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<DATE>2008-08-21</DATE>
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<NAME>John Pas</NAME>
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<DIV1 TYPE="title page">
<PB REF="1" MS="y">
<P>Plain Dealing: OR, The Countreymans doleful Complaint and faithful Watchword, to <HI>The State&s;men of the Times,</HI> Whether in the PARLIAMENT or ARMY. Wherein is &s;et down, The Ri&s;e, Nature, and Species of Right Government, WITH The Corruption thereof in former, and this our Generation, to this pre&s;ent time.</P>
<P>By EDWARD HARRISON of <HI>Keen&s;worth</HI> in <HI>Hertford&s;hire,</HI> Sometimes Preacher to Col: <HI>Harri&s;on</HI>'s Regiment.</P>
<Q><BIBL><HI>Micah 6.8.</HI></BIBL>
<P>He hath &s;hewed, O man, what is good: And what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do ju&s;tly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.</P></Q>
<P><HI>London,</HI> Printed for <HI>J. Harris,</HI> and are to be &s;old at Addle-Hill, 1649.</P>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="preface">
<PB REF="2">
<HEAD>The Preface to the Reader.</HEAD>
<OPENER><SALUTE>READER,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P><HI>I</HI> Shall not much court thee for thy candid Con&s;tructions, or fa|vorable Interpretation of the en&s;uing lines, there being nothing declared therein, but what all rational and unbya&s;&s;ed men will readily &s;ub&s;cribe to; and for others, I never intended to plea&s;e, but reclaim them hereby (if it be the will of God.) I have been a very &s;erious ob&s;erver of the Parliaments and Armies pretences and act|ings of late; And (notwith&s;tanding many clear Demon&s;trations of their crooked proceedings) yet have ever declined either &s;peaking, writing, or acting any thing that might evidence the lea&s;t jealou|&s;ie of their integrity and true zeal to the Freedom of the People, and Liberty of the Nation; &s;uffering my judgement to be guided and overpowered by my &s;trong affection towards them &s;o long, till I have been by many hone&s;t men thought to have either lo&s;t my under|&s;tanding, or departed from my Principles: Wherefore I was at la&s;t enforced in my Spirit to bear this my witne&s;s again&s;t &s;ome pre&s;ent actings, be&s;eeching the Lord to make it as profitable to others, as it is &s;atisfactory to my &s;elf: However, my Record is on high, and (how|ever men re&s;cent it) the an&s;wer of a good Con&s;cience towards God and man, will be unto me a continual fea&s;t.</P>
<CLOSER><SIGNED>EDVVARD HARRISON.</SIGNED></CLOSER>
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<DIV1 TYPE="text">
<PB N="3" REF="2">
<HEAD>Plain Dealing.</HEAD>
<P>THe great God of Heaven and Earth,<NOTE PLACE="marg">The Ri&s;e and cau&s;es of right Govern|ment.</NOTE> created all things for the u&s;e and &s;ervice of <HI>Man,</HI> whom he made af|ter his <HI>own Image,</HI> as the <HI>Ma&s;ter piece</HI> of the whole Workman&s;hip of his <HI>hands;</HI> and being careful of all things, comprehending in him&s;elf the <HI>Beginning, Mid&s;t</HI> and <HI>End</HI> of <HI>All,</HI> according to his good plea&s;ure, out of re&s;pect to the <HI>Common good</HI> and pre&s;ervation of <HI>Humane Society,</HI> hath from time to time di&s;tributed to &s;undry per&s;ons di&s;tinct and different gifts, that in the exerci&s;ing of divers <HI>E&s;tates, Charges, Admini|&s;trations, Offices</HI> and <HI>Occupations,</HI> they might by CONSENT, through mutual &s;uccor and interchangeable help, pre&s;erve and maintain them&s;elves and one another: In which a&s;&s;ertion is clear|ly di&s;covered, the &s;everal cau&s;es of all right Government.</P>
<P N="1">1. The <HI>Efficient cau&s;e is, God</HI> the <HI>Creator,</HI> out of his care to mans weal and tranquillity, communicating his common gifts &s;e|verally for the benefit of <HI>All,</HI> both <HI>Governors</HI> and <HI>Governed.</HI></P>
<P N="2">2. The <HI>Material cau&s;e is,</HI> The increa&s;e and multiplying of Man|kinde, the Original of all Societies, as, <HI>Families, Towns, Cities</HI> and <HI>Kingdoms,</HI> or <HI>Commonwealths.</HI></P>
<P N="3">3. The <HI>Formal cau&s;e is,</HI> The mutual CONSENT of both parties, the one to <HI>Govern,</HI> the other to be <HI>Governed,</HI> accord|ing to &s;uch <HI>Laws, Articles</HI> and <HI>Covenants</HI> as are agreed upon be|tween them.</P>
<P N="4">4. The <HI>Final cau&s;e is,</HI> The mutual <HI>Succor, Help, Commodity, Free|dom, Peace, Security</HI> and <HI>Pre&s;ervation</HI> one of another.</P>
<P>From all which, the&s;e profitable Propo&s;itions may be de|ducted,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, That <HI>Magi&s;tracy</HI> and <HI>Government</HI> is of Divine in&s;titu|tion, and an Ordinance of GOD, and the calling of a <HI>Ma|gi&s;trate</HI> a lawful and honorable calling.</P>
<P>Secondly, That men cannot live together, without a Govern|ment of one kinde or other.</P>
<P>Thirdly, All right Government is by CONSENT of parties.</P>
<P>Fourthly, That both parties are <HI>equally bound</HI> to conform and
<PB N="4" REF="3">
&s;tand to the Laws and Articles agreed upon, as well the <HI>Governor</HI> as the <HI>Governed.</HI></P>
<P>Fifthly, Where <HI>Common commodity, Peace</HI> and <HI>Freedom</HI> is &s;wal|lowed up by <HI>Particular Intere&s;ts,</HI> there is nothing but <HI>Tyranny, Slavery</HI> and <HI>Confu&s;ion</HI> to be expected.</P>
<P>Which Truths, when they &s;hall be <HI>Cordially</HI> a&s;&s;ented to, and <HI>Con&s;cienciou&s;ly</HI> practiced by <HI>Magi&s;trates</HI> and <HI>People</HI> (then, and not till then) &s;hall that Prophe&s;ie be fulfilled, laid down in <HI>I&s;a.</HI> 3.4. <HI>They &s;hall break their Swords into Plow-&s;hares, and their Spears into Pruning-hooks; Nation &s;hall not lift up Sword again&s;t Nation, neither &s;hall they learn War any more.</HI></P>
