A SOVERAIGNE SALVE TO CVRE THE BLIND OR A Vindication of the Power and Priviledges claim'd or executed by the LORDS and COMMONS in PARLIAMENT from the Calumny and Slanders of men whose eyes their Conscience being before blinded ignorance or malice hath hoodwinckt Wherein the fallacie and falsity of the Anti-parliamentary party is discovered their plots for introducing Popery into the CHURCH and Tyranny into the STATE are manifested The pretended fears of danger from Seperatists Brownists c. blowne away And a right way proposed for the advancing the just Honour of the King the due reverence of the Clergy the Rights and Liberty of the people and the renewing a GOLDEN AGE By J. M. Esquire Salus populi est Lex suprema Salus Parliamenti supremum privilegium LONDON Printed by T. P. and M. S. 1643. REader if thou expectest here a polite stile or fluent phrase thou wilt be deceived in thy expectation it is not Rhetorick but reason can satisfie the judgment which this Author intended the former may cozen the conscience and dazle simple men the latter onely can satisfie the Wise and lead to truth A rough Diamond is precious when the best wrought glasse is despicable the painted Oratory which best pleaseth the vulgar ill suits with the well becoming gravity of a Statist The right stating of many questions in the insuing Treatise hath necessitated the dilating of some sentences more then may stand with a pleasing stile yet it is not doubted but the lovers of Truth will find that performed which is promised Farwell SO many excellent Treatises as have been sent abroad to unblind the hoodwinkt world and all clearing this truth That the Parliament is and ought to be supreme Judge might make this seem needlesse but as for a sturdy sore many plaisters are but sufficient so will it not be mis-spent time by the clear demonstrations of truth and right reason to beat down that wall of the too-much-loved-ignorance which hitherto hath kept the divine light of the truth from entring into the dark therfore miserable souls of those deluded ones who with so much earnestnesse lay out their estates expose their families to a thousand miseries nay spend even their dearest bloud to inslave themselves and posterity Love and duty to religion and my countrey now flaming with the fire these men have kindled yet give fuell to yea even pitie to these men hath inforc'd a pen ever before still to expose it selfe to publike censure and if by this poor labour of mine any of these ignorantly erring men may be reduced I have my end as for those who inraged with malice willingly oppose the truth God hath provided her another champion even the sword to vindicate her selfe from the violence of those men on whom the power of reason hath no effect To attain this our end what readier way have we then 1. To discover the falsity of those pretences by which those men are deluded the miseries they bring themselves and posterity into if they yet persist 2. To discover the way to regain our now almost lost liberty and religion 3. To free us from the pretended fears of the invasion of our liberty by the Parliament or of our religion by Brownists Anabaptists and the like And here so many of these men who hitherto through ignorance passion and mistake have been enemies to the Parliament and in them to their religion countrey and themselves I say so many of these as by Gods providence this little Treatise shal com unto are wished out of due care love to the Protestant Religion so desperately undermined by Jesuiticall plots out of love to their poor countrey laws and liberty now at the last gasp as it were either to stand or fall out of pitie to themselves and their posterity designed even to Turkish slavery they would lay aside all prejudicate thoughts and seriously lay to heart the evidences of truth love and labour to defend it wheresoever they find it and in hopes they will do this I will proceed according to the method proposed which was first to discover the deceit of that sophistry by which these truth-haters delude their followers to clear the proceedings of the Parliament from all aspersions of wrong or injustice but because their arts of deceiving are many and it would require too much time to answer particulars therefore I shall endeavour to draw them to some few generals The first then we have to deal withall is this The soveraigne power claimed by the Lords and Commons in Parliament to provide for the Kingdomes safety is an intrenching on His Majesties just Rights and contrary to the knowne Lawes say those deceivers To answer this and in this the whole bulk of their objections against the Parliament I shall first propose this to your consideration Whether if the King having his royall name and authority abused by those about him or misled by his own passion or mistake do command and act things pernicious and destructive to the people religion liberty and lawes contrary to the end and trust of the first institutors of this Monarchy and to the contract at his coronation and convert the power of the people it self to back and carry on those designes refusing to hearken to the petitions of his people or Remonstrances of the great Councell of the Kingdome if in this case the people be remedilesse consider whether the condition of a free nation be not worse then that of a most miserable slave and whether the framers of this Monarchy have not provided better for the means then for the end it self the peoples welfare which is the end of all government For first being before in a free and happy estate every way it must bring it self into servitude and each man make one another mutually and those he holds dearest and his Countrey it self slaves and must expose his own life that he may take the lives of whosoever refuseth slavery Secondly besides thus each man being one anothers mutually and all their countreys executioners each must be bound to expose all he hath and his life as much as In him lieth to procure or advance the means of damnation of those he holds dearest nay of innumerable others and of himselfe Religion being part of the case Thus whereas it seems sufficient to the constitution of a slave not to have power to dispose of himself or of what he hath in a passive way onely in this case men must be positively active against themselves Thirdly and lastly a whole Nation cannot fly or run away from a condition so miserable and by any other meanes unavoidable as a particular slave may More might be said in this point but what needed thus much were not their Judgements with whom we deale as turbuâ—ent as the waters they have troubled which sort a possibilitie of delusion that yet may partly hoodwinke them must distinguish from the other part among them whom malice hath made utterly reason and
