high Treason to be but faithfull and honest to the peoples Interest I pray God this be not the thing that keeps up the Lawyers amongst us now viz. to keep up the Interest of the Great ones and keep down the peoples Right and Liberties That like Popiclus of Polonia they might by murthers and oppressions over awe the people so as that they should not dare to demand their Rights and then make themselves absolute and hereditary Thus I might go on all day to show how many ways they are guilty of the most grievous murthers and of as able men as ever the Earth bare and to fast from blood hath been Lent-time to some But I conclude the Catalogue with this trick to make up their measure to get yea honest men into prisons and many times upon meer cheats as we heard before in Pag. 55. and then to keep them there purposely till they be starved to death and â—â—t up with lice and die worse then dogs Let a man but take a view of one place amongst many others i. e. the Upper Bench how many hundreds have they most miserably worse then Turks tormented and starved to death O England England does blood precious blood bid thee call for Justice upon these Intruders or Lawyers and shall we sit still Hark! Jere. 4. 31. I have heard a voice of the daughter of Zoin that bewaileth her self in anguish that spreadeth her hands and saith Wo is me now for my soul is wearied because of murtherers They murther the innocent Psal. 10. 8. and the fatherless Psal. 94 6. and poor yea they are polluted with blood Hos. 6. 8 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as troops of robbers they wait for men sayes the Prophet to murther them by consent it is in our Translation I know not how it was thrust in but the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shechem the shoulder which signifies either that they do it with one shoulder or else which I like best they murther the shoulder i. e. such as are most eminent high able and the worthies So that thus saith the Lord Hosea 4. 1 2. the Lord hath a controversie with the inhabitants of the land for that by swearing lying and killing and stealing and committing adultery they break out and blood toucheth blood This is one ground more of the great complaint the free Commoners have against these Norman Tyrants or Lawyers which is as hideous to the honest Englishman that fears God as Julius Caesars Robe was to the Senate-house that saw it stabbed through with so many holes and bloodied in so many places Thus are the Laws and Liberties of this poor Nation lost which makes us groan to God and men 4. As men are religious they rally up against these ungodly Lawyers for their open Robberies and Cheats which speaking too before I shall adde little to having told you of their tricks and arts which their Inns of Court bring them up in to get mony and abuse the oppressed people by Feâ—s and Bribes but Trop donne soyt repele There will come a day of reckoning for them and all that they have knit up by their rapine will be unravelled again with a witness ere long and these Powder-masters will be blown up with their own provision then Shall I count them pure with their bag of deceitful weights saith the Lord Miâ— 6. 11 12. For the rich are full of violence the inhabitants have pleaded lies and their tongue is deceitful in their mouths Vers. 16. For according to their Norman customs the statutes of Omri are yet kept that I should make thee a desolation Trust not in your robberies nor lies saith the Lord Jere. 7. So saith David Psal. 94. They frame mischeif for a Law and gather themselves against the soul of the righteous and condemn the Innocent God will recompence them in their own malice the Lord our God will destroy them They judge for rewards and hire and build up with blood Micah 3. 10 11. They are brass and iron they are revolters Jere. 6. 28. Every one loveth gifts and fees and judge for rewards they judge not the fatherless neither doth the cause of the widow come to them O! I will ease me of these my adversaries Isai. 1. 23 24. What are their Inns of Court but as Job saith Chap. 12. 6. Tabernacles of robbers which prosper And as Solomon sayes Prov. 21. 7. The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them because they refuse to do judgement The Searchers of God shall be sent out to seek out all their ill-gotten goods for which they will be arrested with a vengeance as the veriest Fellons that are though it is true as yet we have robbery for right and oppression for judgment Small theeves are condemned to die for it whiles great National ones ride rattling in Coaches I warrant you the poor sneaking Solicitors and Clerks yea the Bum-bailiffs and Serjeants that abuse men and beat women great with childe as one J. Turvy did a Gentlewoman the other day and yet not punished I say such as these say it is good gleaning after them that run away with whole sheaves and whose robberies are accounted rights because countenanced connived at and priviledged forsooth O sad are we such slaves yet As the same River that runs through divers regions hath divers names and yet it is the same River so theft hath divers names in Souldiers it is called spoil and plunder in Governors called Cessments tribute c. In Lawyers called Fees in others Gifts and Bribes in Church they call it Sacriledge and Simony in State Oppression and Tyranny in Law Corruption and Bribery and when this one River rises up into a Spring-tide or swells up to the bank then it is called Usury But in a poor naked man it is called Theft and Fellony without any other fine minced words which were coyned to cover great mens knavery and such a one must be murthered for it without mercy or clergy as they call it Dalton fol. 226. Although in truth it is the same River that runs and the same thing though new in name in all these but the same Cob-web which some Spiders can dwell in shall hang others As among the old Lacedemonians theft amongst them was never punished where it was carried cunningly and secretly but he that was discovered for stealing and did it not neatly he was punished not so much for stealing as for behaving himself no more covertly and cunningly in it So whiles poor men suffer mulct for a little matter because it is open plain theft these rich ravenous Robbers do it with art and cunning and have coyned a new name for it too to guild it over and so scape scot-free though they rob us daily of a thousand times more then all the Theeves in England besides But their Dooms day Book will be brought out ere-long where it is set down to a tittle what they ow to this
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sagrir OR Doomes-day drawing nigh With Thunder and Lightening to LAWYERS In an Alarum For New Laws and the Peoples Liberties from the Norman and Babylonian Yokes Making Discoverie Of the present ungodly Laws and Lawyers of the Fourth Monarchy and of the approach of the FIFTH with those godly Laws Officers and Ordinances that belong to the Legislative Power of the Lord Iesus SHEWING The Glorious Work Incumbent to Civil-Discipline once more set before the Parliament Lord Generall Army and People of England in their distinct capâ—â—ities upon the Account of Christ and his Monarchy Humbly presented to them by JOHN ROGERS an unfained Servant of Christ and this Common-wealth in their best Rights Laws and Liberties lost many years Bread of Deceit is sweet to a man but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with Gravell Prov. 20. 17. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor he shal cry himself but shal not be heard Prov. 21. 13. They are Brasse and Iron they are all Corrupters the Bellows are burnt the Lead is consumed of the fire the Founder melteth in vain for the Wicked are not plucked away Ier. 6. 28. 29. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When their Judges or the greatest Lawyers are thrown down into stony places they shall hear my Words because then they are sweet Psal. 141. 6. Causidicis Erebo Fisco fas vivere rapto Militibus Medico Tortori occidere ludo Meâ—iri Astrologis Pictoribus atque Poetis LONDON Printed for Tho Hucklescot to be sold at the George in Little Brittain 1654 To the Right Honourable The Lord Gen. CROMVVEL The Peoples Victorious Champion in England Ireland and Scotland My Lord HIs EXCELLENCY the Lord Jesus hath sent out his Summons to other Nations also and the Blade of that Sword whose handle is held in England will reach to the very Gates of Rome ore long but by what Instruments we know not yet for what end we know Psal. 72. 2. 4. 13. viz. to breake in peeces the oppressor and to deliver the poore and needy yea to spoile the weak-hearted and be more excellent then the mightiest mountains of prey Psal. 76. 4. 5. this shall goe on till all the earth be filled with his glory Now my Lord hitherto he hath honoured you in his War let him also doe so in his Work which the War hath made way for viz. in throwing down of Tyranny the Oppression which as you have begun to doe so this Treatise hath unavoydable reference to your Selfe to carry on as our Conquerour upon Christs and the Common-wealths account and not upon your owne Therefore are the eyes of thousands upon you to see what you will doe for their safety and freedome according to the just Rights and Liberties of the People of this Nation which they had before the Norman Tyranny and Conquest for it is far better for us my Lord now to hang us then not to help us against these unsufferable Lawes and Lawyers which rob us of Justice and righteousnesse as it is obvious in the Treatise whiles not one honest man in England dares justifie them the mouthes of all are open against them which like doores without Lock or Key can scarce be shut close againe till there be an alteration Jethro's counsell to Moses my Lord concernes you in Exod. 18 19. Hearken and I will give thee counsell and God shall bee with thee be thou for the People to God-ward that thou mayst bring their causes to God c. we beseech you hearken to the inexorable yea inexuperable cryes and calls of the Communalty for godly Lawes and for justice upon the usurping proud Lawyers for their lying perjury and treachery which is according to the Statute and good Lawes punishable It is without malice to a man of them and meerly out of Conscience to ingage against sin and enemies to Christ and this Common-wealth that I must make such a Character of them as I doe it may be I speake spiritfully yet not spightfully though oppression makes a wise man mad sayes Salomon Eccles. 7. 