A Union of Hearts, Text (3 of 3)
All Magiſtrates are tyed to the Laws of God and nature, and 'tis a leſſe ſinne for a private man to breake thoſe Laws then the Magiſtrate who is intruſted to keepe them. For a Commiſſioner to breake a truſt is the higheſt prevarication; againſt which illegalities ſelf-defence is lawfull, if the party can help it; men may free themſelves from tyrants, if they can; if not, what remedy but patience? the reaſon is perſpicuous becauſe no man can impower another over him to command againſt both, or either of thoſe Laws, and therefore the meaning of thoſe commands of honouring the King, our parents and governours, is to obſerve all ſuch lawfull commands as are not contrary to God and nature, for God is the God of order, which he ſhould not be, if Governours were to be obeyed diſorderly.
If a King or Governour be mad, muſt all the Kingdom be fools to obey ſuch a Devill as that Duke D' Alva was, that made the Hangmans place in Flanders better then the Chancellours. If ſuch a Magiſtrate be drunke, and reſolved to kill whomſoever he meets, may not the people ſhot him up all night from doing miſchiefe? to take away a madmans ſword from him, is not to take away the property but to prevent the miſchiefe. Many of H. 7. freinds had ſworne fealty to R. 3. yet H. 7. did well to kill him, and we never read of my pardon obtained from the Pope; the Royall race of H. 7. inherits ſtill in our Soveraigne Lord King CHARLES, to whom God impart as many graces as to all his Anceſtors, that as he hath made the heart of Gods people ſad, ſo he may now make it his royall ſtudy to ſet Jeſus Chriſt upon his Throne, by whoſe gain his Majeſty can be no loſer; and long may that Royall race continue to adminiſter and execute good and wholſome Laws for the proſperity of theſe Nations, by which it is more honourable to command 10 free men, then to tyrannize over 10000 Gally-ſlaves. If the Magiſtrate in a Proteſtant Kingdom ſhould introduce Popery, as in Queen Maries time, a particular man may not oppoſe; but the Parliament might and by the Law of God ought to have oppoſed it: But if the Lord had put a ſword into the hands of the Smithfield Martyrs, able in probability to have defended themſelves, theſe could not have dyed with comfort for their Religion; for I cannot judge him a good Chriſtian that is not a morall man, and he that will not doe right to himſelfe to defend his own life will hardly doe right to his neighbour, he that hath but a little minde can be but a little vertuous.
I affirme, that the Army may not disband in point of honour, till this Kingdome be in a better way of ſettlement, for I ever thought that there was more to be done for the happineſſe thereof, then the humiliating and geniculating of the late Oxford party, whoſe ſ…e rather then out reformation might be the cauſe thereof, for doe not their adverſaries brag before the victory? if many cruell men might have their wils, what could the Army expect when disbanded? Therefore if they ſhould hereafter ſuffer, they would undoubtedly make themſelves a Ludibri… and deriſion to all the world; what? 20000 armed men victorious and veteran Commanders and Souldiers, (not fleſh but bone) that feare nothing but to offend God, neither the ſons of Anak not the ſons of Cain, that ſpeake big like Gyants, and perſecute their brethren …an Army that hath the juſtice of heaven on their ſides the prayers of Gods people the good will of the whole Kingdom, that have been the Joſhuahs that have led Gods people into the ſpirituall Canaan, that are plainly told, that if they were disbanded, they muſt not have a mouthfull of ayre in this Kingdome, but in a priſon; unleſſe they will put out their own eyes, to ſee by the ſpectacles of other men in point of Gods ſervice and worſhip▪ that are called troublers of the State, Heretikes and Sectaries, that had been better, the liberties of the Kingdom had been loſt then ſaved by them, and all this to their faces with their ſwords in their hands. For ſuch an Army as this, I ſay, to thinke upon disbanding as the …aſe ſtands, I muſt make bold to tell them, that if they ſhould, Jeſus Chriſt would take it unkindly from them, and they would make themſelves culpaple of all the precious bloud that ſhould be ſpilt in a way of perſecution, and all the reproaches mockings, ſcornes, ſcourging… baniſhments, impriſonments, contempts, ignominies, diſgraced and affronts, that ſhall be caſt upon any Chriſtian, and the Goſpel of Chriſt, which any of Gods people ſhall hereafter in any wiſe ſuffer in this Kingdeme for their conſciences and ſincerity in Gods ſervice would be laid upon their ſcore; and I ſolemnly profeſſe with words of ſobriety, upon