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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93715	A modest plea for an equal common-wealth against monarchy. In which the genuine nature and true interest of a free-state is briefly stated: its consistency with a national clergy, mercenary lawyers, and hereditary nobility examined; together with the expediency of an agrarian and rotation of offices asserted. Also, an apology for younger brothers, the restitution of gavil-kind, and relief of the poor. With a lift at tythes, and reformation of the lawes and universities. All accommodated to publick honour and justice, without injury to any mans propriety, and humbly tendered to the Parliament. By a lover of his country in order to the healing the divisions of the times.	Sprigg, William, fl. 1657.	1659 (1659)	Wing S5078; Thomason E999_11; ESTC R203651	64,567	117

the root of all our Evils we shall yet hear our Bells ring more changes and instruments of Government be wound up to more harsh and discordant Notes then any our ears have been entertained with yet Now to know the spring and source of our misery I presume we need neither consult an Oracle or ask Councel of a Conjurer and perhaps it may be less difficult then safe to discover the Caution of Solomon being good Councel Be not righteous over much neither make thy selfe over wise why shouldst thou destroy thy self Whence we may learn it is not the difficulty but danger that obstructs the discovery of many things For who will contend with time that is mightier or too strong for him So I returned and considered all the Oppressions that are done under the Sun and to behold the tears of such as are Oppressed and they had no comforter and on the side of the Oppressors there was power but they had no Comforter Now should we ask Council of our old Nobility the Lawyer the Clergy or the Citizen we know what would be their advice to face about return to the old constitution to go back again into Aegypt to return to our making of brick and so build up the things we have so lately destroyed for it was better with us then it is now we shall never find out a better constitution in which all interests were so well bounded and ballanced as the old faith the Ancient Nobility Nor will any so well suit with the genious humour of the English people and the tenour of their Lawes saith the Lawyer Religion and Learning never flourished so well as under Monarchy nor were there then so many Schisms and Heresies saith the Divine In the time of the King and Court we had far better Trading saith the Citizen nor were we then burdened with so many Taxes saith the Country-man so that all are willing and agreed to face about and be as they were And what 's the reason of it but that men mistake their interest and there is an evil report raised on the Land whether we are travelling as if it were a Land of Confusion and not of Peace and Liberty And the Spies have done ill offices which hath occasioned this brief Map or Description of a Common-wealth or the presenting these few bunches of Grapes that you may have a taste of what Liberty may be expected in the Canaan towards which we are setting our faces Let us therefore stand still and see the salvation of God and not murmur against his providences that have so long detained us in the wilderness but follow the Captains and Leaders that first lead us out of Egypt and are now restored to put us in possession of what we have so long expected if we do not through unbelief render our selves unworthy to enter Courteous Reader THe Author of these Discourses living where the Keyes of the Press hang at their Girdles who had rather stifle than in the lest be accessary to the birth of any thing of this nature was necessitated to make use of one at too great a distance for his inspection and therefore to trust wholly to the courtesie of the Printer by whose negligence the following Errata's have been suffered in many places to steal away the sense of the discourse there being many other smaller lapses through mispointing and the like together with the Errata's of three or four of the last sheets that the Author not having an opportunity of perusing must be submitted to the Readers judgement or Candor to be either corrected or forgiven Epistle to the Reader PAge 1. l 23. r. Cultivate f. Culturate p. 2. l. 28. r. after f. offer p. 3. l. 19. r. world f. word and l. 22. r. wealth f. wrath p. 5. l. 17. r. him f. time l. 27. r. then then l. 30. the Genius and humour PAge 6. line 13. for that Olygarchy read Oligarchy that c. p. 7. l. 21. f. equalities r. capacities p. 9. l. 26. f. stabi●ity r. subtlety p. 16. l. 4. f. pricks r. P●kes p. 22 l. 28. of those c. r. to those p. 44. l. 16. limit r. remit p. 47. l. 4. humane r. humour p. 49. l. 9. learned r. leavened p. 50. l. 23. stated r. elated p. 52. l. 8. curbed r. crabbed p. 54. l. 30. conclusion r. confusion p. 58. l. 11. their r. either imprudence c p 58. l. 1. strain r. theame p. 61. l. 4. burnings r. turnings p. 62. l. 2. imprudent r. impendent p. 62. l. 26. concern r. conceive p. 63. l 21. and worse r. divorse p. ●6 l. 5. Oppressors r. Oppr●ssions p. 67. l. 8. most r. more p. 68. l. 8. Sons r. Sions p. 69. l. 2. rescue r. receive c. THE PROEM CONTAINING A PLEA for an Equal