refuse the common Title of Protector is I suppose this That as General he stood in a special relation to honest men as divided from their enemies and all others in an Army where you expect a more open friendly and ingenious converse with him You think he hath by being Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland levell'd this Distinction and brought you into the common condition of the Nation and now every man hath as much share in him as you or we your discontent is jealousie lest your Lord General should forsake the wife of his youth the honest people of the Nation his sister his spouse in the morning of her beauty and commit adultery with that rotten harlot Old worldly Power and Greatness And that he should seem to desert you and that general and unlimited Power that he had with you and you with him and this won and worn in the face of the three Nations and take up a limited Power a broken clipt Title maim'd and imperfect and that a Mushrom a thing that rises in a night none knows from whence that he should carry his and your conquering Sword and hang it up amongst the Monuments in Westminster and fetch out of the old Records or the Lawyers pates a ceremonial empty thing without spirit or vigor and therewith wrap up and invelope himself from the converse and enjoyment of his own body and spouse Now in this I confess I would a little indulge your jealousie though it be mixed with an unseemly rage yet I hope there is love at the bottom and a sense that His Highness hath devested himself of too much of that Greatness and Power which he had and which is necessary to uphold us and our cause in that state into which he hath brought us But withal let us consider it is an error that deserves pity it may be he intended it as an act of humility not of disloyalty that he considered himself as a private person not as a General intrusted with all the Honor won by honest men in these wars and if he hath wasted his strength and might by it he will quickly feel the want of it and will be ready to entertain a loving invitation back again and if in stead of suing a Divorce your Letter and Paper had been a loving Challenge and Claim of your right to him it might for ought I know have had a very excellent effect Meeting with these two considerable Questions in your Title I could not but give them as serious a Consideration as I was able in hope it may help to clear our Work for the future I shall now hasten to your Letter ANIMADVERSIONS UPON ALETTER sent to His HIGHNES BY Certain GENTLEMEN and others in WALES IN the begining of your Letter you speak of A Sudden Strange and Vnexpected alteration of Government c. to the great astonishment c. I doubt 't is the vapors that do arise from your own passion that do occasion this great astonishment in you for let a man but with a little Reason view our late publick Transactions and Change of Government will be no strange thing to him From the begining of these times we have been little but Changes we have chang'd from three States to two from King Lords and Commons to Lords and Commons for a while they govern'd us and then we turn'd from two to one the Commons onely without King and Lords And this hath been turn'd purg'd dress'd broken and patch'd up again divers times and ways these are great changes of Government but a greater yet followâ—d When the Remnant of the old Parliament was taken away that wherein the Authority of the King in Calling and the Liberty of the People in Chusing met in one Constitution And the then General and his Council private persons exercise the Authority of the King and Liberty of the People and meerly out of their own wills create a Parliament Now all Civil Power is changed into Military and that triumphing in the highest Absoluteness as if the Sword were the onely Lord of the world the Alpha and Omega of Government as if it gave the King his Majesty and the People their Freedom and could challenge them when it pleas'd yet this change did not so much astonish you for some of you were Members of this Parliament Neither had you reason to be offended at this because by this change your way had an opportunity to put in its Claim to Power this was the Vertical point The next change was rather downward again into an Instrument which sets up One as Supreme and a Parliament chosen by the People this is not altogether so strange to England as the former Now which of these you mean I know not to complain of the former change from the long Parliament to the little Parliament is against your own Interest and to complain of a change from a Parliament impos'd to a Parliament chosen is against the Interest of the People I will not trouble you to resolve which of these changes doth affect you most Many are offended at the taking away the old Parliament and that Cause you seem to undertake whether it be really your Interest I 'll not determine I shall onely give you and others that are unsatisfied with that act my thoughts concerning it That long Parliament deserves to be mention'd with much Honor by all Honest men in the Nation that did adhere to it for that it had in it many sound and worthy men and was a long time a Bulwark that kept off Slavery and Destruction from breaking in upon us in many a hard brunt and desperate assult yet the removing of them at that time might be no injury to them or us I. That Parliament as they then stood was no Legal Constitution nor had they Right to the Government by our Laws What Right had they to take away the Life and Office of a King by whose Authority they were made a Parliament Or what Right had they to take away the House of Lords a Constitution Ancienter than themselves When this was done what just Power had they to constitute themselves a Common-wealth There was no act of the people that either made them so or gave them power to make themselves so they had no such power inherent in themselves neither could they ever manifest any such stamp of Majesty set upon them by God and his providence Now if the Parliament did assume the Government without any Rule or Authority and impose It and Themselves upon the People and so upon the Army what Law is broken in pulling down that which stands not by Law II. That Government such a Constitution as it had was from the Army the Army urg'd them to do justice upon the King which they neither could nor durst do themselves For they and eveny Rational man must confess that were it not for the Strength Honor and Success of the Army that which we call Parliament Government and
this late act of an Instrument c. which is but one act and that a sudden one not set up or maintain'd in opposition to any more excellent thing onely made and used as a prudential thing to uphold a Government in the Nation which you likewise would have upheld though you dislike their way and maner of doing it but be perswaded to consider where you are and what you have done you have blown up a deadly enmity 'twixt your selves and your friends meerly upon outward circumstances or a false figure and shadow of difference 'T is a fire that burns fiercely and seems to be implacable but the fewel of it is very slight matter or rather immaterial speculations when I consider how much you are one and how little you differ how strongly and necessarily you are bound up in one Life Religion and Safety and how airy and childish your strife is You will excuse me if I be a little merry with your notional quarrel these mistaken fancies may put you into a fret make you scold a little but I hope there will be never a broken pate in the cause 'T is not at all a natural but a made and forc'd business there being no material ground of a quarrel therefore though discontent and trouble put you upon it rashly yet me thinks you should not run so much hazard with so much labor and pains to maintain a meer notion and shadow of difference if they against whom you appear have but a little patience and do nothing against you you must needs be weary of the quarrel and the cause quickly finding the foundation of the business so inconsiderable I am almost inclin'd to leave it off but because though it be little in it self yet 't is much to you you seem to be serious in it I shall endeavor what I can to give you a better understanding of them and your selves Now because this particular that we are upon viz. That our present Governors are in the place of and Successors to the King and his party and that you and other unsatisfied people are in the place of or are the honest and godly party I shall take a little pains to shew the falacy of this conceit which doth abuse many To clear this let us search for if we can finde it what was the real difference 'twixt the Cavalier and the Puritan and so what was the root of the Quarrel 'twixt King and Parliament and then see whether the same Quarrel be carried on 'twixt the Subscribers and our present Governors In this controversie 'twixt the Religious and the Royal party there was first an inward Cause or Root of Division and secondly there were many Disputes