Echos from the Sixth Trumpet, Part 5
The Perpetual PARLIAMENT, Imprinted 1650.
IN this Poem the Author having More Poetico, expreſſed a Contemplative Viſion, preparative to what he intended, he thus proceeds, pag. 44.
—By what hath repreſented been,
By well conſid'ring what I had ſeen,
By ſpelling out what ev'ry Character
Holds forth, to evidence thoſe things that were
Thereby intended, I found out therein
Where that great Work muſt firſt of all begin,
Which may make up our breaches, when thereto
Our ſelves we ſettle, as we ought to do.
I ſaw that on a future ſettlement,
And conſtitution of a Parliament
Upon a juſt Foundation laid, with ſpeed,
A means of Reſtauration might ſucceed,
That introducing therewith, which might bring
Into right Order ev'ry other thing,
Our outward Weal promoting, if we take
That courſe whereof propoſal I now make.
I am likewiſe perſwaded (ev'n without
So much as any ſhadow of a doubt)
That by this Parliaments miſconſtitution,
We are uncapable of that fruition
Which we expect; that (for the moſt part) thence
Proceeds the cauſe of all our Indigence,
And that this Parliament is naytheleſs
The Chief, (if not ſole means of our redreſs)
Ev'n this; which many at this day do ſeek
To bring (by diſreſpect) into diſlike,
And to a nullity, as if thereby
They had no hopes of our recovery:
For by this Parliament GOD would effect
The future Settlement they do expect.
If they too long delay'd hot the purſuit
Of an impartial rational Recruit.
Although the Body of it, being made
Of Members, which among them long have had
(And yet hath over-many) ſo corrupted,
That they have not alone much interrupted
Their activeneſs who diſcontinue ſound,
But now are alſo likely to confound
The whole at once, by ſeeking how to pleaſe
Their Luſts or Friends; yet we might maugre theſe,
Reſtored be by thoſe who have been juſt,
And to their utmoſt pow…r perform'd their truſt:
It is from thoſe that we denominate
This Parliament, in them is lodg'd our Fate
Conditionally; yea, whatſoe're they ſeem,
This is (as things are) that which muſt redeem
Our Honour loſt; and if then it ſhall
Diſſolved be, down will their Structures fall,
Not to be rais'd without the coſt of more
Then hath been ſpent upon it heretofore.
But, as they are, what prudent man can think
It will be long ere totally they ſink?
For while they ſhall endeavour to ſubſiſt,
Without preſerving of their Intereſt
Who choſe them, or permit their diſſolution,
With our late hardly gained Conſtitution;
(Which now without enforcement can by none
Effected be, but by it ſelf alone)
They ſhall henceforth for ever be unable
To gain a Government that will be ſtable,
Unleſs a Phoenix, yet unhatcht, ariſe
Out of their Aſhes, with renew'd Supplies,
Which ſeeing that may probably be never,
They ſome Expedient muſt with ſpeed endeavour.
In this, and after the 45th page in the Imprinted Copies, the ſenſe in many pages was ſo miſtaken by the Tranſcriber, or the Printer, that the Expedient thereby intended, is confuſedly expreſt; the reſult whereof was to this effect afore expreſſed; and it thus follows, pag. 50.
Let them take notice, that the Peoples rage
At their delayes, is likely to engage
In ſome diſorderly Reſolve, unleſs
They ſee that followed with more ſeriouſneſs,
Which they expect either in a Parliament
New-moulded, or by what's equivalent.
For, 'tis conceiv'd their ſufferings may thereby,
And thereby onelyonly, meet a Remedy:
Which Cure, if miſadvis'd I have not been,
Muſt with the Parliament it ſelf begin.
There is a Courſe, whereby without diſgrace
Or danger, they may bring a work to paſs
That will fecure from hazards, coſt and pain,
Which without thanks or profit you ſuſtain,
Afflicting others too, by thoſe confuſions
Which are encreaſed by irreſolutions.
Until a better, therefore, ſhall appear,
Be pleaſed this Expediment to hear;
And if thereby you find a likelihood
Of ought conducing to your future good.
