their former Action of expelling the Bishops Lord's Spiritual out of that House since they were also from the first foundation of it and had an equal right to sit in it by all the Laws Customes and Statutes of this Nation for it with the Lords Temporal and yet this was accounted an Act of the Good Old Cause by himself at that day Also whether indeed Secundum jus the Lords did not dissolve their Own House as to the fâ—undation of it then and by that Act of both Houses and so to continue until another Bellum Episcopale or Presbyteriale do alter the Case and so the Cause or raise up their Reverend Father-hâ—ods upon the Wool-packs again to usher â—N their Lordships Temporal as they did them OUT but 4. That this his Cause is the Old Cause and that which Delinquents and Malignants have so long strugled to keep alive we cannot deny But that it is the GOOD Old Cause and not the BAD yea the VERY BAD and the Worse for that like Runnet the longer it stands the stronger it smells An old Serpent has most poyson an old Dog bites deepest an old Thorne rankles most and an old Dotard is hardest to please for quo magis senescit eo magis stultescit as 't is said of Braband I say that ours is not the Bad Old Cause as Mr. Prin doth state it We can and do deny Nor can he prove by all the help of his Concordance upon the Word Old which his seventh p. is so full of that HIS is the Good Old Cause or written in the Grand Character but by a surreptitious applying of the Letter and a begging of the Question Neither think I that he intended his Idolized Idea of King Lords and Commons to be meant the New Creature though he saith that ours is of the Oâ—D MAN pag. 7. I suppose his Divinity is better then hiâ—Dâ—alect unless it be that he has an expectaâ—ion of having it BORN AGAIN Which how impracticable as well as improbable it is let all Good men judge not so much for this How can a Man that is OLD be born again as for this How can 〈◊〉 Rotten corrupt Carcass of the Cause so long since exploded condemned defunct and laid in dust where it stinketh and there let it lye until the Resurrection be born again in this Nation But thus for the second Design 3. DESIGN is to represent the Commonwealth-Cause a Monster of a New Breed or as Mr. Prin says in the Mâ—rgin of his 1. p. It was begotten but in March 1648. How then can they call it OLD or the good old Man or Cause without a contradiction and absurdity the like in p. 7. To which We Answer 1. Ex Opposito or in opposition to the late the last Apostacie since Anno 1653. mistaked for the Cause it is called the Good Old Cause without absurdity or contradiction 2. In sensu Composito as I said before or so far as it comprehends all that ever was contended for by Parliament People or Army in the sense End and equity thereof viz. all those Ordinances of Parliament 10 Junii 5. Julii 14 Martii 1642. 3 Aug. 1643. Earl of Essex his Commission 14 Aprilis 1643. and my Lord Fairfax his Commission 15. Febr. 1644. and the Covenant all quoted by Mr. Prin to keep up Religion in purity Reformation according to the Word of God the Liberty and safety of the people the Priviledges of Parliament and the Authority of the King which is yet up in Parliament and more too and the Person of the King IN mark that IN the defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the People c. these are the express words in the Letter of them now so far as ANY of these or ALL these could stand together the Common-wealth doth preserve them but where any of these in the Letter and forms be incompatible the ENDS of them are kept if the Forms at that time in being be lost or altered and has Mr. Prin forgotten when the Good Old Cause even in his Own Account Anno 1642. was glad to keep up this very Method and Kernel to justifie it then as well as now viz. when the Question rose about the Militia vid. Exact Coll. pag. 150. and how Laws are to be understood and obedience yeilded the King claiming the Militia by Law which was thus resolved There is in Laws an EQUITABLE and a LITERAL sense When there is a Grounded suspition that the Letter of the Law shall be improved against the Equity ofâ—et i. e. the PUBLICK GOOD whether of the Body Real or Representative it gives a Liberty to disobey the Letter and to obey the Equity of it These are the very words of the Good Old Cause when Mr. Prin so accounted of it 3. A Deposito it is the Good Old Cause and so called discriminatively from that Bad Old Cause which Mr. Prin states and is deposâ—d which is proved was founded by the Papists viz. King Lords and Commons Buâ— let me ask him if like the Fowl Ibis in Aegypt he had his Liberty to remove all that he accounts Garbidge and filth in the commonwealth-Commonwealth-Cause yet would he not by this leave a Worse behind him then ever he found Convince us of that and then cry up Mr. Prin's Good Old Cause c. But 4. A Posito or from the foundation of our Good Old Cause we call it so for that it is laid in the LAW of God of Nature and in the fundamental Rights and Reason of this Nation in the Liberties of the people and Priviledges of Parliament their Reprâ—sentatives which are of long standing and were before ever the Government by King Lords and Commons came into this Land These were contented for not onely against the late King but his Predecessours and hiâ—ted at in Parliaments many years ago called in Declaration of Lords and Commons July 12. 