BESIDES the very Foundation of such an Opinion is absurd and unreasonable for there can be no Laws till there be some frame of Government to establish and enact such Laws nor can any thing have the force or power of a Law or oblige men to obedience unless it does proceed from such a Person or Persons as have a right to command it and Authority to punish the Disobedience or neglect of those who ought to be subject to it And to say that this Right is in the People who by their suffrages Elect the Supreme Magistrate is so far from mending the matter that it makes it worse and more dangerous for then the People may in reason fairly presume when ever they please to say That the Sovereign Power is abused to their prejudice which was contrary to their Design in granting it to reassume their own Right and either keep the Power themselves or proceed to a new Election which is the direct Way to fulfil the prediction of the Necromantick Head which was once said at Oxford Bakers Chrons pag. 167. to have given this fatal Oracle Caput decidetur Caput elevabitur Pedes elevabuntur supra Caput which was tragically translated into English in the transactions of the late unhappy Times when Monarchy beheaded lay The head of Traitors bore the Sway. The feet of * Dan. 2.33 Iron and of Clay Became a monstrous head they say K. Charles Martyr O. Cromwell Army and Rump Parl. BUT further the universal Testimony of all Ages Nations and Places derive the beginning of Positive Laws from a Government justly impowred to make enact and command Laws and a superior Power that had a Right to exact Obedience to them So that it is almost impossible to find the least footsteps of Law Law of Nature and Law of Nations of Divine Institution that is by far so ancient as Government As for that Jus Naturae and Jus Gentium they are more properly Common and Universal Principles of Nature and all Nations than Laws and owe their establishment to a Divine Authority and not to any Humane Power and there is a vast difference between the very Words Jus and Lex though our Language does not admit of it in the common use of Expression for Jus properly signifies a Right or Propriety and such a Right as if it be common as the Right of Nature and Nations are every man by vertue of his Being lays a claim unto The word Lex or Law seems derived from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 finem facio termino to put an end and determination to things which before were undetermined or from the Latin word Ligc to bind and oblige as Laws do all people to Obedience or possibly as Tully observes à Legendo from chusing what is best for society So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 distribuo pasco rego to distribute Justice and Right to feed the people with care and diligence as a Shepherd his flock for which reason Homer calls Kings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Shepherds of the People who rule and govern them So the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is rendred Law signifies Doctrina teaching instruction because Laws teach and instruct all people what is their Duty All which words of the most ancient and universal Languages plainly intimate that there must be some person or persons who must have such Authority as may inable them to determine Differences oblige men to Obedience to those Laws they chuse as best for them seed govern and teach their Inferiors their respective Duties and who must therefore by necessary consequence be Governours before the Laws were made by which they and their successors afterwards directed and managed the Societies over which they were the Primitive Rulers Princes and Law-givers CHAP. II. Of the danger of Anarchy the necessity of Government and Laws to prevent it All People not fit for one kind of Government Of the three forms of Govenment Democracy Aristocracy anâ— Monarchy Some Considerations anâ— necessary Animadversions upon our laâ— English Republick THE goodness of the Divine Nature has not more visibly appear'd in any thing of humane affairs than in bestowing this principle of Self-preservation in so high a degree upon Mankind as to make it universally out oâ— Love to themselves oblige them to enter into Communities and Societies An effect so Noble that possibly that and Religion may more truly be said to distinguish Men from Brutes than Reason which though we ambitiously endeavour to ingross to our selves yet am I to learn how they can without some injustice be excluded from a share and lower portion of it some of their Actions being so remarkably Logical and Discursive as will never be solved either by mere matter and motion or the higher principles of bare sense and fancy But for this principle of Self-preservation though they enjoy a great measure of it in common with us yet not so much as to teach them for their security to enter into the mutual obligations of Laws Government and Society And 't is happy for us that this Wisdom was deni'd them since there are few Creatures so inconsiderable but if they had the Policy for their common safety to unite they would in a little time grow so numerous and powerful as to be able to enter into open hostility with Men and in probability either wholly extirpate humane race or at least as that Monopolizer of Wit and Fancy the most ingenious Mr. Cowley expresseth it Cowley Pind. Odes upon the 34. Cap of Esay stanz 6. pag. 50. And if of lost mankind Ought happen to be left behind If any Reliques but remain They in the Dens should lurk Beasts in the Palaces should Reign whereas now if they attempt any Rebellion or Disobedience they are easily subdued and kept under subjection by their own Disunion WITHOUT Laws or Government men would be but a more cunninâ— kind of Brutes and therefore we sâ—â— that where these prevail there humanâ— Nature is most refined civilized anâ— polite but where Laws are wanting iâ— any measure there in proportion meâ— degenerate into the greatest Barbarism Infidelity Ingratitude Treachery Inhumanity and almost brutish Anarchy and Confusion Nay their very Religion which is the highest exaltation oâ— the nature of Man and possibly the oâ—ly thing that perfectly and incommunâ—cably differences it by setting men in 〈◊〉 degree so superior to Beasts that they can never arrive at it even Religion 〈◊〉 self for want of Laws and Government becomes sensual and Barbarous if not Devilish THERE has therefore appear'd to all the World for self-preservation and mutual advantage an absolute necessity of Society The danger of Anarchy shews the necessity of Government Nor has it been less evident that it is absolutely impossible there should be any such thing without Government Superiority and Subjection For Anarchy is indeed the state of Nature but it is only of