<P>But can the <HI>Ethiopian</HI> change his skin, or the <HI>Leopard</HI> his <HI>&s;pots?</HI> then may the <HI>generality of Magi&s;trates</HI> (who are accu&s;tomed <HI>per fas &amp; nefas,</HI> to uphold and advance the Intere&s;t of their <HI>Will</HI> and <HI>Power</HI>) and the <HI>major part of the People</HI> (who account it their <HI>Glory</HI> to be <HI>Va&s;&s;als</HI> and <HI>Slaves</HI> to <HI>great Titles</HI> and <HI>gay Clothes</HI>) own <HI>Righteou&s;ne&s;s</HI> as the onely Pillar of <HI>Lawful Authority,</HI> and prize that <HI>Liberty,</HI> wherewith <HI>God</HI> by <HI>Nature</HI> hath made them <HI>Free.</HI></P>
<P>Now that I may not be thought to proceed upon fal&s;e grounds, I &s;hall revive the aforementioned Propo&s;itions, and briefly ex|amine their con&s;i&s;tency with the <HI>Ordinance of God</HI> and <HI>right Rea&s;on.</HI></P>
<P>To the fir&s;t and &s;econd, wherein the <HI>Divine Right</HI> and <HI>nece&s;&s;ity of Government</HI> are a&s;&s;erted, all men of all parties are ready to &s;ub&s;cribe.</P>
<P>Unto the la&s;t, wherein the <HI>end</HI> of <HI>Government</HI> is declared, mo&s;t men agree.</P>
<P>The third and fourth, viz. (<HI>That right Government is by the</HI> CON|SENT <HI>of Parties, and that both Parties are</HI> EQUALLY <HI>bound to &s;tand to the</HI> AGREEMENT) are (by the Luciferian pride and covetou&s;ne&s;s of <HI>great men</HI> in <HI>Authority,</HI> and &s;lavi&s;h pu&s;illanimity of the <HI>People</HI> under them) become di&s;putable.</P>
<P>Nay, the contrary (till of late) accounted Fundamental truths, without believing whereof, the Clergy of tho&s;e ages would allow no man to be &s;aved, viz. <HI>That ab&s;olute Monarchy was of Divine right:</HI> (What then meant by ab&s;olute Monarchy, appears by the other <HI>King-clawing Doctrines</HI> of tho&s;e <HI>Trenchard Chaplains,</HI>) viz. <HI>That the King was accomptable to none on Earth.</HI></P>
<P><PB N="5" REF="3">That he had <HI>right</HI> to <HI>all his people enjoyed,</HI> and that they held it but as <HI>meer grace</HI> from <HI>him;</HI> That what <HI>ever</HI> he <HI>did,</HI> or <HI>cau&s;ed</HI> to be <HI>done</HI> to them, they ought in <HI>no ca&s;e</HI> to <HI>re&s;i&s;t him.</HI></P>
<P>With much more &s;uch goodly &s;tuff, which they put in to fill up their <HI>Court Sermons,</HI> which I pa&s;s by, as being unwilling to rake further in this <HI>Augean &s;table.</HI></P>
<P>All which recited <HI>State Here&s;ies,</HI> &s;o de&s;perately de&s;tructive to to <HI>humane &s;ociety,</HI> I &s;hall very briefly confute, and then pa&s;s to the confirmation of the truths propo&s;ed.</P>
<P>The iniquity of tho&s;e Court Maxims is thus di&s;covered:</P>
<P>There are two <HI>E&s;&s;entials</HI> in <HI>Magi&s;tracy.</HI></P>
<P>Fir&s;t, <HI>Power</HI> and <HI>Authority</HI> to <HI>protect</HI> the <HI>good,</HI> and to <HI>correct</HI> and <HI>puni&s;h evil doers:</HI> And this is immediately from <HI>God,</HI> and <HI>Gods Ordinance in all &s;ociety</HI> of <HI>men</HI> what-ever.</P>
<P>Secondly, The <HI>de&s;ignation</HI> of <HI>Per&s;ons</HI> to <HI>admini&s;ter,</HI> and the <HI>Rules</HI> and <HI>Laws</HI> by which that <HI>admini&s;tration</HI> is to be <HI>guided;</HI> and this is left to <HI>Men, God</HI> not u&s;ing now immediately to impo&s;e particular <HI>Governors</HI> or <HI>Magi&s;trates</HI> upon Societies of <HI>Men;</HI> or limit them to his <HI>judicial Laws,</HI> as was his dealing with the <HI>Jews,</HI> who&s;e Government <HI>Jo&s;ephus</HI> and other Authors acknowledge to be a <HI>Theocratia,</HI> or a Government <HI>immediately</HI> from <HI>God:</HI> They had their <HI>Magi&s;trates, Judges,</HI> and <HI>Kings,</HI> by <HI>Gods imme|diate appointment;</HI> They could neither Enact <HI>Laws,</HI> appoint <HI>Go|vernors,</HI> nor make <HI>War</HI> or <HI>Peace,</HI> but by <HI>expre&s;s</HI> and <HI>immediate</HI> command from <HI>God: Paul</HI> calls <HI>Magi&s;tracy</HI> an <HI>Ordinance</HI> of <HI>God; Peter</HI> &s;tiles it an <HI>Ordinance</HI> of <HI>man;</HI> which &s;eeming di&s;crepancy is thus reconciled: All <HI>Power</HI> and <HI>Authority</HI> to do Ju&s;tice and Judge|ment, is the Ordinance of <HI>God,</HI> and is not left to the <HI>will</HI> and plea|&s;ure of <HI>men,</HI> to alter, vitiate, or contemn, without the incurring the di&s;plea&s;ure of <HI>God</HI> for the &s;ame: But the <HI>choo&s;ing</HI> or <HI>appoint|ing Officers,</HI> and the making of <HI>Laws,</HI> is left to <HI>men,</HI> and is the Or|dinance of <HI>man,</HI> and can onely be called the Ordinance of <HI>God,</HI> in that (when men proceed righteou&s;ly therein) it is owned and approved of by him.</P>
<P>If this di&s;tinction be not admitted, but that every Superior power in both &s;ences is of <HI>Divine in&s;titution,</HI> and &s;o properly the Ordinance of <HI>God,</HI> the&s;e ab&s;urdities will follow, <HI>viz.</HI></P>
<P>That <HI>Paul</HI> and <HI>Peter</HI> were not guided by the &s;ame Spirit, they writing things irreconcileable: That the Supreme Authority ex|erci&s;ed
<PB N="6" REF="4">
by the <HI>Pope,</HI> is the Ordinance of God; read Dr. <HI>Willets</HI> Expo&s;ition upon <HI>Rom.</HI> 13.1. who there concludes, That <HI>Mo|narchical, Ari&s;tocratical</HI> and <HI>Democratical</HI> Governments, are all of them the Ordinance of <HI>God;</HI> and that the <HI>State</HI> may for their pre&s;ervation <HI>re&s;i&s;t</HI> a <HI>Tyrant,</HI> and quotes <HI>Pareus</HI> pleading for the &s;ame, which without the afore&s;aid di&s;tinction, were fal&s;e to af|firm. In the Parliaments Declarations, and other rational di&s;|cour&s;es, you may finde enough to di&s;cover the foppery of the forenamed Tenets; I &s;hall therefore go on to confirm the truth held forth in my third and fourth Propo&s;itions, <HI>viz. That all right Government is from Con&s;ent of parties; and that both parties are bound to the Laws and Articles agreed upon between them;</HI> the fir&s;t whereof is proved by the Authority of <HI>Demo&s;thenes, Ari|&s;totle</HI> and <HI>Cicero,</HI> who unanimou&s;ly affirm, That <HI>true Soveraignty</HI> was in&s;tated upon the <HI>good will</HI> and <HI>liking</HI> of the PEOPLE, who cho&s;e out of them&s;elves, and &s;ubmitted to &s;uch as excelled mo&s;t in <HI>vertue</HI> in tho&s;e times.</P>