the Altar of truth, that Gods people and this whole Kingdome would have cauſe to blame them as the greateſt prevaricators of all others; for to be treacherous for honours is diſhonourable: for a great Office to betray a truſt is ſordid and mercenary; to betray a truſt for feare is cowardly and ſervile; for flattery or inſinuation is weake, effeminate, and childiſh; for love or relation is not ſo great an offence, becauſe more humane (howbeit, all treaſon committed againſt a mans Countrey is inhumane and unworthy:) but for one Chriſtian to betray another, is of all treacheryes the moſt abominable: and here let me make this argument for the Army, will it be ſufficient for them to ſay if perſecution ſhould ariſe after their disbanding deare friends we cannot help you, the Parliament are all for the Presbytery, many of the Aſſembly and City Miniſters were ſo importunate with many of the honourable Members to ſettle their Presbytery, that we have left all things to them, would it not be anſwered; what, Hath the Lord that gave you courage taken away …cir wiſdome? did you begin in the ſ…irit and end in the fleſh? Is this the requit all we muſt expect for all our …es for you, who have prayed and beleeved you into all your victorior? You ſay it had been moſt noble, and ſo indeed it had, for the Parliament before you engaged, to have told you plainly, Gentlemen, We ſuſpect many of you to be Independents, be adviſed what you doe, if you give us the victory we intend to ſettle a Preſbytery, and to ſuffer none to live in the Kingdome, but ſuch as ſhall conforme to the preſent government; if you will fight to ſettle Preſbytery, well and good; but your victory will be your ruine for the King promiſeth a liberty and indulgence to tender conſciences. Might not your friends in the City and Kingdome, as well have expected as much from you, that you ſhould have told them, provide for your own indemnity, the Biſhops being by our means put down and aboliſhed, and the Presbytery ſetled, wee intended no more, as for the freedome of our conſciences and yours, and finding out an expedient for cheap and quick juſtice to be adminiſtred in all places which might make the poore Kingdome ſome good amends for all the charges they have been at, if the Parliament pleaſe to doe it well and good, we have that which we fought for, Et gaudeant poſſidentes. 'Tis therefore but a taking of Gods providence in vain by many, that looking only at the outſide of things ſay, that this Army loſes much of their Honour they had gained by not Diſbanding, 'tis quite contrary, they had endangered the loſſe of their Honour indeed, if they had disbanded before Laws and Liberties be ſetled; perſeverance is the Crown of Action, to fight for Laws and Liberties, and then to ſuffer an inconſiderable number of Intendiaries to trample upon the Priviledges of the Subject; this had been a ſtain of a deep dye; the truth is, that the bellows are blown by ſome of the Clergy themſelves. Who knows not but that Divines (as they call themſelves) have by their Divinations almoſt infatuated all Chriſtendome? but there is no Enchantment againſt Iſrael, nor Divination againſt Jacob; ſays Luther, If Popery had laſted but two years longer in Saxony the Prieſts would have made the papiſts to have eaten ſtraw with the Oxen; were not moſt Kingdomes in Europe, governed by Cardinals, Biſhops, Prieſts and the Clergy? who did not eaſily foreſee in England, but that it was an impoſſible thing to aboliſh Biſhops without a War, the Hierarchy had ſuch a deep rooting, that without a great Earthquake it could never have been ſhaken. I have heard when the Parliament began, ſome worthy Members being in diſcourſe about the putting down of Biſhops, Maſter Pym, and other gallant men ſayd, It was not poſſible to be done; and when the Aſſembly firſt met, they thought it impoſſible to take away the Common Prayer Book, but we ſee what the Lord hath done, for his people by his bleſſing upon the Parliament and our Armies; miſtake me not, I doe not rejoyce that the COMMON PRAYER BOOK; is ſuppreſſed; for my part if the PARLIAMENT ſhall ſo pleaſe, let thoſe that are ſo earneſt for it, keepe… it ſtill; much good it may do them, though I think little good will it do to them: it never did hurt to Papiſts, nor good to Proteſtants; unleſſe it be to ſhew them their dangerous condition: for they pray that their lives may be more pure and holy, and yet many of them ſcoff and jecreat purity and holineſs; but though we be not all one in judgement and opinion, yet let us be all one in affection and live lovingly together as Brethren, for he that loves another onelyonly becauſe he is of his opinion, loves himſelf in that man.