F H Van Hove Sculpsit CAROLUS Secundus Dei Gratia Angliae Scotiae Franciae et Hiberniae Rex Fidei Defensor etc. HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE THE COMMON INTEREST OF KING and PEOPLE Shewing the Original Antiquity and Excellency OF MONARCHY Compared with Aristocracy and Democracy And particularly of Our English MONARCHY AND THAT Absolute Papal and Presbyterian Popular Supremacy Are utterly inconsistent with Prerogative Property and Liberty By JOHN NALSON LL. D. LONDON Printed for Jonathan Edwin at the Sign of the Three Roses in Ludgate-street 1677. TO THE READER IN this following Discourse I have endeavoured to pursue the Point I had before made an attempt upon in the Countermine without any other Passion or Design than a Loyal Zeal to my Prince and Country and a Conscientious Discharge of my Duty which because every person is in his station obliged to do will I hope render an Apology as unnecessary as it is disagreeable to Your most faithful Servant JOHN NALSON The CONTENTS CHAP. I. THE two great Principles of Nature Self-preservation and the Ardent desire of Happiness the Foundation of Society and Government Mr. Hobs refuted in his Impolitick Position That Fear was the first Origination of Society The Origine of Monarchy The occasion of the Primitive Wars The Original of Laws Monarchs or the first Leaders of Colonies the Primitive Legislators The reason of the Coercive power of Magistrates The Dangerous Error of those who make Law the Foundation of Monarchy when in truth all Laws were the Concessions of Kings and Legislators The Ill consequences of this mistake The Laws of Nature and Nations are of Divine Institution CHAP. II. Of the danger of Anarchy The necessity of Laws and Government to prevent it All People not fit for one kind of Government Of the three kinds of Government Democracy Aristocracy and Monarchy Some considerations and necessary Animadversions upon our late English Government by a Republick CHAP. III. The Government of a Republick examined whether in its own Nature so good for the Ends of Society as it is pretended The end of all Government the Happiness of the Society it consists in Protection Property and distributive Justice Democracy cannot in probability attain those Ends. It obliges the Supreme Magistrates to maintain a private separate Interest distinct from that of the Publick and the inconveniences that necessarily attend that imperfection Domestick Peace not secured by Democracy No security of Property or equal Distribution of Justice in a Republick in regard of the constant Factions which are inseparable from that form of Government CHAP. IV. Of Monarchy and its excellency proved from its Antiquity The first Essay to a Democracy the Rebellion of Corah and his Accomplices Secondly from the Universality of Monarchy The first popular State at Athens A. M. 3275. Thirdly Monarchy most agreeable to humane Nature by answering the three forementioned great Ends of Society and the Happiness of Mankind CHAP. V. Of the Excellency of the English Monarchy It is not apt to degenerate into Tyranny the King having by his gracious Concessions given Limits to his absolute Sovereignty Of the Interest which the three Estates have in preparing Bills for the Royal Assent to be by that past into Laws and the great obligation which thereby the People have to Subjection and Obedience CHAP. VI. Of the Priviledges of the English Government And first of the prerogative of the King The Imperial Crown of this Realm Hereditary Absolute and Independent The greatness of his power according to Laws The Kings person Sacred The priviledges of the People First in sending their Representatives to the Parliament Secondly in their Property secured Thirdly in the excellent and constant method of Justice In particular Priviledges and Franchises In all imaginable care to prevent the growth of the Poor and in providing for such as are so In committing the Execution of the Laws to such hands as will act with Justice And of the care that is taken to prevent all abuses of Laws CHAP. VII The great misfortune of Religion which is made the great pretence to ruine Monarchy A stratagem of the Devil to extirpate all true Religion The two opposites and enemies of Monarchy Papacy and Presbytery The opinion of the Catholick Doctors about Papal Supremacy and the new Roman Creed to confirm it Papal Supremacy devests the Prince of his absolute Sovereignty of his Legislative power and renders Monarchy insecure of Possession or Succession by bereaving it of the guard of Laws of the strength of Alliances of the Fidelity of their People Several Impolitick inconveniences which attend that Religion Papal Supremacy destructive of the peoples Liberty and Property CHAP. VIII Presbytery inconsistent with Monarchy proved from five of their Fundamental principles 1. That it is not the best form of Government 2. That the Right of Kings is not from God but the People 3. That Kings may be called in question for their Administration of the Government 4. That they may by the people be deposed 5. That they may be punished with Capital punishment CHAP. IX Presbytery in reality as great an enemy to Democracy and Parliaments as to Monarchy A short view of their Tyrannick Consistorian Government over the Magistracy Clergie and Laity Of the latitude and power of Scandal to draw all affairs into the Consistory Of their kindness to their Enemies The small difference betwixt a Jesuit and Geneva-Presbyter Both aim at Supremacy CHAP. X. Presbytery as destructive of the Peoples Liberty and Property as it is dangerous to Monarchy and all Government Some necessary Conclusions from the former Discourse Licensed Sept. 20. 