<P>By the formal and ceremonial Election and Oath made and taken at the late Kings of <HI>England admi&s;&s;ion</HI> to their <HI>Government,</HI> and by the many <HI>Declarations</HI> of this Parliament, e&s;pecially the la&s;t <HI>again&s;t Monarchy,</HI> wherein it is acknowledged, That they were <HI>Elected, Tru&s;ted</HI> and <HI>Authorized</HI> by the PEOPLE for the <HI>Common good,</HI> page 5. And by the pre&s;&s;ing for an <HI>Agreement</HI> of the PEOPLE as a foundation of <HI>future Government,</HI> in the <HI>Remon&s;trance</HI> of the <HI>Army,</HI> page 67. where it is propounded, that none may be capable of being admitted to the <HI>Crown,</HI> or any <HI>Office</HI> or <HI>Place</HI> of <HI>Publique Tru&s;t,</HI> without <HI>expre&s;s accord</HI> and <HI>&s;ub&s;cription</HI> to the &s;ame.</P>
<P>The &s;econd, By that &s;aying of <HI>Seneca,</HI> that the <HI>Magi&s;trate,</HI> together with the <HI>People,</HI> have one <HI>God</HI> to <HI>&s;erve,</HI> one <HI>Law</HI> to <HI>keep,</HI> and one <HI>death</HI> to <HI>fear:</HI> By the Rea&s;on alledged in the Remon|&s;trance of the Army, for the bringing of CHARLS STU|ART to <HI>Justice.</HI></P>
<P>By the Parliaments la&s;t Declaration, page 13. And by the <HI>pra|ctice</HI> of the <HI>Roman State,</HI> of <HI>Swetheland</HI> and <HI>Scotland,</HI> who have brought their <HI>Supreme Magi&s;trates</HI> to <HI>account</HI> for <HI>breach of Laws.</HI></P>
<P>The <HI>Ordinance</HI> for a <HI>City</HI> or <HI>Nation,</HI> and <HI>Order</HI> among <HI>Magi|&s;trates,</HI> e&s;pecially among them that had the <HI>Soveraign rule over
<PB N="7" REF="4">
all,</HI> was called by the Ancients, <HI>Commonwealth,</HI> or <HI>Weal Publique;</HI> and tho&s;e <HI>Commonwealths</HI> that tended to <HI>Common benefit,</HI> were &s;aid to be <HI>right;</HI> tho&s;e that re&s;pected the <HI>profit</HI> of <HI>Superiors</HI> onely, were accounted <HI>corrupt.</HI></P>
<P>I read of three kindes of <HI>right Government,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">The &s;everal kindes of Government.</NOTE> and three of <HI>corrupt.</HI></P>
<P N="1">1. The fir&s;t of right is <HI>Monarchy:</HI> when the <HI>Soveraignty</HI> is in <HI>one alone,</HI> who &s;eeketh <HI>publique profit onely,</HI> and preferreth <HI>Com|mon benefit</HI> before his <HI>own</HI> private <HI>will</HI> and <HI>particular Commodity;</HI> and when he endeavoreth to advance his <HI>own Intere&s;t,</HI> and to go|vern by his ab&s;olute <HI>will,</HI> then he becomes a TYRANT, and the Government <HI>Tyranny,</HI> which is the fir&s;t kinde of <HI>corrupt Go|vernment.</HI></P>
<P N="2">2. The &s;econd of right is <HI>Aristocracy,</HI> the power of the <HI>be&s;t men,</HI> viz. when a <HI>few approved</HI> and <HI>tryed</HI> men for <HI>righteou&s;ne&s;s,</HI> have the <HI>Soveraignty joyntly together,</HI> and make <HI>Laws</HI> for the re&s;t of the <HI>People,</HI> directing their thoughts at no other marks then <HI>pub|lique Peace, Freedom, &V;tillity</HI> and <HI>Profit,</HI> as among the <HI>Lace|demonians</HI> of old: But when the&s;e <HI>reject</HI> the <HI>poorer &s;ort,</HI> aym at nothing but their <HI>own advantage,</HI> without any care of <HI>publique Commodity,</HI> take part with their <HI>equals</HI> in <HI>riches</HI> and <HI>greatne&s;s,</HI> to the oppre&s;&s;ion of their <HI>Inferiors,</HI> then the Government dege|nerates into <HI>Oligarchy;</HI> the &s;econd &s;ort of <HI>corrupt Govern|ment.</HI></P>
<P N="3">3. The third of right is <HI>Democracy,</HI> the power of the <HI>People,</HI> when <HI>mean</HI> and <HI>indifferent men</HI> are by them cho&s;en; neither of the <HI>riche&s;t,</HI> to avoid <HI>Tyranny,</HI> nor of the <HI>poore&s;t,</HI> to avoid <HI>Con|fu&s;ion.</HI></P>
<P>Of which <HI>Aristotle</HI> &s;aith, <HI>That tho&s;e &s;ocieties which con&s;i&s;t of</HI> mean per&s;ons in power, <HI>is very good,</HI> and tho&s;e <HI>Cities</HI> and <HI>Com|monwealths are well governed,</HI> wherein there are many of the <HI>middle &s;ort,</HI> who have <HI>more power</HI> then both the <HI>other parties,</HI> or at lea&s;t then any one of them; for where, &s;aith he, <HI>many</HI> are very <HI>great,</HI> or <HI>many</HI> very <HI>mean,</HI> there followeth either an <HI>extream Oligarchy</HI> or <HI>Anarchy,</HI> a confu&s;ed multitudinous <HI>hodge podge;</HI> which is the third &s;ort of <HI>corrupt Government.</HI></P>
<P>Thus having &s;poken of &s;everal &s;orts of <HI>right</HI> and <HI>corrupt Go|vernments,</HI> and given you the de&s;cription of them, that you may know them one from another when you meet them: I &s;hall pro|ceed
<PB N="8" REF="5">
to particularize how and by whom <HI>right Government</HI> came to be corrupted in former, and in this our Generation.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">How and by <GAP DESC="illegible" EXTENT="1 word"> <GAP DESC="illegible" EXTENT="1 letter">ight Government hath been corrupted.</NOTE>The fir&s;t breach upon <HI>right Government</HI> that I read of, was made by <HI>Nimrod, Chams</HI> Nephew, of whom we read, <HI>Gen.</HI> 10.10. whom Hi&s;torians report was the fir&s;t that brought men into <HI>&s;ub|jection</HI> by <HI>force</HI> and <HI>violence,</HI> e&s;tabli&s;hing his Principality in the Kingdom of <HI>A&s;&s;yria;</HI> which <HI>Tyranny</HI> of his was <HI>&s;ucce&s;&s;ively</HI> ex|erci&s;ed upon the <HI>People,</HI> and &s;ubmitted unto for a long time in the days of &s;ucceeding <HI>Tyrants,</HI> during the continuance of the <HI>A&s;&s;yrian, Mede, Per&s;ian, Grecian</HI> and <HI>Roman Monarchies,</HI> till the <HI>People</HI> of <HI>Rome</HI> coming to the knowledge of their own <HI>Power</HI> and <HI>Liberty,</HI> threw the <HI>Tyrant Kings</HI> out of their &s;addles; then &s;ucceeded the Government by <HI>Con&s;uls, Decem Viri,</HI> and Tribunes, all which la&s;ted 1084 years, till at la&s;t <HI>Ce&s;ar</HI> taking advantage by their manifold divi&s;ions, fir&s;t got the Office of <HI>perpetual Dicta|tor,</HI> and afterwards the <HI>Title</HI> and <HI>Power</HI> of an ab&s;olute <HI>Emperor, Et nunquam postea ni&s;i deprincipitatu quae&s;itum,</HI> &s;aith <HI>Tacitus,</HI> that is, <HI>Then came no other question to be debated, but who &s;hould be the Soveraign Prince of the State;</HI> which was the condition of the generallity of the World, e&s;pecially &s;ince the <HI>Civil</HI> and <HI>Eccle&s;i|astical States</HI> were by <HI>Antichrist</HI> jumbled together, for then <HI>Kings</HI> and <HI>Priests</HI> con&s;pired together to in&s;lave both <HI>Souls</HI> and <HI>Bodies</HI> of the <HI>People;</HI> which <HI>Mystery</HI> of <HI>Iniquity</HI> hath been fully di&s;co|vered in the&s;e times of <HI>Light,</HI> wherein God hath begun to <HI>&s;tain the pride of glory,</HI> e&s;pecially in <HI>England.