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-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
NISI PERIISSEMUS We had been certainly undone if we had not been undone thus uncertainly praised be the Lord for it And therefore as Joseph said unto his Brethren Gen. 45.5 7 14 15. over whom he wept for joy and kissed them all and thus would we over you Now be not grieved nor angry with your selves for it was the Lord that appointed it that we might be PRESERVED ver. 5. to preserve life or Lemicojah unto a Reviving so Septuag {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or as it is in Arab. Magoutahan where the Mim is Causal that we might be kept to your help and assistance this is the Lord's doing and it is marvellous in our eyes This is such a VICTORY as you never had before your former was a Victory over your enemies but this is a Victory over your selves in the first you conquer'd like Souldiers but in this like Chriâ—tians in the first way was Alexander a famous Conquerour but in this last way was he miserably Conquered Wherefore pursue your Victory in the name of the Lord and preponderate the weight of the Work before you with the danger of delaying that which is expected from you Nequam Nequaquam are near neighbours both enemies to the Good Old Cause rout them out of your Councils and take your March as Numb. 33.29 from Mitchah which signifies sweetness to Chashmonah which signifies Swiftnesse there pitch your tents for present and the Lord prosper you Now if my mite may be but accepted I shall offer you the Sense of your Old Friends in seven or eight sentences wherein I hope have the mind of God I am sure I have of some hundreds of his servants after most solemn seeking of his face 1. That there must be a full Remove of that old Carcasse which Others call their Good Old Cause that has put us to a stop as Amasa's corps did to the People 2 Sam. 20.12 13. till it was quite removed out of the way and then all the Peoplâ— went on apace 2. Every unsound Body muâ—t be soundly and seasonably purged that the Vitals and Animals thereof may be restored and setled 3. The speedy Restitution of the faithfull Officers of the Army of the Parliament and of All is a probable means to prevent the Destitution of ANY of the Gâ—od Old Cause 4. Remember also that your Old Friends can do you as much good as your Old Swords when you need them 5. And that your Opportunity is seconded with their importunity 6. Also remember to set your Christian-Names before your Sir-Names in every service 7. And when we drink of the Brook let us think of the Spring 8. If any amongst you touched with the late Defection must be retain'd let it be without danger of the like Infection And for others satisfaction as well as their own Sanctification let us subject unto you this one consideration Whether they might not be prepared like the Captive-woman Deut. 21. who was set a mourning fourty dayes her Haire cut and her Nailes pared c. We mean by some deep Humiliation and Demonstration of a Real Change By this means you will work out all jealousies and wonderfully knit our hearts unto you as well as oblige our Persons Purses and Prayers for you with as mutual indearments between us as ever were to live and die together for Christ and the Good Old Cause Trusting to see the PLANT of RENOWN in this Nation yet and the most excellent FOUNDATION of Many GENERATIONS Even so Amen Exact Coll. Printed by Husbands Exact Coll. p. 464. Vid. Scobâ—l Coll. 2. part pag. 8. Chap. 16.17 1 Cor. 2.
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