A friend of mine too violent for the Claſſicall way, ſeemed to be very angry becauſe his Majeſty was permitted the uſe of the Common Prayer Book, I asked him whether in caſe his Majeſty would be graciouſly pleaſed to allow him the uſe of the Directory, hee would not think it fit that his MAJESTY ſhould have the liberty of his Conſcience? he ſayd, wee had Covenanted againſt it, to take it away as a branch of Popery; I told him the ſpeciall point of popery to be rooted out, is all domineering and tyrannizing over the conſcience. Are wee not all the ſervants of God? why ſhould wee Lord it one over another in matters of conſcience? but hee replyed, that we were to bring all to the neereſt Uniformity; I anſwered, that neereſt was not the ſame. Many ſhips ſayl neer a Rock that come not to it, the Common Prayer Book and Directory are very neer of kin; I know no reaſon, why they may not bear with one another, if his Majeſty and the Parliament pleaſe. I remember, being at Sedan, a paſſage not unworty to be inſerted; the Duke of Bullun Prince of Sedan, whoſe Anceſtors and himſelfe had been ſpeciall friends to the French Proteſtants, for the love of a beautifull Romiſh Lady, changed his Religion and turned papiſt. The Town being all Proteſtants, as good reaſon they had accordingly oppoſed it; He entreated them that he might be married by a prieſt in the Towne, they refuſed it: The Duke left his Mother, the good old Madam in the Caſtle, went away and was married, & return'd with his Lady, but the Inhabitants ſhut the gates againſt him, and ſo hee went to one of his Summer houſes, two leagues from the Town, and there were ſeverall Treaties between him and his Subjects about his Re-admittance. He alledging, that ſince he and his Anceſtors had been the procurers of their Liberties, why ſhould they envy him the liberty of his conſcience? they ſayd, He was a Star faln from Heaven, and it would be dangerous for them to be under his command. An Engliſhman diſcourſing with Molinaus and Ramburſius, two learned Miniſters about it, aſſumed by way of argument, that as that caſe ſtood with all its circumſtances, for them to deny him the exerciſe of his conſcience, who had purchaſed their Liberties, was moſt unjuſt in it ſelfe, and would be prejudiciall to other Proteſtants by incouraging Catholike Princes againſt them, and might bring miſchief upon their own heads; at laſt he had liberty to come into the Town; & the Lady Ducheſs his wife, and Maſſe was ſayd in the Caſtle, allowing her two prieſts and no more: but not long ſince the French King made advantage of it againſt them, that they denyed liberty to their naturall Prince, and they are now, I feare as the Rochilers are, and no freer. But this I drive at, Rigid Presbytery is but yet a Probationer, if it ſhould be ſetled in this Kingdom… in the height and power of it, it would undoubtedly coſt ten times more bloud to remove it, then ever it hath done to aboliſh Epiſcopacy; I ſpeak of a Rigid ſtrict Preſbytery, that make their judgement as the Kings Royall Standard, to weigh and meaſure all opinions by them▪ to walk by their rule, which will admit of no Exceptions; if you would know what ſuch a Preſbyter is; you may take it thus; A Rigid Preſbyter is he that is againſt every man, and every man againſt him; he will endure no man in the Kingdom but thoſe that are of his opinion in omnibus; and therefore no man in the Kingdome hath reaſon to endure him; I aſſure you that that grievous Diſeaſe called the Sudor Anglicus, the Sweating Sickneſſe, which laſted about forty years in this Kingdome, that ſwept away ſo many, that Harveſt could not be Inned in many places, was not ſo dangerous to this Kingdome, as this Rigid Preſbytery, if it ſhould grow inveterate; there is a Propheſie in Scotland, It began with Knoxs, and muſt end with knocks, my prayer is, that the Rulers in that Kingdom would have a more favourable regard to tender Conſciences, and give free liberty to Gods people in their Native Kingdome. There are many Scots baniſhed into Holland and other places for matter of Conſcience, whom I verily believe to be precious Chriſtians: ſome of them told mee that their parents had been principall Inſtruments in the Reformation of Religion in that Kingdom, and therefore took it unkindly that they ſhould be exiled for ſome differences in opinions, no way fundamentall or deſtructive of State-policy; for why, in the name of God; ſhould it any more diſturbe the peace of the Kingdom, to permit Chriſtians to pray together in a private Chamber, then for others to meet there about their ordinary buſineſſe?