</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">G<GAP DESC="illegible" EXTENT="1 letter">v<GAP DESC="illegible" EXTENT="1 letter">rnment <GAP DESC="illegible" EXTENT="1 word"> wherein <GAP DESC="illegible" EXTENT="1 word"> in <GAP DESC="illegible" EXTENT="1 span">.</NOTE>How far and wherein <HI>Tyranny</HI> and <HI>Slavery</HI> was brought in up|on the <HI>Engli&s;h Nation</HI> by the <HI>King</HI> and his <HI>Clergy,</HI> under the &s;pe|cious pretences of <HI>Legal Prerogative</HI> in <HI>Civil,</HI> and <HI>decent &V;ni|formity</HI> in <HI>Spiritual,</HI> is &s;o fre&s;h in all mens memories, that it were needle&s;s to trouble the Reader with the &s;tory of it, whereto though the <HI>generallity of the people, I&s;&s;achar like,</HI> were willing to &s;ubject them&s;elves, yet the iniquity and unrighteou&s;ne&s;s of our <HI>Tyrants</HI> being <HI>full,</HI> the Lord hearing and granting the <HI>Prayers</HI> and <HI>Tears</HI> of his <HI>People</HI> (as &s;ometimes the <HI>I&s;raelites</HI>) &s;tirred up &s;ome heroick Spirits to with&s;tand the U&s;urpation of tho&s;e in power, and to give a check to their furious proceedings, which op|po&s;ition meeting with a re&s;olved and hard-hearted <HI>Pharaoh,</HI> was the cau&s;e of <HI>Englands mi&s;ery</HI> and <HI>de&s;olation,</HI> as to its <HI>outward glory, riches and plenty,</HI> (though through the Lords goodne&s;s)
<PB N="9" REF="5">
his <HI>People</HI> have had their &s;ufferings abundantly made up by the ac|ce&s;&s;ion of <HI>Light, Liberty,</HI> and <HI>Spiritual acquaintance</HI> with <HI>them|&s;elves, Wars, confu&s;ions,</HI> and <HI>&s;haking</HI> earthly foundations,<NOTE PLACE="marg">Gods de&s;ign of removing corruption in Government, how ob&s;tru|cted by half Reformati|ons, during our late trou|bles.</NOTE> being the <HI>forerunners of Gods de&s;ign</HI> of doing his <HI>work,</HI> his <HI>&s;trange work,</HI> even de&s;troying his Enemies, and delivering his <HI>People</HI> in <HI>England;</HI> which de&s;ign of his, that the <HI>mercy</HI> when <HI>enjoyed</HI> might be the more <HI>prized,</HI> his name the more <HI>advanced,</HI> his <HI>People</HI> the better prepared for it, and that the le&s;s of man might appear in it, he was plea&s;ed to carry on (as to humane apprehen&s;ions) <HI>foully, ab|&s;curely,</HI> by <HI>contrary in&s;truments, principles, means</HI> and <HI>ways,</HI> through many <HI>ob&s;tructions, intermi&s;&s;ions, hopes</HI> and <HI>fears,</HI> as by &s;ad expe|rience we have found, the <HI>Wi&s;dom</HI> and <HI>&s;pecial Providence</HI> of our <HI>God,</HI> being very admirable in his con&s;tant <HI>Counterworkings</HI> of our <HI>Stat&s;emen</HI> in their <HI>Lin&s;ey-Wool&s;ey</HI> Reformations, as may be thus briefly demon&s;trated.</P>
<P>When this Parliament was by nece&s;&s;ity in the <HI>Tyrants</HI> part <HI>&s;um|moned</HI> and <HI>called,</HI> the Members thereof came with re&s;olution to free <HI>them&s;elves</HI> and the <HI>people</HI> of tho&s;e notorious burthens where|with they had been formerly &s;orely cru&s;hed; viz. <HI>Ship-money, High Commi&s;&s;ion Court, Star-Chamber,</HI> to bring tho&s;e whom they counted <HI>evil Coun&s;ellors</HI> to <HI>Ju&s;tice,</HI> to aboli&s;h <HI>Epi&s;copacy,</HI> to re|vive the <HI>con&s;tant Succe&s;&s;ion</HI> of <HI>Parliaments;</HI> and in order there|to, to obtain the <HI>Militia</HI> into their <HI>own hands,</HI> which in tho&s;e times of the <HI>dawning</HI> of the <HI>day,</HI> was <HI>all</HI> the <HI>Liberty</HI> they pretend|ed to aym at: which particulars all gained (the <HI>King continuing his Negative Voice,</HI> power of <HI>adding whom</HI> and as <HI>many</HI> as he would to the Hou&s;e of <HI>Lords,</HI> and of be&s;towing places of <HI>Honor</HI> and <HI>Profit</HI> upon whom he <HI>plea&s;ed,</HI> and thereby an opportunity of gaining the <HI>Major part</HI> of both Hou&s;es to his <HI>party:</HI> And la&s;tly, &s;etting up a <HI>proud Formal</HI> and <HI>bloody Pre&s;bytery</HI> in the room of <HI>Epi&s;copacy</HI>) had not amounted to the lea&s;t dram of <HI>true Liberty;</HI> yet even &s;ome of tho&s;e things were vigorou&s;ly oppo&s;ed, which cau&s;ed a bloody War, and after that, all the forenamed par|ticulars were by <HI>Conque&s;t</HI> given in to the Parliaments Po&s;&s;e&s;&s;ion. <HI>Wi&s;e men</HI> quickly &s;aw how little all the <HI>glorious Liberty</HI> &s;o vigo|rou&s;ly contended for <HI>availed them,</HI> the Parliament making their <HI>little fingers</HI> heavier then the <HI>Kings loyns,</HI> introducing more <HI>op|pre&s;&s;ions</HI> upon the <HI>Con&s;ciences, E&s;tates,</HI> and <HI>Liberties</HI> of the <HI>Peo|ple,</HI> then they had formerly taken away; the <HI>Hou&s;es</HI> contending again&s;t the Kings unlimited <HI>Prerogative,</HI> exerci&s;e as de&s;tructive a
<PB N="10" REF="6">