and Questions which were the effects of that Division The first was less observ'd but more effectual the second made a greater noise more outward as if the Quarrel had been onely about these things which were indeed but the effects of division of hearts These outward things about which the Parliament and Parliamentary people were exercis'd were the Prerogative of the King and Priviledges of Parliament the Laws of the Land the power of raising Money Monopolies Ship-money c. the power of the Militia and in sum where the Supream Power was whether in the King as Head or in the Parliament the Representative of the People the Body concerning these things you may observe I. First They were but the outside of the Quarrel wherein the more worldly mindes were exercised and very remote from the inward Spring of difference which lay deeper as we shall see anon II. Secondly In these things if I do not much mistake the King had the better Cause more justified by the ancient Laws of the Land for though he had been guilty of some malâ—-administration of Government yet he offered very large satisfaction neither were the Errors of his Government of so a high a nature as to deserve to be prosecuted by so violent a war to Deposing and Death Some Princes I believe have done the same or worse things in Government and never question'd for them but there was more at the bottom and it may be observ'd that while the war was in the hands of men who onely minded these outward things the King prosper'd exceedingly and rose from a very low condition to have far the greatest power for those men that contended for worldly power did lust after and unjustly challenge from the King those Royal Prerogatives that our Laws had long given to the Crown and for their lusting fell in the wilderness III. Thirdly These outward things of Law and Priviledge being but the clothing of the Work are worn out and we are for the present in such respects in a worse condition than formerly Power more arbitrary Taxes more heavy Priviledges of Parliament more violated Laws of less authority and if we could have fore-seen what effects War and change of Government would procure we might in reason expect it therefore they whose spirits are ingaged in these outward and worldly priviledges and freedom onely or mostly have a very hard bargain of it and must needs be very much offended if their hearts do not value Religion and the Liberties of it at a high rate and have a charitable opinion of it that it will when it may attain some quiet and security bring forth the peoples liberties in more righteousness and largeness than they have yet appear'd in These Considerations premis'd concerning the outward part of the Quarrel 'twixt the two parties let us now consider where the Original Division lay and whence it was that their spirits stood at such a distance one from another I. First The honest or religious party were by a work of God upon them changed in their mindes and were born into another spirit by the word of God converting and turning their hearts by Repentance and Faith towards God this life coming from God depended upon him subjected it self to him would be ruled by him and not by man the other party had no knowledge of this life but hated it scorn'd it dealt cruelly with it would not suffer this childe to breathe its own breath in prayer nor to speak its own language in preaching nor to eat its own food or alow it its own growth as inhumanely cruel to it as Egypt was to Israel being strangely jealous of it as if it was the heir and would in time get power to call them to accompt for all their wickedness they did bend the strength of the Government against it and not onely so but devised new stratagems to suppress it We will not dispute whether this life of godliness was in flesh or in spirit 't was doubtless much in flesh but not without spirit but it was real and such as did denominate us to be the people and children of God to be the seed of Israel as the enmity of the other party denominated them to be Egypt and Babylon and to be of Antichrist so that here
of every man and your grief that any just cause is given them to stumble c. or complain that they are deprived of their freedom and several ways oppressed c. These Expressions make me doubt that you intend some subtile glances of favor to that Party which doth minde me of an observation that I have made upon my own and others spirits That if any through Offence at the great Weakness or Miscarriage of the honest party do separate from them and oppose them they are though unwillingly and unwittingly carried into the spirit of the Malignants we may hate their way and to confederate with their persons or actions yet our spirits may be tainted The Nation is cleft into these two great Parties the Royal and the Reforming party or the Kings party and the Army party and he that by discontent goes far from the one will be carried off to the other before he is aware there is a kinde of necessity if the affections do ingage 't will be with one of these two Enmity strangely transforms the minde and leads it into things exceeding contrary to it self and its own interest to things destructive to Friends Relations and a mans own Life therefore if malice prevail 't will make very honest men malignants presently and hence it was that Elijah in a fit of anger became an enemy to Israel and interceded against them Romans 11.2 as we have formerly observ'd You say That it never came into your hearts to think or intend the pulling down of one person to set up another or one unrighteous Power to promote another If you did as you say joyn against the King onely as an enemy to Christ his kingdom and people then you might design and for ought I know justly the pulling down of one that was an enemy and setting up another that was a friend to the kingdom and people of Christ But this I doubt is not your intention however this clause came in against the King save as an enemy for it follows nor one unrighteous Power to promote another by which and other things in your Paper you seem to make Government by one or Monarchy to be an unrighteous Power Because you seem to me to be either dark or various in this Article I shall freely give you my Animadversions if they may be of use to you I shall be glad I. First Power in one as supream is not unrighteous because in one That which is most agreeable to rule is most righteous Government by one as head is most agreeable to the highest rule the kingdom of Christ which is a Monarchy to the rule of Scriptures to Nature to Reason to the Laws and Customs of Nations And Power in the hands of one as supream with the assistance of a double Council one more superior of the principal and honorable Worthies and another more large of the wisest and justest of the people is I think the best Constitution and according to a divine patern therefore if either Heavenly things Scripture Nature Reason or Custom be a Rule Monarchy is more righteous than Oligarchy or Democracy II. Secondly If the kinde of Government be admitted let us come nearer and see whether this person have right to be this One supream or to be Protector for this Person is chiefly concern'd in your Paper as you say in your Postscript which puts us again upon the consideration of the Person you have an accompt of him in 19 20 and 21 pages which is more it may be than will be judged fit for me to write either by him or you I am very sensible that I write as Paul saith 2 Cor. 11. Not after the Lord but as it were foolishly not in that wisdom that becomes one that professes the Lord but foolishly and knowing it to be weak yet can't avoid it the foolishness of mens ignorance and malice necessitating and bowing me to it The common right of Succession according to law the Protector hath not if this be rule the Kings power was righteous this unrighteous The Right of the Protector to be supream is not in relation to the people of the Nation in general except it be by conquest If you look upon him in this large consideration his Power seems to be forc'd there being no Law or Consent of the People to make him so but the honest party are indeed the foundation of his Power For they and those that have adher'd to this Cause have by these Revolutions gotten the Power into their hands not as Saints but as the effect of Providence arising out of the Nature Reason and Necessity of things as they now are I shall barely assert this and not now stand to prove it or to give the reason of it supposing the Subscribers and others ready enough to receive it and resolv'd to keep it neither do I see how honest men can resign this Advantage they have without giving up themselves and all they have to their Enemies rage If we have a right to be superior to others the Protector hath a very natural right to be our Chief standing upon our shoulders and hath I think as good a Title to be Supream over this people as any Gentleman in Wales or others have to be a Committee man Justice of the Peace Captain or to enjoy any Lands or Revenues