I deſire deerly to be conceived when I uſe the word Preſbytery; the Lord knows my heart, I uſe it onelyonly for diſtinction ſake, not for reproach, I do not oppoſe nor ſpeak againſt a moderate Preſbyter; but look upon it as an excellent way to reſtrain vice; and for my own part I like it, for that which many fear it. Namely, it will be a means to prevent many frivolous quarrels and contentious Law-ſuits: Certainly, there is an externall beauty in that Government in Scotland, Geneva, & the French Congregations, but truly the power of Godlineſs is ſeen but little amongſt them; I have known in a Preſbyterian Miniſters houſe, that there hath bin no prayer nor Family dutyes performed twice in a yeare, and Examination before the Sacrament counted ſuperfluous, and if any thing have been queſtioned, no other anſwer; but the Puritans in England will be under no Order nor Government. Is it not fit that Gods people for whoſe ſake the World continues ſhould have a being in the World if they can mayntain it? nor do I ſay any thing againſt moderate Presbyters; I believe there are many godly men of the Presbyterian judgment, though not as they are Presbyters; Saint Peter oppoſed Chriſt in the worke of redemption, for which our Saviour ſayd unto him, Get thee behind me Satan, and the devout women oppoſed the Apoſtles in the planting of the Goſpel: Amaziah and Jehoſaphat good Kings of Judah, yet took not away the high places; Hezekiah did, and Joſiah yet more and more; all godly men are not equally enlightned: Were there not ſome godly Conformiſts (think you) in the Biſhops time that oppoſed Nonconformiſts? He that is the ſtricteſt Presbyter now, poſſibly ſeven yeares ſince was for Biſhops, and ſeven yeares hence, if God give repentance for keeping his Son Chriſt out of his throne, may be an Independent. But this is the miſery, that thoſe men which are the moſt zealous promoters of the Rigid Presbyterian way are Politicians (whoſe greateſt Religion is to be of no Religion at all) that play their game ſo cunningly, that the godly Presbyterians not diſcerning their ambitious aymes, which is to make themſelves Grandees in Church and State, joyne and concur with them; as I have told you what the Rigid Presbyter is, ſo I ſhall expreſſe whom I mean by the godly Presbyter; I am well acquainted with many of them, and I verily believe, in my conſcience, that hee is ſuch a one who really intends the glory of God and the welfare of this Kingdom, and fearing nothing ſo much as Errours and Hereſies, concludes upon the whole matter, having read all arguments pro and con, that it is better to ſuffer a miſchief then an inconvenience, better that many good Chriſtians ſhould be impriſoned for their conſciences, then that under the Notion of Independency the peace of the Church ſhould be indangered by Errours and Hereſies, and gives his vote though with ſome reluctancy, that thoſe that cannot ſubmit to a Government, let them go beyond ſea, where they may enjoy their liberty, and not having faith enough to beleeve that truth will at the length get ground of errour, nor cleerly underſtanding that the ſword of the Spirit muſt cut down Errours, takes the materiall ſword which was never ſanctified to that purpoſe: whereby it will appeare how vain that objection is, that the Army hereby loſes all their honour in not disbanding upon vote, being commiſſionated by the Parliament, as if a man that takes a Commiſſion to fight for Laws and Liberties, that concerns himſelfe and others, hath any reaſon to ſheath his ſword till he hath obteined what he fought for, ſince by Gods infinite bleſſing upon, and gracious preſence with our Noble Worthies in Parliament, and victorious Armie, the ſhip of this Kingdome, after many Herricanes is ſafely arrived full fraught with thoſe precious commodities of the Subjects Liberties and properties, whereof Liberty of Conſcience is the maine, ſo as no man pretend a conſcience to diſturb the peace of the Kingdome, which every Student of the Law knows when the peace is broken. Thoſe men that by the Oars of their peſtilent Counſels ſhal be working to row this ſhip back again into the ſea of a ſecond and more bloudy warre, are unworthy of their generation, unworthy to breath in Engliſh ayre, be they reckoned the great Catoes for counſell, or any other incendiaries in the Kingdome, who thinke they cannot ſtand faſt and permanent, but by the ruine of others more faithfull then themſelves: there is no neceſſity for a man to be of this judgement or that, but there is an abſolute neceſſity of peace and preventing new troubles; 'tis abſolutely neceſſary to maintain the royall law of love; all Laws and Orders for uniformity muſt doe homage to the law of unity and brotherly love, we muſt not cut mens toes and fingers to make them all of a length: if uniformity were ſo abſolutely neceſſary; then ought they to conforme to thoſe wh…ch out of conſcience cannot come to them, rather then the Kingdome ſhould be deſtroyed; for they may ſafely come to them, and what would not an honeſt man doe to ſave a Kingdom, that may be done with a good conſcience?