Power <HI>them&s;elves;</HI> that of the <HI>Lords</HI> being as bad as the <HI>Star-Chamber</HI> or <HI>Councel Table,</HI> and that of the <HI>Commons</HI> in conjun|ction with their <HI>Synod,</HI> not much better then the <HI>High Commi&s;|&s;ion Court,</HI> per&s;ecuting the <HI>faithful</HI> of the <HI>Land</HI> under the notion of <HI>Sectaries,</HI> as formerly they had been in the other Court under the name of <HI>Puritans:</HI> And in order to the compleating of their intended Reformation (not according to the <HI>Word of God,</HI> but in compliance with the <HI>Scoti&s;h Tradition</HI>) <HI>right</HI> or <HI>wrong</HI> a <HI>Cove|nant</HI> was impo&s;ed for the finding out and cru&s;hing of all &s;uch <HI>con|&s;cientious</HI> and <HI>di&s;cerning men</HI> out of the Army of the Earl of <HI>E&s;&s;ex,</HI> and all other publique employments, as could not dance after the <HI>Scoti&s;h Pipes.</HI></P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">The Lords bla&s;ting the corrupt De+&s;igns of our State Petiti|ons.</NOTE>The&s;e de&s;igns the Lord ordered for good: Thus,</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, He provided an <HI>A&s;ylum,</HI> a place of refuge for the con|&s;cientious di&s;&s;enters in the Army under <HI>Manche&s;ter</HI> and <HI>Cromwel.</HI></P>
<P>Secondly, He &s;uffered the remainder, the <HI>dro&s;s</HI> and <HI>&s;cum</HI> of <HI>E&s;&s;ex</HI>'s Army to moulder away, and notwith&s;tanding many <HI>great</HI> and <HI>chargeable recruits,</HI> to lo&s;e ground, not performing any memorable &s;ervice, &amp; at la&s;t gave them up as a prey to the enemy in <HI>Cornwal.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, He honored the de&s;pi&s;ed <HI>Di&s;&s;enters,</HI> made them Victo|rious in the <HI>North,</HI> and gave them favor in the <HI>&s;ight</HI> of the <HI>People.</HI></P>
<P>La&s;tly, He cau&s;ed the wheel to turn upon his <HI>Peoples Enemies,</HI> by the new Model, wherein the <HI>formal prophane</HI> and <HI>loo&s;e Cove|nanters</HI> were left out, and the <HI>Religious</HI> and <HI>faithful Worthies</HI> put into their rooms whom he quickly made in&s;trumental in &s;ubduing the <HI>Royali&s;ts,</HI> to the great terror of their <HI>Enemies, open</HI> and <HI>&s;ecret,</HI> at <HI>Oxford</HI> and <HI>Sion</HI> Colledge.</P>
<P>The next Plot was, the <HI>di&s;banding</HI> of that Schi&s;matical Army, the only block in their way to the &s;etting up their <HI>Pre&s;bytery</HI> with <HI>Fire</HI> and <HI>Sword,</HI> under the pretence of the relief of <HI>Ireland,</HI> which occa&s;ioned the disbanding of Eleven of the chief contri|vers out of the Hou&s;e of <HI>Commons,</HI> and the impri&s;oning the <HI>Ma|jor</HI> and divers <HI>Aldermen</HI> of the <HI>City.</HI></P>
<P>This de&s;ign thus failing, they Court the <HI>Riff-Raff</HI> in the <HI>City</HI> and <HI>Countrey</HI> to Petition the Hou&s;e in behalf of the <HI>King</HI> and <HI>Pre&s;bytery</HI> (a goodly pair) and again&s;t the <HI>Army,</HI> and invited all the Cavaliers in <HI>Scotland</HI> to &s;et up Church Government in <HI>England</HI> according to the <HI>Covenant,</HI> whence proceeded our la&s;t <HI>dangerous</HI> and <HI>bloody War:</HI> But through the <HI>Lords</HI> wonderful goodne&s;s to his <HI>People,</HI> who worketh all things for good to them, their De&s;igns
<PB N="11" REF="6">
produced no other effects, &s;ave onely the Kings and the Lords righteous Execution, the extirpation of the Hou&s;e of Lords, the purgation of the Hou&s;e of Commons, and a glorious opportu|nity for freeing of this Nation from all its oppre&s;&s;ors and op|pre&s;&s;ions, by the laying of a foundation of Liberty, Peace and Sa|tisfaction to all &s;erious men of all parties.</P>
<P><HI>How happy were</HI> ENGLAND, <HI>were mens De&s;igns of infla|ving it here at an end?</HI> How gladly &s;hould I here break off, and prai&s;e the Lord for his goodne&s;s to <HI>England?</HI> But alas! the Countrey-mans <HI>heart</HI> is as full of <HI>grief,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>Englands</HI> &s;ad complaints by rea&s;on of the pre&s;ent corruptions in Govern|ment.</NOTE> and his <HI>eyes</HI> as full of <HI>tears,</HI> as ever; he cryes out he is <HI>deceived,</HI> his expectation <HI>frustra|ted,</HI> and his <HI>Liberty betrayed;</HI> he takes up <HI>Davids</HI> complaint, it is not an <HI>open Enemy</HI> that en&s;laves <HI>him,</HI> not <HI>damme Cavaliers,</HI> not <HI>rigid envious</HI> and <HI>&s;urly Pre&s;byters,</HI> but <HI>Religious</HI> and <HI>godly friends,</HI> that have <HI>Prayed, Declared, Remonstrated</HI> and <HI>fought</HI> together for <HI>Freedom</HI> with them; that with their <HI>Swords</HI> have cut in &s;under the <HI>Chains</HI> of other <HI>Tyrants,</HI> and yet now are become the <HI>greatest Tyrants</HI> over their brethren <HI>them&s;elves,</HI> which when he can refrain from <HI>&s;ighing</HI> and <HI>&s;obbing,</HI> he in his broken and ru|&s;tick language thus expatiates: All the <HI>forms</HI> of <HI>Government</HI> be|ing <HI>corrupted</HI> and <HI>abu&s;ed,</HI> the LAWS and <HI>Administration per|verted,</HI> and the PEOPLES LIBERTIES <HI>betrayed;</HI> it was promi&s;ed that a new foundation &s;hould be <HI>layed</HI> by an A|GREEMENT OF THE PEOPLE, to &s;uch righteous Principles of <HI>Ju&s;tice</HI> and <HI>Common Right,</HI> that (as to humane Rea|&s;on) it &s;hould be impo&s;&s;ible for <HI>any Tyrants</HI> in this or future Ge|nerations to introduce <HI>bondage</HI> upon the <HI>People,</HI> that <HI>Justice</HI> upon all Offendors &s;hould be <HI>impartially</HI> executed.</P>
<P>That all <HI>Publique Officers</HI> &s;hould be called to an account.</P>
<P>That the <HI>Publique Debts</HI> of the Nation &s;hould be <HI>paid.</HI></P>
<P>That <HI>this Parliament</HI> &s;hould have a <HI>Period</HI> &s;et for its di&s;&s;olution, and a <HI>Succe&s;&s;ion</HI> of future equal <HI>Repre&s;entatives</HI> a&s;certained.</P>
<P>And that the <HI>Petition</HI> from many about <HI>London,</HI> dated <HI>Se|ptember</HI> 11^t^h^. &s;hould be <HI>con&s;idered,</HI> and the <HI>Grievances</HI> and <HI>Pre&s;|&s;ures</HI> therein complained of <HI>removed:</HI> Witne&s;s the Demand of the <HI>Army</HI> in the large <HI>Remon&s;trance,</HI> from page 62. to page 68. who in the pro&s;ecution thereof <HI>purging</HI> the <HI>Hou&s;e, &s;eizing</HI> upon the <HI>City,</HI> and thereby gaining into their hands the <HI>whole power of the Kingdom,</HI> who would expect, but that which was by them <HI>Demanded</HI> (and becau&s;e not <HI>granted,</HI> &s;o ill <HI>re&s;cented</HI> and <HI>&s;everely