by representation such power to be exerted and used when it judges necessarie and that if the nature of the occasion so requires with the suspension of the power of the supreame ordinary Delegate or Magistrate during that parenthesis of state for the kingdome having entrusted the Parliament with all it holds precious the effect of the Commission upon the matter being that it provide ne quid respublica detrimenti capiat it hath consequently trusted it with its power which is the supreme that it may be enabled to perform and execute the trust when it judgeth this cannot be made good without using that power But to return the Law saith also That the King can do or doth no wrong but it denieth not but ill Counsell about him may or perhaps the Law intends the king as he is in his great Counsell where he is as Sol in Leone or any Planet as they say in his proper house of farre greater vertue and power then otherwise But however Reason tells us that a Prince or a few of his Cabinet counsell may far more easily erre in judgement or possibly in point of will then the multitude of a Parliament so many whereof are selected out of the whole Kingdom by the people in point of Judgement much more of will or well willing to the publique whereof themselves are so great a part and this much the rather in that it is to be feared that oftentimes those privadoes of the Prince finding out cunningly the Princes will inclination or humour before they advise and further to ingratiate themselves seconding it much that there is agitated becomes to be upon the matter the judgement or will but of the Prince alone Well I hope we are now come safe to this passe that the Parliament may and ought in our case to defend the people or kingdoms rights use the peoples power which is the supreame as others have proved to cleare passionate men rather then to satisfie any judicious man who will not require proofs in a point plain enough of it self ever resident in the people and so in the Parliament though dormient till it be by the Parliament thought fit to be wakened which should it not now be done such a seeming-secure and supine sleep might have proved a mortall lethargy But here these Sophisters think to enter upon us and to take the benefit of their own wrong for seeing they have brought the Kingdom to this passe that unlesse the Parliament take the power of the kingdom into the kingdoms or its own hands it cannot defend it self or the kingdoms rights or rather rescue them they would cunningly prepare those whom they intend to make slaves by first making them such fools as to beleeve that the Parliament intends a change of the Monarchicall form of government and to oppresse King and people by I know not what new kind of Arbitrarie tyrannicall government I beleeve the King and Parliament will soon be attoned if any can shew the Parliament by what other way it can discharge its trust and dutie in this constitution of the times without the power it hath assumed But what if it shall appear I should make scruple to use the word shall as if it did not appear alreadie without these weak offers had we not to do with such as seem to have found out some new kind of reason or having antiquated the old which differenced man from irrationall creatures to have substituted passion or idle phantasie in the roome of it the best method indeed for them afterward on as good or the same proportion of reason to advance the power of the King into the place of the power of the whole people or Kingdom it is their own manner of speech and practise as sound and good as their own Method to make such distinction and difference betwixt King and kingdom what if it shall appear time bringing every day truth to light and perhaps even to there men some dilucida intervalla that there is not the least probabilitie that the Parliament can have such a thought of usurpation as these men would impose or seem to suppose much lesse was it ever heard that any free Parliament actually made any the least attempt to that effect so far is it that ever it effected it Whereas on the other side ill Counsell about Princes have attempted oft and de facto sometimes performed the turning of a well poysed or tempered Monarchy into an arbitrarie tyrannicall power and publique oppression by which change such ill instruments appear the onely gainers and the malignant spleen swels in a miserable consumed bodie the head not exempt and yet the very swelling a dangerous disease even to the spleen it self at last Unlesse such monstrous times did priviledge it were high presumption to think it were not all sufficient to stop such mouthes to say it is a Parliament and it were dishonourable for it to do as they calumniate and therefore not to be imagined This maxime or ground being no more to be denied or questioned in this Monarchy then that the earth is round in naturall Philosophy as neer as morrall Philosophy may arrive at naturall in point of certitude though should we grant them that a Parliament may erre nay do wrong to Prince people or particulars yet that would not follow upon this which they would maliciously inferre and ayme at for none but it self or another Parliament were to correct or rectifie what a Parliament should have done amisse and not the King or any other persons any way whatsoever much lesse by force or warre for he that is allowed to judge or correct is allowed thereby at least an equall if equality for such an intent can be conceived sufficient possibly but such equality of power in two distinct Magistrates for so we must distinguish King and Parliament here of different natures and touching one and the same point or matter in controversie cannot be in one and the same state then such a corrector must be allowed superiour and the corrected subordinate but such the King cannot be in our case as above is partly shewed and shall be further afterwards How then can force or warre on his side for this cause be rationall and just nay though it should be but defensive much lesse if offensive or inferred Since even bare resisting the ordinances of the Parliament is or presupposes an assuming of the supreme power to judge and condemne such resistance being the execution of the sentence But we shall not carry it away so easily that the Parliament will not be unjust to any holding such power strong temptations of profit corrupt too oft where one or a few are ordinary Judges as a little water standing sooner is putrified but multitude of these Judges are like the Sea incorruptible But moneys received profits and emoluments accrewing it were a shame not without a certain mixture of presumption to insist on such base imputations here had not frontlesse and monstrous