gotten by the sword He that denies him to be what he is may as well deny the whole party all the Advantage they have gotten by the war I think we ought to consider the honest party as a distinct people from and above others and then his right to be their head stands upon those two grounds express'd by the Israelites to David 2 Sam. 5.1 2. I. First Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh thou art natural to us and we to thee of the same kinde of life spirit and heart the same bone and strength of Faith Zeal Power and Godliness Of the same flesh the same sense of good and evil the same affections to God and Religion the same gifts the same interest the same liberty for the same conscience the same peace the same enemies loved and hated by the same onely He more eminently II. Secondly Also in times past thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel Thou hast deserv'd to head us for thou hast had the Command of us and hast led us forth upon Designs wisely and brought us back with safety and victory therefore thou shalt be Captain over Israel I shall onely let you see now the difference between the person pull'd down and this one set up or the Righteousness and Mercy of this Power above that That person was not onely a stranger to us but an enemy This is according to rule Deut. 17.15 From among thy brethren shalt thou set a King over thee And according to promise Jer. 30.21 Their nobles shall be of themselves and their Governor shall proceed from the midst them And secondly the other had the right of
Christs Kingdom the Extirpation of Popery and Popish Innovations the Priviledges of Parliament the Liberty of the Subjects and an equal Distribution of Justice were declared and fought for and Tyranny Oppression Injustice Arbitrariness Destroying the Priviledges of Parliaments we declared and engaged against But how far some men have now receded from and acted contrarily to the dishonor of God Scandal of Religion great grief of many faithful men and the strengthning of the wicked in their principles and justifying their practices we leave to the consideration of all those that are sober and wise III. Moreover the unadvised and unwarrantable changing of the Government and a swearing thereunto doth as we judge put a Necessity upon the chief Undertaker thereof to overthrow the very foundation of a Commonwealth and to maintain the things comprized in the said Instrument whether right or wrong And to turn the very edge and dint of his Sword against the faces and bowels of such as should or shall declare their Consciences contrary thereunto IV. As a consequence and fruit of this Forbidden Tree many of the choice Servants of God and Faithful of the Nation some Gentlemen Ministers of the Gospel Soldiers c. are imprisoned without knowing their Accusers or having so much as was granted by the Heathens to the Apostles or the benefit of a fair and publick trial according to the Fundamental Laws of this Nation V. Under pretence of Necessity still to continue the heavy Burthens of Taxes Art 27. â—â— 30. Customs Excize c. upon the Nation without yea contrary to the consent of the People represented in Parliament and contrary to their own Instrument VI. Notwithstanding all the fair pretences and promises of Reformation yet what abominable and horrible Impieties Injustice and Oppression are there couched and covered under this new Form from the head to the tail as the Prophet saith treading in the footsteps of their predecessors witness the receiving of the Honors Profits Customs Benefits Tenths and First-fruits coming in formerly to the Crown the Exalting of Sons Servants Friends and Favorites though some of them known to be wicked men to the highest places and greatest preferments which the good Rulers of old as Gideon Nehemiah and others did not do because of the fear of the Lord the bondage which was heavy upon the people Witness also the Unreasonableness of the Army to have so many Officers which might easily be reduced to a lesser number and both Officers and Soldiers for many years to receive their pay even in a time of Peace when the poor Peasants or Tenants who pay but Ten shillings Rent per Annum do pay out of their Penury to maintain them in their Pomp and Luxury VII We cannot without grief mention the sad eftects of the secret Design of Hispaniola to the loss of so many mens Lives Expence of so much Blood and Treasure and the indangering of this Commonwealth by Invasion as also thereby rendring us a scorn and a snuff to all the Nations round about Lastly We do Declare and publish to all from our very hearts and souls That those of us that hand any hand in joyning with the Parliament and Army heretofore had no other Designs against the late King or his party save as they were Enemies to the Lord Christ his Kingdom and people hinderers of his work and Oppressors of the Nation and that it never came into our hearts to think or intend the pulling down of one Person to set up another or one Unrighteous Power to permit another but as we aymed primarily at the Glory of God so likewise at the general good of the Nation and particular benefit and just Liberty of every man And it grieves us that any just cause is given them to stumble at Professors or complain that they are deprived of their Freedom and several ways more oppressed than in the days of the wickedst Kings We do also believe in our hearts That though the wors t things are not without Gods permission and providence yet that this Government is not of Gods Approbation or taken up by his counsel or according to his Word and therefore we do utterly disclaim having any hand or heart in it And for the Contrivers and Undertakers thereof we suspect and judge them to be great Transgressors therein and so much the more because they are Professors of Religion Declarers Engagers and Fighters against the very things they now practice And it is most evident to us that they thereby build again what before they did destroy and in so doing they render Themselves the Cause Religion Name and People of God abominable to Heathens Papists and profane Enemies which is a grief to our souls to consider We do also detest the practices of these men in imprisoning the Saints of God for their Consciences and Testimony and just men who stand for Moral and just Principles and the Freedom of the Nation and people and their breaking of Parliaments to effect their own Designs We do also from our souls witness against their new Modeling of Ministers as Antichristian and keeping up of Parishes and Tythes as Popish Innovations and we disclaim all Adherents to owning of or joyning with these men in their ways and do withdraw 2 Tim. 3. and desire all the Lords people to withdraw from these men as those that are guilty of the Sins of the Latter days Matth. 24. and that have left following the Lord and that Gods people should avoid their sin lest they partake with them in their plagues Thus concluding our Testimony we subscribe our Names hereunto William Jones John Morgan John Thomas Evan Jones John Philips Thomas Jones John Beevan Thomas Lewis Gabriel Lewis Howel Thomas Thomas Philips Willliam Howels William Waters Howel John John Price Meredith Philips William Jenkins Thomas Prosser Jenkin Grissith Howel Williams Thomas Williams Richard Howel Watkin Price William Powel Thomas Powel Lewis Williams Lewis Reece Reece John Howel Reece Richard John Richard Price John David David Morgan Morgan William Morgan Robert John William Lewis David Thomas Edwards Reece John Jenkin Jones William Jones Ienkin Rosser Rice Rosser Nicholas Griffiths Lewelin Beevan Iames Powel Mirick Morgan Evan Meredith William Jones Meredith Rees William Edward Richard Roberts Lewis David Morgan Iohn Richard Thomas Meredith William Wilkin Rice William watkin Reece David Watkin David David William William Philips Iohn Williams Henry Thomas Iohn Iones Iohn Farmer Henry Meredith Trehern Morgan Richard David Evan Iohn Edward Evan. Thomas Evan. David Evan. Howel Waters Ienkin Waters Iohn Howel Philip David Rice Richard Edward Matthews Watkin Richard Thomas Evan. Lewelin Ienkin. Ienkin William Thomas William Evan Lewelin Iohn Lewis William waters Morgan David Iohn David David Walter Reece Iones Philip Iones Iervice Iones Edward Ienkins Watkin Ienkins David Thomas Rice Iones Evan Iohn David William Henry Williams Iohn Bedward Thomas Tunman Robert Tunman Roger Grissith Thomas Morgan William Price David Davies David