They ar… bound by the Law of God to deliver Gods people and this whole Ki…gdome from all oppreſſions both in ſoules and bodies. A man may be damned for not doing his duty, as well as committing a great ſinn…: Moſes ſayes, that they that forſake their brethren, ſhall never come into Canaan: ſo Mat. 25. In priſon and previſited me no…; his Army ought by the equity of that Scripture to keepe all honeſt conſcientious men that offend no juſt Laws out of priſo…s: you may read in that Chapter that Jeſus Chriſt is that great Travailer who … this Aſcention tooke his journey into a far Countrey, and delivered his goods to his ſervants, as it is in the parable of the Talents, and in a time of Reformation every Chriſtian muſt help to facilitate the worke; for Chriſt appoints no Lord Treaſurers to impropriate his gifts but all ſteward… o…y out what God b…th given to every man for the good of the Kingdom of heaven; that I take to be the meaning of Mat. 6. To ſet the Crown upon the head of Chriſt; every man ought to ſerve God by ſerving his Countrey in his lawfull calling, the end whereof is not to multiply riches, but to doe good in his generation: men abuſe their callings,Called Contra formam Collationis. and an action will be brought another day againſt many rich men in this Kingdom. Take another Scripture Thou ſh…lt love the Lord thy God with all thy ſoule, toto corde anima & mente. with all thy heart couragiouſly; for courage belongs to the heart; the ſoule of religion is to be valiant for Religion, and to fight againſt thoſe that would rob us of it; not to kill them, but to preſerve it with all thy ſoule affectionately; for Anima is the ſource of all the affections; what a man loves he will defend: Religion is a miſtreſſe well worth fighting for her defence with all thy minde; the minde is the ſuperiour part of the ſoul, ſpiritually & diſcreetly with zeal according to knowledge. The thing I intend is that Chriſt muſt be honoured with ſtrength and power, as well as with other naturall parts, and abilities, and riches, or any other gifts: ſome have written (which yet is ſo weake an errour that I wonder it ſhould deceive any man) that the ſword ought not to be employed for Religion, that though I may fight to defend my clothes or my cattell, I may not fight to defend my Religion; like ſome Indians that will fight for a pin but not for gold. Poſſibly a mans pen and his heart may differ in opinion: I know there were ſome in Germany pretended that no man ought to fight in Gods cauſe, but to contend lachrimis & precibus; (as King H. 8. was wont to ſay, merrily: If it be a good Religion it will defend it ſelfe, if a bad one, it is not worth defending let God alone with Religion) but theſe very men did afterwards fight for Religion in pretence at leaſt, and ſaid their former opinion was good unleſſe God puts the Sword into their hands: It ſeems to me that the Revelation holds forth cleerely, that the Saints muſt have the honour to deſtroy Antichriſt, whoſe ſpirit reigns in all thoſe that will domineere imperiouſly over the conſciences of their brethren, for therefore is he called THE Antichriſt. It would be an excellent worke for ſome judicious Miniſter to explain that in the Revelations, how the holy, faithfull, and choſen, ſhall make a warre for the Lambe againſt the Beaſt, and prevaile, and whether any of the ten Kings ſhall hate the Whore; it might be very ſatisfactory.
