Speech Concerning the Government of the Church
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A25798.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
A true Copy of a Speech delivered in the Parliament in Scotland, by the Earl of Argile, concerning the Government of the Church.
Together with the Kings going to Parliament August 19. 1641.
London, printed. 164 • .
THE EARLE OF ARGILE His Speech to the PARLIAMENT IN SCOTLAND.
G Entlemen, and you the Burgesses of the House of COMMONS; I am commanded by the Lord's to let you know, that they have taken serious deliberation of the Propositions made by you the other day at a Conference concerning the Church-government in this Kingdom.
First, I am commanded to put you in mind what have passed already upon this Occasion before in the maintenance of the Church-government of this Kingdom, wherein the House of Commons have shown such great affections to the good of the Church and of the State therein for the maintenance of it.
First, that the Church-government in both Kingdoms, is that which were so be wished, but no alteration or innovation msust be of that which is settled by the Laws of each Kingdom, and enacted by them.
Secondly, that the Government of the Church of England is settled and established by the Laws and Statutes of the Kingdom to the uniting of a brotherly love and Government in both Kingdoms under his Majesty's Dominion.
Secondly, I am commanded to let you know their Lordships pleasure in this, or in anything else that may conduce to the honor of Almighty God, the service of our King, and the good of our Kingdom, and will be very ready to give such assistance as you shall propound, or upon debate with them, think fit to advance the work you were pleased to deliver unto them.
And finding also that there have been, and having great cause to suspect that there still are, even during this present sitting in Parliament, endeavors to subvert the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom and of England, whereby they may introduce the exercise of a tyrannical Government by most pernicious and wicked Counsels, Plots, and Conspiracies, that hath been taught against this Kingdom, and the Kingdom of England, with divers innovations and superstitions, that have been brought into this Church, multitudes driven out of his Majesty's Dominions, with the great suppressing of them by the Bishops and their tyrannical Government over the Church, and the good religious Ministers therein.
And therefore because the Government of the Church doth remain as properly to proceed from you, as from us, therefore if you shall think fit that anything else shall be propounded by you, that may be effected for the Government of the Church and Kingdom, or if you do not propound, their Lordships will then let you know their Propositions; if you be not now provided to confer about it, we shall when you please debate the same, and give you such reasons for it, as you shall think fit of, to the honor and praise of God, and the good of our King and Kingdom.
The Kings arrival in Edinburgh, with the manner of his going to Parliament.
T Here was one appointed to go before him to make room, for the multitude came in throngs to see his Majesty, all crying, as he passed by them, in their own language, God save King Charles, God save our King. Next to him which made room came our King, my Lord Humes going on his right hand, and my Lord of Argile on his left hand, the rest of the Nobility, and those which were of the Parliament-House, followed according to their degrees, but much ado they had to go to the House, the desire of the People was so great to see their Sovereign.
When they were come to the Parliament House, there stood a Noble-man's Son, who as yet goes to school, and saluted his Majesty with a Latin Oration, which he took most graciously, and thanked them all for their kindness, and goodwill; then they entered into the Parliament-House, and when they were seated, the Earl of Argile made a Speech unto him.