this Doctrine from heaven for there we may finde that confirmation in grace in the Angels and blessed spirits of just men whereby compleat free will or the remaines of it which free will argues but imperfection and mutabilitie power to sinne being but impotency and the King of Kings God himselfe who is perfection it selfe being above and without all power or possibilitie of doing any evill yet rather therefore I should say omnipotent in or for good that confirmation in grace I say by which free will is transfigured and sublimed into a state divine and Posse non peccare into non posse peccare is a transcendent blessing if not the very essence of celestiall beatitude where these suggest such a condition is to be declined though with ruine of all But howsoever the Divines of our times may not allow the explication or application of this point we may hope his Majestie out of his Princely care of the good of his people though both himselfe and it may beleeve well of his good intents to that purpose will be far from judging such a puntiglio of arbitrary power for however it may fill and tickle the phantasie yet deeply and duely penetrated into by judgement it appeares to resolve even into no more if a puntiglio be any thing or least it might possibly be thought he would or might have done evill had he not been restreined from it when he cannot violate such just restrictions without first doing the greatest evill of all to the publique from judging I say such a puntiglio a just and sufficient cause to destroy the people by a civill warre when were this power indeed justly belonging to him yet true love to his people might judge it no other way usefull then to have the glory and thanks of relinquishing it voluntarily least otherwise the peoples good and safetie for a puntiglios sake or satisfying a phantasie or an humour of one man should depend on the turne or change of one mans will whensoever it may happen and more then this great and noble minded men though no Christians have more then once done when having in their hands absolute power over their Countrey not unjustly gotten they have freely and of their owne accord given it up absolutely judging it so best for their Countreys good leaving it even in full libertie and so living themselves in or rather under it but much higher in true glory and honour then ever But though such power is not here in his Majestie he is yet not without meanes in his hands and a faire opportunitie to lay a tye not altogether unlike on his people and to exhibit freely great and publique munificence all at once by a faire and voluntary relinquishing all contestation about it whilest yet a malignant faction preferring their passions before reason and conscience before his honour and safetie instigate and assist him as much as they can or rather would make him their instrument to compasse it by an unnaturall pernicious civill warre on whom the blame may justly be laid as they alone would have gone away with the benefit By these and the like passages had beene and even yet so it be betimes taken may be the way to the true arbitrary power indeed the peoples hearts where God begins with man as at the right end this is the divine Method which draw all the rest sweetly which the pretended false bastard arbitrary power could never by unjust violence effect and thus by fairely quitting the pursuite of the false the true may be gained a magnanimous Prince that confides in his owne vertue will put himselfe boldly and securely on the free wills of his Subjects It is in manner a divine Charecter Scire velle liberis hominibus imperare to know how to temper and governe free men Gentlemen Princes and in such a condition God made man to serve his glory best and is it not a more glorious thing when a Prince shall by his great proportionate and heroike vertues render them at his devotion and make them his voluntary slaves being otherwise free and noble then if he found them made slaves by the practise and vices of others or so made them such himselfe Thus a free people is a strong motive and occasion to a Prince to â—ender them wholly his by extraordinary vertue the fall of this emulous Carthage would shake Rome though in opposition with it and therefore the noblest of the Romans best and most wisely loving Rome for Romes good advised Carthage should stand But reason evinceth that persisting as he doth he remaines sequestered from all just power and authoritie as touching the matters in question between him and his Parliament on the justice and wisdome whereof he may safely put himselfe secure that they will not nor can devest him of any thing that justly belongs to him onely reason and right require that it be left to the Parliament to be the Judge thereof without which power the people and Kingdome cannot be safe as stands deduced Monarchy thus tempered by libertie and prerogative as it is remote from intrinsicke causes of dissolution so from externall If a Prince governing at discretion invade it the partie in the goodly arbitrary government excluded by the distemper of such a State from the benefits of libertie the partie I say for be a Prince never so absolute yet his Mamaluks his Militia by whose conspiracy or tyranny he awes and enslaves the rest not onely equall for the most part in point of libertie the Subjects of a free State but exceeding them far in all licentiousnes and tyrannizing and enslaving upon the matter the Prince himselfe as well as others justly lay on his owne shoulders by Gods judgement that which he makes or useth these as instruments to lay unjustly on the necks of his other Subjects whom he ought to have protected Instances are frequent of the Pretorian Cohorts or Legions tyranny on the Roman Emperours of the Janisaries on the great Turke of the Mamaluks on the Aegyptian Soldans and reason shews this danger is most to be feared where a Prince hath assumed the peoples libertie by publique oppression I say if the absolute Monarch invade the justly tempered the oppressed partie is not to be trusted but to be kept under by part of those he will trust he can trust none safely as certaine enemies at home so the power which he must trust doubly lessened the partie used goeth faintly on the free Nation for at best by bringing their free neighbours whence was the chiefe hope of assistance for the recovering their owne libertie into servitude they should but confirme and render remediles their owne slavery encreasing the strength of the oppressor and likewise on the same reason resist lesse if invaded Onely if the Prince will make accompt or can be content or cannot avoid to be himselfe an equall a companion with his Mamaluks Facinus quos in quinat aequat or rather to be tyrannized by them and his
