because our Redemption draweth nigh out of this eater will came sweetnesse and light out of this darknesse the immediate fore-runner of a cleere and warme day is a misty morning Christ ascended from his Crosse to his Crown so shall his Churches though now for a little while the cry of the Churches of Christ be how long Lord how long c. yet suddenly their songs shall bee Babilon the great is fisten is fallen he will shortly take down your harpes from the Willow Trees and teach you to warble out the Songs of Sion in the Land of Canaan Fourthly consider that God will doe his great wonders of judgement upon the wicked of the World by his Church and people c. at a time when they shall bee most confident of utter ruinating his Church the whole current of the Scriptures declares that God will make his Church his battle dxe and weapons of his Warfare that by his Churches be will beat in piâ—â—es all the Nations of the Earth and that hee will make Sions hornes Iron and her hooses Brasse c. and that Ieralclem shall be a cup of trembling and a huâ—chen-s me si ne and that all that harthen themselves with it shal be broken to pieces by it and though men gather themselves 〈…〉 formed and for the time of it it shall be when they say â—â—â—our our eye looke upon ziâ—n and let her be defiled It shall be then when all the whoâ—â— Eaten shall bee fil'd with admiration both of the suddainnesse and irrecoverablenesse of their ruine Firstly Consider that the state of this present time and the face of things now doth abundantly intimate that this cannot be long and that the very quarrell in which Antichrist shall fall and the Churches of Christ shall rise is now begun in this Kingdom For First the cause is purely the glory of Jesus Christ his Word and Worship this is the very quarrell between Christ and â—nticâ—rist Mâ—â—â—â—eil and the Dragon as the word in imates Secondly the followers and figâ—â—ers in this Battell are the Angels of Michael and the Dragon who rank themselves on the one side but gouly honest men c. and on the other but Papists and Atheists c. Thirdly this quarrell is generall as the last and greatest quarrell must be for the good Party now through the Christian world waits with prayers and teares for a good successe here in England and the Pepish partie also with all their endeavours in Spane France Ireland Denmark c. seek the surtherance of successe on their sides Fourthly God hath hitnerto managed and followed the Cause after the same method as he will in that quarrell Michael will not goe but with his Angels but yet he will so mannage the businesse as that it shall appeare that he is Michael the mighty God and hath he not done so in all the Battels hitherto in this present Controversie Hath he not appeared in glory at Keynton Battell to the terrour and amazement of the Adversaries though like hardned Pharash's they will not acknowledge Gods wonders how did he appeare a Brainford though our Advertaries brag at the sucess therof as they may with everlasting shame and reproach for their Treachery Cruelty and Cowardizc when they came with a full intent to be drunk with our blood and to swell with our wealth to plunder our City though they have the face to deny it when some of the chiefest of them sent word to some of their friends in London to change their lodging and secure themselves in such and such places intimating their intentions of blood c. yet how did God drive them away by two broken unprovided Regiments though they came intentionally the whole Army consisting of many thousands c. how hath God appeared at Winchester at Chichester c. surely all this doth afford matter of incouragements in this Cause Therfore if any considerations of the right or left hand Liberty or Religion inward or outward man will take held upon us we should hold on in the worke and give out our selves in our Prayers Estates and Persons now or never better it is to part with some now like men then with all hereafter like slaves did you but know the consequences of this Warre you would count it the best Husbandry to spare from your backs and bellies to maintain it be not deceived with conceits of a Peace and an Accomodation let the hatefull memory of that man be written in blood who delights in blood yea let him have blood to drink for he is worthy let in ward and outward trouble be his portion that desires not Peace with truth and holinesse but there is all improbability at least as yet of any such Peace for the interruption of the Protestant cause in Ireland occasioned by if not aim'd at in these present distractions the insurrections of the Papists and the risings up of severall Armies throughout the Kingdome besides the greater Body with the King to wit the Earles of Newcastle Cumberland Woâ—cester Sir Ralph Hoprens c. the continuall Discoveries of Preparations beyond Seas by Factors gone over to that purpose for Armes and Ammunition c. are sufficient intimators to any man of the me nest capacitie that it is very unlikely that we shall have a good Peace from them as the case now stands The Peace of the Gospel and of the Kingdome is the Crown we fight for and therfore our Parliament Worthes are now labouring for such a Peace without any more shedding of blood which if it could be attain'd would be the joy of every