7. and indeed if it be madnesse to ingage against Sinne I will be so for Si natura negat facit indignatio versum but here 's no need of Passion seeing Piety preaches yea the light of Nature presses these lines against that sinfull Society yea the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 calls for it The Aegyptian Hieroglyphick for Legislative Power was oculus in sceptro but ours had need to be oculus in ense the eye in the conquering Sword of the people I meane first a full eye to looke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 backward and forward with an open Prospect into the Peoples Liberties and advantages for their safety and freedome and then an able quick eye to deliver the People from oppressors and to defend them in their owne â—ights And indeed my Lord we would have no Law Nisi lex oculata but that Law which sees how and what and to whom to administer in aequilibrio in justice whilst many of our Lawes are the â—lawes of this Common-wealth for as Plutarch sayes Turpe praeceptum non est lex sed in quitas The Chineses would perswade us that they only see with two eyes and other Nations but with one O that we could convince our Neighbour Nations now by our Lawes and Government that we see with both eyes for our selves and friends too if need be wherefore let us fall to their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let us worke and watch for Christs Monarchy which is now upon the borders and be sure to keep in the Kings Christs Road for that is safest Israels Omen of going on against his enemies was 1 Chron. 14. 15. the voyce in the top of the trees and this is ours also viz. the voyce of God as in Primitive times and in the top-ages of the Church for his Spirit is mighty and growes great every day and when the enemy shall be like a Floud the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against them Isa. 59. 19. and why see Isa. 31. 3. the Lord Gods greatest worke in these dayes is Spirit-worke and none will be found fit to be imployed in it but such as are spirited for it by the Holy Spirit for then our Warres wil be holy Warres our Lawes holy Lawes our Parliaments holy Parliaments c. and not before Wherefore my Lord for Christs sake minde and finde out what your worke is you have not done all yet for now you have won us you must wall us with the good and wholsome Lawes and Liberties of the People as we were before the Norman invasion or rather as Israel of old Deut. 6. 1. or else Gog will arise who sayes in his presumption I will goe to the Land of unwalled Villages I will goe to them that are at rest It is dangerous indeed now to sit still seeing the Wheele full of eyes is in his swiftest motions and may without heed run
upon us and ruine us The Devils designe is to make the most able and eminent Instruments uselesse by idlenesse when the greatest worke is to doe as one sayes of the Crab that seeing the Oyster gape he throwes in a little stone which hinders it from shutting againe so am I and hundreds beside suspicious least Sathan should deale with them that now sit still and gape about as if they had nothing to do by throwing them some temptations or other to stay them here behinde in purchases preserments or pleasures and make them loose their work and opportunity O it is sad if it be so for the best Birds dum morantur in nidis doe moult and loose feathers But my Lord hark the Trumpet sounds and Christ is coming in great glory arise and to your worke It is not notions of Philosophy nor Principles of Policy which will give us to see this for in Philosophy what is so dark as light and the Sun which one would thinke most evident to be seen is hardest to be looked on and so is this glorious approach of Christ and his Fifth Monarchy But Eagles see better then Owles The Lord Jehovah then make you Eagle-eyed and Eagle-winged in this worke which you have to doe for Christ and this Common-weale Cicero expected extraordinary knowledge and practise from his Son because of his conversing and living with Cratippus no lesse doe wise men looke for from you my Lord for that you are so conversant with the Occurrences of these times and seasons and that so eminently too and live as we hope so much with Christ and for Christ yet we know a man may have good cards but loose the game by playing ill But my Lord I leave you to that Spirit which gave Daniel skill Dan. 9. 22. and Ioshua courage the same wisdome that tels us He that understands is of an excellent spirit tels us also That the Prince who wants understanding i. e. in the things of God according to the season of his government is also a great oppressor Wherefore my Lord I beseech you contemne not the Clock that tels you how the time passes a meane Herauld may goe on great errands and on this errand he is contented to be mean contemptible who is sent to you and prays unfainedly for you that you may never be set aside but be of singular use yet in this Generation and then and not till then rest from all your labours as David did Acts 13. 36. The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon together gets the loud suffrage of your suffering From my Study the 8th Month 20th day Tho. Apostles Yet your heartily humble Servant in the service of our Lord Iesus JOHN ROGERS To the Reader of any Faculty whatsoever in the Commonwealth of ENGLAND SIR WHat is your Profession Be what thou wilt I professe that this Treatise concernes thee and bids thee beware of a fall Hold fast especially if thou art any of the Supreame For he that ventures to fall from above with hopes to bee catched below may hap to be dead ere he come to ground this is sat sapienti a Word to the wise Therefore with humility and love to you 1. Are you a Parliament man mind your worke then and the Fifth Monarchy or else the stone Dan. 2. and the wheel Eze. 1. may hap to minde you and grind you too Righteous men know their work of the Generation they live in Gen. 4. 20 21. 22. Gen. 6. 9. Act. 13. 36. So did Abraham Noah Moses Aaron David Daniel Nehemiah and Ezra and all men whom the Lord annointed and appointed to govern And so will you if you be of God for good to this Generation Your worke so absolutely incumbent is obvious to every discerning eye the neglect of which if you be guilty I fear lest it should be more fat all to you then to the last Parliament if that be true in 1 Sam. 15. 26 28. and 16. 14. and may hap to throw you aside as well as your Predecessors and others in all ages that have through carnall Reason and Policy laid aside their worke and duty Now I doe declare to all that hear or read this Treatise and will if my life were on it that your worke is about the Lawes and Tithes to strip the Whore both of her outward Scarlet-array and to rend the flesh off of her bones by thorwing down the standing of Lawyers and Priests It is not enough to change some of these Lawes and so to reforme them as is intended by most of you according to the rule of the Fourth Monarchy which must all to peices O no! that wil be to poore purpose and is not your worke now which is to provide for the Fifth as chap. 5. by bringing in the Lawes of God given by Moses for Re-publique Lawes as well as the Lawes of God given by Christ which must in for Church Lawes Isa. 26. 13. Mark 10. 42. so that seeing the Law-booke of God which hath been lost so long is now found againe therefore like Josiah in 2 King 22. 12 13. Command that the Lord be sought to about it lest the wrath of God be kindled for not hearkening to the words in that Booke and cause these Lawes of God as chap. 23. 2 3. to be restored and read as he did in the eares of all the people that the people may be subject to those Lawes and then the Lord wil blesse you as he did Israel But if you doe it not I feare you wil be found to neglect your worke and opportunity for God and Christ. Why are there so many perplexable cares about the Lawes Hath not God given you a Booke of Lawes ready to your hand and can men make Lawes better then God then if Moses dare not set up any other Lawes but those given of God for the State or Politicke Government how dare you Now God hath brought you out of the house of Aegypt shal the Aegyptian or Norman Heathenish Lawes yet rule you O God forbid Wherefore seeing you have Gods Law-booke before you if you lay it aside and take up mens before it it wil not be well taken I promise you therefore the Lord open your eyes both as to the Lawes and Tithes and that you may looke before you leap It wil appeare this is your Generation-work 1 By the variety of Providences and Dispensations of God which declare it and have called you to doe it Micha 6. 9. The Lords voyce cryeth the voyce of the Lord from the City for all that common or corrupt Counsel-Petition put in for Tithes August last which was not the voyce of the Lord but the voyce of the Lady the Queen that sits on the Scarlet-coloured Beast full of Blaâ—phemies Rev. 17. 3. abusing the most precious Saints and Servants of Christ with a subtil insinuation of Jesuiâ—s and the like but it is wel knowne they were put on to it by the High Priests of this
City some of whose names I have by me so that the Lords voyce from the Temple yea and the voyce of the Lord that rendreth recompence to his enemies Isa. 66. 6. calâ— upon you yea that extraordinary voyce which cast the others out of Parliament that neglected this worke and which hath called you in to doe it and as David sayes Psal. 18. 13 the Highest hath given his voyce or lifted it up for all to see that he is against these Lawyers and Priests 2 The loud and longing expectations of the People tell you this is your worke and for this you are entered into the Government as appeareth in chap. 4. 5. and how grievous it wil be to frustrate the expectations of the wise holy and understanding people of this Nation judge ye 3 This worke is the greatest and may be the most glorious worke as yet before you and therefore to neglect it is of the most grievous consequence 1 Sam. 15. 23. Numb 14. 29. Rom. 11. 20. though it is true if yee be found faithfull in this little yee shal have much more glorious things for Christ and against Antichrist set before you before you have done which the Lord wil honour you with but else not 4 This worke must be done in order to Gods designe for Christ and against Antichrist either by you or some others Hest. 4. 14. Now it being so eminent a service for Jesus Christ and the Common-weale to throw downe the tyranny usurpation and oppression of the Norman and Babylonian yokes viz. Termes and Tithes Lawyers and Priests O take heed how you neglect so noble a worke to the obstructing as much as you may Gods designe which if you doe wil light heavie on you one day But if you be couragious and constant and quicke and carefull in your worke now before you God wil honour you further and Gabâ—iel shall give you the peculiar Title of the Parliament GREATLY BELOVED of God Dan. 9. 21 22 23. 10 11. 