1677. THE COMMON INTEREST OF KING and PEOPLE c. CHAP. I. The two great Principles of Nature Self-Preservation and The ardent Desire of Happiness the Foundation of Society and Government Mr. Hobs refuted in his impolitick Position That Fear gave the first Origination of Society The Origine of Monarchy The occasion of the Primitive Wars The Original of Laws Monarchs or the first Leaders of Colonies the Primitive Legislators The reason of the Executive and Coercive Power of Magistrates The dangerous Error of those who make Laws the Foundation of Monarchy whereas in Truth all Laws and Establishments were the Concessions and Sanctions of Kings and Law-givers The Ill consequences of this Mistake The Law of Nature and of Nations anâ— of Divine Institution AMONGST all those Principles of Nature which Mankind and indeed the greatest part of the Creation receive at the same Instant with their Being there are two which as they are the most Universal so they are of the greatest Necessity and most constant Use The two great Principles of Nature Self-preservation and the ardent Desire of Happiness the Foundation of Society and Government THE first is that of Self-preservation or an inseparable Desire to keep themselves in Being by the obtaining and enjoyment of all those things which contribute towards the continuance of it or which give them a
Love and not Fear one of another lest they should be separated and that they might have the glory of such a famous building together with the advantages of Society which were the Causes of their early Combination and Design Had they been jealous distrustful or fearful one of another that would naturally have made them separate flie from one another but they were fearful of being parted and dispersed which is the true and proper effect of Love which always covets an Union with its Object as Hatred Fear and Aversion lead us to a desire of separation from the things or persons we stand in dread of or do not affect BUT after the most Wise Eternal Being for the accomplishment of his own glorious Designs had crossed theirs by confounding their Language and dividing their Tongues there was then a necessity which obliged them also to divide and separate and so all those who were of one Language embodied and joyned into one Society and parted from the rest who could be of no use or advantage to them in regard their Dialect was not understood By which means they spread themselves into several remote Regions and by degrees the whole Earth came to be inhabited THE people who were thus separated in process of Time came to be as different in all other things as in their Language and still as they multiplied in Numbers new Colonies were necessitated to part from the old stock and they also became distinct Companies and Societies of Men Now he who undertook to be their Leader The Origine of Monarchies and Captain-conductor in their travels and removes was therefore the chief and principal man amongst them and usually gave his Name and Laws to the Nation or People which he carried with him This distinction of Nations and People as it restrained the Love and kindness which before their Parting was common to all only to those of their own Tribe and Name thereby manifesting the particular respect they had one for another so likewise it came to distinguish that Property of Territories and Possessions The occasion of the Primitive Wars which every Nation pretended a sole Right Title and Interest in as belonging only unto them and not to any other of their Neighbours This occasioned Differences and Quarrels about the Limits of their Pastures Fields Woods Rivers Springs c. as appears both by the Sacred and Prophane Histories For this reason parted Abraham and Lot Gen. 13.7 9. upon a strife that arose betwixt their Servants which obliged them to separate And upon this account it was that Romulus and his Young Citizens had so many quarrels with the Sabines and their other neighbours concerning the Pomoeria of their new erected City Rome even from its very Infancy being born with the desire of Soveraignty and given to Usurpations and incroachments upon her Neighbours FROM these differences arose Tumults Wars hostile Invasions and Depredations which did necessitate Men for their own safety and the preservation of their Property to enter into mutual promises and obligations to defend themselves and the Publick from the injuries of their Enemies and such were all lookt upon and suspected to be who had not the same Property in the Territories where they did inhabit and because many times even whilest they were at Peace with their Neighbours they found themselves infested with Domestick Discords Mischiefs and Injuries Thefts Murders The Original of Laws and Government Adulteries and other violations of the Rights and Properties of the members of their own Community from hence there sprung a necessity of Laws and Government to prevent such intestine Quarrels no less ruinous to the happiness of Society than foreign force and to restrain such amongst themselves whose unbounded Wills rendred their Actions prejudicial and dangerous to the well-being of the Community in whole and in every part as also that by Unity amongst themselves they might be the better enabled to repress the Insolencies and Injuries of their foreign Enemies NOW generally if not universally these Primitive Laws were for the reasons named Monarchs and Leaders of Colonies the first