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A52954 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. Wel-willer to King and Parliament. 1643 (1643) Wing N704A; ESTC R41051 19,162 17

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change qualities and habitations well once Angells are now Divels once Divells are now Saints the later daies shall produce great matters of this nature the first shall be last the last shall be first I am still where I was how shall I judge For further direction herein Consider secondly having seene the Parties what are their practises in the managing of the Controversie here let us observe two things First how each Enemy hath beene detected to other Secondly how each Enemy hath proceeded against other First the Parliament Party c. by the severall complaints cries and Petitions of the People for redresse hath found out their Adversaries utterly mallignant against Religion and Law Religion in Doctrine in Discipline In Doctrine they arfirme and appeale to the knowledge and experience of al men to give testimony to the truth hereof that their Adversaries in the chiefe and prime Leaders have for a long season endeavoured to undermine the fundamentall points of the Protestant Religion by silencing our godly learned and painfull Ministers by corrupting our Universities with Popish and Arminian Governours in most Colledges by placing superstitious idle scandalous ignorant non resident and non-preaching Ministers throughout the Kingdome by committing the power of Printing and the Key of the Presles into the hands of Popish Praelaticall Arminian Domestick Chaplaines by tolerating and countenancing preaching and printing Popish Arminian and licentious Tenets that the Pope is not Antichrist nor Rome Babilon with the like Popish Tenets that men may fall from grace and be for heaven to day and for hell to morrow with the like Arminian Tenets That Sunday is no Sabbath and men may spend it in pastimes and sports with such like licentious Tenets c. Thus they have been malignant against the Doctrine of the Church In Discipline Secondly they likewise affirme with the like appeale to the knowledge of all men that their adversaries have been alwayes malignant unto Religion as in Doctrine so in Discipline by prescribing altering and corrupting formes of prayer in the Church by turning Tables into Altars and placing greater degree of holinesse in one part of the Church than another by command in cringings bowings duckings by introducing many guegaws and ridiculous Innovations of copes pictures crucifixes crosses candle-stickes tapers c. into the worship of God Thus they say they have been malignant against Religion in Doctrine in Worship Secondly they have discovered their adversaries malignant against Law by endeavoring to bring in an Arbitrary government as is evident in in the charge of Srafford and Canterbury prime quondam agents of this present faction which hath had a being and a working in capite long agoe and we know that operaetio alicujus rei conseq●●tur essere● by pleading for and pressing Ship moneys coat and conduct moneys Arbitrarie taxations Monopolies Pat●n●s almost for every thing by re●arding Parliaments the onely remedy of the Kingdomes miserie before we had one by endeavouring and bringing to passe the dissolution of them when we had any and now the destruction of this present Parliament which they connot dissolve Thus the one party hath discovered their enemy Secondly the other Party affirme the same against the Parliament c. viz. that they are enemies unto Religion and unto Law unto Religion here they alleadg nothing in poyn of Doctrine but for discipline they say that they goe about to al●er and change the well order'd Government of the Church by Bishops with their dependants a Government honour'd for so many hundred yeares antiquity with so many godly and learned Divines which hath made this Church famous in the world with so many Martyrs and holy men c. Moreover they affirme that their Adversaries now discourage Learning favour ignorant fellowes Preachers in Tubs c. countenance Brownists Anabaptists Schismaticks Separatists Sectaries c Thus they are Malignant against Religion Secondly they say they are malignant against Law going about to bring in an Arbitrary Government by voting and making Ordinances as binding without the King and by vertue thereof to seize upon what is the Kings therefore the Subjects may now looke to themselves by compelling men that are not willing ●o assist in this quarrell by demanding the twentieth part of their Estates by voting men Malignants who have not and doe not according to their Estate contribute freely to their assistance by seizing upon their Horses Armes Plate Money casting their persons into Prisons c. Thus are they malignant against the Lawes of the Land and thus each Partie hath found out his Enemy Is this thy case Alasse poore England thy wound is deepe thy remedy dangerous why hast thou taught thy Children no better Doe all plead for truth Doth Truth plead for all Truth is one and so are her Children how is it they are now fallen out Truth makes peace Errour contention all is not well where is the fault good is the Cause and one party with it each is not right one party must fall I guesse which it is I know what I think but I may be deceived I le suspend my opinion till know their proceedings 2. For further satisfaction herein consider how each Party having discovered pursues their Enemy First the Parliament c. have pursued the Cause of Religion in point of Doctrine after this method by opening the mouthes of godly learned and silenced Ministers by granting liberty without interruption for the frequent and powerfull preaching of the Word wherever men will maintaine it by promising and preparing for the removall and just punishment of wicked scandalous Ministers by discountenancing Popish Arminians and encouraging knowne godly and Orthodox Preachers Secondly they pursue the Cause of Religion in point of worship after this Method by prohibiting all Popish superstitious Innovations by tolerating the bare omission of Ceremonies confessed to be unnecessary and but indifferent things and therefore not to be prest upon any men whose consciences cannot beare them by resolving upon the best means they can think of to find out the will of God concerning his worship being very doubtfully disputed amongst the godly and learned Ministers viz the choosing of an assembly of godly and learned Ministers of different judgements in that point to study dispute and the best way they can to find out the will of God herein whose power is onely declarative and therefore can there be no prejudice by the overtopping number of any of one judgement by voting the abolishing of Bishops being found a chiefe spring of all our troubles in the three Kingdomes and therefore this Kingdome hath as much reason with joy and gratulation to accept of this Act and the King to confirme it here in this Kingdome as in the Kingdome of Scotland and our King in Scotlans had in the same case and upon the same grounds Thus they have pursued the Cause of the Kingdome in respect of Religion Secondly in respect of Law they have taken this course by taking notice of all these
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 ●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 Ra●ot● 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
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 pi●●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 hu●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 ●●●our our eye looke upon zi●n and let her be defiled It shall be then when all the who●● 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 ●ntic●rist M●●●●eil and the Dragon as the word in imates Secondly the followers and fig●●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 Wo●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