<PB N="12" REF="7">
puni&s;hed</HI> by <HI>Impri&s;onment,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Read the De|claration of Army, of <HI>November</HI> 30. 1648. <HI>page</HI> 4.</NOTE> as to &s;ome, and <HI>expul&s;ion</HI> of the <HI>Hou&s;e</HI> as to others) would have been by them&s;elves (now inabled to effect them) &s;peedily given to the <HI>People</HI> as their <HI>due and right:</HI> And he therefore much rejoyced in the <HI>extraordinary Action</HI> of <HI>&s;ifting</HI> the Hou&s;e of <HI>Commons,</HI> wholy taking away the Hou&s;e of <HI>Lords,</HI> erecting an <HI>High Court</HI> of <HI>Justice, trying</HI> and <HI>executing</HI> the <HI>King</HI> and <HI>Lords</HI> (as the pulling down an <HI>old Hou&s;e</HI> ready to fall upon and ruine the <HI>Nation,</HI> and the burning of <HI>rotten po&s;t<GAP DESC="illegible" EXTENT="1 letter"></HI> onely fit for the <HI>fire</HI>) in order to the &s;etting up a <HI>new frame,</HI> con|&s;i&s;ting of <HI>&s;ound</HI> and <HI>well &s;ea&s;oned Timber,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">The &s;everal corruptions in pre&s;ent Government.</NOTE> under which the Engli&s;h <HI>Nation</HI> might finde &s;helter from future <HI>Storms</HI> and <HI>Tempe&s;ts;</HI> but his hope makes him a&s;hamed, his <HI>joy</HI> is turned into <HI>&s;orrow,</HI> and his <HI>mirth</HI> into <HI>mourning;</HI> and that upon the&s;e grounds.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, The AGREEMENT OF THE PEOPLE is <HI>waved,</HI> in <HI>order to which</HI> the other actings were <HI>onely ju&s;tifiable</HI> either before <HI>God</HI> or <HI>man,</HI> the old Government in force <HI>according to Law,</HI> was by <HI>King, Lords</HI> and <HI>Commons,</HI> and there was yet ne|ver any <HI>Rea&s;on alledged</HI> to vindicate the <HI>maner of the altering,</HI> and the <HI>High proceeding</HI> in order thereto; but that all <HI>power was Originally in the People,</HI> and that all <HI>former</HI> mu&s;t give place to the <HI>end of forms,</HI> the COMMON GOOD of the PEO|PLE; and therefore till there be a foundation layed by an A|GREEMENT of the PEOPLE, it is no <HI>State bla&s;phemy</HI> to affirm that there can be no <HI>true</HI> form of <HI>Government</HI> in the <HI>nation.</HI></P>
<P>As for the <HI>pre&s;ent Hou&s;e of Commons,</HI> he would be glad to have cau&s;e to <HI>ble&s;s God</HI> for it, as being in&s;trumental in keeping <HI>ill minded men</HI> in <HI>awe</HI> by their <HI>Title,</HI> until a more <HI>full</HI> and <HI>formal power,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>vi<GAP DESC="illegible" EXTENT="1 letter"></HI> Declara|tion of the Army p. 6, 7.</NOTE> in a ju&s;t and <HI>equal Repre&s;entative</HI> to be &s;peedily indeavored, can be introduced.</P>
<P>Secondly, No <HI>Ju&s;tice</HI> is executed upon any Members of Parlia|ment that <HI>betrayed their Tru&s;t,</HI> which hath been and is by the <HI>Ca|valiers</HI> thus interpreted, That the <HI>Parliament</HI> and <HI>Army</HI> executed the King and <HI>Lords,</HI> not out of <HI>Zeal</HI> to <HI>Ju&s;tice,</HI> but for <HI>&s;ini&s;ter ends,</HI> el&s;e, &s;ay they, Why &s;hould not <HI>Waller, Clotworthy, Brown,</HI> and the <HI>rest,</HI> accu&s;ed of &s;o <HI>great crimes,</HI> be all this while brought to their <HI>Tryal.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, <HI>No Account</HI> is taken of the <HI>Trea&s;ury</HI> of the <HI>Kingdom,</HI> how it hath been disbur&s;ed, which makes many of the Enemies report, That <HI>Mulus Mulum &s;cabit,</HI> that the <HI>Parliament, Army,</HI> and <HI>countrey Committees,</HI> connive at each other, while they <HI>&s;hare the riches of the nation among them.</HI></P>
<P><PB N="13" REF="7">Fourthly, Though <HI>King, Queen, Princes</HI> Revenue, <HI>Delinquents E&s;tates, Dean</HI> and <HI>Chapters Lands,</HI> are wholly at their di&s;po&s;ing, yet there is no burthen removed, neither <HI>Excize</HI> nor <HI>Tythes</HI> (a burthen &s;o contrary to any Profe&s;&s;ion, the Go&s;pel, and the <HI>very Co|venant it &s;elf,</HI> repugnant to the Go&s;pel. Read the &s;tory of <HI>Walter Brute</HI> in <HI>Foxes Martirology, pag.</HI> 446, 447. and you will finde it clearly proved, That <HI>Tythes</HI> are not in any &s;ence due by any <HI>Law</HI> of <HI>God</HI> in the times of the <HI>Gospel:</HI> Read al&s;o that learned Exhortation of the <HI>Bohemians</HI> to the <HI>King</HI> and <HI>Princes, pag.</HI> 602. and the Examination of <HI>William Thorp, pag.</HI> 494, 495. where it is quoted out of CISTERCIENSIS, That <HI>Pope Gregory</HI> the tenth, in the year of our Lord 1211. fir&s;t ordained <HI>Tythes</HI> to be given to his <HI>Priests. Augu&s;tine</HI> in his <HI>Iuchyridion,</HI> 76 <HI>Chap.</HI> and <HI>Chri&s;o&s;tome</HI> upon the 11 of <HI>Luke,</HI> affirms, <HI>Tythes</HI> to be <HI>pure Alms;</HI> and it is recorded, That they were <HI>not paid</HI> in the <HI>pri|mitives times</HI> at all; and that the Prie&s;ts wre&s;ting Scriptures to their <HI>profit</HI> at the fir&s;t, obtained them as <HI>Beggars</HI> do <HI>Alms, pag</HI> 426. By all which it appears, That <HI>Tythes,</HI> or any <HI>inforced Maintenance,</HI> are contrary to the minde of <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> in the <HI>Go&s;pel,</HI> and to the very <HI>Letter</HI> of the <HI>Covenant,</HI> wherein all Covenanters ingaged to take away all <HI>Popery</HI> and <HI>Popi&s;h innovations, root</HI> and <HI>branch:</HI> and over and above the afore&s;aid burthens, the <HI>Tax</HI> for the <HI>Army</HI> &s;wells from 60000 <ABBR>l</ABBR> to 90000 <ABBR>l</ABBR> a Moneth.</P>
