incursions which have been made upon the Law by illegall taxations and oppressions of the Subjects by finding out and removing the roots springs and causes thereof as the Star chamber high Commission c. by discovering and bringing to condignâ— punishment the underminers of Law whereof there have been Nobles Bishops Lawyers Judges Pattentees Delinquents of all ranks some wherof have fled away beyond Seas and others into divers parts of this Kingdom have indeavoured to raise up forces and strength to over-aw and overthrow this present Parliament and have brought tâ—is designe to great perfection all which is known and evident in the sight of all men For the suppressing of which power and the further prevention of their increase by forreigne force the Parliament hath endeavoured the best way they can by securing the Ships and Sea-Ports of the Kingdome in the hands of a faithfull and trusty Admirall and other Officers by disarming knowne Papists and Malignants interested and active in the Quarrell against them and by raising up an Army for the suppressing of that Malignant party raised up for the ruine of Religion and Lawes of the Kingdome Thus the one Party hath managed their Controversie against their Adversary Secondly the other Party hath prosecuted the purity of Religion before the Parliament in point of Doctrine by advancing and encouraging Arminian and Popish fellowes and Tenets throughout the Kingdome as all men know Secondly in point of worship by introducing and maintaining many foolish superstitious and ridiculous Ceremonies and Innovations as is likewise hid from no man and their method since they have gotten into an Army in the prosecuting the purity of Religion is by cursing banning blaspheming swearing God sinke me God dam me the Divel ram me c. with such like horrid oathes as I tremble to think of together with mocking jeering scoffing and deriding at those who make conscience of their wayes calling them Puritans Round-heads Schismaticks Separatists Brownists Sectaries c. the very name of an honest man that will not sweare lye and prophane the Lords day is ground enough for their cruell and inhumane dealings against them where ever they come Thus they prosecute the purity of Religion 2. They have endeavoured to maintaine the life and power of the Law Liberty of the Subject and Priviledge of Parliament before the Parliament by all kind of injury against Law Subjects and Parliaments as all men know and sithence the Parliament by disarming the Countries under the pretence of a most illegall Commission of Array which none of the Lawyers and Judges of the Kingdome dare avouch but wee must believe the Kings word for it though he say he is no Lawyer well the Country 's disarm'd and their Arms put into the hands of Papists and Malignants now in the Army hereby they are disinabled to defend themselves but now must quietly suffer themselves to be plunder'd rob'd and undone the Countreys assest to pay so much now and so much then and an Army on foot to compell them to pay it as absolute tyrranny as any is in Turkey and a tast of the Law of the Land and Liberty of the Subject which we are like to have hereafter if this Partie get head Againe they having by wicked Counsell gotten the King from his Parliament and so sheltring themselves under him have prevailed with him without the least pretended cause to put honest and blamelesse well affected Justices of Peace out of the Commission throughout the Kingdom a sad Omen of the Subjects good to any discerning eye and put in known Malignants in their roome to prick men for Sheriffes throughout the Kingdome knowne likewise to be Malignants c. and for the Priviledges of Parliament they maintaine these by declaring and publishing both Houses guilty of high treason and the Earle of Essex General of the Forces raised for the defence of King Parliament and Kingdome a Traitor and all his assistants comprehending thereby the Parliament to be Rebels and Traitors by prevailing with the King to cast off his great Councell the Parliament in all matters of Church and State to keep from the judicature of the Parliament known Traitors and Delinquents accused by the Parliament the Priviledges of the Parliament have been maintained by abusing beating and scorning messengers sent from the Parliament by calling those that stand for the good of the Kingdome and Parliament Rogues Parliament dogs c. in all these things and in many more of this nature doubtlesse the Law of the Land the Liberty of the Subject the Priviledges of Parliament are aim'd at and endeavoured with all sincerity and truth of heart and let any man of the meanest capacity judge the contrary Thus wee see how each Party hath discovered and pursueth their Enemy Is this the cause are these the Parties are these their practises what but stupidity can now be deceived Will Traitors fight for justice Delinquents for the Law the thiefe for the halter Papists for purity of Religion How is the World turn'd upside downe is Religion preserved by transgression Piety by iniquity Purity by Popery then is the Divell become a convert Is the law maintained by illegality the Subject by oppession the Parliament by destruction then are the Turkes as free as the English Shall I now question which side is right then let me question my judgement and reason I will fight for my God who gave me my being I will fight for my Countrey who gave me my breeding God and my Countrey gave what I have God and my Countrey shall have what they gave Religion binds me unto God Duty to my King Nature to my Countrey If the King calls me to fight against and the Parliament for God and my Countrey I cannot obey my King I dare not deny the Parliament That this is our case is as cleare as the Sun let us hears what Objections can say to the contrary Objections are some in reference to the King some in reference to the Parliament first in reference to the King Object 1 First it is objected that the King hath made many Protestations strong asseverations fearefull imprecations against him and his if ever he intends the least wrong but all good both to Religion Law and Parliament and shall we not believe the King Answ First the Law of God Nature and Nations doth not binde mee to believe any thing against experience though affirmed by a King and upon no better ground than his bare affirmation Secondly we question not the Kings intent against God and the Kingdome but we know that the Army raised up by his Authority is for the subversion both of Religion and Lawes and that those that are now the Kings Counsellours have alwayes and now doe endeavour the rooting up of both Thirdly the King may be deceived by false Prophets and wicked Lawyers who may suggest this to be Religion and that to be Law which is nothing but Popery and illegality and so he may protest and that from his
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
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
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 conseqâ—â—tur essereâ— by pleading for and pressing Ship moneys coat and conduct moneys Arbitrarie taxations Monopolies Patâ—nâ—s almost for every thing by reâ—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 alâ—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 â—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