Commonwealth would have been made Confederacy and Rebellion 'T is true the Army did at least tolerate and so far consent as to submit to this Government but I know not that they by any act did ratifie it or ever intend to perpetuate it And that consent was not an act of Judgment and Righteousness for in all our Affairs hitherto we have not had so much light and clearness as to produce any work of true Wisdom and Vnderstanding But as in all other things so in this we are driven and thrust forward from one thing to that which is next as the sence of Danger and the hopes of Ease lead us in the dark without Judgment And so the Army set up or admit of this Government by a Parliament without King and Lords being at hand knowing no better finding some ease in being freed from worse Oppressors and as a present conveniency And if they had power to admit it or set it up when they found it useful why may they not pull it down and reject it when they felt it grievous and burthensom III. That which you call the Government as it never had a Formal Constitution either from God or men that I know of so before it was taken down it had quite lost the nature and spirit of Government a dry Tree shrunk up into a private and selfish spirit There were good men and good things amongst them but as the Princes of Zoan Isa 19. mingled with a perverse foolish spirit that four or five of the best of them could not agree in any one Proposition for publick good though they were both wise honest men yet they themselves know they were absurdly and peevishly divided in so great a confusion that there could be no reason of expecting any more fruit from them They were a long while a Burthen to the Nation and the People very sensible of it and did by a general dislike and scorn of them re-call that choice that they had made of them and the Honor they had put upon them and would if the Army had not guarded them have express'd their rejecting of them from being their Representatives by pulling them out of the House they were indeed full ripe and had not the Army done it the rage of Women or some such base hand would have gatherâ—d them 'T was doubtless an Honor for them to dye by so Noble a hand which had given and continued life to them I believe they were self-condemn'd and the more ingenuous of them were sensible of an Inlargement by their being discharg'd from their sore and unprofitable travel onely having long injoyed their places they linger'd and were loth to depart and when they saw they must go they would provide for their speedy return and would have dyed to live again which was the great incivility done to them in their apprehensions they were prevented in their propagating their likeness and themselves also into A new Representative IV. The then General and Officers did not this work voluntarily which for ought I know they might have done had they had light and strength sufficient for it but they were thrust upon it by the Soldiers and inferior Officers which I suppose you may remember and that your own spirit was busie and active in it and much rejoyc'd in it when it was done and you had indeed some more reason for it than others for that body was very averse to your way and to the things you would have done yea far more averse than this present Power is For you now to fetch your Enemies so you counted them while they liv'd out of their Graves to oppose and accuse your Friends for an act which you approv'd of it is a strange change of your mindes If you could come out of this mist of Discontent and behold your present posture how you seem to love and plead for that which is not which if it were again you would seek the destroying of it again and how you prosecute them with hatred which did your work for you and are your Friends you would be greatly astonish'd at the strange form of your own spirits a greater wonder than Change of Governments and you would confess I am apt to believe That both your Love to them and your Enmity to these is feigned and not real I must deal as nakedly as I can with you and them and all the world and tell you That I do think there was Iniquity in that action and in all actions of that nature for pulling down is a dark and wrathful Ministry and ordinarily perform'd by such a spirit as Jehu had whose name shewed his nature sibi constans constant to it self or self-seeking though imployed by God To destroy old worldly buildings though very rotten is not a work for a pure Evangelical spirit the Vengeance administred may be righteous but if there were not a deal of fleshly Zeal Pride Self love and some bruitish Cruelty or hardiness in us we should not be fit for such a service Therefore I fear before God will make use of us in any Honorable work to build a place of Rest for himself he will wash away the stain of Blood that sticks upon us make us to be asham'd and loath our selves for that Rashness Fierceness and Violence that have accompanied all our late Wars and Transactions Indeed a right sight of this Evil would make you and me and all of us not to condemn others but our selves and the state or kinde of the ministry we have been exercis d in But for you to overlook the evil of the whole Party and of the Parliament it self in cutting down by a long War and much Blood King and Lords two Estates superior to themselves and to seem to be astonish'd that an Army should gently lay aside that Parliament which it had given life to and upheld and in such a season in such a maner where no Blood spilt no Tears shed none made Fatherless none Widows This great trouble you express is some strange and new grief taken up of late you and others did rejoyce in it To pull down old Houses is a dusty and thankless work they that live in them or are part of them and subsist by them will be angry at it But that you should be cordially offended at it who expect another Kingdom and Monarchy for whose sake this is done yea that did do it and would do it again if it were undone Or that you should complain of that done by these while you are endeavoring to do the same thing upon these I can't reach the reason of this Mysâ—â—ry For who sees not that you are about to change the Government if you can though it be by War And therefore it is you express your fear that they are utterly disabled to prosecute c. Angry at former changes and fear we shall have no more that now things are bound up fast by an Oath and Instrument that we shall go no
further you need not fear it This Government was set up in haste and not constituted with that Consideration and Wisdom as to last many Ages The Earth reels and staggers as a drunken man 't is not an Instrument that will keep it steddy and the mindes of men so loose as not to be bound by Oathes wait with patience another change may make room for you before you be fit for action Provide you Wisdom Love and Righteousness our Necessities will call for them I fear before you will be able to administer them The next thing I would note to you is You say Justly suspected ends in time past and in your Paper Not knowing the deep Policies of worldly States-men You use to acknowledge God in all these things and that this work was carryed on with a high hand of Providence beyond all the contrivance of men Sure you have chang'd your station you were within and saw the inward Spring Gods hand now you are without and look upon the outside of the Hanging and there you see Policy our Judgments alter as our Sight that which is a Man while we are nigh to it in Love removed at a distance by a little Enmity seems to be a Beast Love thinks no evil sees nothing but God in all Enmity removes God from the sight and sets up men and deep designs I shall desire you to consider 1. That Atheistical worldly wise men use to talk at this rate This was design'd long ago 2. That they talk thus because they would seem to be wise and to understand deep Policy 3. Though they seem to be wise yet are become Fools for 't is the greatest folly not to acknowledge God in all things 4. That men talk what they live and do pretend to but can't attain it their attributing so much to Policy shews they are well-wishers to it which may make us fear you will begin to tread in these steps But alas how much better safer and easier is it for you to be Children and to ascribe things though aâ—â—â—â—st us to Gods hand May I not say to you as Paul to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 11.3 I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your mindes should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ You were children once and thought as simply and childishly as I do That neither the Protector himself nor the wisest Heads amongst them have the tenth part of that foresight that is required to lay such a Design I imagine they are as weak as you and I and other people that know not what will be too morrow nor have they foreseen the things that are come to pass Now pray how came you to be so wise as to understand these Polititians who taught you this I fear 't was the Serpent the Accuser sure these deep reaches do but torture and vex your mindes therefore 't is better to be children still and to look up to Gods hand in all things be they good or evil And if they are wise Statesmen as I fear there is too much of it amongst them but not as you imagine let us that are standers by and overlook them either pity them or laugh at them for I am for either so it be innocent and harmless They have by their craft pull'd down the King and his party and set up themselves in their place this is the plot And by this have made their Enemies to hate them more than