19. then God wil stand by you if you stick so close to him and blesse you extraordinarily both with Publick and Personall deliverances else remember your Predecessors where are they But as to Tithes there be many objections for so many Parliament-men have impropriate Tithes that it is not likely to stub up all at once If so say I how did Cyrus get over the deep river with his Army to besiege Babylon that seemed impossible and impassible but by dividing it and cutting it out into diverse and so soaking or draining out the water into many branches made it low and easily foardable Thus if there be no help for it let them divide this deep thing into the Tithes of the Clergy and Laiety as they call them and get over the first branch against Babylon i. e. to take away Tithes as from the Clergy and out of the hands of the corrupt people who as long as they have maintenance in their hands will keep up the Popish Sottish Antichristian Clergy and Service-book Readers about the Nation as they doe But if that prevaile not then let them give us a Hearing and as much liberty to speake what we can against them as the Clergy with their Lawyers have had to speake for them and if we shew not more Reason and Religion â—oo to cast them downe then all the Pack of Preists or Lawyers in England can to keepe them up let them stand else fal like a Mil-stone though they make a great noise O that the Parliament would goe on apace with this Publique work that is upon them i. e. Of Lawes and Tithes least they be laid aside or which is worse as that part of the Fourth Monarchy too which must be crushed and crumbled by the entrance of the Fifth else I feare as well as hundreds more a Blast or a Blow ere long and mark it Obj. But you being a private man are too bold to correct Parliament-men as you doe Ans. No it is my duty thus to doe which Panormitanus a learned Lawyer himselfe sayes That one poore simple Lay-man ergo a Minister that brings Gods Word with him is more to be regarded then a whole Parliament or Councell without it And my most honoured Predecessor Mr. Joh. Rogers Proto-Martyr in cursed Queen Maries dayes testified to this with his blood who hath led me the way when this very Objection was made him by the Bishop of Winchester and so p. 124. Col. 2. he sayes That with the Word of God be alone was to be heard against the WHOLE PARLIAMENT and that the Lawes of men might not rule the Word of God but they are all to be discussed tried and â—â—â—ged thereby and neither sayes he my Conscience nor any mans must be satisfied with such Lawes of Parliament as disagree from Gods Word This I witnesse too with that holy Martyr were my life on it as his was and though many of the Parliament are offended with me yet I must not nor will I budge or shrinke back to bear my testimony to them But thus farre for such Secondly Art thou a Member of the Army that art the Reader let me tell thee thou wilt not lye quiet long for God hath a worke to doe yet by thee or upon thee and such men must not be idle in this age Remember Alfreds resolution Si modo Victor eras ad crastina bella pavebas Si modo Victor eras ad crastina bella parabas To the other side the water away Sirs and helpe your Brethren beyond Seas but forget not your work at home i. e. to make us free as chap. 3. And then the Lord shall utter his voyce before his Army for his Camp is very great Joel 2. 11. or else cursed is he that doth the Lords work by halves Thirdly Are you a Merchant your turne is come too now for the Lord hath given out his Commandement against the Merchants and their Ships Isa. 23. 11. and their time to lament is now come and your greatest Trade by Sea must be to tell of the Judgement that is coming upon Babylon they shall weep and waile over her and as many as Trade by Sea shall see the smoke of herburning Rev. 18. 11. 17 18. therefore it is time now to leave off buying her Merchandize ver II. and to carry newes to all Nations of that worke which is begun in England to the lifting up of Christ and his Kingdom against all that stands in the way and bid them make hast out of Babylon for her houre is come and Judgement is begun let this bee your Newes to all your Friends in forreigne parts sent in Post out of Christs Royal Exchange Fourthly Are you a Minister I must tell you then the Times will be terrible to your Function and Faction for the Clouds wil burst out with a Thunder-bolt ere long against the Nationall Ministery and their maintenance 1 Their Ministery the foundation of them
and importable sufferings under these cursed Lawyers by tricks and cheats So that the Law of Nature looks for it at my hands as long as my hand will hold a pen to protest against such crying sins of Scarlet-dye which the unnaturall Lawyers live by And to conclude this first Consideration of the Law of Nature observe 1. That the Law of Nature is one and the same to all Nations quoad prima principia inclining all a like ad agendum secundum rationem to things according to Reason now Reason is either speculative or Practick the first cheifly looks at and is busied about necessaries circa necessaria but the second is circa contingentia about circumstances the first proceeds ad propria the second ad communia Now this Law of Nature hath among all the same principles though it may be not the same conclusions among all through some miscarriages Yea furthermore in irrationall creatures Nature hath a Law to defend herselfe from Tyranny and oppression and this is by instinct in Dogs against Wolves Lambs against Foxes Buls against Lyons and so between Chickens and Kites Pigeons and Spar-Hawkes Partridges against Hawks c. So that it is irrationall yea worse then so to question the lawfulnesse of defending our selves lives and Estates from these greedy ungodly Devourers seeing that so to doe is to question the imprinted Law of Nature But to be short 2 Obs. That this Law of Nature i. e. quantum ad prima principia is unchangeable in all ages which doth not yet exempt an addition of all good Expedients and things usefull 3 Obs. That this Law of Nature est scripta in cordibus hominum is indelible quem nec ulla delet inquitas that is as to common reason Although it may as to secondary commands as in the Law of the Nations or the like either propter malas persuasiones or propter pravas consuetudines And so in Rom. 1. 26. we read of some that were given up to most vile sins contra naturam not only contrary to reason which is the constitutive difference betwixt man and beasts but against nature which is contrary to the very genus of a Creature by nature And so not onely the corrupt devouring Lawyers but I beleeve others that let them alone to goe on in their unnaturall tyrannies and abominable sins will be found offenders against this Law of Nature For as Justice is built upon this twofold Basis 1. That none be wronged 2. That Good be done to all as much as may be So also there is two sorts of Injustice as 1. In those that doe the injury and oppressions and in this seate the Lawyers sit But then 2. In them that suffer these oppressions and injuries to be done under their noses that might deliver us it may be And I wonder how any one honest man in England can forbear writing printing petitioning protesting against this ungodly Generation of Lawyers preaching and proclaiming them on the house top for the Egyptian plagues of this Commonwealth and the vilest Tribe that are Surely the Lords controversie with them which is great will come nigh their Faâ—tors and Abettors too and all that can see and suffer them every day as they doe to live by sin to tell lies in open Courts and to make a trade of oppression perjury lying false-swearing forswearing cheating devouring fatherlesse and widows and beggering many honest godly soules by craft and cruelty It is a shame if any man in England who can write but a line of them upon his own knowledge puts not pen to paper and gives not out his grievances to the world that those in Power may know the TRUTH nothing but the TRUTH and the whole TRUTH of them But 4 Obs. All profitable good and vertuous acts i. e. humane as of Justice are according to this Law of Nature for agere secundum virtutem is nothing else as to us but agere secundum rationem to act according to the principle of reason But least here be a mistake we must know that it is one thing to see vertuous acts as they are actions in themselves for so they are to be considered in propriis speciebus not of the Law of nature but according to their vertue which is given beside nature as Art or above nature as grace or the like and it is another thing to see them as they are rationall vertuous and morally good as just mercifull c. and so they appertaine to the Law of nature for every thing naturally inclines to operation according to its forme as Fire to heat Sun to shine and so a rationall principle to doe rationall good and vertuous humano more actions In this sence saies Damasc. in lib. 3. Orth. fid c. 14. Actus virtuosi subjacent legi naturae Hence as I take it that notable Moralist M. Tully tels us in Rhet. lib. 2. de Invent. f. 4. Res a natura profectas aconsuetudine probatas legum metus religio sanxit that ordinary Religion hath ordained it that the matters of the Lawes human be fetched from nature And indeed it is hence that human lawes or Lawes of nations are derived from the Law of Nature as the only rule of reason and therefore of rationall actions and lawes left standing and perpetuall These four Conclusions thus asserted and assented to I challenge all the Lawyers on this side hell to enervate or deforce the full commission which I own to write against them under hand and scale according to the Law of Nature Secondly The Law of Nations says Luk. 6. 31. As you would that men should doe unto you doe you also that unto them or else as one of Terences golden Sentences for the Lawyers care little for the Scriptures which I have tryed of late by bringing out a Bible for the Statute-Book but they could not abide it who says the same Ut tibi â—ieri vis alteri sic seceris This Law of Nations is to be brought out of the Law of Nature and looking so alike the other I shall say the lesse to it for that as Conclusions are drawne ex principiis out of principles in all Arts and Sciences So humane Lawes Civill Lawes or the Lawes of Nations are to be drawn out of the Law of Nature and the Principles of Reason as so many Axioms or demonstrative Conclusions But to the thing The Law of Nations distinguishes between meum and tuum Possessions Estates and gives fixed limits and makes confines which every man is bound to defend against all Invaders Cheates oppressors whatsoever now who do invade other mens estates eate up and devoure them by incredible Fees prolonging Suits crafty Tricks and Subtleties depauperating millions of men and devouring millions of mony till they have got by cheates fetches and Fees all mens Lands almost into their hands who doe thus like the Lawyers Are there any greater Theeves or may