Common-wealth or Free-State against Monarchy I Have sometime by what charms I know not been so strongly possest with a fond opinion of the indifferency of all forms of Government that I have looked on none as objects of greater pity then such as prompted by an ignorant and blinde zeal have left their memories on the file of History and their names registred in the bloody Rubricks of Times-Calender as Martyrs of State for as I presumed all Governments alike subject to corruption and oppression so I supposed none uncapable of becoming the Conduits of Justice and administring Truth and Righteousness to the people And therefore have been apt to interpret a non-compliance with present power as rather proceeding from ill manners or a peevish kinde of morosity that in some turbulent ill-natured spirits is the infirmity or rather hereditary malady of their Melancholy Complexion then from any true work of Conscience or Reverence as commonly pretended to the Sacred Bonds of Religion which betrayed my rashness into a fond conceit that not onely the Male-contents under one Government would be the same under any other unless their ambition were gratified with a share and interest in the administration and management thereof but a●●● that such good natures as can comply with one will if the Scene chance to change and the Ballance of Affairs turn with as great readiness espouse and cast themselves into the imbraces of another as acknowledging the tribute of all faithful duty and loyal obedience justly due and of right to be paid to whatever Power is so well sledg'd as to extend the wing of their Protection for a defence to the Lives and Estates of all such as are willing to own and receive warmth from their Authority The consideration whereof rendred me very neutral in reference to State affairs supposing Faction and Ambition to bear greater sway then Religion in by assing mens Propensities ruling their inclinations as to things of this nature Insomuch that I have been apt to pity and commiserate the unhappiness of those God had been pleased to call up to the battlements of Soveraignty and placed at the Helm of Affairs by reason there never have been

Affairs I am bold being partly thereto encourag'd by that great candor wherewith I observe the like tribute of zealous and faithful hearts are already received to tender what in my apprehension may have a tendency to a future settlement and security I confess were we at this time bowed down under the Government of a Monarch in whose Court every Counsellour of State is to be taken on an implicite faith to enjoy by his Princes Patent and favour a Monopolie of Reason as well as Honour and that his understanding is no less elevated than according to the proportion his Titles and Fortunes swell above the tide of other mens I might justly be accounted absurd to offer any thing of this nature as knowing with what scorn and contempt so rash an adventure would be encountred But in a Free-state wherein the greatest Senators are not asham'd to confer with the meanest persons I am not afraid to put my self into the crowd of those that make addresses of this nature Wherefore to conclude this Parenthesis and resume the thread of our discourse there are not as I presume pass two or three sorts of persons whose interests run counter to or indeed are not twisted and wound up in the same bottom with that of a Free-state or at least in the spining out of a few years might not be interwove therewith and those are the Lawyer Divine and Hereditary Nobility as for the Cavalier and Courtier I question not but a little time would breath out their Antipathy and warp their affections to a perfect complyance and closing with an equal Common-wealth Of the Ministry or Clergy IT being the Method of Heaven for Judgment to begin with the House of God I shall first speak to the reformation of the publique Ministry or National Clergy so far as they seem prompted by their interest to run counter to that of a Common-wealth and though I know notwithstanding the complexion of their Coat which seems or at least ought to promise greater moderation it is no less dangerous to meddle or in the least exasperate this generation of men then to puddle in a Hornets nest or encounter a Bear robbed of her whelps yet my conscience bearing me witness I have neither mallice to their persons nor envy their preferments I shall not forbear to give in my testimonie against the corrupt interest and principles wherewith they are leavened Where by the way I must profess my self unsatisfied of what ground or foundation may since the Jewish Priesthood was abolished be ●ound in Scripture for that distinction between the Laity and Clergy which custome hath introduced into most Christian Common-wealths my zeal and charity being apt to prompt me to a like wish with that of Moses That all the Lords people were Prophets or rather to think all the Lords people are holy and to be accounted a Royal Priest-hood to God Nor can I perswade my self learning is so necessary a qualification for the teaching of the Gospel as some would make us believe having observed our Saviour altogether rejected the wisedom of man and made not use of the learned Scribes or Doctors of the Law but simple and illitterate Fishermen to be the first Heraulds