they did and their Friends to hate them more than ever they hated the Cavaliers which they cannot but expect if they sit down in the Kings state for who so odious as a treacherous and apostate Brother Thus for a little forc'd Honor they lift up themselves publick objects of Scorn and despite to both sides A fine policy They may use their Policy but God hath a Design upon them which hath taken effect they are brought in a snare catched in a net of perplexities where they are beset with Reproach Danger and Trouble on every side and know not which way to go for Safety they can neither go backwards nor forwards Papists and Cavaliers preparing against them abroad their old Enemies at home more and more inraged against them their Friends and Brethren disserting and opposing of them If their worldly Policy hath brought them into this pit I am confident the more they devise the deeper they will go into Confusion and that it must be Simplicity Humility and a childish Obedience to the Lord that must bring them out 'T is a fair warning to you you are witnessing declaring subscribing ingaging a party against these as they against the King you begin to understand the way of it if you should undermine them as they have done others which I think you will not do you would by getting the power and place get the confusion perplexity and trouble they have and that as much more as your strength or cunning will be greater than theirs III. A third thing notable in your Letter is a home Charge given the Protector 't is indeed a stout Accusation both for matter and maner of Slighting and Blaspheming the Spirit of God Reproaching Imprisoning and Oppressing his people Pride Luxury Lasciviousness Changing of Principles Forsaking good ways c. and these to be read in his forehead and that with a citation to appear before the great Iudge and his impartial Tribunal I am unwilling to say how this agrees to the Maxime of Machiavel Calumniate â—â—â—â—ly something will stick I had rather say to you as our Lord to his Disciples when they were in such a passion Luke 9.55 Ye know not what maner of Spirit ye are of they thought 't was nothing but Zeal for Christ exercis'd in a way of God in Faith and according to a good Scripture example Lord wilt thou that we command fire to come down from Heaven and consume them as Elias did But Christ disowns this though it seems to be high Religion yet 't is but the Spirit of the Destroyer not of a Savior The Son of Man is come saith he not to destroy mens lives but to save them Let me onely desire you to turn your mindes a little from your present Anger and to consider and answer these few Questions Q. 1. Whether have you these things upon your own knowledge or upon the report of others Have all you that have subscrib'd this Paper heard the Protector Blaspheme the Spirit of God and Reproach his People c. Or have you seen His Pride Luxury and Lasciviousness I may well suppose you have not Q. 2. You say this is your Testimony and Witness Dare you or can you be Witnesses of these things before any Iudge You subscribe and publish them but can any honest indifferent Iudge admit of you to be lawful Witnesses in the things you have not heard or seen Q. 3. Consider then whether in this you act according to the lowest line of Truth according to
were two kindes of spirit or mindes one of God another of the world one seeming to spring from the old stock of Abraham and of Christ and the Apostles the other seeming to spring out of the world out of the earth and the first took in all the godly party hardly a man left out the other took in the chief of men maliciously bent against godliness Now if you my friends that have subscribed this Paper will but reflect upon your selves and look with the same eye upon your brethren you cannot think that there is in your selves a work of grace or godliness that is not in them you oppose or that there is in them any such hatred to that grace of God as was in the Kings party but you must conclude that though they are a bone started aside one way you a bone started aside another way yet you are members of the same body II. Secondly As these two parties the Religious and Royal party differ'd in the original and kinde of their spirits so did they in the law and rule of their spirits the one were subject to Christ and his Law in the worship of God and did see that he had given them Laws in his Word far differing from those which were practis'd and commanded in the Nation the other did stiffly adhere to the Religion of their fore-fathers as it was established by law and would not admit of any other but cruelly persecuted it denying men to offer to God such sacrifices as he required of them and which they judged their duty to serve him in now pray consider whether the case be so now 'twixt you and your brethren whom you oppose whether are you denied to perform any duty of worship to God that his word leads you to nay do not they do the same things with you or do you bring forth any rule or law of Christ in Religion that they oppose for civil things and Government I think you don 't pretend to any law instituted by Christ The notions and motions of your spirits may in some circumstantial things clash but you agree in your rule as to Religion and to follow the same law and rule of Christ in all things so far as it is reveal'd to you and them freedom for your Consciences to serve the Lord in as much holiness and purity as you can you have as much as you can desire if there bea deviation from the rule in civil things 't is not in enmity to any rule no law of that nature coming forth that pretends to be from God It may be of good use both for you the Subscribers and for the Protector and our Governors seriously to consider the inward spirit and root of difference 'twixt us and our enemies and by it we may know where the marrow and strength of our cause lies 'T is true these things of godliness wrought in the heart and conscientious following the Rule and Law of Christ did not at first appear openly in Parliament or Army and accordingly they thrived but when they whose hearts were ingaged in these things came into action and the King had to do nakedly with such spirits he fell before them and was trampled under foot as dirt and it must needs be so a people that have the least stamp or mark of God and his work and spirit upon them and ingaged to serve him cannot but with its weight and authority press down the fleshly arm and power of man as nothing I would propound it as a caution to both sides First to our Governors that they will in all their affairs attend the motion and growth of this spirit of godliness and not to ingage in Designs upon principles of worldly policy be they never so specious but rather to sit still and to attend the cherishing and increasing of the life of godliness than to move in publick actions till this life leads them forth and then not out of prejudice or offence at the weakness and scruples of godly men to lay them aside and to commit their business to worldly men though never so wise and gallant men but to lay the stress of all affairs upon this spirit which is doubtless the steddiest and truest to the works of God Secondly to the Subscribers and others I would desire you to keep close to the first principles of real inward godliness and that you sink your spirits more into Fundamentals and not to suffer your mindes to be elevated into high strains forms and notions of things nor to be carried away with those who never travel'd in the way of godliness and are either ignorant or unmindeful of the Power and substance of Religion which is your danger in your present business for many such we have that flutter about and talk of Christ and his kingdom that never were season'd with the principles of true Religion and are clouds without rain wells without water and while they profess for an outward and glorious Reformation oppose and quarrel with the truth of godliness and tall of outward freedom while they are servants to Pride Passion Envy and such like corruptions But upon a little more searching into the inward nature of things you will finde your Quarrel very ill bottom'd upon the former War for you and your brethren whom you now oppose are as much one in the state and rule of your spirits as ever you and they differ'd from the Cavalier And now let rue desire you to compare our present Governors in their standing and actings with the old royal party and you will see a great dissimilitude 'twixt them and then compare your selves in your present actings with the honest old Puritan party in their motions towards the War and you will finde as wide a difference I. Those of the King and his party grew out of an old stock and root of Worldly Greatness where they had continued many Ages unmoveably fixed in a State of outward pomp far above and opposite to the life and light of Religion where being settled in Peace and Power they had many opportunities and offers of the Light of Reformation but they would not be healed but being rich and living at ease and pleasure were haughty scorn'd all reproof being lifted up upon the highest glory of the world were beyond the reach of the instruction of the poor people who knew the truth and so were hardned against the Light bending all the force of Government against that Light that did spring forth so that godly People were so far from any hopes of doing any good upon them that they might not live in the Nation without defiling their Consciences but were forced to fly into all parts of the world for a being now if these poor people being thus provoked by the brutish and un-natural cruelty of the State denying their innocent and peaceable spirits the common freedom of nature of life and being if they did when they were call'd forth to it rise up against them how justifiable