the High-way So that herein the Law of God engages us Et nullus subditur legi inferioris contra superiorem What then though some Humane Laws through the corrupt close and clandestine Interests of men should not allow this liberty our consciences are not bound to humane unjust Laws which run run-counter and justle against Gods but as 1 Pet. 2. 13. to submit our selves to mens laws propter Deum for God Nemo astringitur mandato inferioris cum superiori mandato dirigatur So that we are bound to mens laws but secundum quid as we say but we are absolutely obliged to Gods Laws And in obedience to Gods Word we must not onely endeavor to free our selves but our neighbors from Tyranny and Oppression Love thy neighbor as thy self Let me a little digress now for the Publicks sake in this my discourse not onely to acquaint the Governors of our Nation how much the Message from Burdeaux in France or any other Nations concerns us for we are bound by the Law of God to help our neighbors as well as our selves and so to aid the Subjects of other Princes that are either persecuted for true Religion or oppressed under Tyranny What mean our Governors to take no more notice of this How durst our Army to be still now the work is to do abroad Are there no Protestants in France and Germany even now under persecution And do not the Subjects of France that lie under the Iron yoke of Tyranny send and seek and sue to us for assistance Well wo be to us if we help not the Lord Judg. 5. 23. against the mighty For it is the Lord hath sent for us thither and calls for a part of our Army at least into France or Holland Therefore Cursed be they that do the work of the Lord negligently or but by halves Jere. 48. 10. Object O! but some will say What call have we Answ. Can ye have greater You are called thereto by God and Men Object We have no example for it Answ. 1. Suppose it so yet by faith it is ye must subdue Kingdoms obtain promises stop the mouths of lyons quench the violence of fire wax valiant in fight and turn to flight whole armies Heb. 11. 33 34 35. 2. Stay for such ceremony and your help may come too late Mattathias I told you of before fell pell-mell upon the work as soon as ever necessity called for it and opportunity seconded it 3. Your work is not to be after the commandments or eâ—â—mples of men for that is the way to be broken Hos. 5. 11. Isai. 29. 13. But by you the work of God is a strange work to confound the wisdom of the wise c. But 4. If nothing else will serve there is ample example for you both in Scripture and History in Scripture we know Hezekiah though King onely of Judah 2 Chro. 30. yet looked after them of Israel too though under the Dominion of the King of Assyria yet even to those subjects of Assyria that were one in faith he sent Messengers to invite them to come into Jerusalem and he gave aid to them though against the Laws of the King of Assyria to destroy their Idols and Idolatry and to set up the true worship so may we assist our friends in France if we are called to it and invite them to us to joyn with us And we may yea and must if we sin not send help and aid to them till their Idols and Idolatries be hewâ—n down with all their high places and so go on till that France whom I conceive the second of the ten horns Rev. 17. 12. Dan. 7. 9 10. have her Judicatâ—â—y Throne set up Psal. 89. 14. 9. 4. also and then the work will run on round about without much of our help and all the ten horns will tumble apace and in few years Babylon will be faln and Christ reign to the total extirpation of Antichrist Another example is given us by good Josiah 2 King 22. 2 Chro. 34 35. who out of true zeal to God took upon him to expel Idolatry not onely out of his own Kingdom but also out of the King of Assyriaâ—s dominions But now we are or may be sent for to do it in France or Holland or the like wherefore let me tell our Army and Statesmen that if they belong to the Lord yet and if God hath good to do by them yet that then they shall not be able to sit still long for if they will not take their work abroad they shall have it home as sure as God lives and is righteous For where the Kingdom of Christ comes there is no such thing as bounds or limits or Rivers or Seas that shall cage up or confine the fervent zeal and flaming affections of an Army Representative or People spirited for the work of Christ which is more and more publick and looks beyond Seas now O no! no more then the bounds or limits of a Parish shall confine a Minister of the Gospel to the Spiritual work of Christ. In History we have examples enough Constantine the Christian makes Wars against Licinius the Emperor for his persecuting the Christians in punishing and putting them to death and depriving them of their Christian liberties so that after Constantine had warred for the oppressed ones he compelled the oppressor Licinius to give liberty to the Christians in matters of Religion and then he put him to death in Thessâ—lonica for his Devilishness and Cruelties to his Subjects And after him we finde that Constans threatned to war upon his own and elder brother Constantius for banishing Athanasius from Alexandria because he was so hot an Antagonist against the Arrians and this war would have been a bloody one too had not Athanasius been restored And is it possible that Constans who adhered to them that were the Orthodox Christians for the restitution of the Biship thought his call to war sufficient And shall not we upon suit and petition of the oppressed City of Burdeaux and Subjects of France or distressed English in Holland imploring aide against Tyranny and Persecution think we have call enough for the restitution of Christ his Kingdom Saints Liberty of the poor oppressed Protestants and the deliverance of distressed Cities Citizens and Subjects For shame away with this irrational irreligious and unchristed spirit and take courage upon Gods command mens call the spirits motion and Christs arrand in the world and call the scarlet whore that sits on that Horn of the Beast to a strict account for the innocent blood that is to be found there upon the Inquisition Thus Theodosius made war on Cosroes King of Persia to deliver but a few Subjects fewer then are in the City of Burdeaux from tyranny and persecution But upon a more civil account we know the Roman Common-wealth and the Lacedemonians and Thebans
and Spartans have ever sent succor and assistance to their Neighbors when oppressions and tyrannies compelled them to implore it as now the Bâ—rdelois do of us and must we not aid the afflicted and distressed There is a notable sentence of the Spartan Senate left upon Record For the Spartans being Lords of the great City Byzantium they made Olearchus Governor there who kept up the corn in the time of wars for the Souldiers and let the Citizens die for hunger but Anaxilaus a great Citizen disdaining such tyranny enters into treaty with Alcibiades to deliver up the Town who indeed was received soon after But Anaxilaus being impeached by Articles pleads his cause himself for Lawyers were not then as now and his Judges acquitted him with these words Wars are to be made with Enemies not with Nature for it is against the very Law of Nature that those who should bee their Defenders and Preservers prove more cruel the enemies So as it is against the Law of Nature for the King of France to be worse then an Enemy to his own Citizens and Subjects So it is an much against the Law of God should they supplicate to us for assistance to be worse theâ— Neighbours and then such Professors and Pretenders for the Kingdome of Christ as we make a noise of in the world to be if we strike not now in for the interest of Christ and take not the opportunity to visit those coasts and to view the condition of the Protestants and oppressed ones in that Kingdome So let us come into our own Country for examples did not King Hen. 2. war against the Emperor Charls 5. under the colour and command of defending and delivering the Protestant Princes yea K. H. 8. made ready to helpe the Germans if the Emperor should oppresse them And shall we sit still now the eyes of all oppressed and distressed Protestants and Subjects in all Nations round us are upon us and the rather for that we pretend to do all for the Interest of Christ and Liberties of people Nay in this we have all the advantage that can be that whereas others waged wars with their own Interests ours will be with Christs who is to rule all Nations their 's about meum and tuum ours onely for Christ and his Kingdome Oh then that our Powers and Armies and Navies and Churches and all together would joyne in one to ingage together as one armed man And in the name of Jesus now to proclaime liberty to the captives and oppressed ones of other Nations abroad as well as at home were there but once a Proclamation made in the name of Jesus Christ O how many would come running under his banner from all parts beyond expectation of such too as are not yet known to the world and then woe be to Gog and Magog The Gaddites desired to be at rest and to go no further but to stay on the other side Jordan and to live there which though Moses assented to yet it was with this proviso that they should goe on and assist their other Brethren with their whole worke and go through-stich with it now they had begun â—t until the Israelites had conquered the Land of Canaan yea and to goe first out as the Van because they would first sit down and if they refused to doe thus then they were anathematized and destined to destruction like them that were adjudged Rebells at Cadesh barnea and none of them by the decree of God were ever to enter into the Land of Canaan So such of the Army Representative and Commonwealth that have 〈◊〉 heart to go further beyond the Seas Jordan but would be â— rest on this side should hear a Moses say what what yâ—â— brethren go on and fight further for Canaan and you sit still aâ— live lazing and idling at home No! no! away you that woâ—â— first sit down and lay down Armes and live in Peace get you first out beyond Jordan for you shall not returne to your Cattle and Corne and fine finical fig-leaves to be Coached and complimented into effeminacy and fooleries no nor yet to dwell â— home in England with your wives untill the Lord hath driven 〈◊〉 enemies before you and granted a place to your Brethren beyond Jordan as well as to you on this side it and then you shall 〈◊〉 turn in peace and with welcome and be innocent before the Loâ—â— and his people Israel and abide in quiet but not till then Therefore Uriah said 2 Sam. 11. 11. The Ark of the Lord and Israel and Judah abide in Tents and my Lord Joab and the Servants of my Lord are encamped c. And shall I goe into 〈◊〉 house to eate to drinke and to lye with my wife as thou liveâ— and as thy soule liveth I will not do it O brave Souldier come on then let 's be gone abroad and get on the other side the riâ—â— in the name of the Lord Jesus and those that will not doe it liâ—â— the Rebels at Cadesh barnea they must be cursed and never enâ—â—â— into the land of Canaan which is on the other side the Rivâ—â—â— Wherefore to our Neighbors both at home and abroad let every one discharge his duty aright and let not Holland or France bâ— forgotten and it shall be a door of hope to us in the valley of â— chor For beleeve it upon perpending the concomitants wiseâ—â—â— know what I mean Hos. 14. 9. there is a necessity of taking all 〈◊〉 opportunities to show our love to Christ and his Kingdome and our charity to our oppressed and afflicted imbondaged neighbours and let not men dispute so much whether it be lawfull 〈◊〉 defend or strike in for anothers liberty and deliverance if it wâ—â—â— lawfull to doe so for our own seeing we must love our neighbâ—â—â— as our selves Diligit in proxime quod in seipso diligit â— diligit proximum eandem ob causam propter quam diligit sâ— ipâ—um if we love Christ then in our Nation why not in another and if Justice and Peace and Piety and Righteousnesse among our selves why not among others O for shame sirs let 's rubâ—â— eyes and look about us And after the wicked Lawyers have had a bâ—ng let us beat a march and alarm the whole world Jer. 50. 2. Declare ye among the Nations and publish and set up a standard publish and conceal not till ye say Babylon is taken Who is on my side saith the Lord. Who Come against her from the utmost border even Ireland and Scotland open her store-houses cast her up as heaps destroy her utterly let nothing of her be left Wo to them for their day is come the time of their visitation The vengeance of the Lord our God yea the vengeance of his Temple or Churches Jer. 50. 26 27 28 29. I intended not this length but the Lord will have it so and so I come in again to the
