Reformed Religion, Part 6 – Part 7
Of the Engliſh PARLIAMENT conſidered as Chriſtian.
I Should not have added any thing upon this Head, but that the preſent juncture of Affairs makes it ſeaſonable, we having at this Time a Parliament Aſſembled, not only of Chriſtian Men, but of Proteſtants, which profeſs Reformed Chriſtianity: And by a wonderful and unexpected Call brought together, and in a critical Time, when the Nation was in an Agony of Fear, Diſtraction and Danger. How welcome are Phyſicians to a Diſtempered, Dying Patient, who both know the Malady, and have Skill to recover him! Such we hope this Parliament to be to England, conſiſting of ſo many Eminent Worthies, freely choſen, and freely debating, ſent from all parts of the Nation to Conſult our Cure. And ſeeing that I have bin treating of the Chriſtian Religion, in the Excellency and Influence of it, we cannot but expect its Eminent Influence upon that great Aſſembly: And that true Chriſtianity will be in the Chair, and preſide in all their Votes and De…btes.
I do not preſume to be capable of giving any Advice to thoſe Honourable Perſons who are every way ſo far above me. All I ſhall preſume unto, is only to lay before them ſuch things which they already know, and preſent them in a freſh view to their Minds, and that only in Hypotheſi; and only according to the Laws of Chriſtianity, and not the Rules of State-Policy.
Our Engliſh Parliament, we know it to be the Supream Court of the Nation, England's Sanhedrim, and the Kings great Council, of ancient Conſtitution; acknowledged and maintained by ſucceſſive Princes both of the Saxon and Norman Race for many Generations. It is the Epitome of the whole Nation, who are all here either preſent or repreſented. It is the Fountain of Juſtice, the Ne plus ultrà of Controverſie. It is the Bulwark of its Defence, the Healer of its Breaches; the united Reaſon, Wiſdom and Counſel of the whole Kingdom. It is the true Ballance of our Engliſh Government, holding the Scale even betwixt a Turkiſh Tyranny, and Republican Democracy, or betwixt Arbitrary Government and Popular Anarchy; yea, I may ſtyle it, a brief Model of the whole Univerſe: wherein the King may be conſidered as Regent in both Houſes; the Peers as the Planets compaſſing him about; who as they receive the Splendour of their Honour from him, ſo they reflect it back again upon him, in their Loyalty, and Allegiance to his Perſon and Government. The Houſe of Commons is as the middle Region, which by its Coldneſs doth Temper and Moderate the Influence of the Superior Luminaries, that the Earth of the Common People may not be Scorched by it. The wholſome Laws here Enacted, are as Rivers that Run forth to refreſh the whole Land. And it ſubſiſts as the Univerſe, by the Unity of its Parts, and breaks in pieces by Diviſion. And as Natural things are formed by the Communion that is betwixt the Superior and Inferior World; ſo things Political, by that Communion which is betwixt the two Houſes of Parliament.
But who is a right qualified Member of this great Aſſembly? He that would deſcribe him, may have the eaſier Task, by having the Inſtances before him hereof, in the many eminent Worthies now met together in this preſent Parliament.
Firſt, He is one who ſits in the Houſe by a juſt Right, either by the right of Birth and Peerage, as the Lords, or by a right of a free Election of the People in the Majority of their Votes and Suffrages, as the Commons. But yet, as he is a Chriſtian, he takes notice of the Providence of God in calling him to this Publick Service.
Again, He is a Man not Acted by Ambition, cometh not thither meerly to aſſume Honour to himſelf, but to do ſome publick Good to the Nation, and Service to his Country, which he accounts his greateſt Honour, which is a temper becoming Chriſtianity.
He ſits in the Houſe with a mind free from Prejudice, both with reſpect to Cauſes, and the Perſons of all Men; and gives up himſelf to the conduct of Reaſon, Equity, and Conſcience, in all his Votes and Debates, that he may not juſtly wrong any Man; as becomes a Chriſtian.
He is not pertinacious in his own ſentiments, and overweening his own Parts and Wiſdom above other Men; but is more ready to hear than to ſpeak, and will ſubmit readily himſelf, to Men of greater Judgment and Experience than his own, and in Honour will prefer another before himſelf; as becomes a Chriſtian.
He looks not on himſelf as a private Perſon when he ſits in that great Aſſembly, and therefore lays aſide the conſideration of all private Intereſts when they ſtand in Competition with the publick Good, that he may Faithfully diſcharge both towards God and Man, the publick Truſt that is in his Hand; As becometh an Engliſh Senatour, and a Chriſtian.