1642. the Birth-right of the Subjects of this Land c. which lately rose up to more Maturity and to such as the King takes notice of in 's Complaint to the Parliament vid. Exact Coll. p. 470. in these words He sees every day Pamphlâ—ts published against his Crown and against Monarchy its self So that on all sides We see this was and is the Good Old Cause nor can Mr. Prin with any colour deny it onely by his fallacy of non Causae pro Causâ p. 2. endeavours to evade it 4. DESIGN is to make us believe that the Common-wealth is the most ignoble and spurious issue of Apostacie his Words are p. 3. ult. Those who were first raised and Câ—mmissioned by Parliament for its just defence yet are at last degenerated into the greatest Apostates from and violentest Enemies against it VVhereas indeed the contrary would be most evident viz. if after all this Blood and Treasure spent we should recede again to King Lords and Commons laid aside so nobly by the People Army and their famous Representatives yea so highly
Malign suffluences and Effects that Interposition had which did of late eclipse both Parliament and good People which will make them a thousand times the more to welcome and value the Lustre and Blessing of their restored Light and Liberty and as liberally to Compensaâ—e it by their very faithfull return to their good old Trust and proper Stations so as to preserve the Parliament for future from the like Proreption or Perpetration of any Besides this we have learn'd by it that if any Project do deprive them of our hands yet it cannot be with the depredation of our hearts so long as they keep up the Good Old Cause with life fortitude and fidelity And this also we learn that when those Arms do fail us we can exercise other Arms and Artillery that through grace hath never fail'd us viz. Faith and Prayer Yea this the Parliament may learn that when Pâ—ovidence doth permit so high attempts upon their Priviledges or Persons it is in order to an edition of an higher Trust that they may be taken off of an Arm of flesh or carnal confidence and conclude that in the presence of the Almighty and Glory of his precious Name in the Affections and Prayers of his poor People and in their own Innocency and faithfulnesse is Protection Ammunition and a Life-guard to be found sufficient for them Their enemies too may learn this that no Militia diverted or rather perverted can confiscate us of God's favour or keep off â—hem from his anger that are pertiâ—ate to persist in their bad old Cause But in a Word there be so many and weighty Reasons for the sitting of that Parliament both for the satisfaction of the Nation for the maintaing and further managing the most excellent Good Old Cause the blessed Interest of Christ and of the Common-weal yea for the keeping up of the face of Authority in the Majestate tutilari to the dread of all Foes and the more endearing of all Friends healing the Wounds and Divisions of our old acquaintance in Aâ—my people and Councils raising of money to supply present Necessities Straits and Exigents in Army and State and indeed to make them some mends for the Interruption they had in An. 1653. this being the most united and loud call of the Well-affected who doubtlesse will welcome them into their places with great Rejoycings I say these Cinsiderations can quiâ—kly wipe off those Aspersions the enemies would bespatter their Recalling with and if Mr. Prin will be dashing in the puddle he will cause but the dirt to fly about his own ears But now READER it must be left to thy judgement upon the Argument between us which is the Good Old Cause contended for and who indeed are the Wily Gâ—beonites that come in with their clouted shooes and musty stuff to deceive with Worm-eaten Matter or food fitter for MAGGOTS such Gentils then for MASTERS of Reason The Dunghill-fly sayes the Story bragg'd of his descent as more excellent then the Painfull Bees because he came of a Horse whereas indeed he rose but from the Horse Dung the Application is easie for theirs arose in the thick of Popery from the Excrements of the times and must we keep it up Methinks this Antiquary and his Consociates might act the part of the old Arcades the next time who boasted of their Antiquities forsooth as two dayes older then the Moon I can inculcate his CALL to all that are not under the Jewish Curse of hearing and they will not hear or seeing and they will not perceive to examine accurately and find out if they can any other Good old Cause but that which we have asserted and Mr. Prin hath deserted above these ten years Yea let All Officers Souldiers of the Army Friends or Foes Any or All that have their Wits about them Grace in their hearts or Honesty in their lives and a good Conscienâ—e left them consider and duely perpend which is the Imposture or spurious off-spring of Apostacy the Common-wealth-Government and a Free-state or a Kingly Government and slavery again for I do professe if he or they will yet dote upon his Old Idea I will cease to wonder at Caligula's folly for falling so in love with his Horse Inciâ—atus But to his exhortation out