right to all people not having regard to rich or poor without being let and hindered Yea it is accounted a Maxim sayes Markham that the Law hates and eschews delays and see but Magna Charta Chap. 29. We sell no man we deny or delay no man justice and right Many other Statutes command right to be done to all men without delay as 22. H. 6. 40. a. v. 2. C. 25. Stat. Glocest. c. 2. and they are sworn to it too 2 Edw. 3. c. 2. 28 Edw. 1. cap. â—0 4 Inst. 109. but to no purpose for they are as slippery as an Eel and make nothing of an oath as will appear afterward whiles they think fourteen eighteen or twenty years not long enough to delay justice but still must be new Motions new Petitions new Orders new Reports new Demurs new Deceits and new Delayes on purpose to vex and weary the Plaintiff with new Fees and to undo the poorer sort of people that cannot follow If this be not injustice tyranny and oppression wronging and robbing the poor of their Right and Liberties what is 3. It is a bondage for that hereby the price of Justice and Law and of recovering of a mans own is too high for a poor man he cannot pay for it and is thereby oftentimes forced to lose it for that the mercenary Clerks and Lawyers can as they list raise the market of their Fees to a great rate or else delay their orders or the like The poor oppressed pay for all I know an honest man that lent a Lord his Master a great Swash a sum of money upon a sudden but after some years seeing his great master refused to pay him he told him then he must make use of the Law which the Lord no sooner heard but sent for a Writ arrests the poor man and without Declaration for what got him into prison and all to prevent the poor mans suing for his own by corrupt Lawyers and large Fees he kept him in Newgate many years till he was â—igh starved rotted and stunk to death So that the poor man must lose justice because he wants purse enough to pay for it and a Plea upon the late Act for one not worth five pounds was not worth five farthings The Lawyers are such Juglers Thus for these and divers other Reasons this murthering and bloody tyranny requires quick relief from these delayings charges deceits and fees turnings windings and intricacies of the Law Wherefore with full eyes are the free-born people of England expecting their return out of captivity in this also by my Lord Cromwels their Conqueror means So that Justice and plain honest Law may be had as was before William the Tyrants time at their own doors and in their own streets in every County and Hundred in England which would much inrich the people and keep the more money in their purses to pay taxes with and the like the which doubtless then they might do without murmuring Therefore down with Terms and such Tradings of Lawyers at Westminster and spread Law and Justice all bout the Nation Object Thereby many would have but little trading Answ. 1. Little the less for that because the successive Representatives at Westminster would keep it up and thereby the City would be frequently full of people from all parts 2. People when they come up to London will have the more money to buy Commodities then now they have seeing the Lawyers are such Money-suckers and Purse-soakers but 3. Let not people be deceived so as to think the promises and priviledges which we expect in all the changings and turnings of times tend to set up better trading for the world for all the earth shall be shaken and reel like a drunken man but as the Kingdoms of the world become Christs so tradings will become mostly a trading for Christ and his Truth and a taking off of the old world looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. 4. Whereas before the Conqueror William in Edward the Confessors days the people lived in much liberty and freedom from taxations and tribute yea Edward the Confessor freed them from Dane-gilt which the people before payed being at least forty thousand pounds But the Greedy Tyrant William the Conqueror did contrary and sought to enslave the people with cruel burthens as we finde in the Summary of English Chronicles pag. 41. He made enquiry what riches the people had how many acres of ground were sufficient for one Plough by the year how many Beasts to the tilling of one Hide how many Cities Castles Farms Granges Towns Rivers Marshes and Woods and what Rent they paid per annum c. All which was put in writing at Westminster and kept in the Kings Treasury in a Book called Dooms-day Book And according to the Roll he imposed heavy Taxations and squeezed out the â—at of the Land to himself So in Acts Mon. p. 173. he gave his Normans the cheifest possessions of the Land and stripped the stoutest of the Nobility and Gentry of all But now the people are high in expectation of ease and deliverance from heavy taxes which hitherto have been gathered and required of necessity for the use of the Commonwealth and benefit of the free-born people But now they hope to have the bands of wickednesse loosed Isa. 58. 6. And that their Conqueror Oliver the Lord Gene tell will set the oppressed free and undo the heavy burthens and â—ose them and deliver them from this bondage which appears to bee so for that Governors are limited by Gods word in Ezek. 48. 18. The Princes shall not take of the peoples inheritance by oppression and thou shalt not steale is a mortall command to Kings Princes Parliament Armies c. Exod. 20. 15. as well as to the poore oppressed people Naboths Vineyard was his own Inheritance and propriety which the King had nothing to do with by right for as Bucan says de Magist q. 75 76. 77. Distinctio dominorum propriet as possessionum est juris divini juxta mandatum non furtum facies c. Distinction of dominion and propriety of possession is of divine right according to the command thou shalt not steal It is not said thou shalt not give or lend or the like but thou shalt not steal for that no man can lawfully take away the goods or propriety of another Saies Seneca l. 7. de benef c. 4 5 6. Caesar hath the dominion of all things belonging to him but the propriety belongs to particular persons As the Civilians say one may make claim to a House or Ship but not to all the furniture or lading in the House or Ship Therefore it is injustice and tyranny for a William the Conqueror to command mens Estates and Purses so as against all Law Liberty of the Subjects and propriety of the Law to lay Taxations upon them above what
they can beare seeing that Subjects are not to bee dealt with as Slaves and Bondmen But God himselfe in his Law to Kings Deutr. 17. 15 20. calls his people his brethren and so David did own them for his Brethren 1 Chron. 20 2. and so one Bartolus a famous Lawyer in Tract de regim Civit. says Subjects are to be held and used by Kings and Governors in the quality and condition of Brethren and not of Slaves so that our Governors and the General must use and ease the free-born Englishman as their Brother Fiftly Wil. the Conqueror brought in another Iron Yoak which the people call for ease from and that appears in p. 99. of the History of the lives of the three Norman Kings That in all those Lands William the Conqueror gave to any man as he did much give away to the Normans yet this covetous Tyrant he reserved dominion in cheife to himselfe for the acknowledgement whereof a yearâ— rent he caused to be paid unto him and a Fine whensoever thâ— Tenement or Land did aliene or die these were bound as Clients to him by oath of fidelity and homaâ—e and if any died whoâ— Heir was in his minority the King Conqueror received the profits of the Land and was his Guardian til the age of one and twenty This bandage of slavery is great though it is in part taken awâ—â— by the fall of the Court of Wards yet there remaineth a very greâ— Tyranny under such as are called Lords of the Mannor for eveâ— since says Holinshed as Lords and Great ones have held this 〈◊〉 the King so also have inferior persons and the poorer sort of people held this of their Lords and in case of disobedience the proprâ—itâ—ly does revert Hence came Lords of the Manor Landlord Tenaâ—â— Holds Tenures c. which are all slavish ties and badges origâ—nally grounded upon mâ—er conquest and Power inslaving the people Now let us but consider the nature of this bondage foâ— when thou that art a free Commoner hast bought a peece of Copyhold-land and paid all to a penny for it of the Owner and toâ— farthing the full worth of it yet the Lord of the Mannor foâ— sooth must have his Fine or else you shall not have a foot of the Land but hee will ceize on it that never pald a penny for it Nay more if you leave it though it be presently another Fiâ—â— fals upon it or if you die your poor Widow or Fatherlesse chilâ— that is in need and comfortlesse must pay another Fine for it too oâ— a Herriot of the best goods left which the Lord of the Mannoâ— must have or else the Land be forfeited O these arbitrary tyrannous customes For as Jer. 5. 26 27. Among my people aâ—â— found wicked men they lay waite as one that sets snares thâ—â— set a trap to catch men As a cage is full of birds so are their houses full of deceit therefore they are become great and waxen rich These grievous Laws are snares indeed So that foâ— Fines and â—â—rriots they covet Fields Amos 4. 1. and take them by force and houses and take them away so they oppresse â— man and his house hear O yee kine of Bashan which oppresse the poor and which crush the needy Amos 8. 4. These as the Prophet Isa 59. Turn Judgment backward Equity cannot enter and he that refraineth maketh himselfe a prey These oppressors takes pledges of the poore which is forbid Joâ— 24 9 and they turne aside the needy from righteousnesse and take away the right of the poor that widows may be their prey and that they may rob the Fatherlesse Isa. 10. 2. Is it not time Fellow-Commoners to call for our freedome from this formality and lust of man what are these Lawes but the direct issue of Tyranny and the badges of our slavery shall rich men thus reign over us and contrary to all Reason or rule of Righteousnesse thus oppresse the poor and widows and fatherlesse and all with â—ealtieâ— Homages Oaths Fines c. What Law is this but Lust and Will Power and Custome which is insufferably corrupt and full of that Feminine which Juvinall speaks of Sic volo sic â—ubeo sic pro ratione voluntas This absolutenesse in some men over the persons and estates of others is plaine Tyranny and without Reason which the ravenous Conqueror brought in and will not our Religious and Rational Conqueror take it away then Shall men as the Psalmist says Psal. 94. forge wrong or frame mischief for a Law God says plainly they shall not oppress the poor and the widow c. Exod. 22. 22. Zach. 7. 