He will not ſuffer himſelf to be tranſported with Heat or Paſſion, whereby his Judgment may be blinded, and his Speech precipitate and provoking, but hath that Command over his own Spirit by the Dominion of Reaſon, and the Grace of God in his Soul, whereby he can either be Silent and not Speak, or elſe can Speak with that Sedateneſs and Sobriety, as becomes a Chriſtian.
He is aware of the great Miſchief of Extreams, and therefore ſeeks to have all things carried on in that Aſſembly with that Decorum and Moderation, which may be moſt ſafe and ſatisfying to the whole Nation; whereby he ſeeks to prevent Diviſions, and to promote Union; As becomes a Chriſtian.
He Acts not in the Houſe for the intereſt of a particular Party, but hath regard to the whole Community, and will not be a reſpecter of Perſons for Intereſt, Friendſhip, or a private Deſign, not becoming a Chriſtian. And will rather widen than narrow the Proteſtant Intereſt, to ſtrengthen it againſt Popery; As becomes a Proteſtant Chriſtian.
He doth not ſo much conſider which is the Strongeſt ſide, and moſt likely to Prevail, but where Juſtice, Equity, and the Intereſt of true Religion do preponderate; aiming not ſo much at the ſecuring himſelf, as ſaving the Nation. And if he cannot do the Good he would, he will do the Good he can, both for the Honour of God, and the Welfare of the Nation, as becomes a Chriſtian.
If there be Differences in the Nation, either upon the account of Religion, or Civil Liberties; as a State-phyſician, he will rather ſeek to have them Healed, than to be made Wider and Incurable; and endeavours if it may be, rather to have the Fleſh cured, than the Limb to be cut off; ſhewing herein the true Spirit of Chriſt, and of a good Chriſtian.
He is careful to Maintain the juſt Priviledges of Parliaments, and the Ancient Bounds and Land-marks of the Nation, as a true Engliſh man. And alſo to give unto Caeſar the things that are Caeſars, in maintaining the due Power, and Prerogative of the King; whereby he approves himſelf to be a Man who both Fears God and Honours the King; As becomes a Chriſtian.
He is one who can diſcern both Time and Judgment, and conſiders not only what is Juſt or Lawful in it ſelf, but what is moſt Proper, with reſpect to the preſent State of the Nation, and the juncture of Affairs both at Home and Abroad; and accordingly will Act, either in making New Laws, or Repealing the Old, when the State of the Nation is Altered, and the Reaſon of the Law is Ceaſed. And will in a good ſence foreign, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, and take the Advantage of the Seaſon for the doing of Good, as becomes a wiſe Chriſtian; not knowing whe-it may ever again return into his Hand.
He is one who hath reſpect to Poſterity as well as the preſent Generation; and will take care for the future Age, that no oppreſſing Yoke may be entail'd upon the Necks of thoſe that are to come after, by leaving any ſuch Laws Unrepealed, or by making any ſuch New Laws, which may have a bad effect upon the following Age, and which may affect his own Poſterity, as well as others. To …oreſee an Evil, is left by Solomon as the Character of a prudent Prov. 22. 3.Man, which may now be ſtyled, of a wiſe Chriſtian.
He is careful to provide ſupplies for the King, both ſufficient and ſpeedy, as the Ho…our of his Government, and the Affairs of the Nation may require; that ſome parts of Mens Eſtates may be Sacrificed to the preſer…ation of the whole: And yet he is merciful …o the Peoples Purſe, not to impoſe a burden that is either Unreaſonable or Unneceſſary: By which mercy he Acts as a true Patriot of his Country, and as a Chriſtian.
He gathers Wiſdom from the experience of former times, wiſely conſidering the Rocks that others have Split upon, that went before him; that he may Steer his preſent Courſe by other Meaſures, and take timely warning; and will not follow any evil Steps, but avoid them; As becomes a Chriſtian.
He is Careful and Vigilant, as a publick Watch-man, to diſcover the Nations Dangers, either from Abroad or at Home; either ſuch as are before his Face, or ſuch as lie in Ambuſh behind; and will be diligent to make ſpeedy Proviſion againſt them, leaſt by delay▪ they prove invincible. And he will not be diverted by ſecuring ſome Mens particular Cabbins, from attending the ſafety of the whole Veſſel from Wrack and Ruin. He conſidering the Truſt that is in his Hand, he makes Conſcience to diſcharge it as becomes a Chriſtian, that no ruins which may poſſibly come, may lie at his Door.
