Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
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A52954
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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 subject : as also advice to those who are yet unsettled in their thoughts hereabout / by a Wel-willer to King and Parliament.
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Wel-willer to King and Parliament.
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1643
(1643)
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Wing N704A; ESTC R41051
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19,162
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17
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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