honest heart only this we feare our Enemies Designe in pretending a desire of Peace is to delay if possibly untill the Spring in which time they hope to gather strength and recover that blood which though they will not confesse they lost in the Fall Happily they intend to make up their number again with an Army of Irish Rebels for doubtlesse the Irish and English Rebellion against the Peace of the two Kingdomes is all of a blood and breeding but let them come we feare nothing that blood is as corrputed as the former and God will let it out Our Cause is good God is with us and their Rock is not as ours our enemies themselves being Iudges He hath shewed himselfe glorious in his belinesse fearfull in praises working wonders He hath thrown down mountaines fill'd up vallies renewed his works of Workers Be bold and confident that beleeving in his Name without feare he 〈◊〉 leave us untill we doe enjoy the glory of God in Canaan FINIS
now was unlawfull then for which we may thanke a Parliament and in fighting for the Parliaments Cause wee fight not against but to defend Authority and for the King and not against him having what Authority he hath confirmed and established by the Parliament Sixtly there have beene sufficient Answers to this Objection to prove the lawfulnesse of taking up Armes in this Cause for the satisfaction of truly tender Consciences by divers Bookes made by godly and learned Ministers viz. Booke intituled Anticavalier sâ—â—e made by Mr. Iohn Goodwin and Mr. Buraough his Postscript to his last Booke upon the name of the Lord of Hosts in Answer to Doctor Ferne c. Besides many other Bookes and Sermons of this kinde where men might have satisfaction in abundance c. Seventhly as for an Answer to the Cavaliers themselves who demand with what Conscience we can fight against the King as they are taught to miscall it they are capable of no other but this that when they will satisfie you with what Conscience they will drink and be drunke whore and bee damn'd and choose rather to goe to Hell with their Comrades than to Heaven with the Round-heads with what conscience they blaspheame God curse sweare rob plunder kill murther c Then will you tell them with what conscience you take up Armes in this Cause surely if the tongues of all the blasphemers amongst them were bored with an hot iron and of the Swearers were clipt you should hardly from the greatest to the least of them understand whether they speake English in asking with what Conscience you doe so These were the Objections concerning the King There are likewise Objections concerning the Parliament Object 1 The King is not with them nor many Lords and Commons c. This hath beene suggested if it were possible to blind poore ignorant people and to possesse them with a conceit that therefore they are no Parliament though in plaine termes they will not affirme so much Answ VVell what then are they no Parliament thâ—y will not tâ—tidem verbis affirme this they have more witâ— but they would have others make that inference for they buz this abroad that the greatest part of the Parliament are with the King and many now in the Parliament doe not consent to the Votes that are past and yet they put forth their Votes Ordinances c. in the name of both Houses of Parliament and therefore they would have you make the inference viz. that they are not the Parliament therefore it is not amisse to answer this tacite and silent Objection for Answer therefore First they were a Parliament none will deny that Secondly an Act hath been past that they shall not be dissolved but by an Act made in Parliament by the major Vote and is there such an Act yet past no man can prove that Thirdly though many are not in the Parliament which are Members vet they should be there and they have been summoned to be there and it is their delinquency and carelesenesse of or malignity to their Countries good that they are not there and some of them most unworthily and unnaturally are in actuall War against the Parliament are they no Parliament because such as these are absent Fourthly the King doth alwayes call them his Houses of Parliament and therefore who can question it but the truth is they suggest many things to deceive the common people as if we were the only Nation of Fooles in the world Object 2 Some furious spirits in the Parliament compell the rest to doe what is done and those are put out in name of the Parliament c. Answ First doth not this cast an imputation upon the Nobility and the greatest part of the commons of weaknesse if not of absolute folly that they should be led by a few factious spirits in all their Votes and determinations Secondly were not the unjust and illegall dissolutions of Parliaments grounded upon exceptions against some particular Members under the name of a few factious and seditious persons as all men know Thirdly suppose that the rest were advised and mis-led by the Counsells of those few against their owne judgements who are called factious and seditious which can never be granted untill a Parliament be chosen of such as will believe it are they not the Votes of the Parliament when the major part shall passe them truly â—â—argues they want matter of accusation that make use of such silly shifts as there are Object 3 The Parliament goes