malice been so incredibly audacious as actually to raise them may make a dividend sufficient to draw to some uniust act each man or the maior part of such a multitude very likely and to draw the more matter of profit we see how by frequent orders they invite private causes and do they give any publique account of the moneys they receive from the people more then the Malignants could have done for Ship-money But we erre they give publique account but it is to get credit onely with the people that they may be in their sinister practises and machinations the lesse suspected and better served But stay how can they have ill ends at all on foot or in agitation since of all their particular actions and proceedings of most moment from time to time they by their Declarations or the like give no lesse then of the moneys an account to the world except they be evident of themselves Should they do that they cannot give reason for but such malicious vigilance as we deal with when it might in particulars charge them and article against them upon truths would never be driven to the base and miserable shifts of these generals and the like most ridiculous impudent transparent calumnies for want of matter to work on and did not the people see clearly they have reason and that their ends are meerly the publique good it would desert them loosing patience upon the sence of the present evils which like the sicknesse which even the best phisick before it can induce a finall setled state of health works in a patient chiefly if disorders during the cure also foment the peccant humours through the malignant traverses of our Calumniators both people and Parliament are of necessitie to passe through and were it not so though the King cannot dissolve the Parliament yet the people possibly might recall their elections in each County since the Parliament doth but populo volenti imperare which if then it doth not do what ever some few inconsiderable and inconsiderate particulars may have attempted here and there it appears the major part at least approves what passeth and that sufficeth but let us take heed we traduce not these traducers they have a more honourable conceit of the Parliament it is not base profit onely but places of honour such as are mentioned in their Propositions to the King or the like they look at and travail for but there may be hope that these that direct correct the Parliament in all things will here tell them that they are out of their way and that their nearest way had been to have complied with the King which seeing these would seem to imagine the Parliament so unjust and dishonourable they need not doubt they would follow and by this course bringing in an arbitrary government in which case as before is said the ill Counsellors especially being authors or instruments of the change carry away the advantage or the gain and spoyls of the people those their places would be farre more imperious absolute arbitrary on the oppressed people we may instance in the Starre-chamber or more beneficiall as lesse obnoxious to strict syndications then they can be the other way they now hold in everie regard so accountable the King in all presumption like to be eagerly vigilant over them and these Malignants themselves grown yet more malicious and venemous if possible by seeing the tables so turned and what they have been thus enormously wicked to compasse possessed by those they hate that may be the instruments to punish them for such their wickednesse besides the Parliaments ever hanging over their heads and so highly interested in the demeanors of those they have made choice of and perhaps the next Parliament may consist of other Members then this present doth and so as strangers to those so chosen lesse subject to favour them if this were any thing to satisfie the insatiate malice of those who under colour of seeming suspicious of the integritie of this Parliament would through the sides of it strike at the heart and authoritie of all future Parliaments so upon the matter by this course the Parliament now holds in such their propositions the people and kingdom are like to be the onely gainers as these publique mischiefs grew from ill Counsellours and Officers But have not some of the principall Worthies of this Parliament quitted or indangered places of greater moment besides the generall losse common I fear to the most or all of them through the neglect of their private affairs whilest they are thus wholly taken up with the publique as their Countreys confessors if not Martyrs then they can any way expect by the course they hold are not examples of such as suffering themselves to be taken off from such services on which they purposely seemed the more sharp that they might be so taken off have grown almost as much in greatnesse thereby as they lost in goodnesse are not such instances as vulgar as the spirits that furnish us with them More might be said and much better herein by better Judgements but a weak one may suffice so strong a cause there being good reason to be short and slight in an argument or point that could afford no just reason to have begun at all did not such monsters of men urge it Lesse can it be conceived that hope intention or fruition of uncontroulled dissolute licentiousnesse or pleasures by means of the capacitie they now stand in or as they are a Parliament can be a motive to them to continue the power or place they have longer then the publique necessitie or good requires or convert it to any other use then it for which they were and are by the people entrusted with such power supposing they were no better then our Calumniators that where there were a motive or cui bono it would prevail with them to do evill had intention of such licentiousnesse been one of the principles that moved them what meant they without any necessitie not onely to give publique significations that they meant to induce a strict reformation of manners but even amid so great and dangerous distractions to begin to set it on foot not without some further danger from those that hate it As for any pleasures they may hereby pretend they seeme to be no other then their indeficient and admirable pains dangers and indignities let me adde and base ingratitudes a blessed condition to fain teares and dangers that they may continue in it their noble constancie judging pro Deo patria dulce periculum for all which whereas it appears they have no earthly reward propounded to them the like may be said of all those that adhere to the Parliament but the conscience of having done nobly in serving God and their Countrey and defending it did the Kingdome give what it could afford it were short of them and it must be an higher kingdome that can indeed equall them and such a change of the kingdome and