Take heed that no Self-Intereſt divert
That approbation whereunto your heart
Inclineth you; for, GOD will find it out,
And croſs the Counter-work you go about.
In England and in Wales there is a Shire
For ev'ry Week that's numbred in the year:
According to the Months, by Twelve divide
The Counties, with the Perſons qualifi'de
For Knights and Burgeſſes, proportioning,
As near as may be, to an equalling
The number of the whole, ſo, or ſo many
Unto each Month, (without omitting any.)
As certain then, the Month and Day wherein
Each Twelfth part an Election ſhall begin.
(The middle of the Week appearing beſt,
As being fartheſt from the day of Reſt)
On the firſt Wedneſday of each Month, let thoſe
By whom their Deputies are to be choſe,
(Reſpectively) convene in ev'ry Shire,
Upon that Month and Wedneſday every year,
Which is to them aſſign'd; then, having choſen
(At Months end) let each twelfth part of the dozen
Send up their choſen men to repreſent
Their Shires and Burroughs in the Parliament;
And, on that very day in which they come,
Let all their Predeceſſors give them room.
Thus one Month ſome, & Month by Month for ever,
Let each Twelfth part ſtill orderly perſever
To take a turn, till ev'ry Shire hath had
A Month in ev'ry year; then having made
Their choice, let them ſtill enter, and withdraw,
Succeſſively, by a Perpetual Law,
No man a place of Truſt ſupplying there,
By one Election, longer then One year.
Thus, as the Thames doth ſtill continue one,
And, is the ſelf-ſame River, though there run
A new ſupply of waters ev'ry day
Along her Channel; you continue may
The Parliament by Annual Supply
To be the ſelf-ſame everlaſtingly,
(With very little change or moleſtation
To them, who chuſe or repreſent the Nation.)
Thus may the Parliament be both together
Succeſſive and Perpetual; yet neither
Enjoying ſuch a Perpetuity
As can occaſion future Tyranny,
Or preſent Grievances (ſave ſuch alone
As wholly can prevented be by none:)
Nor ſhall we be endammag'd by Succeſſion,
Or by Parliaments long Intermiſſion;
But form a Conſtitution which will add
All Pow'r which may be for advantage had,
Either to gain what beſt men would effect,
Or to prevent the Miſchiefs they ſuſpect.
What I intend, may plainly be conceiv'd,
And, to that end, ſome things may be contriv'd
Much better, if your Wiſdom ſhall refine
The rudeneſs of my proffered Deſign;
And by Authority ſtrict Rules provide,
Whereby th' Elected may be qualifi'de,
And their Electors too; for 'twere unjuſt
In things of this Concernment thoſe to truſt
Who have diſturb'd your Peace, until a time
For their Probation is allotted them;
And, till they likewiſe by their good deſert
Make manifeſt a reconciled heart;
Their Merits being well weigh'd by ſuch Judges
As may ſuſpend uſurped Priviledges.
And ſince, ev'n they who are the beſt affected
To common Welfare, often have elected
Such as deceive their Truſt; ſince there's no eye
But GOD's, that ſees the hearts Hypocriſie;
And, ſince we find it left upon Record,
(Ev'n in the Volume of the Sacred Word)
That LOT's were needful in the choice of thoſe
To whom they did a Supreme Pow'r impoſe;
Since likewiſe when the pureſt Congregation
In all the world, had with deliberation
Elected two; a Lot was alſo caſt
(Before an approbation thereon paſt)
To ſend forth him who was to be employ'd
In execution of the place then void,
That GOD might alſo have his choice therein,
It was no doubt vouchſafed to have been
Exemplar, that we might with warranty
In this approved Preſident comply:
For GOD by his Election join'd with our,
Will probably upon the Elected pour
His Grace. This will moreover give content
To prudent men, and frequently prevent
The choice of thoſe whom for ſiniſter ends,
A numerous corrupted Party ſends.
Why may not then? Why ſhould not Two be choſe
For ev'ry place that's void, and one of thoſe
By Lot? that GOD therein may have a voice,
And join with men, in perfecting their choice?