10. and will not all the godly say so too Then surely this Supream Power so called i. e. the Parliament of England had need to arise and redeem the people who expect it from this arbitrariness and absoluteness of men who oppress the poor fatherless and widow with this iron yoke of fines rents and herriots to Lords of Mannors and the like which was brought in by the lust humor will pride and covetousness of a Tyrant Pure Religion visits the fatherless and the widow Sixthly and lastly There is another and that a most notorious servitude and misery which William the Conqueror brought the free-born people of England into which by Oliver the Conqueror the people expect deliverance from or else their lives will be but a burthen to them This bondage is by Lawyers for whereas before when the Law was delivered at our own doors every man was heard to plead his own cause without Sollicitors or Attorneys since that the Customs of Normandy were advanced by William the Conqueror the Courts set up at Westminster and the Laws commanded to be made and causes pleaded in French the poor Commoners must of necessity retain Norman Lawyers seeing they themselves understood neither the Law nor Language Thus the poor people were miserably abused and forced to buy their Law and come by their own at a dear rate whilest Lawyers pleaded their causes and at one tryal of a suit sucked up more money may hap then a poor man could get by his work and labor in half a year So that their rise may be ascribed first to the unknownness of the Law in a strange tongue secondly to the intricateness and fallacies of it whereby an honest plain man was rendred unable to extricate himself therefore he must have recourse to the shrine of the Lawyer unless he have learned State-Jesuitism tricks and quiddities in some of the Inns of Court and thirdly the Terms at Westminster whilest the Lawyer like the Roman sets up his god Terminus for all the Country round to fall down and adore The common sort of Lawyers carry a head full of Idea's of right or wrong and so can run on in a round oâ— formulary of words to couzen poor simple people I trust God will undeceive us But as yet in King Williams time the
so that therewith they can alter their speech as they list and imitate Birds in tunes and speak perfectly to two persons and two purposes at once to one with the one part of their tongue and to the other with the other part thereof Now I know none but Lawyers like them in this for they will speak for a Fee for one and yet I know them that have given Advice and Councel to the other and taken the others Fee too They are like the Amphishaena who hath two heads and moves two contrary ways at once The Italians put a Proverb upon Caesar Borgia and his father Pope Alexander saying The one never thought as he spake and the other never spake as he thought So indeed it may be said of many of these Lawyers who like Hebrew Letters must be spelt backward if once we read them aright And now O what Parasites they are as the English Papists in Queen Elizabeths days durst temporize to purpose so do these begin apace but as the Coriander hath a corrupt root an unsavory leaf but a sweet seed so hath this Faction a filthy root unsavory actions but as good words as one would wish if need be Yet let them look to it Gods curse like a Promoter must search for all their ill-gotten goods ere long And as when the crafty Fox that had deceived the Crow of her break-fast hugged himself for joy to think of his project till when he had eaten it he found himself poysoned with it and then he repented and wished the Crow her own again So stoln goods are sweet to these Deceivers and they hug themselves in their cheating tricks and knaveries till their bowels begin to gripe them for it For the day of Christ that is coming will be a terrible time of torment to them And as Christ brought that fish to the Hook that had the money in his mouth Matth. 17. 27. So will these wide mouthed money mongers be hooked for it fearfully ere long They have gotten great Estates and bought Mannors and Lands and taken exact Surveys of them but they have not yet taken an exact survey of their Consciences how they came by this money which purchased these Lands says Dr. Don Ser. fol. p. 818. Our coyn hath the State on one side and God with us on the other and surely if we see not God with us in what riches we have gotten they are but counterfeit and falsly gotten and will gripe us grievously till we have vomited them out When Vespasians covetous Officers had filled themselves like spunges by Rapine and Extortion the Emperor squeezed them out dry again into the common Treasury till they had nothing left Now although many wish for the fall of the tree that they may gather up the chips yet the Lord knows this is not in my heart but beleeve it the Laws of God and Nature require a restitution and that what they have ill gotten from the people be brought into the publick bank again for they have robbed the Nation with a great deal of ravenousness and art One Cacus a cunning theif when he had stoln any Beasts he would drag them to the Cave by their tails backward that by the contrary track of their feet he might be freed from suspition of theevery such art and subtlety have the Lawyers had in deceiving and robbing us that they seems to take another track quite contrary to it and to go under the name of dues and fees And besides their decerts are many in the Law too which like a Cob-web to Spiders whilest they make it their dwelling it is a prison to entangle others in as flies to feed them So many Meanders and Intricacies there are in the Law that like snakes they hide themselves by folding into many doubles Wherefore like the Foxes they must have depth of soyl to Earth the wrongs of their poor Clients and hide their own Crafts which are too many to live much longer seeing the honestest cause must miscarry by their cunning tricks and fallacies and a bad cause shall be so beautifully varnished over by their arts and cheats that the most innocent honest man that is shall suffer ruine by them I have a Neighbor by me who was arrested for two hundred pounds debt to a man whose name he never heard nor face ever saw before and he was laid in prison thereupon to his utter ruine till he proved the Bond forged the Plaintiff a cheat that lived by such tricks and yet he escaped scot-free though there was a knot of them that lived by such cheats Hence Sir Walter Rawleigh upon his tryal hearing the Lawyers for the King plead violently against him he turns to the Jury and sayes Gentlemen I pray consider that these sort of men meaning the Lawyers do usually defend very bad causes every day in their own Courts yea and against men of their own Profession too as able as themselves what then will they not do against me ◠I know now an honest Gentleman that had a good personal estate who lies yet in the Fleet eat up almost with lice and near starved and all his estate taken from him by the meer cheat of the Lawyers upon a forged Bond too for another onely a man whose face he never saw before pretending his hand to be in that Bond But to finish this O how miserably tyrannical they make the Law to the free-born Englishman They make it like a Milstone which they drive about with a wheel artificially full of cogs and spoaks under which they grinde the innocent and harmless ones to powder And can we hear their groans sighs sad complaints and fearful cryes and we sit still like senceless stones shall we Sixtly Lawyers unsufferable Fees fill all mouths with wofull exclamations and eyes with willing expectation of their fall For as no sooner was the Apple in Adams mouth but the Devill was in his Maw So no sooner does one Fee them with an Earth-Angel in their hand but the Devil doubles fees with Hel angels in their hearts and they fall to lying pleading cheating wronging and oppressing as fast as they can without fear of Heaven or Hell It would make an honest mans heart to ake to hear how fast and confidently they will lye and like it well too We laugh at the Indians for casting in such store of Gold every yeare into the River Ganges as if the streams would not run currently without it and others laugh at the English as much for when the current of Justice is stopped as 't is oft in many Courts the foolish people can as yet it seems find no better way then that the Indians use to open them and shal we never be wiser Indeed Pliny reports of Apis the Aegyptian God that he never gave answers to private men but è manu consulentium cibum capiendo by taking meat out of the hands of such as were his
Clients and sought counsell else he would be dumb Is it not so with us Doe not the Norman Lawyers the like Let the Lawyer be greatly retained or the Law shall be greatly detained And what will retain them as much as they can take out of their Clients hand at once no! For one that is eminent and belongs to the Councell of State told me he had it from a Gentleman of four thousand pound per annum that upon a motion to be made to the Lords Commissioners he retained his Counsell for one word to them and put five peeces into his hands but the Lords sat not that day The next morning the Gentleman made a fresh sally and gave a fresh salute to his great Counsell with gracious Angels and filled his pawes againe with two golden peeces for he was as hungry as ever since yesterday but the Lords sat not that day neither But the next day the Lords sat for certain so he comes to his Counsellor or Concealer Mr. M. Sir saies he be mindfull of my businesse I pray it is but one word to make but one motion to them this morning Sir saies the Lawyer I have nothing to doe with it no! says the Gentleman I hope you will Sir speake but one word Sir says the Laweer what doe you tell me of your motion I le not meddle with it for I am not retained to it Now it seems the seven peeces had not power enough to hold him three mornings but to make one motion Mr. M. was as hungry againe as ever he must have more or else be dumb So that the Gentleman was glad to run and borrow two peeces more having not so much about him to retaine or keep his Counsell close to it to speake one word to the Lords Commissioners for him Is not this a most unsufferable cheating of the free-born English-man and are not these crys of oppression and Norman Tyranny very loud and lamentable And is not the Law and Justice to be sold at so high a rate so as causes many an honest heart and poor man to sit sigh and complain and loose his Right for want of mony seeing eight or nine pounds can pay and pray but for one word Tully tels us that the mouth of the Lawyer is an Oracle for the whole City but if in this mouth there be a gilded tongue it will prove like the Oracle â—f Delphos which Demosthenes complained of in his time that it would speak nothing but what Phillip would have it say by giving it a double Fee So full Fees finde full mouths and can create in the Lawyers any likenesse or mouthfuls of Plea's upon any account right or wrong As Demosthenes who pleaded vehemently against the Milesian Ambassadors the first day but in the second day appeared in another likenesse and pretending he was not well would not plead against them at all but his neck being wrapped up and his face muffled about he pretended hee got the Quinzee and could not plead against them but the people perceiving the occasion of it was a secret bribe given him by the aforesaid Ambassadors they termed his Malady I was going to say melody for such tricks are the Lawyers mirth they termed it Argentangina not the QUINSIE but the COINZIE or silver-mumps such cheating tricks they have to get Gold their God I was