it was But on the other side you know the original of our present Governors that they are of late sprung from a low and mean condition wherein they serv'd the Lord and came forth with your selves from the same bondage through the same dangers by the same zeal courage praying fasting c. They never yet attain'd any settled and quiet State of Government but are still strugling for life and in perpetual danger of being over-turn'd by the malice of their and your enemies who are still laboring by secret plots to do what they could not by outward force They are very far from ease and pleasure their work being full of difficulty and mens mindes and tongues bent against them A persecuted people malign'd envied reproach'd push'd and lifted at by all sorts of people at home and abroad under the scourge of evil tongues under the rod of dangers and fears so closely follow'd with the cross that they have not opportunity to do good nor to harden in evil They have gone as far as they have light to go and profess they wait for more light they seem to have an ear open to instruction and not onely to give access to their brethren to counsel them but to invite them to it And if they were not of themselves dispos'd to hearken to the voice of Wisdom yet the miserable uneasiness unsafety and trouble of their way should me thinks incline them to receive any rational Proposals It s possible there is more wisdom in the Nation than is yet amongst them and they may be guilty of not seeking it out but I that have been a looker on have not observ'd any wisdom come forth in publick that I could judge worthy to be a guide to them And whereas the former Powers did design against the liberty and safety of your selves and other honest men these do conscientiously and I believe in obedience to God study your and others safety and liberty Now considering they are brethren of the same root with your selves their toyl and labor their difficulties dangers and darkness their sufferings and reproaches for performing their duties in preserving your liberties it appears to me to be as unjust unnatural and ingrateful for you to rise up against them uncal'd forth as 't was just and natural for us being cal'd forth to it to appear against the King and his party Let me now represent to you the spirit of the old honest Puritan if you duly consider it it had much worth in it springing up from many great and long-sufferings bonds banishment shame death persecutions of all sorts which he endured with much meekness and long-suffering never attempting any thing against the Government but pray'd for it honestly labor'd to preserve it the sufferings of that party for many years at home and abroad did amount to a very great sum yet they never stir'd till they were call'd forth by the great Council of the Nation a visible Power and then how solid sober obedient and peaceable they were in their motion faithfully praying for their enemies and seeking not their destruction but their repentance aiming at nothing of Power to themselves onely liberty and safety in serving the Lord carried on to this present state of things blindlyand simply not designing the ruine of the King and his Power but urged to it by necessity for their safety for they did shew a willingness to comply with the King and to save him but could not finde him in the least natural to them but all his Treaties and Concessions were not voluntary but forc'd which was sufficiently manifest And then he would in time and as he had opportunity have return'd to his own natural course with more violence than before which would have made the latter end to that poor people far worse than the beginning so far as this was naked and simple it will justifie that party and the honesty and peaceableness of their spirits that they sought the preservation of their enemies to the last But how different from this Copy are you in your present actings your rise is not from sufferings but from success and heights of Confidence being flesh'd with victory not having a deep spring of simplicity and obedience but a design laid upon outward observation of the Advantages of War and having place and Greatness in your eye if you prevail and accordingly your motions are rash heady fiery fierce I may say seeking War and Blood and directly aiming at the destruction of your brethren therefore bear with me for the present you will it may be thank me hereafter I must tell you what I really think you come not near your pattern for that spirit whose place you contend for was though low and dark yet solid true just advancing from a great depth after providence in strength and integrity and so endured much waiting for its season to come forth and then attain'd more than in ever expected or sought for but yours in your present motion which I believe is not yours neither but a strange spirit of discontent is flashy slight full of rage and may as smoke offend and darken but will quickly vanish This is one of the chief Grounds of the Quarrel begun and therefore I have taken the more pains to examine it I hope when you and others finde it a deceitful Ground you will retreat from it and not engage upon such false shadows of things against true friends There is one thing more that doth offend you and 't is hinted here and there in your Paper That the present publick Transactions have been covenanted and protested against You urge the Engagement and Acts of Parliament made against Monarchy and particularly quote the words of the Declaration of the Officers and Soldiers of the English Army Aug. 1. 1650. page 11 12. We are perswaded in our consciences that the late King and his Monarchy was one of the ten horns of the beast spoken of Rev. 17.13 c. I know not well how to help you over this block 't is sad to me to think how we have trifled with Oaths all along swearing for every thing and almost against every thing in the Nation covenanting for King and engaging directly against him If the Land do not mourn I wish it did in true repentance for these things and that we did earnestly seek unto the Lord for a way out of the bonds that are upon our necks by sinful and rash Oaths In the interim I cannot see that you do justly urge these things against your brethren I. Because our great evil in this thing is we have sworn rashly not in Righteousness and Judgement but in a heat and fit upon politick grounds for worldly advantages 't was a sin to make them 't is a sin to break them which is greatest I wil not determine bur this I am sure of that you and all of us are guilty and therefore 't is not ingenuous to charge another for that which we are guilty
Government I may say more and for us at this time most vigorous united absolute and safe This Army with these People under their General having undoubted right to the Sword which none would or could question the Malignants felt the power and truth of it being overcome by it the Honest party have their Lives and Liberties secured by it there was the truest sence and reason of the Nation for their standing and the same sence and reason for convenient pay according to ways and methods accustom'd and beaten out for them This Army and People had an absolute Freedom with consent and in right judgement to do what they would and to dispose themselves into what state their reason should direct them For as the opposite Army had it prevail'd the King had been free to have settled himself upon what terms he and his party could have agreed upon and none could resist so this party for ought I know were as free to chuse their own way and ground to secure themselves and their Liberties according to the best justice and wisdom they have In this case what might a General door not do or what might be his work having such an opportunity so free none to oppose all laid level and flat before him His Forces mighty his Commission bright and clear his people and friends united to him full of vigor and life fresh as the morning though dappled with some spots of Division troubled with some mists of Fancies and some youthful extravagant Conceits But me thinks here was an excellent ground to stay a while upon and to spend some time in cherishing the life and power of Godliness in strengthning of Amity and Union