of Peace unto the world to proclaim good will to the Children of men to be the first Evangelists and Messengers of the glad tidings of Salvation and indeed the introduction of learned Rabbies into the Church of Christ and blending Divinity with the learning of the Gentiles seems to run counter to the whole design of the Gospel which is by the foolishness of preaching to confound the wisedom of the world Certainly the sword of Gods Spirit will be able to do its work though not mannaged by the skilful hand of an Artist or Master of Fence that hath been brought up in the Polemicks and Digladiations of humane litterature vain Philosophie or Sophistry of the Schools Nor do I find that the Apostles and those sent forth by Christ to be the Catholique Bishops of the whole earth and to teach all Nations did assume unto themselves any distinction of garb colour or habits from the rest of Christs Flock and I have read of some that were censured in the Primitive times or first Centuries for wearing large black Cloaks for what is this but to bring back those Jewish types and shaddows to cloud and obscure the brightness of the Gospels dispensation that were long since dispelled and abrogated by the a rising of the Sun of Righteousness upon the world for as one hath lately well observed What is the canonical girdle and formality of Doctors wearing boots but as types and allusions of those places of having their loyns girt and their feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel c. Nor do I read that they who were call'd to the Ministry did look upon that as a writ of ease or sufficient warrant to quit their other particular callings trades and vocations but that Paul wrought with his hands that he might not become burdensome and it is generally presumed our Saviour wrought at his Fathers Trade not that I would not have those that Minister in spiritual things reap of others carnal but that it seems more according to the rule and precedent of the Gospel that they should be content with what voluntary contribution God shall move the peoples hearts unto then by force and rigour of Law exact a maintenance And when I find the Apostle saluting the Church in Caesar's family I am prompted to wish that all our Houses were Chappels unto the Lord and that our families like that of Caesar's contained a Church within them I am sure it is no new observation that the greatest heat and zeal of Religion hath been always found in conventicles and private meetings which suggests unto my thoughts no small ground of suspition that our parochial Churches Bells together with the whole order pomp method and formallity of our National Clergy and publique worship stands upon no other foundation then that of humane invention which by the stream of corrupt times have been carried beyond the pattern and precedent of the Primitive Ages and become very unlike and dissonant to the exemplar Christ and his Apostles left us Nor am I satisfied if the generallity of men are uncapable of receiving the truth and power of godliness whether the endeavours of giving all men a tincture of Religion and forcing them into the garb and livery of an outward profession which is the great design of and plea for a National Clergy be more acceptable unto God then Morality I know under the Law God had a peculiar people that were pick'd and cull'd as it were from the dross and rubbish of the rest of mankind that were to be built up in an outward profession and National way of publick worship adorn'd with many Ceremonies together with much pomp and outward splendor but whether Religion be not now under the Gospel a more inward refined spiritual and less

a Common-wealth be charged with supplantiug Religion or destroying Piety Doth that subvert either Magistracy or Ministry that twists them both together Many would fain have their Ministers Bishops and their Bishops Lords Is it not as well if our Lords be Bishops Many would have the Clergy encreased and Ministers made Justices of Peace Is it not as well if our Justices of Peace become Ministers Let it not therefore be said that through the sides of the Ministry we would wound Magistracy when it 's desired they should be a support and ornament to each other But may our Government more truly be accused of discouraging Learning May that be thought guilty of this that prefers every man according to his deserts that by the Rotation of its offices takes in every one to have his share and turn in the administration of its power That furnishes every man with employment sutable to the greatness of his parts and Education that suffers no mans Talent to rust to lie hid to be buried or laid up in a Napkin but invites and gives opportunity for the use and exercise of them Is to contract the number of Hals and Colledges when the Nation is over-stock'd to discourage Learning Did not my Lord Bacon long since complain thereof when there were fewer Colledges and more preferments and is there not more reason now I presume no body will say that Learned Heroe was an Enemy of Learning Is it rationall to think these times need as many Colledges as those before Hen. 8. when there were thirty thousand Students in one of the Universities And yet that we may not envy those times little the more learning for doth not every one