Legislators compiled by the Governours and Rulers and in probability the first of them by those who first lead the Colony Thus Moses amongst the Hebrews gave directions as supreme Judge in all Civil affairs as for the Ecclesiastical he had them under Gods own hand-writing Thus Numa amongst the Romans was their King and Legislator And in regard experience taught them The reason of the Executive and Coercive Power of Magistrates that the best Laws were altogether insignificant to the greatest part of Men unless they were intrusted in the hands of such who would strictly look to their effectual Execution therefore the coercive and executive vertue of Laws was always in the disposal of the supreme Magistrate as being the only Person or Persons who were vested with such a power as could give life and activity to those Laws to which they had first given a Being and to whose hands could the care of the Government by a just execution of those Laws be more safely committed had it been originally in the People to dispose of it than to such Persons as had manifested their Wisdom Prudence and ability in framing such good just wholsom and necessary Constitutions But the true reason is they as Supreme over the People had the only Power of making Laws and to exact obedience and subjection to them by which means they being the best Interpreters of the Laws which they had made the Safety Preservation and Happiness of the Society was most likely to be secured continued and preserved AND this manifests the Fundamental error in Politicks of those Persons who make Laws to have a priority before Kings and Governors as if the Laws made Kings Magistrates when in truth God Nature vested Primogeniture with the Right of Kings and Magistrates and they made the first Laws This is a mistake of such dangerous consequence that if it come to be allowed and Popular it robs all Kings of the most valuable Jewel of their Crowns and which was set there by God himself who set them upon their Heads viz a Divine Right and Title to their Sovereignty and Dominion and this open a way to perpetual Changes and alterations in Government and Governours For all Laws are in their own Nature alterable and may either for the convenience of the Prince or People whâ— are to Govern or be Governed by them be changed abrogated and new one Enacted and by consequence the Right of the King if it be only from them may be so too I have often heard it proverbially spoken New Lords New Laws but this would alter the stile and introduce an unhearâ— of proverb New Laws New Lords which at last by the perpetual uncertainty of Government and alteration both oâ— Lords and Laws must of necessity come to No Lords and No Laws and indeed nothing but Anarchy Confusion and Tyranny
the Nature of Brutes and most certainly it is the Mother of all Confusion of which inevitable Ruine is the undoubted Daughter But as to the forms and manner of Government the opinion of the World has been as various as the practice and so it continues to this day One kind of Government not fit for all People Several kinds and frames of Government suit best with the several circumstances and natures of differing People and Nations So that though it be no great difficulty to determine which in its own nature is the best Government in the World yet it would be too hard if not arrogant positively to affirm that even that were universally the best for all sorts of people Custom and long continuance which can never admit of any alteration that is suddain and general without great inconveniences is certainly one great Rule in all Forms of Government according to that appearing Paradox though good State-Divinity Malum benè positum non est temâ—rè removendum Ill well establisht to remove A dangerous rashness oft does prove Of the three forms of Government However in order to my design it is necessary that we should briefly consider the three kinds of Government which have shar'd the Empire of the World amongst them Of Democracy WE will begin then with the lowest and that which has had the least part as well as the least reason to have a greater in the manage of publick affairs as being but one step from Anarchy and that is Democracy where all govern and yet all obey In this all the People have or pretend to have an equal Right to Power and the Laws are the Plebiscita the Votes of the Common people in general This way of Government is only practicable in small Bodies and Societies of Men it being impossible that populous Nations and of great extent should either congregate for the dispatch of every little affair of State or ever be brought to any agreement about them in any tolerable compass of Time and besides they must be forced to neglect the private concerns of their Country employs which are as necessarily to be attended for the good of the Common-weal as the greatest consultations of State the Populace being no less able to subsist without Corn and the other effects of good husbandry than they are without Counsel and Laws And supposing they should thus meet in multitudes all things would be managed by a tumultuary Faction rather than by Right and Reason with which necessary Qualifications for Government the Common sort of people are as seldom well provided as they are of understanding any thing that goes beyond the limits of their education in Tillage Husbandry and Mechanick Manufactures For these and many other Reasons if ever there was any such kind of Government it is impossible it should be of any long continuance which is the reason that it has been long since exploded out of all great societies of Men and where ever any of it does remain it is either in some particular small Municipal societies as with us in Corporations in England or else this right is committed to Delegates chosen by the people to represent them and act for them such as are the Members of the honourable House of Commons or the Common-Council-men of the City oâ— London and several small