<P>Fifthly, There is a new <HI>Councel of State</HI> erected, which much amu&s;eth poor ignorant &s;ouls in the Countrey, who fear, that in|&s;tead of <HI>&s;ucce&s;sion</HI> of <HI>equal Repre&s;entatives,</HI> they &s;hall be popt off with <HI>a perpetual Parliament,</HI> or <HI>Everla&s;ting Councel of State,</HI> and <HI>Omnipotent councel of War,</HI> that can make it ju&s;tifiable to break <HI>all Forms</HI> them&s;elves one <HI>day,</HI> and yet Vote it <HI>mutinous</HI> in <HI>others,</HI> to act any thing that di&s;plea&s;eth them, though neither <HI>again&s;t any true Form</HI> or <HI>Order,</HI> as lately they have <HI>done:</HI> I love and honor many of their <HI>per&s;ons,</HI> and &s;hould rejoyce if the Lord by me would reclaim them from the evil of their pre&s;ent way.</P>
<P>I &s;hall lay down &s;ome Con&s;iderations, which may be u&s;eful for them, and tru&s;t God with the &s;ucce&s;s.</P>
<P>Fir&s;t, That <HI>Hone&s;ty</HI> is the <HI>best Policy:</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">Con&s;idera|tions pre&s;ent|ed to the Councel of the Amry.</NOTE> The <HI>deep plots</HI> and <HI>witty Contrivances of men</HI> in <HI>power,</HI> when incon&s;i&s;tent with the <HI>Will of God,</HI> requiting them to <HI>do Judgement</HI> and <HI>Justice,</HI> and to take off the <HI><GAP DESC="illegible" EXTENT="2 letters">kes</HI> from the <HI>Oppre&s;&s;ed,</HI> have always been abortive, for <HI>God</HI>
<PB N="14" REF="8">
will not be <HI>mocked;</HI> and Experience tells us, That <HI>Self-&s;eekers,</HI> though otherwi&s;e <HI>godly</HI> and <HI>gallant</HI> men, yet are and &s;hall be <HI>&s;a|ved</HI> as by <HI>fire;</HI> witne&s;s many worthy Members of Parliament, who endeavoring by a <HI>Treaty</HI> to &s;ecure them&s;elves, are by the <HI>Lord</HI> with di&s;grace <HI>laid a&s;ide;</HI> he thereby, no doubt, intending much good to their &s;ouls, <HI>Foelix quem faciunt aliena pericula can|tum,</HI> he is a happy man that takes warning by other mens harms.</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">2 C<GAP DESC="illegible" EXTENT="4 letters">d<GAP DESC="illegible" EXTENT="1 letter">|tion.</NOTE>Secondly, <HI>Carnal mixtures</HI> with <HI>corrupt intere&s;ts,</HI> are <HI>de&s;tru|ctive</HI> to <HI>them</HI> that make <HI>them.</HI></P>
<P>Mixtures are <HI>carnal,</HI> when made upon <HI>fle&s;hly</HI> and <HI>&s;inful</HI> con&s;i|derations; and <HI>intere&s;ts</HI> are corrupt, when incroaching upon <HI>Christs Kingdom</HI> in <HI>Spiritual Admini&s;trations;</HI> or when found <HI>repugnant</HI> to <HI>righteous Government</HI> in <HI>civil.</HI> Hence it follows:</P>
<P><NOTE PLACE="marg">Inferences from the &s;econd con|&s;ideration.</NOTE>Fir&s;t, That under pretence of taking in the <HI>Generality</HI> of the <HI>peo|ple</HI> into their <HI>party,</HI> or plea&s;ing the&s;e or the&s;e <HI>great</HI> and <HI>potent</HI> men, or (which is the be&s;t) the bearing with the <HI>weakne&s;s</HI> of <HI>godly men,</HI> for any to incroach upon the <HI>Kingly Office of Chri&s;t,</HI> &amp; take upon them to <HI>judge</HI> of <HI>Bla&s;phemies</HI> and <HI>Here&s;ies,</HI> &amp; to <HI>re&s;train</HI> men from acting in things of <HI>Supernatural cognizance;</HI> yea, to <HI>inforce</HI> a maintenance for a <HI>Ministry</HI> (out of which &s;hould they pick out all the <HI>Drunkards, Swearers,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg">The Synod con&s;i&s;ts of one hundred or thereabouts.</NOTE> <HI>Cavaliers, noted time-&s;ervers,</HI> and <HI>idle Drones,</HI> they would &s;carce have enough left to make up a Synod) When as <HI>Christ</HI> him|&s;elf is ingaged to take <HI>care of tho&s;e,</HI> whom he <HI>employs</HI> in the work of the <HI>Ministry,</HI> and hath <HI>no where</HI> required the <HI>Magistrate</HI> to do it, (it being out of his <HI>&s;phere,</HI> as a <HI>Magistrate</HI>) is a <HI>carnal mix|ture</HI> with <HI>corrupt Interest,</HI> and will <HI>destroy</HI> tho&s;e that <HI>joyn</HI> in it; for <HI>Christ</HI> will not endure that any &s;hould be &s;o &s;aucy, as to inter|meddle with that which is <HI>his own proper work,</HI> it implying, that they judge him either <HI>weak</HI> or <HI>unfaithful,</HI> and &s;o not <HI>able,</HI> or not <HI>faithful,</HI> in doing his <HI>duty,</HI> which hath been the bane of many, otherwi&s;e <HI>u&s;eful men</HI> in this <HI>Kingdom,</HI> as <HI>Hollis, Stapleton, Brown, Ma&s;&s;ey, Pryn,</HI> &amp;c. and will be <HI>Yours</HI> to, if in time you lay it not to <HI>heart;</HI> and what comfort will it be, if when God &s;hall lay you a&s;ide for the&s;e things, your <HI>Con&s;ciences</HI> &s;hall tell you, That you &s;uffer for <HI>doing,</HI> or <HI>attempting</HI> that which he never <HI>required</HI> at your <HI>hands?</HI></P>
<P>As for &s;atisfying <HI>weak con&s;ciences,</HI> do you think that any <HI>evil</HI> is to be <HI>done,</HI> or <HI>good</HI> left <HI>undone,</HI> &s;imply upon that accompt; if you do, why then did you not forbear <HI>trying</HI> and <HI>executing</HI> the <HI>King,</HI> taking away the Hou&s;e of <HI>Lords,</HI> and purging the Hou&s;e of
<PB N="15" REF="8">
<HI>Commons,</HI> which I am &s;ure that <HI>Party</HI> whom in the&s;e things you &s;eek to plea&s;e, were and are very much di&s;&s;atisfied: Be&s;ides, <HI>Reli|gion</HI> and <HI>Rea&s;on</HI> will teach you, that you <HI>ought</HI> to prefer the <HI>&s;ati&s;|faction</HI> of tho&s;e that <HI>joyned</HI> with <HI>you,</HI> and have <HI>hazarded all</HI> for <HI>you</HI> in things agreeable to the <HI>will of God,</HI> before the complying with your opponents, and profe&s;&s;ed adver&s;aries (though other|wi&s;e <HI>godly</HI>) in things <HI>contrary</HI> to the <HI>will of God.</HI></P>
<P>Secondy, That under pretence of bearing with the <HI>People</HI> that the <HI>Nation</HI> is not <HI>fit for it,</HI> that many <HI>kin&s;men, friends,</HI> and <HI>ho|nest men</HI> are <HI>guilty,</HI> and will be <HI>undone,</HI> to <HI>continue</HI> and <HI>encourage</HI> a multitude of <HI>unnece&s;&s;ary Lawyers,</HI> to forbear the calling <HI>Pub|lique Officers to Account,</HI> and to <HI>increa&s;e</HI> the <HI>Peoples burthens,</HI> is a <HI>Carnal mixture</HI> with <HI>corrupt Intere&s;ts;</HI> therefore take heed betime, the <HI>Lord is righteous.</HI></P>