know what Scholars the Monks were And how learned those Ages that swarmed with so many fat and flow bellies Did not one of the Saxon Kings translate the Bible for the use of his illiterate Clergy because his Clergy understood not Latine as he gives the Reason And do we not now spoil many a good Plough-man to make a poor Scholar and rob the Shops of many a fit mechanick to keep our Colledges thinly stock'd with half-witted sleepish Fellows And is this for the Advancement of Learning to render it more common and contemptible then the Art of Fidling That the education and exercise of Princes should become the study of every pedant and pesant That Minerva and the Muses should be prostrated to the prophane accosts of every Coridon and sullied by the rude embraces of every Mechanick Son Is it not that too hath brought it into so much contempt and disgrace with the Gentry and Nobility that hath made it accounted a base and pedantick thing Is not Learning cheap enough when greater Parts and Ingenuity may be hired for a peece of bread then would heretofore have purchased a Cardinals Hat Should we make enquiry into the Causes of that detriment Learning hath received and what obstructs the Advancement thereof we should finde it another thing then what most men suppose It is that distinction and diversity of modern times have introduced whence have sprung many nice and curious studies unknown to Antiquity and the wiser ages of the world studies that bring no advantage to the Common-wealth that yeeld neither pleasure nor profit to those that converse in them save what folly and custome hath intail'd upon them studies in which our choicest wits do lose their time and consume their strength to no purpose except to become skillfull in a literate kinde of ignorance while the more solid parts of Learning lie altogether uncultivated and neglected Studies that are not only jejune and barren of any profitable Fruit but such as sophisticate and adulterate the understandings of all those that are most conversant in them That preoccupy and blurre the minde with prejudice and render men froward and perverse to the reception of the Truth Studies that blinde the Understanding deprave the Will byasse the Judgement and corrupt the affections That render men morose peevish uncharitable and inhumane That crowd the world with multitudes of Books of which there is no end either in respect of number or their use such as might better be spared then read and if burnt the world neither the less wise nor learned For demonstration of which I shall instance in two or three professions of great repute in the world and first of Divines which are commonly distinguished into Casuists Polemick School and practicall Divines Of which all or the most part might very well have been spared had men acquiesced in the Scriptures and been content to have waited on the Teachings of Gods Spirit But so soon as the wisedom of men and Policy of Princes had erected this which should be all mens study and employment into a particular Profession and registred it among those that are commonly called the Learned To adde the more credit thereto they began to mix and blend it with the Learning and Sophistry of the Schools pretending to adorn-it with the spoils of the Heathen but what is found to have sophisticated and adulterated the truth and simplicity of the Gospel Now because this mixing it with false and incoherent School-Learning had through its incongruity and contradiction brought forth great variety and multiplicity of opinions and in all probability spawn'd most of those Sects Heresies and Errours that now swarme and are lodged in the Heads and Judgements of unstable mindes It was thought necessary to introduce Polemicks for purging and winnowing Divinity from the Chaffe of such Errours as the former practice had filled it with and therefore certain Colledges were erected for Students of Controversies for maintaining the Gideons and Champions of the Truth who like the Knights Templers or those of Malta were to defend the Holy Land or maintain the possessions of Truth from the invasions and incroachings of errour which was performed with such ill success that in stead of composing and reducing errours to the Obedience of the Truth they became much multiplyed by the subtle cavilling wits of these persons altogether given to wrangling and contradiction that at length the very Fundamentals of Religion came to be called in Question and the Pillars of faith shaken and all things rendred disputable and argued pro and con by the perverse and scepticall wits of Truths pretended Champions Thus rather then they would seem idle or want employment they fell to seeking knots in Bull-rushes and made where they could not finde difficulties till at length the itch of disputing proved the scab of the Church while in the mean time all necessary and usefull Learning was neglected By the like steps and degrees did the study of the Laws also climbe into the repute of a Learned Profession For first Monarchy having introduced a great variety of tenures resulting from the diversity of feuds and services as Grand Sergeanty Knight-Service Soccage and the like which are but so many severall degrees of servitude and slavery their study was impropriated to a peculiar order