prevailing upon the King would oppresse it for while they carry on by degrees and mature by little and little such their mysticall and pernicious designes which must be met with betimes in such tender and jealous matters before they advance and grow strong when caution comes too late and opposition out of season doth but exasperate and increase the evill they will cause the King by fit instruments for the purpose to pronounce judge or interpret each such degree or gaining a new and further point still lawfull and not subject to question however dangerous to the people in it self and of worse consequence till the mysterie at last unmask and all be desperate It may be superadded that should the Parliament be more jealous of the Prince then there were reason which yet as I hope hath appeared is not to be imagined of the wisdom and Justice of the Parliament yet it were the farre lesse evill that the Prince being but for the people should somewhat suffer by such the Parliaments jealousie which were but peccare in meliorem securiorem partem then that by the Parliaments too much security and beleeving in the Prince the people or whole kingdome should be endangered or oppressed for whose good they both are ordeined as means for the end Besides that the authority and politique infallibilitie of the Parliament must be by all that love their Countrey not blemished but held sacred and inviolate as supreame The King indeed saith he will defend and maintain the Laws Liberties properties of Subjects just priviledges of Parliament but even in saying this he seems to violate them if the thereby assume the supreame Judgement of them to himself which as already partly hath appeared and further hereafter may do cannot be Admit this Trojan horse into your walls allow this all of them may easily resolve into nothing Consider well what Judgement hath been made of the Laws the libertie the property of the Subject before this Parliament whilest a future Parliament was doubted and feared and therefore kept off as long as these Malignants could but their fear and hate shews what we ought ardently to desire and love whilest so many Monopolies Loane Conduct Coat Ship-money and the like grievances were brought upon us our persons not going Scotfree as consisting well and compatible with our laws liberties properties and adjudged lawfull which yet what did they or ere long going on at least would they have wanted of making them all meerly at discretion pleasure and will the meer names of such things remaining and used indeed as Trophees of their Conquest and monuments of our quondam felicity and at leasure to be lamented folly and eternall shame The danger of our Religion is not forgotten because not ranked in mention with the rest it shall have a better place by it self as a Queen sitting alone The Judgement made of priviledges of Parliament during this Parliament seem to have come little short of the Judgements made of our liberties properties c. and if it be duely weighed First that they will have the King to be judge of them then what Judgement hath been lately made both in fact and in words or Declarations of them a man meanly penetrant will find them resolved by the positions of these Malignants into next to nothing and all this while the Parliament was and is in vigour vindicates and asserts them and likely to call these men to account what will they make of them should they through the authority and reputation of this Parliament which is the essence of it peirce at once the heart of all future for a Parliament not free were no Parliament and if the King be allowed judge of priviledges of Parliament where any new case happens which may touch the very essence of it if it be any thing else then the priviledges will it not come to this that the Judges he appoints or rather such instruments as the Malignants about him please to set over us shall upon the matter judge the Parliament which is to Judge their Judges making it and the Laws what they please and to restrain the power and freedome of it as of the Laws as they think fit whereupon would follow even the same inconveniences which were before mentioned supposing the King the supreame Judge of the Laws namely that the Parliament should be disenabled to defend the people or indeed it self if incroached on or oppressed upon the same reasons in that place expressed But it seems more rationall that since the Parliament is to be Judge of the Laws as is above shewed nay even may make them at least in some cases it may judge as well of its own priviledges neither appears it in the Kings power to make them what he pleases save onely thus if he doth not exorbitate nor innovate any thing against them neither can the Parliament desire any alteration of them in any point betwixt it and the King concerning them But in case of extraordinarie emergents of never-before-heard of attempts on his part whither by any verball declaration or by fact whereby the priviledges authority or very being for it may trouble a good School-man to distinguish clearly betwixt these three it self of the Parliament is indangered it is reason that the priviledges now become any thing that the Parliament judges fit for the conservation of it self For the maine end and intent of the first ancient ordinary and usuall priviledges of Parliament being to enable and qualifie it for the due attending defending or advancing the publique good for which purpose they were judged sufficient by the first Institutors not suspecting such new invasions or attempts on them or on Parliaments as since have happened in more corrupted times but thinking them rather secure as part of the Laws or customes which Kings are bound to keep inviolate why should not the same end and intent which ever remains in equall force immortall and immovable work and move as well to the instituting even of new ones if new causes happen and without such new ones the Parliament shall remain disenabled to procure the publique good for which it was ordained and if the Parliament may in extraordinarie times as now make new Ordinances for the conservation of the people it may make if need require new Ordinances or Priviledges which are but the private Laws of or concerning the Parliament for its own conservation without which they cannot defend or conserve the people and in vain had it power to make new Ordinances upon new occasions for the publique good if it have no inherent power to make new priviledges or ordinances upon new emergent dangers to save it self Posse naturally and necessarily presupposing Esse as grounded on it Qui dat finem dat necessaria ad finem the priviledges being to defend and maintain the Parliament as the Laws the people and as Salus populi is lex suprema as before so it may as well be said Salus Parliamenti supremum