informed within few dayes by an Honorable Religious Lady of Rowles cut out for coine and five hundred pound per annum lost thereby and of one that offered for twenty peeces to put other Deeds into the Rowles which may one day be knowne So that of all men alive it is the worst medling with these men who mind nothing but to feather their own nests fill their own purses and feed their own paunches Like a Capon that is cold and naked who in the absence of the Hen will run to her nest not out of any love to the Chickens but to warme his own sides they regard neither Cause nor Client Justice nor Law but how to get like Pettifoggers Orphans Widows or poor oppressed mens Estates and to eate men out in Fees and Extortions Therefore as a Lacedemonian answered a Physitian once who asked how he did the better said he for that I meddle not with you and take none of your physick So may we say to the Lawyers for none are well that are tampering with them And I confesse that I am one of them that had rather loose my right than run into their hands and yet I am beholding to one of our new Committees that would turn out as honest a just Cause as ever came before them and they confesse it and all men know it that have but heard of it yet to the amazement of 〈◊〉 honest men who had better hopes of them they would turn it over â—o these Tyrants notwithstanding they acknowledged that the remedy would then be worse then the disease O when shall Justice and 〈…〉 run downe like a mighty streame in our streets this promise wee wait for and then Justice will be easier and cheaper to come by and men be more honest then they are now We read of one Verconius in the time of Alexander Seveâ—â—s how he abused many in taking mony and Fees for preferring their Suits and doing them little or no good which cheating in those daies was so detestable that he was adjudged to be hanged up in a Chimney and so to be choaked with smoake for that he sold smoake to the people And it is not strange that in these daies this decei and design of the Lawyers to sell smoake and cozen the Commonweale should be countenanced How can the peoples expectation be answered not only in the continuing and keeping up this accursed Crew but in Committees throwing out honest Causes into their dishonest hands Wee are afraid too many of the Norman race are now in Government and their love to Tith-mongers and to the Lawyers and turning ore honest Causes to those Locusts of the Commonwealth makes our hearts ake for them as well as for ourselves I cannot but speake for a very Dog runs on with a courage when he is maintained by a more noble nature then his owne as when a man puts him on â— Beleeve it I say for I must speake it to deale so mildly with the corrupt Laws and Lawyers as only to regulate or better moddel them is a pretext which will bring us but into new bondage and they had better tell the honest people they 'le hang them all up at their own doores then not deliver them now their expectations are so high from this Norman tyranny wherein the people are robbed of their Laws and Liberties or then not throw downe Termes to set up Justice at our own doores and not to throw down this selfish arbitrary contentious Interest of the Lawyers which arose out of the corruptions and contentions of the worst of men and is
to put a cause into their hands or to take one out of their hands though it goes well as we say on our side yet he that eatâ— their eggs will be sure to be poysoned Hence sayeâ— the Prophet Vers. 7 8 9 10. Wasting and destruction are in their way there is no judgment in their goings they have made them crooked paths whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace Therefore is judgement far from us neither doth justice overtake us we wait for light but behold obscurity c. Vers. 15. Yea truth faileth and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey c. i. e. By these savage Beasts he shall be ruined and spoiled Now the righteous hateth lyers Prov. 13. 5. as well as the lyers or Lawyers hate those that are afflicted by them says Solomon Prov. 26. 28. And so sayes he in Prov. 6. 17 18 Six things doth the Lord hate yea seven are abomination to him First A proud look secondly A lying tongue thirdly Hands that shed innocent blood fourthly An heart that deviseth mischief fiftly Feet swift to it sixtly A false witness that will speak lies seventhly One that sows discord among Brethren Now the very children in the streets can easily understand all this in the Lawyers yea in their constant practises and can men of conscience fearing God any longer abide them that live so openly and notoriously by sin If the Governors will suffer this they have as much reason and Religion for it too to set up and suffer drunkenness whoredom or other sins in the sight of God and men in open Courts to be bought and sold at Westminster-hall or the Parliament door And I do beleeve it yea am sure of it that the Lord will by some sudden stroke declare as much to this Nation if this living by sin and these monopolizers of lying swearing cheating and oppressing be much longer continued up Therefore I take no great care concerning this matter for as a little before the ruine of Nineveh so now saith the Lord Wo wo wo be to you for you are full of lies and robberies and your prey departeth not Nahum 3. 1. Vers. 5 6 7 8. Behold I am against thee I will cast filth upon thee I will make thee vile and they that see it shall say Who will pity them I pray God then give our Governors Grace and Religion enough before this Decree come forth to declare and decree down these trades of sin for if both in the Law of God and Light of Nature it be abominable to commit adultery by open day light in Westminster-hall before all what is it then to plead a hundred lies in one morning is not lying a sin as well as whoring or what would you say to see a woman lie down to sin before a beast and will ye O ye Governors if ye fear God! will ye see hundreds of men every Tâ—rm time to prostitute their souls and lie down to commit sin with Satan every morning next their heart too to engender and bring forth lies and many such mis-shapen Monsters as Robinson sayes in his Essayes p. 164. of the Devils own seed and begetting Every morning O how many are in travel to bring forth most monstrous foul sins in the open Courts and can an honest Parliament sit so â—igh them and own them if any object O but it is for the peoples good they speak like fools then for is sin for the good of the Nation then see Isai. 59. 2. and Jere. 5. 25. Or was it unlawful to commit fornication with the Moabites to draw them thereby to Religion or is it unlawful and wicked to steal from the rich to relieve the poor and yet not unlawful to trade in lies grant it were to do good This pretence of theirs makes them mock and merry at sin and they oftentimes do as beggers cover one patch with another and a lesser patch with a bigger But a servant of them a little honester then his master told him That if he did not couch his lies more close and make them more cleanly he should tell them himself for all him and a vouch them too for he did not like the trade Thus for this the people as religious are obliged to look and labor for the fall of this ungodly interest and trade 2. To heap up the measure of sins and make us ripe for judgments they cause much false-swearing and for-swearing by compelling the poor people to useless sinful and unnecessary oaths and making nothing many of them of an oath themselves which is horrible sinful and unsufferable For although there is a holy solemn kinde of swearing which is a part of Gods worship yet it is by the Name of the Lord Isa. 65. 16 not by Baal nor Malcham Zeph. 1. 5. nor by faith and troth which some are so prodigal of that swear all away nor yet by the Bible or kissing the Book Much less lawful is it to force any to an oath which is done daily by the Ceremonies of kissing the Book and laying on hands whereby the sacred Name of the most high God is greatly dishonored and prostituted to millions of filthy and unclean lips upon slight and sleeveless occasions O crying sin of taking God Name in vain for which I am sure He will not hold them guiltless Oaths ought to be never used but on holy-days and it were a thousand times better a mans exâ—rements should run from him and he not know it then such oaths and he not minde them when he hath made them Lawyers many of them make as light of an oath as that Hoast did who told his Guest in Lent he might eat flesh in another Inn For Sir sayes he we are bound but they are but sworn Sometime since a Gentlewoman and Sister of mine was left a Widow to some considerable Estate and Goods but the Court requiring her to take oath that the Inventory was true she refused it as not onely scrâ—pelling that oath but any oath the Court perceiving her out of Conscience inflexible up starts one of the Lawyers who never saw her before nor since Ha! sayes he this Gentlewoman hath a nice conscience truly Come sayes he give me it give me the oath I will take it for her and so for fear of losing his fees if no oath had been taken he takes it at a venture though he knew nothing of the Inventory yet he would take his oath it was true and made no bones of it O! what brave desperadoes these Lawyers are they will make a notable sally for sinful fees then If Samson will set so on the City gates what withes can hold him and if these Lawyers dare venture so lustily upon oaths what Laws will hold them He that enters into a Statute conceives the extent of it to reach his Body Lands Goods Estate and all now an oath what is it but such a kinde of Statute entered into and acknowledged before