<P>Thirdly, The <HI>greater mea&s;ure of light God hath given you,</HI> the <HI>greater</HI> is your <HI>&s;in,</HI> and the <HI>heavier</HI> will be your <HI>puni&s;hment</HI> in the <HI>day of accompt,</HI> if your <HI>actions</HI> be not <HI>proportionable</HI> to it: <HI>Glori|ous things</HI> have been <HI>delivered</HI> by you in your <HI>Declaration</HI> and <HI>Re|mon&s;trance;</HI> let not the <HI>World</HI> have <HI>just cau&s;e</HI> to &s;ay, That they were put in to <HI>draw people</HI> to your <HI>party</HI> in your <HI>&s;traights,</HI> but when you are arrived at your <HI>Haven</HI> of <HI>Power,</HI> you alter your <HI>Principle</HI> with your <HI>Condition.</HI></P>
<P>Fourthly, When <HI>Gods people cry</HI> and <HI>complain</HI> to him of <HI>oppre&s;|&s;ion,</HI> he will <HI>regard</HI> them and <HI>revenge</HI> their <HI>wrongs:</HI> Many poor &s;ouls bewail their conditions to God thus, O <HI>Lord</HI> we have been <HI>long vexed</HI> and <HI>oppre&s;&s;ed</HI> by &s;uch a <HI>party,</HI> and &s;uch a <HI>party,</HI> from whom we expected <HI>no better u&s;age;</HI> but now we <HI>&s;uffer</HI> under tho&s;e that are our <HI>Brethren,</HI> that have formerly <HI>&s;uffered with us:</HI> we could pluck out our <HI>eyes</HI> to do the&s;e men <HI>good;</HI> we have <HI>always loved them, prayed</HI> for them, <HI>joyned</HI> with them in their <HI>greatest dangers, owned</HI> them with the <HI>hazard</HI> of our <HI>lives,</HI> when they have been the <HI>By word</HI> of the <HI>people,</HI> and <HI>we</HI> for <HI>their &s;akes,</HI> and yet <HI>they deliver us not</HI> now it is in their <HI>power;</HI> they <HI>&s;eek to plea&s;e</HI> their <HI>Enemies,</HI> and go on with the <HI>multitude</HI> to do <HI>evil:</HI> But <HI>us</HI> they <HI>regard not:</HI> O <HI>Lord, hear</HI> and <HI>regard; Lord help,</HI> for the <HI>faithful fail</HI> from among the children of <HI>men.</HI> And do you think that <HI>God</HI> will not <HI>an&s;wer them?</HI> and &s;ay to <HI>you,</HI> as he did once to the <HI>I&s;raelites,</HI> You have I known above all the <HI>people</HI> of the <HI>earth,</HI> therefore <HI>I will puni&s;h you</HI> for your <HI>iniquity:</HI> I have <HI>honored you above</HI> &s;uch and &s;uch, I have <HI>exalted you, carried you</HI> as upon <HI>Eagles wings,</HI> and <HI>is this the requital?</HI> is this the return you
<PB N="16" REF="9">
make to me of <HI>all your kindene&s;&s;es?</HI> Certainly, the Lord will in <HI>rich mercy heal your backslidings,</HI> and make you <HI>glorious</HI> <GAP DESC="illegible" EXTENT="1 word"> of <HI>Repentance,</HI> or el&s;e he will <HI>harden you,</HI> and make you <HI>fearful Examples</HI> of <HI>Ju&s;tice</HI> and <HI>Wrath,</HI> as <HI>Apostates</HI> and <HI>Hypocrites,</HI> I mean, as to your <HI>outward Estates.</HI></P>
<P>Fifthly, Con&s;ider the <HI>de&s;perate pre&s;idents</HI> you have made, if your <HI>pre&s;ent power</HI> (through the Lords withdrawing from you) &s;hould be <HI>cru&s;hed;</HI> There being no <HI>Foundation</HI> by the <HI>Peoples Agreement</HI> &s;etled, if ever any more Parliaments &s;hould be, there is a <HI>pre&s;ident</HI> to take out <HI>as many,</HI> and whom the prevailing <HI>party plea&s;eth,</HI> to e&s;tabli&s;h an <HI>Extraordinary Court</HI> to <HI>try,</HI> and <HI>take away any mans life,</HI> his <HI>Judges</HI> being picked by tho&s;e that <HI>accu&s;e him;</HI> to <HI>place</HI> and <HI>di&s;place Sheriffs, Justices</HI> of the Peace, or any other <HI>publique Officers;</HI> to <HI>lay what Taxes they plea&s;e</HI> upon the <HI>people;</HI> and to <HI>impri&s;on</HI> the <HI>Authors,</HI> and <HI>&s;uppre&s;s</HI> the <HI>Writings</HI> which any way <HI>di&s;plea&s;e them.</HI></P>
<P>The&s;e things laid together, are <HI>&s;ad pre&s;ages</HI> of farther <HI>trouble</HI> to this <HI>poor Nation.</HI></P>
<P>The Lord knoweth, I could willingly &s;acrifice my life for the <HI>Peace</HI> and <HI>Liberty</HI> of the <HI>Nation,</HI> and the <HI>Honor</HI> of the <HI>Parlia|ment</HI> and <HI>Army,</HI> but in the&s;e things I am at a lo&s;s; yet this I know, <HI>The coun&s;el of the Lord &s;hall stand, and he will do all his plea&s;ures</HI> And herein my <HI>Soul,</HI> as in a <HI>Sanctuary,</HI> findes <HI>Re&s;t,</HI> that <HI>all things &s;hall work together for good to them that love God.</HI></P>
</DIV1>
</BODY>
<BACK>
<DIV1 TYPE="postscript">
<HEAD>POSTSCRIPT.</HEAD>
<P>I Intended the&s;e lines &s;hould have only vi&s;ited a <HI>friend</HI> or <HI>two,</HI> but <HI>providence</HI> hath ordered them a <HI>farther journey,</HI> and more <HI>publique view;</HI> they com|plain <HI>&s;adly,</HI> but had they been <HI>now</HI> to <HI>write,</HI> the <HI>Paper</HI> would have <HI>blu&s;hed</HI> to have contained <HI>&s;uch Relations</HI> as might have been <HI>in&s;erted:</HI> Omi&s;sions of <HI>good,</HI> are &s;econded by Commi&s;sions of <HI>evil,</HI> yea, the <HI>&s;hedding of</HI> INNO|CENT BLOOD, &s;lighting and rejecting <HI>hone&s;t Petitions,</HI> which I tremble to con&s;ider of, in reference to the lamentable con&s;equences thereof to this <HI>poor Nation,</HI> if the Lord prevent not.</P>
<P>The onely <HI>vi&s;ible</HI> and <HI>rational expedient</HI> is, for all <HI>hone&s;t men,</HI> in a <HI>meek</HI> and <HI>peaceable</HI> way, to joyn in an AGREEMENT to &s;ome <HI>righteous Foundations,</HI> and <HI>Principles of Government</HI> (thereby at lea&s;t to acquit them|&s;elves before <HI>God</HI> and the <HI>world,</HI> of <HI>de&s;igning, abetting</HI> or <HI>partaking</HI> with the <HI>Tyranny</HI> introduced, and <HI>endeavored</HI> to be <HI>fa&s;tned</HI> upon the <HI>People</HI> of this <HI>Nation,</HI> a mo&s;t <HI>complete</HI> and <HI>exqui&s;ite Model</HI> whereof, is newly &s;et forth by the <HI>Four worthy A&s;&s;erters of Englands Liberties,</HI> now Pri&s;oners in the <HI>Tower.</HI></P>
<CLOSER><DATELINE><DATE>May the fir&s;t, 1649.</DATE></DATELINE>
<SIGNED>Edward Harri&s;on.</SIGNED></CLOSER>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="imprimatur">
<P>2 <HI>Maii,</HI> 1649.</P>
<P><HI>Imprimatur</HI> Gilbert Mabbot.</P>
</DIV1>
</BACK>
</TEXT>
</EEBO>
</ETS>