of Bernard misquoted by him p. 8. for it is in Lib. 4. de Consid. so lib. 8. Florum Cap. 51. but not so fit for his or this purpose Spiritualis ille homo qui emnia dâ—judicat ut ipse à nemine judicetur omne opus suum trina quâdam consideratione praeveniet 1. Quidem an liceat 2. deinde an deceat 3. Postremo an expediat c. The spirituall Man is he that judgeth All things and that he himself may be judged of no man he forestals every thing he does with a three-fold consideration 1. Whether it be LAWFUL Now indeed what course else can be taken that is Lawfull before God and Man or that can free from the Bloud that has been spilt And besides as it is in the case of a Wife 1. Cor. 7.39 She is bound by the Law so long as her Husband liveth but if her husband be dead what then must she keep up his dead shape or his Corps above the ground for her onely husband must that lie by her putrifying and infecting the air at bed at board and in her bosome as Mr. Prin would have his Old cause so long defunct and gone No! no! this is not Lawful but if her husband be dead she is at Liberty and this is Lawfull 2. Whether it be comely and amiable I am sure a Commonwealth was so in Israel Numb. 24.5 How goodly are thy tents O Jacob and thy tabernacles O Israel Jer. 6.2 Ezek. 16 14. and their degenerating from it was as great reproach to them Isay 1.21 22. 1 Sam. 8 7. and as sure am I in England that it would be little becoming us to keep up any monstrous or most ugly declension by setting up one or other mishâ—pen Hydra Chimaeâ—a or Creature after Mr. Prin's old Cause which puts God and the Devil together in the Balance 3. WHETHER IT BE EXPEDâ—ENT Sure circumstances consider'd no other Expedient can be found so practicable and desireable so lawfull and so amiable in the eyes of God and good men But a few words To the Honourable Council of Officers our Army and friends to the Good Old Cause I Am a poor WORM a despised dust who am now come ouâ— of my HOLE where I have lay'n lamenting for these four or five years â—ast past under the dark and cloudy dispensation that past upon us but therein have seen so much of the Grace Wisdome and Faithfulnesse of our dear God JEHOVAH â—IREH Grace to Refine us Wisdome to Try us and his Faithfulnesse O now at last to save us as we hope and with such spirituall advantages to our poor Souls that we we may conclude upon what Themistocles once said to 's sons in banishment PERISSEMUS
Mr. PRYN'S Good Old Cause Stated and Stunted 10. years ago Or A most dangerous DESIGNE In Mistating the GOOD By Mistaking the BAD Old Cause Clearly Extricated and offered to the Parliament the General Council of Officer's the Good People's and Army's immediate Consideration Prov. 1.17 Surely in vain the Net is spread in the sight of any bird Hebr. begnene Col bagnal Canaph in the eyes of every Winged one or Vulg. Lat. ante oculos pennatorum before them that have Wings LONDON Printed by J. C. for L. Chapman 1659. Mr. Prin's Good Old Cause Stated and Stunted 10 year ago MR. PRINS Parts I much respect for Learning I love as my life yet his Principles and Spirit I must reject which render him {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} â—sh rib litigious It is a true Rule iâ— Nature that omne invalidum est Natura querulum a thing weak and unsound is ever quarrelsome yet for that a little mâ—tter as things now are even a Wisp of Straw may kindle a great Conflagration I would lend my hand without any need I hope of other Art or Engine to put out THIS if it mâ—y but be accepted What Silenus once said of an evil man I may as fitly apply to this evil mâ—tter of Mr. PRINS PAMPHLET That it had been best of all to have never been born or next to that not to live at all or to dye as soon as may be and I suppose the Gentleman if he be not like the Bustard in a Fallow that cannot raise it self sine Viturbinis without the help of a Whirlwind will be contented to let his SHEET pass for a WINDING-SHEET seeing it is so well stitched and seamed along the side and knotted at the head with the flourishing Title of The Good Old Cause stated c. although the matter contained therein is but the Ghost or unsavory Corps of that Cause which hath been sentenced to death and buried long ago but is now anew conjured up to haunt us we hope not to hurt us with The Preface out of Dâ— Bensons Serm. in 4o on Hos. 7 7· p. 84 where it is better applyed is the Proper Face of them who do use the uâ—most of their Black Art in the Nation to raise up those evil Spirits once more if the Lord prevent not which have before put us into the highest Broyls But for all thiâ— his new-facing of the Old Garment Rotten as durt rejected long agone for a Thread-bare Base and beggerly Thing that would not hide our Nakedness much less honour our Nation or satisfie the best affected and â—oundest Integrals of it I say for all this it doth appear that they are wily Gibâ—onitâ—s who by their wonted Stratagems in City and Country in Parliament and People had now anew laid the Plot apparently to beguile the Commonwealth and our Israel in it yea that they might the better effect it they have brought out their mouldy Bread Filthy Nasty Musty Food in their late Books and Pamphlets yea their Old Shooes and Garments too to delude