about to alter Religion to bring in Brownisme Anabaptisme c. Answ First it is false for none can accuse them in respect of the Doctrine of the Church of England which is the maine of Religion and seldome are men said to alter Religion but in point of Doctrine Secondly it is reformation of government confest on all hands to bee corrupted which they endeavour and if there be no need of Reformation why were there so many complaints made hereabout Thirdly suppose they should goe about to alter Religion which we will never grant except they were such as their accusers who could hinder them may not they if they see cause alter Religion aswell as former Parliaments Fourthly as for those scandals of their intentions to bring in Brownisme and Anabaptisme c. it is notoriously knowne that under the name of Brownist and Anabaptist by the Praelaticall Party the Oracles of the Court are alwayes understood all such who dare not out of Conscience submit to those unwarranted Ceremonies by them introduced into the worship of God Men that will not sweare and lie blaspheame Gods name and prophane his day are the Sectaries Brownists and Anabaptists of these times Lastly these men either understand not what Anabaptists are or else speak very unadvisedly in charging the Parliament with Anabaptisme for one of the maine points of Anabaptisme is that no man ought to take up Armes in the cause of God at all but rather to suffer to plead and contend for the truth by no other weapon than lachrymis precibus and if the Magistrate should take away our Religion yea cut our throats in that cause we must patiently submit c. Now if we consider what Doctrine of this kind the Praelaticall Party have lately broached abroad they may better learne to charge Anabaptisme Lastly Consider which of these two parties are most likely to goe about to alter Religion either that party that consists of knowne Orthodox Godly and Religions men whose judgements and practises have alwayes been towards piety and purity or that party which consists of the Popish and Arminian faction and whereunto all the Papists of the Kingdome personally and vertually come to yeeld their assistance which is the very case of the adverse party against the Parliament that there is a going about to alter Religion by them is evident and therefore if Popery be worth fighting for let them not be ashamed of it but let them speak plainely by their words
A NEW PLEA FOR THE PARLIAMENT AND THE Reserved MAN resolved From the serious consideration of the state of Controversie betweene the KING and the PARLIAMENT Together with Severall Answeres to some common Objections about this SUBIECT As also Advice to those who are yet unsettled in their thoughts hereabout By a Wel-willer to KING and PARLIAMENT AS Zeale without Knowledge argues the weaknesse of the Head so doth Knowledge without Zeale the rottennesse of the Heart the lightnesse of the Head and the unfoundnesse of the Heart are the two Epidemicall Diseases of this Kingdome Ignorance and Hypocrisie as they are the greatest Enemies to Truth and Piety so are they the chiefe causes of the Kingdomes misery all men would sceme to be what few men are in truth but though Dissemblers are great in number yet are the upright stronger in power there is nothing that hath more pretended friends and reall enemies then Peace and Truth though the Heart of the wicked hateth the Power yet the conviction of their Head would faine palliate their wickednesse with the Forme of Godlinesse all would weare RELIGIONS Livery but few will observe Religions Lawes if Picty be good in profession it is better in practice but the profession commands almost every man and the practice scarce any at all of the things of this World men had rather have the substance then the shadow but of the things of Heaven the shadow gives generally better content then the substance the forme rather then the power of Godlines every man by profession will make Christ a King but by practice crowns him with Thornes the Gospel and the Kingdome have few Enemies in shew but fewer Friends in truth The whole Kingdom is divided into two parts both professing contention for one common Cause every man hath his Sword in his hand and would fight for God and the Kingdom but knowes not where to rank himselfe Law and Religion the Kingdome and Gospell are the mutuall pleas of each party who but a villaine will fight against his King who but a Divell will fight against his GOD who but a Rebell will strike at his King who but a Rascall will strike at his Country A good King is the breath of our nostrilts the God of goodnesse the life of our soules our Kingdom is divided so saith King and Parliament it cannot long so stand so faith God and Reason our Kingdom is in danger so saith King and Parliament we must not sit still so saith Law and Conscience I would defend both and offend neither but if I now sit still I am not a friend to either here are two Armies each against other to which to joyne my selfe I know not whether I am called to help by the one and the other and therefore I must not now be a Newter they both prefesse they fight for to preserve the same Religion the same Law I must not judge the heart what shall I doe 1. For resolution of this doubt let us consider these 2 parts First what