Republicks beyond the Seas Of Aristocracy or Optimacy THE second kind of Government is Aristocracy or Optimacy where the Nobility or principal persons have the charge and management of the publick Affairs This was that form of Government which several of the States oâ— Greece as Athens Sparta Thebes Corinth c. did at some times affect And this was the Government of the Roman Commonwealth under the Senate and Consuls Senatores à Senioritate and Consules à Consulendo who were chosen out of the Patricii or principal Nobility as their name imports for their age and experience to consult about the weighty affairs of State to make Laws according as the present necessity required and to alter or abrogate the useless or inconvenient THE third sort of Government is Monarchy Of Monarchy where all the whole frame of Government lies upon one single person who has power to make alter and abrogate Laws and to exact obedience to them and this kind of Government as it is by far the most ancient so it has been and is the most universal Insomuch that there is not any People Nation Country Language who either are not or have not been under this form of Regiment And the Original both of Democracy and Aristocracy must be attributed to Usurpation and will be found upon the search of all the Records of Time to have been founded upon Rebellion and a Regifugium which certainly if there were nothing besides were a sufficient Argument to keep all wise and sober men from being in love with such models of Government and Laws as took their first rise and birth from the breach of Laws and the apparent ruine of that establishment to which they were born subjects if not sworn vassals Some Considerations and necessary Animadversions upon our late English Republick BUT in regard it is grown to be but too popular an Error amongst us to entertain very kind thoughts of the Democratick way of Government which in the time of the late horrid Rebellion some Men managed by private ambition and insatiable desire of Sovereignty did endeavour invita Minerva to introduce and establish contrary to the Genius and inclination of the English Nation though they constantly abused the name of the people to countenance their unjust usurpations and in regard the same restless and dangerous Faction is as busie as ever to promote the same Design to the utter subversion of this most ancient flourishing and well-temper'd Monarchy we will consider this way and see whether in its own Nature it is so good and excellent as it is pretended to be by the Factors and Fautors of Antimonarchical principles who do so industriously labour to alienate the minds of the Subjects of great Britain from their ancient Loyalty and Allegiance to their Sovereign THAT we may therefore take a true and impartial survey of this adored and so much magnified Model of a Republick and that we may do them which they never did to any Justice we will take our Copy from their own Original and the most exact and curious draughts and elaborate pourtraicts in several Declarations published as they pretended for the satisfaction of the people of these Nations and more particularly of one presently after the Kings Murder wherein they express the grounds of their proceedings in setling as they term it the present Government in the way of a Free State or Commonwealth Where first they begin with the observation of Gods blessing upon Rebellion shewing the excellency of this way of Government from the example of the Romans who after their Regifugium for many years prospered far more than
and of as little estimation as the Brutes But in our happy England every man even the meanest Subject may confidently say that whatsoever according to the Laws he does possess and enjoy it is solely properly and absolutely his own to all intents and purposes of possession And so tender is our Government in this particular of property that it provides a certain defence security and protection of Laws for all mens Persons Relations Honours and Estates and not only so but for their good Name and Reputation that if they have any it may be preserved from Injury there being severe penalties as well for a Defamation of the meanest Cottager whose greatest Riches it may be consists in that little Jewel as for a Scandalum Magnatum against the greatest Peer Nor can any person dispossess them of a thing of the meanest value without their consent either by fraud or violence without making a just commutation either of current money or what is as good but he is liable to the punishment of the Laws in all such cases provided some of which are in their penalties for such crimes more severe and ignominious than in any other Nation of the World which has made some people of Ingenuity wish the King of England had more Gallies and that they might receive many serviceable Lives of Criminals who perish at the Gallows NAY so great and absolute is the Property of the English Subjects that the extraordinary occasions of the publick cannot by Law be supplied out of their Estates without their consent and concurrence by their Representatives in the House of Commons who for that purpose prepare and transmit all Bills for supply of Mony to the House of Lords for their Concurrence and the Royal Assent Certainly these Freedoms and Priviledges are so great that the Subjects in other Nations would think themselves Princes if they might enjoy them And are such as the greatest Princes in Foreign parts who are not absolute and Independent Sovereigns can scarcely pretent o be possessors of THE third Priviledge and not the least The third Priviledge the Excellent and Constant Method of Justice though the last that amongst a multitude of others we shall take notice of is the excellent and constant method of the Administration of Justice to all Degrees and Conditions of Men which twice in every year is as it were brought home to their door And in this the Government shews it self to be truly good great and generous