his several solemn Engagements and Declarations to the people and contrary to the Norman Tyrant introduce the Laws and Liberties and Just Rights to the poor weeping praying people as was before the cursed Norman Conquest Hence it is that as men reckon their riches not by what money they have but by what Bonds and Leases they can produse so we reckon upon all the promises and protests of his Excellency and the Army which Bonds being due to the people if they pay them not they are resolved to put them to suite before a just Judge ere long 5. They are the more earnest and intent in this their expectation for that the first actions in any Sacred or Civil Constitution in respect of those which are to succeed are like the original to all the other after draughts or like the Copy to all that write by it Now as every man hath a Christen-name as we call it before his Sir-name so is it fit that the Lord Generals and the Armies first Virgin-Act be for Christ and for his Churches which bear his Christen name and then next that to his honor and sirname the peoples liberties be delivered them from the Norman Free-booters But it is true there be some Members of the Army whom I have met at Drury House they know that are so troubled with the itch of getting Lordships that they are altogether forgetful of the people unless it be how to oppress them by fines and fixe-ness i. e. pride and are never well but when they be rubbing upon the poor and scraping off their scabs upon honest people of this Commonwealth But I think it is true of some though God forbid it should of all that rather then Souldiers will lose their game they will shoot the poor Pigeons out of their Dove-Coats But 6. And lastly upon a Scripture account the peoples expectations are drawn high for deliverance by the General and the Army for that the promise is And your Governors shall be of your selves Jere. 30. 21. Now hitherto they have been strangers of other Nations of the Norman race and therefore Tyrants and Oppressors I know some open that Scripture as to Christ but they may know that it speaks to Gentiles as well as to Jews and to the Governors of Nations as well as the Governor of Judah and Jerusalem and it agrees with Dan. 7. 18 22. Where the Saints of the most high must take the Kingdom which is to be after the Antient of days hath sat and the judgement be set as was in 1648. But sayes one to me who is now a great Purchaser too but to my knowledge before that he was of another minde and made not his Kingdom of this world what do ye tell us of setting up Christ why his Kingdom is spiritual and we have not fought for his Kingdom but for this Kingdom viz. a Civil Government and such matters which Christ meddles not with Answ. But my Gentleman may know the stone cut without hands will meddle with all the Kingdoms of the World Dan. 2. 34 35. and then with this and so it hath and then wo be to his purchase For behold sayes the Lord I am breaking down and plucking up all Jere. 45. 4 5. And seekest thou great things for thy self But in that day his servants shall rule and that in the midst of us Wherefore the Lord make ouâ— Army mindful of this fifth Monarchy and remember the Saints of the most high that groan yet under most grievous oppressions by the Government of Strangers Not but that I am clear of Pythagoras his opinion who says That a worthy stranger is to be preferred before an unworthy Citizen and Kinsman yet withal that our worthy Fellow Countrymen and Freeborn Britains are abundantly to be preferred above unworthy strangers and wicked Normans For though it is better a theif feed us then a Shepherd devour us and it is better to have a Robber do us justice then a Justice rob us and it is more profitable to have our Estates saved by an intruding Guardian then wasted by one legally appointed yet these Theives Robbers Intruders do devour us rob us and destroy us of our Rights and Priviledges and will not our Army help us How can they then answer it to God and men should they frustrate the incessant expectations of all the honest people in England and not deliver them from these Tyrannies and Usurpations but force them with full mouths to cry to Heaven for Justice But we trust there is no fear for it was the Duke of Medina that said His Sword knew not how to make a difference betwixt a Protestant and a Papist but as his Excellencies sword so his word we hope will make a large difference between Britains and Normans such as love and such as hate the true Laws and Liberties of the Commonwealth of England and then he may be stiled not Defender of the Faith but Defender of the Faithfulness of Gods People and the Commonwealth in all her due Rights Thus far for this third Chapter CHAP. IV. The END the OBJECT and FOUNDATION of the LAW with WORDS to the PARLIAMENT and to the PEOPLE about Norman LAWS and LAWYERS A Thing is said to be distinguished two waies 1. secundum speciem according to its specificall nature 2. Secundum perfectum imperfectum in eadem specie according to the degree of it now the perfection or imperfection of the Law appeares in the End of it Object of it and Foundation of it For 1 It appertains to the Law that it be ordained for publicke good and profit ad commune bonum as the end and intent of it and not to particular Interests or advantages of particular persons or Prerogatives Common good is taken as it is to the safety and freedome of the people So that all Laws that are good doe dirigere humanos actus secundum finem direct men to this end which is the end of all honest and just Lawes viz. the safety and freedome of the Commonalty First As to the End in generall viz. publick good the Lawyer himselfe saies Finis humanae legis est utilitas hominum which I think is a little too strait but like the Lawyers end of his Law because men may have their particular good and advantages by a Law which is dangerous hurtfull and destructive to the common good of the people Therefore a just Law in generall ordinatur ad commune bonum hath the good of all men to its end And Isidorus sayes three things must be considered in the conditions of humane Laws As 1. Their congruity to Religion and the Laws of God which I shall speake to in the Foundation by and by And 2. Their proportion and measure to the Law of Nature which we spake of in Chap. 2. And then 3. Their end as they relate to the publick utility and advantage ' which we are now upon whence observe 1.
gird and upbraid the Heathens and their Idols with their ignorance of the times and seasons i. e. as to Christ c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isa. 41. 23. But to this discovery which we speake the Candle of Reason or meer naturall light shines too darkly and disenergetically Yet the soule is said to partake of three times Viz. 1. Tempus praeteritum memoriâ 2. Praesens intellectu 3. Futurum voluntate c. of times past in the Memory of times present in the Understanding and of times to come in the Will Now as to the present times a cleare understanding is incumbent I mean an understanding shining with the light of Gods Word which is not only cognoscere res but ordinem modum rerum whereby we shall obviously understand those causae intermediae which the Schoolmen say are impedibiles defectibiles which are contingents and would interrupt that high and mighty work for Christ and his Kingdom which is going on in these daies Such an understanding inlightned by Gods Word of Truth we must have as Daniel had For first Daniel knew the days and age he lived in ch 9. 2. So must we Secondly Daniel learned it by Books cha 9. 2. of the Prophets and the Word of God relating to those times So must we And then thirdly He saw and observed the deliverance fore-told to be â—igh the time of travell and ready to bee revealed And so must we And then he fell to his work of praying and beleeving and expecting and so shal we and not till then that we shall know what to doe as 1 Chron. 12. 32. or be obedient to Gods will accordiâ—â— to his work which we must do in these daies Wherefore 1. Observe all the signs of the Son of Mans coming and all the appearances of the Fifth Monarchy now in sight And 2. Hear the voice that bids come up hither i. e. out of Babylon and make hast for Judgement is falling upon Babylon 3. Waite with confidence for the next notorious change in England And then lift up your Heads for your Redemption draweth nigh i. e. both in a spirituall and civill reference The Times will light terribly upon Priests and Lawyers on Tithes and Termes ere long for all they find so many Advocates now I had intended to have added much for direction and counsell to my Country-men but I am prevented by a proud Alarm given by some bold as blind Bayard of the fiery Clergy who make a mighty noise in the eares of many of answering my Book of Church Discipline called A Tabernacle for the Sun so that I will conclude this the more imperfectly that I may stop their Career upon their first comming forth and if they make haste I will waite for them as one ready to receive their most resolute Summons or Sallies being assured of my Armor and Shield of Truth in my Lord Jesus Least of all doe I value that very man of words the Libeller of Garlick-Hith who hath sent to Renbury to some of his own feather and spirit for a Certificate of his good behavior as appears in the Epistle to the Reader but his Rehoboham-like brazen shield shall never defend him or dignifie him in the hearts of honest godly men whom he cals Devils and damned Independants But empty vessells make the greatest noise if he be so tedious in his answer as it seems he is it is likely I shall be so publickly and at such a distance imployed in my Lord and Master Christs work ere long that I shall want idle time to solace my spirits in reading his Answer or returning mine if it be worth it and relish of the Spirit of Christ which I have hardly faith enough to beleeve But to conclude The Day of our Deliverance is dawned Let the Priests and Lawyers Antichrists Church and State Servants and Solicitors sit and howle and as many as trade with Babylon and gain thereby let them look and lament by fifty five next and cast dust on their heads Rev. 18. 19. for the houre of their torment makes hast wherefore woe woe woe to them that hear the voice which now them and yet will not beware and come out Infelix cujus â—â—lli sapientia prodest Infelix quirecta docet cum vivat inique Infelix qui pauca sapit sperâ—â—tque doceri Let us not mind then so much as we do to purchase 〈…〉 and Estates seeing the Fifth Monarchy will make such mad worke in the world therefore as Jer. 45. 4 5. Behold that which I have built in the fourth Monarchy I will pull down in the Fifth and that which I have planted I will pluck up saith the Lord even this whole Land And seekest thou great things for thy selfe seek them not The poor man will be the happiest man then Haud ullus usquam paupere est beatior Haud namque pejor metuitur ab eo status And let my Country-men that long for the Liberties of the Sons of God exceedingly Rejoyce as Rev. 18. 20. Rejoyce over her for God hath avenged you on her Ver. 6. Reward her even as she hath rewarded you fill her double Then Rustica Gens erit optima flens pessima Gaudens Ungentem pungit pungentem Rusticus ungit FINIS * Pag. 131. There is a Prediction which sayes a C. shal sound within the wals of Rome Mirror of Just. p 230. p. 60. ☞ Robinson oâ— Gen. 49. 1. To Parliament-men Proved â— By the call you have to it 2. The Peoples expectation 3. The worth of the work 4. The necessity of it How the Parliament may be glorious before God and men ☜ Tithes Extra de Appel cap. significasti Fox vol. 3. p. 122. col 2. â—24 ☜ 2. To Armymâ—n 3. To Merchant-men ☜ 4. To Clergy-men 1. Their Ministry Ezek. 3. 14. 1. Your Ordination 2. In your dispensation ☞ ☞ 2. Their maintenance by Tithes The Authore speech at the Committee Sept. 16. The present Ministers no right to Tithes by the Law proved Answ. 1. Because Canon Lawes which give the right are down Sir H. Speiman De non temerandis Eccles. p. 119 Sir Edw. Cooke Lateran councell Concil Cabil Synod Mog Syond Mog ☞ Syn. Aug. Mr. Littleton for p. 1096. c. 2. 1001. 2. 45. Revel 17. 2. Ans. â— Because there the Lawes look on men ordained in another manner Judge Dier ☜ Lambert Rastall Lord cooke Magna Chartaâ— 3. The end of the Law is lost by those Lawes which grant them Tithes 4. The foundation of such are sand and unsound ☞ Synod 5 contr Q. 6 Constantine tooke away Priests Revenues and gave free gifts to Gospel Ministers Theodosius pulled down their places of Worship Ambrose Aug. in Psal. 146. Bohemians Muscovites Wickliffe ☜ To the Parliament Two times to alter Lawes 1. 2. A Gospel-maintenance for Gospel-Ministers God forbid the Parliament should settle Tithes to maintaine a National Ministery and nothing for a New-Testament Ministry