is this 1. Law 2. Religion 2. How may I most probably judge which party is cordiall with whom I ought to joyne my selfe First by Law as is controverted is meant all those former Acts of Parliament never yet reversed together with the Priviledges of Parliament the fountain and life of Law the chiefest whereof is to reverse repeale ordaine and enact what Lawes and Statutes old and new they shall think fit for the present benefit and welfare of King and Kingdome This is the Law now in controversie viz. The Statute Law of the Land the Power and Priviledge of Parliament which is the great Inheritance of the Kingdom and that which doth distinguish us from slaves and vassalls Secondly by Religion is meant the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of God as they have and shall finde it agreeable to the word of God This is that Religion which they both say they fight for God and the Kingdome is this the Cause Religion and Law is this the Quarrell Piety and Humanity grace and iugenuity will not admit of an unworthy newtrality I will fight for God for I haa rather die a believing Christian then live an Atheist or Papist I will fight for my Country for I had rather die a free-man then live a slave or vassall but if both Parties fight in the behalfe of the same Cause whence is the rise of the Quarrell The Parliament affirmes their Adversaries to be a Malignant Party which often apart and now together do strongly oppose the life and power of Religion and Lawes and this is affirmed by the adverse Party against the Parliament Both affirm the same thing I am where I was I cannot Iudge the heart what shall I doe For further direction herein consider the second Part and that is How may I judge which Party is cordiall with whom I ought to jonee For Answer hereunto consider two things First who and what are the Parties on each side Secondly what are their practises in the managing of their Quarrel First for the Parties on each side On the one side we have a lawfull freechosen Parliament consisting of the King Lords and Commons of the Land we will not understand the King as the head of a Faction we have moreover all knowne godly learned Ministers of the Kingdome together with all godly conscieneious People both Gentry and Commons of all sorts ranks and conditions whatsoever 2. On the other side we have most of the Papists of the Kingdom many wherof are chiefe Commanders together with the Popish partie of Lords Gentry and Commons with all the Praelaticall Faction of Bishops with their Dependants all Popish superstitious idle deboist scandalous Ministers Priests and Cathedrall finging-fellowes in the Land with divers proclaimed Traitors once fled from the Justice of the Parliament and now in great power and Office in their Forces as also some lately in Rebellion in Ireland together with the quondam grinding oppressing Judges Pattentees all Delinquents never Parliament proofe with many ignorant silly and not a few curling swearing banning blaspheming wretches of all qualities from the Kings Court to the Countrey Cart. These are the Parties on each side Are these the Parties Malignity in the one party is as hard to be believed as Sincerity in the other that the one party should intent mischiefe and the other preservation to Law and Religion it is hard to say which is the greatest wonder that there should such a generall Apostacy from Religion and morality to basenesse and impiety as is implied in the Parliaments party was never knowne no not in the dayes of Julian and such a generall conversion from prophannesse and malignity to grace and ingennity as is implied in the second party was never knowne no not in the dates of Peter that such an Apostacy of the one party and such a conversion of the other should at once meet together seemes as strange as if the Inhabitants of Heaven and Hell should
heart being deceived that he intends nothing more than such Religion and Lawes Fourthly it is not unknowne what Protestations were made to maintaine Religion and Law the Property of the Subjects c. even in the height of all former Popish Innovations and illegall taxations Obj. 2 Another Objection is that the King pleads personall wrongs in taking away his proper Rights his Cinque-Ports his Navy his Magazine bought with his owne money which are his owne as properly as any mans Jewells or Plate is his owne Answ First the King had nothing of this kind but either it was committed to his trust by the Kingdome or purchased by his moneys if committed to him by the Kingdome it was for its preservation not for its destruction if so be that that was committed to the King by the Kingdome for its preservation is it by the Votes and Apprehensions of the representative Body of the Kingdome the best Judges herein like to be perverted to its ruine and destruction the preservation of the Kingdome being the chiefest Law doth dictate unto the Kingdome it s owne security by seizing upon those Weapons Armes Magazines c. which prepared for their security are now intended for their owne misery Secondly if it were bought by the Kings proper moneys it was bought for the good or hurt of the Kingdome if for the hurt of the Kingdome the representative Kingdome that knowes no Law but salutem populi apprehending our misery ought to prevent it