even to those who least deserve it such as are all Criminal who how notorious soever are not yet debarrd from having Justice done them before it be done upon them So that no delinquent can be punished either as to loss of Life Limb or Estate Imprisonment or Banishment but by a regular publick method and process of Law secuadum allegata probata according to the evidence of such as are believed to be credible persons and able to give a true and valid Testimony And according to the ordinary procedure of Law in all cases that touch an offenders Life or a considerable part of his Estate he is to receive his sentence according to the Verdict of his Peers or Equals in Condition who are at the fewest Twelve good Men and true or so reputed and if possible known to the Criminal and he to them Who when they are Impanell'd upon his Trial are by a solemn Oath sworn to proceed without favour or affection to the best of their knowledge From which procedure he may therefore in probability expect all the Right and Justice he can hope for or deserve and lest there should be any opportunity for Malice Pique or Envy then to revenge themselves upon the Prisoner he has the liberty to make a challenge or except against so many of the Jury as he can suspect And in all cases of Life and Death by a particular Proviso persons of those professions who by their Trade of slaughter and being inured to shed the bloud though but of Beasts lest by that custom they should be obdurate or less compassionate and tender of humane Life are debarred from being of such Juries Many Immunizies and Municipal Franchizes besides possessed by the People THERE are almost innumerable other Priviledges Municipal Franchizes and Immunities which by Custom or Charter are enjoyed both by particular Persons and Corporate Bodies all which it were endless as well as needless to recount These which I have mentioned as they belong in common to the English Subjects so they are sufficient to manifest the excellency of the Government of this Nation beyond all just exceptions As for those discontented Factious spirits who murmur and repine because they have no more such Ingrates of all others certainly cannot deserve so many And 't is great pity they do not know the price of Salt in France or the frequent Two Hundred penny of the neighbouring States besides all other Imposts and Excise upon all manner of necessaries and conveniencies of Life And they who so much admire the Government and Liberty of those people of the Belgick Union and especially their Liberty of Conscience if I am not mistaken in their Humour love their Mony too well to be much in love with their Religion or even that envi'd Liberty if they understood how high the Exchange and Market of it runs in those Provinces and I am apt to believe they would scarce turn the penny by becoming Merchant adventurers in that Trade if they were truly sensible that they must purchase it at such excessive Rates Bought wit is the best provided the price be according but even that which they call Religion and Liberty as well as Gold may sometimes be bought too dear It is experience that teaches wisdom though the usual saying is but too true that she is the Mistress of Fools intimating that all those people run the hazard of that Infamous character who will not take up Truth upon the credit of other mens Trial and Damages and whom nothing is able to convince but the dear certainty which they purchase at the expence of their proper Loss and too late Repentance others may if they please but for my own part I have had too great a share in it to admire this Phrygian wisdom Serò sapiunt Phryges which in plain English is the greatest folly THE familiarity even of Happiness renders it contemptible with some people and we daily see that Light and Health the one of which is the Salt of Life that gives a poignant relish to all we do enjoy and the other the great comfort and satisfaction of our days are yet rarely estimated according to their real and intrinsick value but by being so familiar to us are many times not thought worth our taking notice of till by their absence or diminution we are made sensible of their great necessity and pleasing excellency Assuredly here are priviledges sufficient to prove the goodness of our Laws Government and Governours and to satisfie
frequently to do But he proceeds I do freely confess Idem ibid. that as I think no kind of Government more happy than this where Liberty observe that dangerous word which has cost England so many Millions of Treasure and such Rivers of Blood accompanied with Moderation is established for duration So I think that People most happy who enjoy that condition of Life and Government Do you think so good Mr. John I wish you had thought twice on 't for the Proverbs sake that second thoughts are best before you had as an Institution Printed this fatal principle of Liberty of Conscience and Moderation as you call it or rather it is to be wish'd you had never thought such a pernicious Position I am sure though after all your musing your thought was not worth a penny we have paid dearly for your thinking this Liberty for us and wanted but little of falling by it into the greatest slavery that can be thought of called Presbyterian Liberty and Government in Church and State and by their restless indeavours one may be confident that some of your party and perswasion will want of their wills but they will both think us and act us into the same or a worse condition again if God be not the more propitious to us and it is but little comfort for us to think after all the mischiefs we have and may suffer for this thought that the Disciples of this great Master will repay us with a second thought as bad as the first and the Character of Fools a Non putaram we did not think it would have come to this or who would ever have thought it BUT he goes on to push them vigorously forward in the enterprize and his following words are able to give