Since they who do th…s Nation repreſent,
Are GOD's Vicegerents in the Government,
As well as our Truſtees, who would not more
In ſuch a Choice confide, then heretofore
In their Elections? or then they will do
In Thoſe hereafter not Elected ſo?
Why was it not, why ſhould it not be thus,
If this the Kingdom be of GOD WITH US?
But that, Self-ſeekers know, were this admitted,
They by reputed fools, ſhould be outwitted?
And not ſo eaſily obtain a power,
Hereafter to oppreſs and to devour.
To no good end have LOTS been from among
All ſuch Elections ſhufled out ſo long;
Vſurpers and Intruders do well know
Lots would their Kingdoms quickly overthrow;
Make them afraid, that Chriſt will reign indeed,
(As they with diſcontent oft hear and read)
And that without controul, in time to come,
They ſhould not rant and revel in his Room
As now they do, and will, till we begin
A better courſe then that which we are in.
If timely ſome proviſion might be made,
To our Elections, Lots henceforth to add,
Much Reformation would thereby redound,
And great advantages therein be found.
So might there alſo, if that whenſoe're
Th' Elect to perform their duty were,
Some ſhort ſpeech might be made, or cautions read,
Whereby it ſhould be offer'd to their heed,
How much it will concern them to take care
What choice they make, and what the dangers are,
Which may enſue, when ſome Siniſter ends
The dread of greatneſs, or reſpects to Friends,
Makes them miſplace their truſt, and caſt away
Themſelves, and all, for ever, in one day.
This to prevent, 'twere fitting to make known
What Truſt that is which is on them beſtown.
What Benefits may gen'rally ariſe,
By chuſing men couragious, honeſt, wiſe,
And fearing GOD: what perils will enſue,
(Which by forepaſt examples we may ſhew)
If Cowards, fools, ungodly men, and vicious,
Or to the preſent Government pernicious,
They ſhould elect. They may likewiſe, declare
How qualify'd ſuch perſons ſhould appear;
And warn them, that they never do unhallow
Their Choice with any, ſuch as theſe that follow.
Men over-talkative, affecting much
To hear themſelves ſpeak; for, not many ſuch
Can keep or give good Counſel; and they'l prate
Much precious time away in vain debate.
Your Common-Gameſters, for they are not juſt
Unto themſelves, and them we ſhould not truſt
With other mens Eſtates, who have been known
To loſe, or hazard deſperately their own.
Men to their pleaſures over-much addicted;
For Publike Work will be by them neglected.
Chuſe not men evidently avaricious,
Or of Promotion greedily ambitious;
For if their ends thereby obtain theſe may,
They will be brib'd their Countrey to betray;
Or quite neglect their Truſt to court their Whore,
And ſhame their fellows, if they do no more.
Of Irreligious Perſons make no choice,
For theſe will very ſeldom give their voice
But in the Negative, to any motion
That may be for advancement of Devotion.
Chuſe none who are defam'd in any kind,
For ſuch as they will an occaſion find
To hinder all enactings that reſtrain
Ill manners, or to ſober life pertain.
Elect not Children, for it is unfit
That in your Supream Councils they ſhould ſit
To vote in Grand Affairs, whom Law reſtrains
From managing what to themſelves pertains.
Chuſe none who are obſerved to withhold
Their long due debts, when they diſcharge them could:
Nor Outlaw'd perſons; for unfit are they
To make us Laws, who would not Law.
Chuſe none who ſhall ſolicite or propoſe
That they for your Law-makers may be choſe.
Nor ſuch as their Electors by th' abuſe
Of Feaſtings, Wine and Banquetings ſeduce:
For they who ſhall (uncall'd) themſelves advance
To that great Work, have much more arrogance
Then real worth; and it is ten to one
They for themſelves have ſomewhat to be done, &c.
There are many other particulars pertinent to the Truſt mentioned in this Poem; as alſo, other precautions and predictions of the good and evil conſequences likely to enſue, in that Poem hinted, with a purpoſe onelyonly to bring thoſe things to conſideration, which wiſer men may improve, according to the Author's intention, by a better method then is here propoſed: therefore to the peruſal thereof, the Reader is referred.