in waiting upon and incouraging the growth of Light till it had dispers'd those morning mists which did darken the face of things in humbling our souls confessing our sins and unworthiness and in seeking a way of the Lord. If we had spent some time in searching the records of Scripture in reading and examining what was in the hearts of Gods hidden and holy ones in enquiring what God might speak in all the Saints or any one poor Saint here might we have dwelt in our tents and with much ease kept the peace and rejoyced together in our liberty and safety and taken a full time to consider and advise where we were what our rights were what might be the design of God in these great Revolutions and to what purpose God had brought forth his people into this outward condition distinct from other people and put such characters of grace upon them in heaping so many victories upon them in answer to their prayers and seeing he had bestow'd those favors upon them sever'd from others owning them rather than others to be his own people whether these distinguishing Mercies did not instruct us to reserve our selves in a distinct state wherein we might even in outward things walk according to Religion and Godliness and not mingle our selves again with the world in its profane courses and customs or to have staid here at least to know whether God had any more work for us to do or any further favor to bestow upon us And lastly not to stir from this ground till we were carried on and lead forth by the same Providence by the same light and general consent of honest hearts that carried us on in all our work and brought us hither And that truly had been but just and due to the Lord That he that had the guiding of us in our troubles and had delivered us by answering of us in calling upon his name together should have been attended upon in the same publick way and had the dispose of us and our deliverance in the same way of direction by his Word and Spirit in the hearts of his own people by which they were gotten But now when we had gotten our Freedom not to attend the moving of the same stream of Light and Providence of a united and general seeking the Lord in a free and open way but for the then General to step into a private way by a private spirit of a sudden it may be not willing to bear the burthen of so great a trust or to bear the censure of setting up himself in so absolute and arbitrary a Power c. or it may be a modest distrust of himself or a doubt of the spirits of his Army or whether it was a passion and offence taken against some opinions and ways of Honest people or an opinion of and inclination to the old English Government or an ignorance of and present mindlesness of his own standing and the foundation of his life and power I know not but evil there was in it I fear Let it be unadvised or ill advised I doubt 't was the counsel of some who had too great a power with him either some wile States man ignorant of the inward life and spirit of our work or I most suspect some Lawyers who wanted a great Name to begin their Writs and uphold their Forms of Law What ever was in it to change a Commission for an Instrument to blot out that Royal stamp set upon him by divine Providence and to assume another from private hands and to have the Coyn both adulterated and clipt his Power mingled with others of a baser sort much diminished 't was unadvised To extinguish an honorable and natural relation to a good People full of life and love to him ingaged together by suffering experience and mercies and to accept of a relation to the whole body of the Nation full of filth and rottenness unnatural to him yea hating and rejecting of him who to heal their Breaches and to recover their Losses are as the Horseleach that cries Give give and being as unsatisfied as the Grave or as the barren Womb that never sayes 'T is enough they rage and fret against him because he doth no more for them to Head such a Body was unadvised To leave a standing that was large and free where he might have breathed out his heart amongst his Brethren in righteous honest ways and walked upright in the full stature of what Light and Religion he had and to go into the noisom and filthy Forms of the world where his spirit is bowed down to old Laws and Customs that have been always acted by a spirit of cunning formality and falshood exceeding improper for a spirit of Simplicity Truth and Nakedness an outward pomp and state that us'd to be kept up and fill'd with flattery and deceit the maners of Egypt and where are Lice Frogs and Sores c. the plagues of Egypt and certainly uneasie for an honest heart this was unadvised And to change a Power that was his own inherent in himself form'd and begotten by Providence free and large in which he might have done all honorable and just things to change this for a borrow'd one and that from we know not who and this not onely limited and lessen'd
transactions they are these Animad I. That in the truest love of my heart to them that are imprison'd yea in the same love I have to my self I have thought that while their spirits are thus acted 't is better for them to be in a Prison than upon the Throne to be under Restraint than in Action Animad II. That our Governors had much the better of the Prisoners in meekness moderation and long-suffering from what I have observ'd In their desires of agreement slowness to wrath tenderness in inflicting restraint seeking of peace after they were restrain'd as if they would not touch a hair of their heads onely binde their hands from doing mischief Animad III. That the Prisoners were more fierce and did more injury to our Governors than our Governors to them so that our Goevrnors are indeed the sufferers for how small a thing is a gentle outward restraint But tongues are swords and when sharpned with Zeal furbush'd with Scriptures Praying Preaching they cut deep into Name and Spirit for publick persons to be sentenc'd and condemn'd in the name of God in publick Assemblies as thieves oppressors perjur'd persons hypocrites apostates If it be but in passion and discontent 't is a cross but if there be any thing of the truth or righteousness of Man in it or the displeasure of God 't would be a sore crucifying to any private person and must be much more to persons in authority Government and publick Safety suffering with them There is an Objection in your former Article which is a branch of this subject They are imprison'd say you for declaring their Consciences concerning which I shall barely propound these Questions Quest I. Whether there be in any of these wordly things an act of pure Conscience Or whether the subject matter being outward things as Government Power c. Conscience be not at least mix'd with Interest Faction and Passion Quest II. Whether there be not reason to judge according to the rate that Conscience now goes at that the Protector is bound to keep Peace and prevent a War by the law of Conscience to preserve other mens lives as well as by the law of Nature to save his own Quest III. Suppose one Conscience hath a minde to keep Peace another hath a minde to make War which of these should we that are indifferent people count the best Conscience Quest IV. If in matters of publick Concernment the Consciences of publick persons and private persons justle which of them do you think should take place Quest V. If two Consciences cross each other in their motions whether that which hath most light and strength and is most pure should not yield to that which is darker and weaker Quest VI. Whether then the Subscribers who profess Conscience onely and stand in the single right of Conscience ought not to yield to the Conscience of Governors cumber'd with reason of State publick Affairs I dare not engage too far in this point of Conscience nor be too serious in it therefore have I thus slightly pass'd it over The fifth Article says Vnder pretence of Necessity still to continue the heavy burthens of Taxes Customs Excise c. Animad I. An Army is necessary till there be a Government establish'd by the declar'd consent of the People and that voluntary Animad II. 'T is probable such an establish'd Government were it never so firmly united yet would not as the state of Affairs are at this time be without a standing Army though well im prov'd and reduc'd Animad III. 