This worke of the Army is Gods own handy-worke, their not disbanding had its immediate riſe from heaven, the Lord would not have them loſe the glory of all their victories: the very truth is, that it is meerely and purely for the love of this Kingdome that they keepe the Sword a little longer, and not for any pecuniary reſpects, or ſelf-ends: I am credibly informed, and I verily beleeve it, that notwithſtanding, any thing ſaid or done againſt them, they were fully reſolved and concluded to disband, and to commend their righteous cauſe to their heavenly Father, with the reſt of their brethren in this Kingdome: but as the hearts of Kings ſo the hearts of Armies are in Gods hands, as clay in the hands of the Potter, the new moulding of this Army was viſibly from heaven, and the Lord hath carried them all over this Kingdome as his beloved darlings, with much love in his breſt towards them, and he that ſuffered no man to doe them wrong, would not have them to wrong themſelves, becauſe he moulded them for veſſels of honour, and now being at reſt in God, and thinking to reſt from their labours, the bleſſed Spirit begins to witneſſe to their ſpirits, that all is not yet as it ſhould be, and their ſouls being troubled within them, how they might glorifie God, and …e interceſſors to the Parliament for the liberties of this Kingdome, the Lord ſaid unto them, Seeke yee my face, and they anſwered, thy face Lord will we ſeeke, and ſequeſtred two daye at Saffron Walden to ſeeke the Lord by faſting and prayer, a thing unheard of in the Germane Wars; to ſee a Noble Generall and valiant Commanders that had encountred with Lyons and walls of braſſe, to lye groveling upon their knees, and pouring forth fervent prayers (the breath and voice of God in them) asking counſell from heaven, begging light and direction from the Father of lights, praying for wiſdome from above; what a rare example is it? how admirable is God in all his workings? And when they roſe up to eate, and their countenance was no more ſad, the Lord had, by the powerfull influence of his good Spirit, given in a ſweet return of Prayer for their continuation together; and thereupon the ſouldery deſiring a generall Rendevouze, the horſe and foot met with ſuch a generall re…oycing, and ſuch an unanimous reſolution to live and die together, for the juſt rights of King and people, that it is moſt admirable to conſider, ſuch a wonderfull conjunction of mindes, and ſuch noble Principles, that money, which is the Loadſtone that draws the iron hearts of moſt Souldiers, is no more reckoned by them then dirt in compariſon of juſt liberties; who can ſay but that this is altogether of a divine off-ſpring; which to oppoſe, what is it but to deſpiſe the ſpirit of grace? I am confident that they which kick their heels againſt this Army, will in the end break their necks.
N…xt, I ſhall onelyonly ask the queſtion, whether out of thoſe quivers of arguments uſed by the Parliament, to juſtifie their raiſing forces, I might not draw many, even take them all out one after another to juſtifie the Armies not disbanding; all was done by the Parliament for the publike good. The Parliaments Motto is pro ſalute p…puli, and the Armies, pro ſalute populi Dei, & totius Angliae; no leſſe can be preſumed from the Army; for they who have adventured their lives for the good of the Kingdom, will never do any thing to endanger it. Certainly, hee that ſaved my life, I owe it to him; I will never diſtruſt him: they have the character of God upon them, and of his Conſecration; the Parliament hath lately voted them their Army, the whole Kingdom favours them, and all good Chriſtians have cauſe to love and honour them, and yet there are ſome calumnious ſpirits that would rob Chriſtall of its brightneſſe, but the Sun of the Armies innocence will quickly melt the ice of all theſe Calumnies.
It is not my deſigne to improve thoſe popular arguments formerly uſed, that for Papiſts to maintain the Proteſtant Religion was a pernicicus contradiction. What is it to hold, that to impriſon men for their Conſciences that break no Law, is for the Liberty of the Subject; as ſome Kindle-coals affirme; that honeſt Juſtices were weeded out of the Commiſſion; has there been no honeſt men, grand inſtruments of Liberty, diſplaced and diveſted of their truſt, to the grief of Gods people, for no other reaſon, but becauſe they were not Preſbyterians? That many as bad as Arminians are preferred, and faithfull men diſgraced and diſplaced; and all this by the cunning artifice of malevolent ſpirits; nor what the Parliament ſaid that his Majeſty by his many Declarations and Proteſtations, for the maintenance of our Laws and Liberties, intended no more but that we ſhould have ſuch a Religion, and ſuch Laws as his Majeſties Biſhops and Judges would afford us, and ſhould conceive to be beſt for us; judge whether that be not a blinde implicite obedience to truſt the Biſhops with our ſouls; what is the Law but every mans birth-right and the rule of life, and therefore fhould be plain and eaſie, that every man may know…? For a guide to be blinde, how unreaſonable is it; if ſome men may have their deſires, ſhall we be in any better condition? I