by seizing upon their Ammunitions for if a Master of a Family by Neighbours should bee stirr'd up against his Family even to kill and murther his owne Famaly is it not lawfull for his servants to seize upon those weapons which he had bought for the same purpose and prevent such a designe Secondly the Parliament is the Kings greatest Counsell by whose advice he ought to be guided if he will suffer himselfe to be ruled by a knowne Malignant Partie against the Parliament and by this meanes they procure the strength of the Kingdome into their owne hands to ruine and destroy the Parliament is it not lawfull to prevent it by securing the Ammunition Just so is our case as may be at large shewed Thirdly the Parliament is to judge both what is good for the King and Kingdomes welfare if Enemies to the King and Kingdome shall by secret insinuations get into his favour and suggest those Designes which will utterly undoe the Kingdome and the King shall with all Preparations addresse himselfe according to these suggestions ought not the Parliament if possibly out of loyalty to the King and love to the Kingdome to prevent this by seizing upon those weapons that may further the same Object 3 Another objection is that the setling of the Militia is not in the Parliaments power and that the Parliament cannot doe it without the King Answ There have been sufficient Answers for the legality of it by the Parliaments Declarations alreadie but now for the rationality and equity of it much may be said the King hath been sought unto for his consent therein and will not not grant it what must be done Either the King must settle it without the Parliament or the Parliament without the King the Parliament cannot consent to the King to settle it without them because he will not hearken unto their advice as he should but unto the advice of those who will settle it to the Kingdomes ruine for let men of any indifferent judgement give out their opinions into whose hanes the Militia had beene setled and what the issue thereof had been before this day if the King mis-led by such a Counsell as he is had settled it surely the Commissioners of Array will dictate to any discerning eye what kind of parties they should have been therfore the Parliament necessitatis causa ad salutem populi their only rule must settle it without the King Object 4 The lawfulnesse of taking up Armes in this case is very questionable because it seemes to be against the King and many Preachers both by their Sermons and Writings determine it Rebellion and utterly unlawfull and that wee should suffer rather than resist according to the practice of holy Martyrs in Queene Maries dayes c. and the very Cavaliers demand with what conscience can we take up Armes against the King c. Answ First it would not be amisse to observe those Preachers who are so carefull to resolve doubtfull Consciences in this case after this manner surely if we note how tender they have beene formerly unto weake and scrupulous Consciences we have more reason to suspect that their designe is rather to raise up and make scruples then to answer them at all Secondly it is good to observe all what interest they have in the Cause it selfe surely if the Cause be against Popery and Praelacie it is no mervaile that the Popish and Praelaticall faction who knowes little Conscience out of their owne Cause pleads conscience so much enquire of them whether it be lawfull to joyne with the worship of God corrupted with superstitious and humane inventions they wll tell you you are more precise than wise and what need you be so scrupulous c. but now they are of another mind and it is observable that men of no Religion or Conscience in Gods Cause would faine make Religion and Conscience plead for them in their owne Cause Thirdly It is good also to see how carefull these men have been to informe the â—ing in his duty having the best opportunity hereunto and in matters of Conscience about this Warre no in this case as in the controversie with our Brethren the Scots they say to our King as the 400. false Prophets said to Ahab goe up to Raâ—otâ— Gilead and prosper and it is observable also that these men who pretend so much zeale are most seditious factious and schismaticall fellowes in the Kingdome and chiefe causers of the present divisions amongst us Fourthly Those Preachers that plead it to be Rebellion to take up Armes in this Cause against the King as they please to miscall it doe not plead it rebellion in the States of Holland nor in the Prince or Orange to be the Rebell generall against the King of Spaine although they take up Armes against him and although we have every way as much warrant from the Law of God our Nation and Nature it selfe so doe as they have they know this Doctrine is repugnant to their designes and will not please Fiftly as for their instances of holy Martyrs in the time of Queene Maries dayes after whose example they would have us yield passive obedience and not resist as they themselves have followed the steps of those who did persecute these holy Martyrs ever since to their power they are to little purpose for the Lawes and Statutes of the Kingdome are altered and reversed which gave life unto this Argument and that which was lawfull then is unlawfull now and that which is lawfull