the poor plain people with in the sinister and Sophisticated Reports which they make of the Good Old Cause prepared for those palats that like that bread best that is most mouldy and worm-eaten but if Mr. PRIN will yet maintain his Preface as his fancy applies it let him but remember with it that the Gibeonites were for peace came in peace and submitted themselves chearfully to Jehovah and his Joshuâ— in the Government of the Commonwealth as God's Institution and then the Stone that he hath thrown at our Roch which is not as their Rock Deut. 32.31 will certainly Rebound upon his own Pate and pain him more then us But to the matter The Project or Design that is on foot to conjure up those Malignant Spirits again in the Nation that have been so long and by the good hand of Jehovah so wonderfully and happily allayed shews it self in six several parts by this one Paper dispersed abroad in Mr. Prin's Name I. His first designe is to insinuate to the world that our English Commonwealth-Government is but a Conspiracy hatched and egged by the Jesuites and Romish Gibeonites to use his own words in several places in that one Pamphlet 〈◊〉 p. 1. This policy has for many years past bâ—en pursued by Jesuites and other Gibeonites of Rome Whether this be not the present stratagem of some Instruments or Fraternity under the disguise of their maintaining the Good Old Cause which in the margin he banks up with these words If they mean by this Good Old Cause their new Commonwealth it was begotten but in March 1648. No Rational Man can question what he means The present Outcry for the Good Old Cause i. e. the Commonwealth-Government declared and proclaimed in March 1648. he impeaches as the project of Jesuitick Instruments Romish Gibeonites or of that Fraternity which he undertakes to demonstrate in the subsequence of his discourse So p. 7 8. It is the old way which wicked men the old Gunpowder Traytors have formerly troden or finally because at first set on foot and promoted by certain crept in unawares into the Army and Nation from Jesuiticall Seminaries Now what can be said more to render the Common-wealth most contemptible odious and Worthy of utter destruction And that this Seed is not sown onely by Mr. Prin in the Nation to male-content ranâ—le â—nd incense the people and Rank the Well-affected with the Jesuites and Papists as their Pupils that the people might beat out their Brains in the streets see another Champion for this ill Old Cause mounted bravely and more eminent in the Nation for the Ministry one who not only England but other Lands may be apt to credit or take upon trust the Report that he makes he has inlarged what is here asserted in his Book called a Key for Catholicks viz. Mr. Baxter of Kederminster wherein he takes great pains to traduce and asperse the Common-wealth and the most renowned Patriots of the Nation it is a second Gangrena worse then Edward hiâ— Chap. 45. in the 36. detection of Papists which being too large to transcribe I must referre to as in p. 321 322. To vindicate saies he the Protestants opâ—nly before all the world and to all posterity from that fact i. e. the ODIUM of KINGKILLING in England which he saith was the JESUITES PLOT it is most publickly known that both houses of Parliament in their Protestation ingaged themselves and the Nation to be true to the King 2. Managed the War for K. and Parl. 3. Took the Covenant to be true to the King So in p. 322. In that it was known that the Army was quite altered not only by a new-modeling but by an intestine Jesuiticall corrupting of multitudes of the Soldiery before this odious fact of King-killing could be done 7. And it is known the Iesuited part that afterwards so many of them turn'd Levellers drew into them the Anabaptists Libertines and other sects
upon a Conjunction of Interests and by many sly pretences especially tying all together by the predicated Liberty for all Religions c. Who can read it without blushing and amazement that such a Man as Mr. Baxter whom I have ever valued should so little value himself or his Calling Was there no war waged since that for K and Parliament no Cause afoot for the People of God or hath the Army and all been Jesuited since the New Model and was that Act of Justiâ—â— such an odious Fact in Mr. Baxter's eyes why then did he hide it all this while But he will pay it now it seems for in p. 323. I do therefore leave it here to Posterity that it was utterly against the Mind and Thoughts of Protestants and of those they called Puritans to put the King to death and 12. evidences forementioned are undeniable Arguments that it was the work of Papists Libertines Vanists and Anabaptists So p. 355 356. Really if you take either Vanists or Levellers who were the chief Agents for Protestants you may as well say Papists are Protestants Wiâ—h abundance more of such abominable stuffe as makes it not onely a Scandalum Magnum but a SCANDALUM MAGNATUM very unsavory and unsufferable for a Minister that should be a Teacher of others to abuse the dearest and highest WORTHIES of our Nation so seeing it is written Exod. 22.28 Thou shalt not revile the Gods nor curse the Rulers of the people and this to the great Reproach of the Common-wealth the Army the Parliament and