'T is the original and great Quarrel twixt us and the King who should have the Militia and we have prevail'd and got the Sword into honest mens hands he that designs the overthrow of the Army gives the whole Cause back to the Cavalier and opens a way for him to return to his power and malice 't was force not law or reason which subdued him and it must be force not law or reason that still subjects him Animad IV. He that propounds a Power to stand now without an Army requires from another what he would not do himself he doth but declare against the Sword that he might get it into his hands and this is the meaning I think of this Paper to tell us of Peace to perswade others to lay down the Sword that they may take it up Animad V. An Army is as necessary to preserve the Subscribers as any sort of people they being as much obnoxious to the malignity and rage of the people as any others and would first feel the wane of a Guard Animad VI. If an Army be necessary Pay is necessary and so Taxes Customs c. But indeed 'T is not Saint-like to complain of Taxes or to resist them 'T is the cry of the Malignant and of the poor Neuter Taxes Excize c. and they may be pitied for alas they lose their Religion and yet pay for our Liberty to maintain that which is grievous to them but we that once would have given half of our Estates for half that Freedom that we now enjoy for our souls in the things of God now to complain shews either no love the freedom of our souls less or our money more I think 't is visible that our Governors impose no more than is necessary and that they strain and stretch things to the utmost being unwilling to exceed the lowest rate of Taxes and that they really pinch themselves to save the people The sixth Article says Notwithstanding the fair pretences and promises of Reformation yet what abominable and horrible Impieties Injustice and Oppression c. I could wish you did but see how ill it becomes Saints to bestow their Rhethorick upon Sin to set it forth in its bravery and how ill it becomes Sin to wear such gay clothes of high language from your mouthes And how sin is cherish'd in being led forth into open view by the hand of her best friend Enmity and enmity 'twixt brethren and that you knew that the pure and good spirit of love that covers sin that buries it in inward sorrow or in Christ his grave or draws forth grace and mercy to wash it away that 's the spirit that is sins onely enemy These great Epithites and Strains being misplac'd I doubt they are also unjust passionate and affected speech of others evils are commonly inordinate and injurious The particulars are I. First Receiving the Honors Profits Customs Benefits c. coming in formerly to the Crown If this be abominable and horrible it s very common I believe there is scarce a Gentleman of the Subscribers or any other person of quality but receives either Honor or Profit that formerly belong'd to the Crown For both the Honor and Profits are shar'd generally amongst all sorts Fee-farm Rents and other Lands the Honor and Power of all Committees over the people to sequester to levy money to dispose livings are of the Crown II. Secondly Tenths and First-fruits 'T is the continuing things
birth from an ill root but this of merit and worth III. Thirdly That is a righteous Power which fulfils its end and administers that good to the people that is appointed by God and that good that is both general or publick and visible to all Now the end and use of this Power that is evident even to nature and common reason is to administer Safety and Peace to this Nation and especially to honest people and this the Protector doth do and is excellently furnished with Abilities for that purpose First in the might vigor vigilancy and courage of his spirit in resisting and suppressing the most industrious and unwearied Attempts of our old Enemies Secondly in a wise and large comprehending and moderating the Divisions and Factions amongst our selves if his spirit should despond or flag in the first or narrow and shrink into any one party and turn enemy to any others 't were a plain gap open'd for ruine to come in upon us I must be so foolish as to tell you my thoughts when I have consider'd the desperate malice of his and our enemies the cross and violent winds that move mens mindes the continual tempests of the peoples rage I have judged him the fittest man in the earth to govern us in this Scene of Action and that Power was most rightly and duely plac'd in him Let him have all the advantages of an Army of civil Honor and Title of Protector let him be alowed all his weakness his heights and heats his policy and compliance if he keeps the Ship from sinking he deserves the honor of a good and right Pilate Several persons and parties have different apprehensions of the work of this Power that it is to set up the kingdom of Christ after our way says the Presbyterian after our way says the Subscribers to advance our way say the Independents to encourage godly spiritual men say another sort to give absolute liberty say others but these are but private opinions in things and notions that are disputable and remote from Government urg'd by Faction and Partiality dangerous shelves and rocks but to preserve us in Peace and Safety from violence blood and confusion is a work unquestionably evident in the Light of God of Nature of Religion of Humanity and so far as he doth this he fulfils the end of power at this time Now observe the difference 'twixt that which was pull'd down and this set up That had Names and Titles By the Grace of God Defender of the Faith c. but either void and empty things or fill'd with contrary and opposite qualities either living to ease and worldly pomp or else in enmity to the grace of God and true Faith this is unrighteous to have Power and not to fulfil it but in this Power we have stuff substance ability to perform the work of Power which is to protect us IV. Fourthly There is yet a fourth and higher sense wherein a Power may be said to be righteous i.e. with the righteousnesness of God or Christ which is proper onely to Christ and his kingdom whose Scepter is a righteous Scepter who is that King that shall reign in Righteousness and whose Princes shall rule in judgement Isa 32.1 and the work of Righteousness shall be Peace c. ver 17. Now if this be your witness that this Power is not thus righteous we are of the same minde and so I suppose is he that hath the Power so we admit your witness true but not in judgement being against a thing not in question nor challeng'd for alas what is there amongst us that looks like the Majesty Beauty Judgement Peace and Glory of such a Kingdom We are poor dark creatures pudling in the dirt and rubbish of a broken world onely striving for a being and subsistence with the best humane diligence wisdom and honesty we have but if this be the intent of your testimony I. Why may not we testifie more largely of persons Churches and Ministry that there is none righteous no not one all have sinned and come short of this glory neither Ruler nor People righteous with this righteousness no Church nor its Rulers no family nor its ruler no person in his own soul and the Government of it is thus righteous but iniquity deceit vanity impurity injustice defiles us all in all things II. Whether a Testimony against the Subscribers be not more just that they pretend to and profess for this righteous kingdom as if they had it amongst them and would or could set it up if they had power whereas they are as weak as dark as sinful as other men But here lies I think a great mistake amongst us and that which much troubles us We had high looks expected great matters while we have onely look'd at the promises and prophecies and what is contain'd in them but have not humbly and soberly consider'd our own present state which is indeed miserably corrupt and wretched This hath raised expectations of greater Matters than it pleases God to do for us or I fear will do till we return into our selves and are more sensible of our own great insufficiency for such things that we dream of being disappointed we vex and free against Governors expecting they should be Gods to us when we ought indeed to put our mouthes in the dust and confess we have all sinned and come short of that glory which we have profess'd It is not meet to say this kingdom is far from us though there be a truth in it as Christ tells them that looked that the kingdom of God should immediately appear Luke 19.11 that he was to go into a far countrey c. But this however I may say We we far from the kingdom of God being in darkness enmity in sin guilt wrath and administring little else one to another And therefore this desire and hopes of great Glory Honor and Dominion to be dispenced to us and the wrath that is amongst us for want of it is I judge a lusting after a fleshly kingdom and glory and that to our selves and our own party whereas the kingdom of Christ will save all the Saints and the earth too and it rises from a vain pride of our selves and some excellency we think to be in our gifts ministries without a sense of that deep and inward corruption that is within Therefore before this kingdom come that you speak of I expect a more pure Ministry like that of Iohn Baptist That will make crocked things straight rough things plain and exalt the valleys bring down every mountain that all flesh may see the salvation of God This Ministry will level these high thoughts of yours and therefore in stead of quarrelling for a Kingdom know you are but Servants and be willing to travel and work with your brethren in that mean and low state in which they are for peace and safety Let me desire you to consider a serious word of reproof to you You are