once taken up and victorious or the King be able to make good his faith or word And are not they the fittest and surest meanes to conserve a State that have been thought and found such for the acquiring But be this as it may it is clear that can the Papist bring the matter to an absolute and arbitrary government and render the prerogative immense and even divine they gaine a maine point on our religion for then between them and the heaven of their desires there were interposed but the turning of one will and that one alreadie prepared disposed and inclined to them by such meritorious supererogatory service and further propitiated by the so strong intercessions how strong to speak like those we have to do with when used by her that may in somethings even command our soveraigne Ladie Mary I had rather seem to some a little too much tyed to sence onely and to the present times we yet live in when I presumed to use that phrase turn or change of one will then with others by the abstraction of a potent imagination found worthy to have been rapt into the glorie of those times in stead of change of will to have used a phrase or sence seeming to such more orthodox terming it rather an externall manifestation and declaration onely to us here below of that which was ever from the beginning predestinated internally since in Gods no reall change nor shadow of change but the other way a whole Parliament at least must be first turned and that in Diametrall opposition with the Papist and should forreign Force come in by Portsmouth Plymouth or Falmouth what if we adde Ireland to induce Tyranny Religion runs equall hazard with the State And it may be the Kings forces running lately with so strong bias so eagerly at Banbury Warwicke Coventry c. esteemed most opposite indeed to the Papist though perhaps not otherwise direct to the first or maine mark for the present of these Malignants may judicate and argue without any sophistry a present complication of the disease and the duplicity of the designe and danger or if not a present essence of a double disease yet a dangerous maladie now in being alreadie but breaking out into a symptome more to be taken heed of then the very disease and depending on it But they object our Religion is on the other hand more indangered by Brownisme Anabaptisme c. suppose this true and that these should get strength nay prevail with the Parliament which it is charged to promote upon as likely as strong and even the same grounds as it is to affect the change of the Monarchy yet as we said of we know not what new form of government supposing ridiculously the Parliament did introduce it it were easily dissolvible so obscure Brownisme or Anabaptisme were much more easily mastered and redressed then most politick potent all over bearing Papistry likely to be backed with forreigne force which I think none will say is to be feared from those other scarce known weak poore Sects whose obscurity and paucity hides rather and exempts from animadversion and would the Parliament attempt this though we might justly refuse to dispute with those that denie principles in this kingdoms policie calling still in question the wisdom Justice and honour of Parliaments could it ever effect it without the peoples concurring Papistry so increased at home so countenanced might if it doth not already with their good friends help in Ireland and elsewhere hope to force entrance How foolish then is it for the people to fear that which can never take effect unlesse it self will have it so I fall unawares upon the same answer here used before touching the supposed change of the State because the false grounds they would seem to go on here and there seeming the same and if the whole kingdom or people will have it so there is no opposing But hath not the Parliament taken a voluntarie Oath besides so many publique Protestations and other obligations to us the Scots and the States of the Low Countreys for the maintenance of the Protestant Religion which they are too wise and just needlesly to have done and so should they do otherwise to incurre most justly universall falling of or rather falling on them had they had any intent ever to have done as these would seeme to fear to direct us here also from looking at the true fear and danger nay to draw us with our own hands to pull it on us we may superadde that the voluntary oaths of such a multitude as the Parliament on whom no suspition at all can fasten of inclining to that religion which takes upon it to dispence with oaths and equivocations and thereby with the Law of God Nature and Nations which intended to advance it will by Gods justice advance the ruine of it are better security then our Malignants have or can give us on the other side the Antithesis in each part inquired into duely as the subject well deserves But these men would here also take benefit of their own wrong according to their usuall method it may appear what correspondence or good intelligence the maine dangers of our Religion and State still hold mutually or how they resemble Necessity of the State nay of the very preservation of it self whereof these Objectors are manifestly the authors may justly and too evidently doth compell the Parliament to the setling of Religion though the end of policy and however first in esteeme and intention yet not so in the time of execution alwayes after the ordering of politick affairs and in such desperate times as these not to do this were but a sacrifice without salt a foolish superstition like that of the Jews who would rather sit still and so suffer themselves to be cut in pieces by the capitall enemies of their State and Religion contrary to David who in necessitie spared not the very Shewbread who maliciously invaded them purposely at such a time then arme or fight upon such necessitie on their Sabbath Which they complain the Parliament will not now do which should it now one ruine might involve both Church and State both at once yet hath it not altogether even such times notwithstanding left it self without some testimony of their good intentions herein as particular Acts or Orders of theirs do shew to the world but the attempts and facts of the Malignants evident to all men apologize too well for the Parliament in this point without any words from any man if we weigh the desperate estate of publicke affaires well in these times caused by the malice of these Monsters which times forcing us for a while to content our selves with an implicite or generall faith as touching the ordering reforming or setling of other particulars concerning Religion which cannot for the said necessarie reasons and the like be yet effected yet we have besides many other raducements obvious enough to confirm such implicite faith this also that of