well-affected People or of all that are against the Bad Old Cause and for the Good Can a higher spirit of Malignity appear in men or is it probable they would presume so if their expectations were not high and with what confidence or credulity can this man affirm that no Protestant had a hand in that Act of Justice Was there not a Protestant of them all above six score appointed to sit upon him or if he means no Presbyterian and accounts none else for Protestants yet it is a most strange indiscretion and thick emotion of passion that impedes his eye from seeing the most of that judgement and of the largest size and Character too that fate in that Court Or what proof can he produce to make good the charge of King-killing much lesse I presume that it was of the Iesuites laying or if he cannot how will he expiate and compensate for the injury obloquâ— and publick Infamy Could common sense or civility take this Liberty but upon some design or other presupposed able to indemnifie for all Seeing the Parliaments Act was in open justice but Jesuiâ—es Act in Plots and Clandestinely yea they indeed murther but the Parliament executed judgemenâ— they do it by inferiour hands but the Parliament by superiour they sneakingly and perfidiously but the Parl. honourably and after Conquest they do it for confusion and disorder but the Parliament did it for peace and publick safety They to destroy but the Parliament to keep the good and ends of Government So that with what forehead can any man or malice it self suggest that this was a thing laid by the Iesuites but with an intent to write indeed after their copy in as bloudy Characters if he can at least let us suspect iâ— seeing Mr. Baxter saies p. 341. I confesse I think an ingenuous open Papist should have a great deal more gentle dealing from our Magistrates then these For my own part I must confesse I feel a great deal of charity in my heart for a conscientious plain dealing Papist and I would never be guilty oâ— cruelty or rigour to them Thus far have these two Champions 〈◊〉 opâ—n faced in this first Design of Fatheringâ—he higheâ—â—Acts of the Commonweal upon the Jesuites and that Fraternity but let the sâ—bâ—â— judge and the Lord decide who judgeth righteously Psal. II. The second Design is to pâ—ssesse if the People will but take a new edition of it with this that the Government by King Lords and Commons is the Very Contignation and â—rue State of the Good Old Cause and that the Common-wealth Government is but a new Oglio Toads-stool and not worth the naming the Good Old Cause in Pamphlet pag. 1 2 3 4 5. c. for this he quotes the Votes Orders Ordinances Remonstrances and Declararations of Lords and Commons in Parâ—iament and because he will not hear or own the Cause of Parliaments since I shall deal with him out of them all the Commissions of the Lord Generals of the Armies and the Scotish Covenant but miserably misapplying them with Fallacious consequences and conclusions upon them both as to the ORIGINAL and MERIT of the Cause 1. He is very Remote from an Honest Ingenuous and Right stating the true Good Old Cause in its ORIGINAL when he sayes p. 2. the first Original was the Kings coming into the Parliament Jan. 4. 1641. to demand the five Members and that upon this breach of priviledge the Houses required the power of the Militia True this might iniâ—iate that part of the quarrel with the King for breach of Parliament-Priviledges but was this all or all the Cause With his leave we finde even in his own Book of Coll. the Good Old Cause for substance asserted before that and by both Houses of Parliament which he might have seen wiâ—hout Spectacles had it pleased him For depriving the Bishops of Votes in Parliament For abridging their usurped power For the taking away all oppressions in matters of Religion For tendernesse to weak consciences For the due excuting those good Laws made for the securing the LIBERTY of the subject So on that fifteenth d. in the Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom Against Bishops High-Commission-Courts Prerogatives forced Loans of Money Injustice and further p. 20. for the better preservation of the Laws and LIBERTIES of the Kingdom that all Illegal grievances and exactions be presented and punished c. Also that the Good Old Cause for our Liberties Civil and Religious was asserted before this Breach of Parliament-priviledge may be seen by the King 's own Reply too Sayes he The fears and jealousies which may make some impression in the mindes of our people we will suppose may be of two sorts Either for Religion or Liberty and their Civil Interest c. Now This may easily obviate Mr. Prin's fallaciam {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} first for that this breach of Parliament-priviledge by demanding the five Members was not the onely Cause of the Contest or of requiring the Militia much lesse of the Warre between King and Parliament which he saith ended in the mutual destruction of each other pag. 2. l. 13 14. But it is our mercy that it is no such matter and that the Parliament did and doth survive do what they can that would not have it so but withall the Salui Populi the Safety and Liberty of the people both in Spirituals and Civils was the Cause of the