encouragement to the most languishing Presbyterian and to revive the fainting good Old Cause with a dram of the Bottle of his Aqua Mirabilis otherwise called by the Sons of Hermes Aqua Stygia Stygian Water or Aqua Fortis which will eat the Gates of Brass and the Iron Bars of Monarchy in pieces Idem ibid. For says he if People do most stoutly and constantly indeavour to preserve and keep this Liberty I will grant that they do no more than they ought to do Certainly the Devil of Delphos never gave a plainer Oracle to inspire all People with Rebellion against Princes and to throw off the Government of Monarchy and that ambiguous Sentence directed to Sir John Maltravers and Sir Thomas Gurney concerning King Edward the Second did not more assure them what they were to do with him being interpreted as all such doubtful speeches are according to the desire and interest of the Faction Edvardum nolite occidere timere bonum est To shed your Sovereign Edwards blood Be sure you do not fear is good This double-barrel'd pocket Pistol did not more certainly hit King Edwards Life than these words of Calvin interpreted by the Presbyterian Faction did contribute to the late horrid Rebellion ruine of the Church to introduce this Liberty and Moderation Extirpation of Monarchy Murder of Sacred Majesty in Person in Fame and in Effigie which last I saw with my Eyes in the Old Exchange where the Statue of the Martyr being pull'd down triumphant Treason was in golden Characters exalted and written in these words Exit Tyrannus Regum ultimus Anno Libertatis Angliae primo Such a profanation of the Image of the Deity as all Kings are as it seems nothing but those dreadful flames which since laid it in ashes could purge and expiate and as the conclusion of all from hence sprung the model of the Republick The Custodes Libertatis Angliae The Keepers of the Liberties of England as in all their publick Instruments they falsely stil'd themselves AND that this was the natural and easie consequence or to speak in their Cant the Use of Exhortation and Encouragement is plain for it is lawful for all men to seek after Liberty especially of Conscience The People of these Nations are a freeborn People It is the greatest felicity and they the most happy People who may enjoy this Dear Liberty all men are bound to promote their own Happiness they cannot do too much to preserve it and if they do indeavour most stoutly and constantly to maintain it by War and Rebellion they do no more than their duty does command them The King was a Tyrant and under the notion of Prerogative did daily intrench upon the Peoples Priviledge and Liberty he had a design to enslave them The Commons were oppressed both in their Civil and Religious Rights The Parliament were the Peoples Representatives and from them had a power to defend their Liberties and that stoutly with Sword and Pistol Powder and Bullet and to call the King to an account and to judge him for these miscarriages as from Calvins own words I shall presently show The King had rendred himself unworthy to reign as from his words and Knoxes another of their fiery Doctors I shall shew Therefore they might in defence and for the preservation of their Dear Liberties especially Liberty of Conscience and Moderation and the Rights of the People make War against him for Preces Lachrymae the Prayers and Tears those ancient Arms of the Catholick Church are of no request or force with the Church of Geneva they might by the incouragement and prevalency of their prosperous villanies alter the establisht form of Government Civil and Ecclesiastical depose the King take away his Crown and Life banish his Successor and the whole Royal Family which was a favour some of them never intended for I have heard it confidently reported that it was hotly urged by some of those Barbarous Villains to put his Royal Highness the Duke of York Apprentice to some mean Mechanick Trade thereby to bring the utmost contempt and debasement upon that Illustrious Family and Person and in short this taught them to support the mischiefs they had done by doing greater and having murder'd the Possessor to seize upon his Inheritance JUDGE now O Heaven and Earth Ye Princes and all People how consistent this Doctrine is with the safety and security nay the very being of Monarchy and particularly with that of the English Nation A second Principle of Presbytury That Kings have no Divine Right but only from the Peoples Election or the Constitutions and Laws of the Nation A second Principle of Presbytery is That Kings have no divine Right to their Crowns but that the Peoples Election is the only true Title to them or which is as bad that only the Laws and Constitutions of the Nation give them their Right John Knox the Disciple of Calvin who like a Fireship of Rebellion set all Scotland into Combustions and treated Kings and Queens at that Imperious rate as if they had been his Subjects the first Founder of the Kirk Militant in a literal sense seems to have borrowed this from that Pest of Writers Buchanan or else
their Loyalty and Allegiance to their King and Obedience to the Laws and Government whenas in truth no People in the World in humane probability are at a greater distance from those imaginary dangers than we unless by believing these men and their Principles we precipitate our selves headlong into them nor is there any thing wanting to render us compleatly happy and secure at home and abroad besides Unity amongst ourselves and Loyalty towards our Prince of both which it is the main design of these Enemies of our Peace Prosperity and Happiness at once to rob us and whoever will take the pains to consider the rise growth and continuance of this Doctrine of Calvinism will find it a meer Salamander of Religion bred in the Flames of Rebellion nourisht with the fire of mistaken Zeal at best and that it constantly delights to dwell in the blaze of Contention The peace and settlement of the Nation are its utter Enemies