such ordering and setling these matters as is to be wished there is farre greater hope and presumption caeteris paribus from those Divines that preach and cry down the temporall greatnesse pride riches avarice c. of the Clergy and so all their own hopes and pretensions that way and consequently from the Parliament which we see countenanceth such men then from the contrary side that professing likewise in a speciall manner and degree mortification contempt and renouncing of the world and of the glory greatnesse and pomp of it humility and the like as minding heavenly matters and things above as principles of the Doctrine and Religion they presse upon us yet are not ashamed to appear to the world invested through various mysteries of iniquitie with so great a share of whatsoever the most worldly men whose highest contemplations ascend not to the Moon compose their Trinity of as may enable these men thus crucified and dead to the world by their own earthly power greatnesse authoritie not to insist on that kind which they have in our times attempted to render in some points or cases at least independent of the crown and absolute and which earthly greatnesse rather then the Parliament shall question or regulate they will question and condemne the Parliament and advance a Civill Warre or forreigne invasion to the evident danger of a generall ruine and abomination of desolation of their Countrey nay Church it self which these hypocrites would seem to stand for as may enable them I say by their own temporall potency which in the hand of such men becomes more dreadfull then any spirituall power they exercise sufficiently to keep in awfull silence if not to bring into a kind of Inquistion such as most heretically shall not captivate and subdue their understanding and reason under so strong a faith as to beleeve that these chief ones who ought to be most eminent of all in practising the said principles of renouncing the world humility mortification c. which they recommend command and enjoyn as Leaders and Captains for all that should follow them on so difficult services can yet practice and pursue I say so ardently so desperately the clean contrary so as if they would have others quit the world onely that themselves might seise â—t and yet thus by their deeds drawing into suspition doubt imsprision with multitudes of men nay even consuting their Doctrine not be a maine cause of the miseries and calamities of the world whilest deluges of sinne and wickednesse and pernicious consequences breake in at this so great an overture of the faith thus discountenanced and discredited and even called in question will not many incline rather to beleeve that this practice this doctrine so destructive one to the other is sowing their feilds with mingled seed wearing a garment mingled with woollen and linnen so for bidden in the Mosaike Law That such a ridiculous unsuitablenes between such profession doctrine such practise and deeds is rather a mockery of the world Will they not like one Cicero speaks of wonder cur aruspex videns risum teneret Though the Mahumetan sect be grosse and carnall and the Mahumetans themselves exceeding devout in their kinds and superstitious having their Church-men in great reverence diverse of them rich and prosuse otherwise in works they conceive any way pious and charitable and though otherwise the Nation very covetous yet I thinke it will not be easie to shew that their chiefe Church-men in generall in any temporall greatnesse or riches doe not much rather resemble the mendicant Orders among the Papists did they hold themselves to their Rules then the Papisticall or our Prelates and chiefe Clergy-men who yet professe themselves Leaders in so spirituall so heavenly and sublime so world-renouncing a way faith and doctrine It is true the Turkish Muphty or chiefe Priest is by the grand Turke partly to please the people in shew and shadow greatly honoured not perhaps without a competency in revenue but I take it hereabouts their devotion of any note this way ends As for any temporall greatnesse and riches the Mesaicall Clergie might have wee are taught these were rather grosse and sensible Types then any thing else of the spirituall eminency graces endowments and power that ought to shine in the sublime and heavenly Antitype whence their true authoritie with the people and reverence and even veneration to their doctrine places and persons must slow conserved encreased by ever constant and invincible rejections of the least not necessary temporall matter if pressed on them as an high dishonour or affront offered to discredit them a bribe to corrupt them in the execution of their Embassage a baite to entrap them and frustrate the service they are sent about a temptation of pernicious consequence nay of what the State may adjudge and assigne the Clergie as necessary if it might be a voâ—â—ntary and absolute declining of part even of that for I doubt not but the State would appoint such a proportion as might to duely mortified and spirituall men afford matter for the honour of such a refusall would undoubtedly adde such authoritie and reverent regard to them and their doctrine that men seeing they seek them not theirs nor will admit more of the world then what is meerely necessary for them for the discharge of their places you shall discover a new world Men by such courses which will bring on doctrine proportionable will be so moved that cutting off each in his proportion greatly even their own superfluous vanities much more their sins what our spirituall men may so have refused with infinite more by others thus cut off may be distributed among the poore besides the benefit of such examples and doctrine extending even to these and so universall charitie reducing all to a blessed kinde if not of paritie yet of proportion leaving the least in a tolerable mediocritie a golden age or primitive times may rise againe in the world But the way to this heaven is first to goe by the gates of hell as through the Parliament the Kingdome is made at by the true malignants so through or under colour of a pretended malignant partie that seduceth or ruleth the Parliament the Parliament or authoritie and dignitie thereof is attaqued but sure this is propounded as an article of faith and to weake reason past comprehension how it can well be but how ever they are misbeleevers and hereticks that pertinaciously reject an article of faith and with force to be proceeded against yet force being found oft none of the best wayes to extinguish heresie but rather the canker spreaded and exasperated by rude handling many have not and will not be deterred from advancing such as these plaine or stronger oppositions if any of this malignant partie propound any thing as in all great assemblies some must breake the matter and begin and the house consent to the proposition it is now the act of the whole house if any propound or
