentiall libertie of our Souls; yet it should be invalid, and
to be broken in another clause, wherein I think my Self justly obliged
both to God and Man.

Yet upon this Rack