and opposites and no wonder then if the Patrons of it are the Enemies of our Peace and as a Pope once said to Charles Brother to the French King concerning Conradine King of Naples and Sicily which gave him his Death The Life of Conradine is the Death of Charles Vrsper p. 11. and the Death of Conradine is the Life of Charles so may we truly say The Peace and Unity of our Monarchy is the Death and Ruine of Presbytery and the Death of Presbytery is the Life of Monarchy which is the true reason why they struggle for their Life to keep up discords differences and animosities and it may be are all of the sudden become so Zealous for a Foreign War the discovery of their Plot having put them out of hopes of one at home So long as the Government is but busie and the Crown necessitous they do not only think themselves secure but are in hopes that the expences or unforeseen accidents of War may at last occasion differences at home upon which ill humors of the body Politick like Plagues and Gangrenes they always feed and increase and hope in the end to prove fatal to it for they know by experience that Corruptio Vnius est Generatio Alterius A dead Monarchy fly-blown by Presbytery breeds the short-liv'd Maggots of a putrified Common-wealth But these things have been so well taken notice of and their whole Intrigue discovered by the charitable hand of the Author of the two Pacquets of Advices c. that a clearer exposing of them is altogether needless IT is the wishes prayers and hopes of the best subjects of these Nations that the dangerous noise and clamours which they make themselves will oblige Authority to take notice of them and their mischievous intentions and that this very Parliament which they fear and therefore hate with all their Hearts as is plain by their Ringing so loud its passing Bell and perswading the World it is Dead that their Cruelty may be satisfied with the Revenge of burying it alive will take notice of such an affront to a King and his Parliament as no Age can parallel nor any persons be guilty of but Presbyterians and offer some expedients according to their Wisdom and Prudence to ease the Loyal and faithful Subjects amongst which they challenge the first rank themselves of those just fears and jealousies and those uneasinesses which afflict them by reason of the growth increase and confidence of these implacable malicious sanguinary and restless Antimonarchical and Anti-Parliamentary spirited People and their Principles TO conclude From the former Discourse these necessary consequences follow Some necessary consequences from the former Discourse First That no person whatsoever let him pretend never so much Religion Sanctity or Innocence can possibly be a good Subject so long as he continues a true Presbyterian or of their off-spring in regard they always carry about with them as the main of their Religion such Principles as are directly contrary to Monarchy and destructive of Loyalty to which he can never be a firm true and assured Friend who owns a Power Superior to that of his Prince within his Dominions and that such a Power may of right depose him and take away his Crown and Life which has been proved to be the avowed Doctrine of the Consistorians of Geneva Scotland and England both in Print and Practice Secondly That no Monarch can be safe or his best Subjects at ease and secure so long as this faction is either owned tolerated permitted or favoured publickly or privately within his Dominions especially the Ring-leaders of the Party which guilded Snakes can no sooner be warm in the Bosom of Indulgence but they begin to hiss and sting and are constantly either the Whisperers or Trumpeters of Sedition and Rebellion the very practice of what they call their Religion in prohibited Conventicles and Assemblies being but the younger Brothers of Tumults and Insurrections and Rebellion against the King and Government both Civil and Ecclesiastical in a demure dress and garb of Innocence which is so far from making it better than that in the Field with Drums and Colours that it renders it worse because more dangerous and apt to deceive many people being willing to become Volunteers to the Pulpit as Hudibras calls it The drum Ecclesiastick When beat with fist instead of a stick Hudibr Cant. 1. Who would not list themselves into open and barefac't Rebellion till from thence they hear the dreadful thunder of a Curse ye Meroz or The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon AND let them not call this necessary Caution for the publick and all honest mens preservation the effect of a persecuting Spirit since though they may charge the Government with Cruelty it is they who are cruel to themselves and the whole Community by being evil doers busie bodies seditious trayterous heady high minded opposers of Government disturbers of Order Enemies to our Peace Unity and Happiness and to the very Fundamental Laws Establishments Constitution and whole Frame of the National Government both in Church and State I appeal to all the Records of time both our own and of other Nations which will witness That whoever did act thus contrary to the publick Interest have in all Ages in all Places by all Laws and Persons in Authority been esteemed justly and deservedly punished as being the common mischiefs of nature directly opposite to the security and happiness of all mankind in general not excepting themselves out of the number whose restless uneasie discontented humor certainly renders them the most unfortunate of all humane race because ever most unquiet and unpleased being indeed utterly uncapable of satisfaction the concessions and condescensions of Authority to day emboldening them to demand greater tomorrow and Indulgence being so far from making them grateful that it gives them the pain to invent new Requests their desires being therefore boundless and unlimited because they neither know positively what they would have nor are able to determine what it is