honour authoritie name person to be made their instrument against his people he may translate the said faintnes from them on himselfe though when all is done they are unsafely trusted who have before broken the great tye that to their Countrey else he must fly to forreigne helpe But on the other side the free Subjects duely interessed in the State loving it living like men defend invade the other nobly couragiously as in heart and men of honour and as oft for the good of the conquered with greater power as universally to be trusted Not to insist on riches the nerves of Warre infinitly increased by industry so encouraged by industry lost by servitude but what needs more or indeed so much if any thing in a matter so apparent Wee now have beene rapt sufficiently into the goodly imaginary heaven and the glory of it but with an hell of inextricable miseries to the Prince and people which these Gods of the infinite prerogative pretended are raising for themselves through a government at will but by such meanes and in such manner as shews they beleeve or hope for no other heaven hereafter These things being thus it must follow that those that oppose the Parliament and in it the kingdom in whom is the supreame power as reason hath evinced since contestation hapning as now between King and people the people must carry it oppose their Countrey reason right and the truth moved by defect of judgement or worse principles converting themselves and their power received from their Countrey to enable them to serve and defend it to the ruine of it and of all that is precious to men of honour and consequently that they are guiltie of their owne bloud and of all the bloud and miseries which this unnaturall monstrous warre may cause a means suitable indeed to the end they force themselves to compasse nor can unpartiall posteritie judge of them otherwise then as Parricidae patriae and damnatae memoriae if all this be not of force with them to descend deeply into themselves and to weigh whether they be in state fit for death every moment at least they may deigne this last motive the honour of a deep and sad thought or two whether thus obstinately persisting they contract not before God another way a guilt to contribute or be accessary to the endangering or perdition of their owne and innumerable soules in another kinde and more directly and highly there being aliquid sacri in hoc morbo and Religion sharing the hazard as abovesaid but if the premisses have not power to inferre thus much with them yet I hope at least they are not so irrationall so extravagant as that these men can truely beleeve that they are onely to be confuted and those that maintaine such tenents to be instructed by a civill warre but if folly and defect of that reason that should governe men or a violent forcing tyrannizing and enslaving their reason and conscience by enormous and monstrous passions and sinnes the two originall causes of slavery be by no art to be severed from these men but they must and will by still persisting apply these two said generall causes of servitude particularly and expresly or in a speciall manner now to draw it upon them it is not unlikely most of them and their posteritie and friends may finde and prove the effect as inseperable from the causes thus redoubled and enforced as the causes from themselves should they be so unhappy as to carry what they by such meanes so pursue and however some dequoy indulgence may be used towards them to draw others till all be in the power of the principall malignants the like we may say of their cunning enforcing themselves not yet to declare all the depth of their malicious intentions towards those they disarme or any way get within their power using them as staiking horses till by seeming for the present to leave these in a tolerable condition they may make others stand out lesse resolutely or warily and so drawing still to them make all sure at last and at their discretion though even whilest matters are yet dubious the infernall are of malice hate crueltie jealousie and the like which is in their hearts sometimes cannot but flash out in divers enormous words or acts such present indulgence I say notwithstanding of the malignant partie let not these men thinke that it having all once at its dispose and made sure will judge it may securely repose on such of the Nation as have violated wittingly willingly the greatest tye on earth by being traytors to their Countrey or on those that loving their Countrey have been violently or fraudulently disarmed or on them that not intending the disservice of their Countrey but seduced by specious pretences have voluntarily assisted the malignant partie when time and plaine experience shall have disabused these two sorts and afford meanes of redeeming their Countrey and themselves will not the malignants rather have recourse to forreigne protection or forces an usuall refuge of an arbitrary or tyrannicall government especially succeeding and having usurped libertie of the Subject as abovesaid under colour of being guards garrisons auxiliary forces joyned in league or the like as France useth the Switzers the French Nation forsooth not populous or warlike enough It is true the Spaniard though not governing at discretion as the French useth the Switzers also but not upon jealousie and diffidence of their own people for ought I find as France doth but for want of men or some other reason of State and may not many strangers already here also be imployed then may these Zelots of the Malignants share largely in contributing to the wages of their forreigne Masters and be put to maintain their own servitude as they stood to bring it in with all their power But God be praised these men unlesse they speedily come in and make their peace are on the point rather of falling under the sword of Justice in the hand of the Parliament and it is not to be doubted but God himself whom they have by sundrie passages too notorious if we may so speak made a party against themselves these Atheists belike thinking he is grown old and impotent and cannot drown these Egyptians in a red sea of their own blood if they with diabolicall obstinacie go on as Lucian that old Atheist said of the Pagan gods in his time because they begot no more sons and daughters will resist and defend himself and his were humane meanes wanting against these publique oppressors of the people in intention and endeavour which they ought to expose their lives to defend and protect And for those that stand alreadie for that Palladium of their Religion and Countrey the Parliament as they are herein duely sensible of themselves and honour so out of the same feeling they cannot but so lively ardently and speedily concurre with all their power if need require when all their fortunes and all that is dear to such