He takes notice both of Perſons and Things that obſtruct the courſe of Juſtice in the Nation, and have been injurious to the Liberties, Peace, Wealth, Strength, and Security of the Kingdom, as its proper Grievances: That ſuch Things may be removed out of the way, and ſuch Perſons who have been violators of publick Juſtice, may be made exemplary, tho' hitherto eſcaped, and ſuch who have ſuffered wrong may be recompenſed. Which as it hath been the practice of our Engliſh Parliaments, ſo it is agreeable to the Rules of true Chriſtianity.
He ſtops his Ears to Pernicious Counſel, ſhuts up his Hand againſt taking Rewards to pervert Juſtice, to wrong the Innocent, or to make his motions Eccentick from others, to promote a private deſign. He is alſo diligent to attend his publick Duty, and will …t be found Abſent when the publick Affairs …quire his Preſence: And will Subordinate …s private Concerns to the common Good.
And will not be diverted by Eaſe or Pleaſure …om putting his own Hand to the Oar, to …eer the Veſſel to the right Port. Conſider…g, that the known Rule of Hoc agere, doth … well reſpect Civil Affairs, as the Duties of …hriſtianity and Religion towards God.
If the Affairs of the Nation be Urgent and …reſſing, and its Dangers Eminent, he uſeth …ouble Care and Diligence. He well knowing, …at the Patient may Die by the Phyſicians de…ys; and the Veſſel ſink, by the Leak ſuffered …o long; and the Fire be paſt Quenching, …r want of timely prevention. And the ſay…g of Solomon may in this caſe be verified; He that is Slothful (or Remiſs, Heb.) in his Work, … Brother to him that is a great Waſter, Prov. 18. 9. …nd that of the Poet,
—Serò Medecina paratur,
Cum mala per longas invaluere moras.
The Medicine is too late at length,
When the Diſeaſe hath gotten ſtrength.
He is alſo more particularly concerned a…out Religion, and the Service and Honour of God; that true Piety may be Protected a… Encouraged through the Nation, and th… open Vice and Wickedneſs may be ſuppreſs'd and that good Laws may be made, or exec… ted for that end; and eſpecially, that goo… Miniſters may be encouraged, and good Preac… ing may abound in the Nation, and a maintenance to ſupport it, whereby the Proteſtant Religion may be ſecured, good Knowledge may encreaſe, and the People not lef… in Ignorance to be ſeduced to Popery, o… drawn aſide to any moral Impieties, whereb… he gives to God, the things that are Gods And he that is thus Concerned, I am ſure he Acts like a good Chriſtian, and to the Intereſ… of Chriſtianity: And the Line I have been drawing, effectually reacheth to him. And as he knows the Eyes of the Nation are upon the Parliament, whom they Truſt; ſo much more the Eyes of the Omniſcient God, before whom all the Gods of the Earth muſt ſhortly appear.
And as the Nation hoth now the Bleſſing of the Conjuction of a Proteſtant King and Queen in the Throne; and as we hope and deſire, an Hearty Conjuction of both Houſes of Parlialiament with them; ſurely then, no Conjunction of the moſt Benigne Stars in the Heavens (according to the Rules of Aſtronomy) can be eſteemed ſo Auſpicious as theſe Conjunctions, to the flouriſhing Eſtate theſe Nations.
I have nothing further to add, but to …gg Pardon for this Boldneſs, and the Ac…ptance of my good Intentions, both as a …riſtian and an Engliſh-man.
Of the Chriſtian Souldier.
Shall draw my Line a little further; from … Men of Peace, to Men of War; from the …urt to the Camp; from the Perſons who ſit … Councel, to thoſe who March in the Field; …ecially conſidering our preſent times, where… we hear of Wars, and Rumours of Wars: …a we ſee them come to our very Doors. It …ould be a Mercy to the World if there was … need of Souldiers; But when there is, it …y be Mercy to have them; eſpecially ſuch, …o are good Chriſtians, as well as good …uldiers. It was one of the Judgments threat…d to the Jews, that God would remove from …em, The Mighty man, and the man of War; …e Captain of Fifty, and the man of Eminent …untenance, Iſa. 3. 2, 3.
And now when Antichriſtian Armies a… round about us, and dangers Threaten us … every Side; it is time for the true Chr… ſtian Souldier to gird on his Sword, a… ſtand upon his Guard; for the Conteſt no… with us, ſeems to be betwixt Papiſt and Pr… teſtant, true and falſe Chriſtianity; or pa… ticularly, betwixt the French and Iriſh Papiſ… and the Engliſh and Dutch Proteſtants, a… their Allies. And as the Iſraelites carried t… Ark of God along with them into the Field that they might have good ſucceſs in Battl… ſo true Chriſtianity will not a little tend … the ſucceſs of the Army that is influenc'd … it; and therefore it is deſirable it may atte… the Camp alſo, and that not only in the Pr… feſſion, but Practice too.