ſhall humbly crave leave, to vindicate the high Court of Parliament and the Army from ſome Objections lately darted againſt them. The lightneſſe of ſome mens follies exceeds the weight of their malice, they are content to be fools rather then to acknowledge the worthy labours of that ſupreame Court; they are ſuch ignorants, that they know not any good the Parliament hath done thi… many years, ſaying, that they have made our Religion worſe, and they do not intend to make our Laws the better. No, let all honeſt men ever bleſſe God for this Parliament; how gladly would this Kingdome have made themſelves ſlaves for ever, had not this Parliament ſtood mightily for their Liberties? I but (ſay ſome) the Parliament by impriſoning ſuch as have been faithfull Labourers in the Vineyard for difference in opinions, are undoing all that they have done, and we fear things will be as bad as in the Biſhops times: judge not raſhly, there is no Ordinance yet to reſtrain Gods people from private meetings, nor for ſuppreſſing of ſeperate Congregations; Compare what is paſt with preſent times, and 'tis very much that things are no worſe for former kindneſſes, which Parliament and City have ſhewed to honeſt people: I truſt the bleſſings of Heaven ſhall be upon them forever; however, do not for the abortion of the twentieth childe, kill the nineteenth: believe it, this Parliament is the ſpring and conſervatory of all our Liberties and Properties, having removed old Grievances, and laid the foundation for innumerable benefits and advantages to the Kingdome. There are in both Houſes moſt excellent Moſes's, Nehemiahs, Jeremiahs, and Pauls, that have adventured for the people; ô, the infinite love of many of our finite Moſes's, and Worthies. What had become of Iſrael i… he had forſaken his charge upon every tumult and queremony of the people? What innumerable difficulties have our Worthies in Parli…ment ſurmounted? Able to have daunted and ſtinted the moſt noble reſolutions, though the command of God lay heavy upon them …o deliver this Kingdome, and let the oppreſſed go free; as the Diſcovery of America by Columbus a Genoa Merchant; though a rationall man, skilfull in Mathematicks, might have concluded that there was a Weſtern part of the World not diſcovered, yet the Enterprize was ſo tranſcendent, that few men would have had the courage to have attempted it, though ſure to ſucceed. And though there are ſufficient reaſons publikely known to the Kingdom to deſire the Army not to disband by any means, till publike Liberties be ſetled and ſecured: yet there is not the leaſt ground for the people in the leaſt meaſure to withdraw their affections and due reſpects from the Parliament; ſome Taxes indeed ſtill, but for a ſhort war a long peace; 'tis not a years purchaſe now, I hope, for the abſolute inheritance. Now, hearken ye prudent Wiſe-men, and lovers of your Countrie; that which is every Engliſhmans intereſt and buſineſſe in this juncture of time is, that the whole Kingdome as one man preſently declare againſt a ſecond war, which is a ſickneſſe eaſily prevented, but hardly cared; not to ſuffer any forces directly or indirectly to be raiſed againſt this Army, under any pretence whatſoever; and in the name of God, let thoſe whom the Army ſhall accuſe, come to a fair triall and receive juſtice with mercy, becauſe we profeſſe Chriſtianity. Let all Treaſurers and Committee-men give a faire accompt, and ſo receive an Euge, Well done thou faithfull ſteward, or an Apage, Depart unfaithfull man: and let thoſe that have ſwallowed the Kingdoms treaſure vomit it up again.
There are many that have got greateſtates in the late Wars upon the ruines and ſpoyls of the people, but as wee ſay proverbially, They that have ſtolne the Kingdomes Gooſe, the feathers will ſtick in their ſtomacks. If a Town or City be on fire, and every man is intreated to help; now for any man to carry away his neighbours goods, and to enrich himſelf by a generall conflagration; what is this but to add affliction to the afflicted, and little better then Felony? Nor is it to the purpoſe to ſay, I got it honeſtly; the law of God and reaſon ſays that no man ought to get a great eſtate in a time of publike calamity, by any profeſſion or trade whatſoever; I ſay, under favour, no man ought to increaſe his eſtate in a time of a Civill War (unleſſe he be a ſouldier) if he get more then to mayntain himſelfe and family, the overplus muſt go to the State for the mayntenance of the War: to get 1000 lib. per annum, and to lend 500 lib. to the Parl. is but Sophiſticall. I know it was a high point of State policie, for the greater encouragement of covetous men, to allow them extraordinary gains for ſuch moneys as ſhould paſſe their hands, and that ſome men ſhould have offices and other places ſufficient for foure or five men: but I hope theſe men make account that they are the Kingdoms purſ-bearers, in the former caſe that I put, 'tis a neighbourly part to preſerve his goods, whoſe houſe is on fire, but he ought in conſcience to reſtore them, that many poor country men that were inforced for the ſafety of their lives, being indebted, ſhould now be undone by uſe money; that old Uſurers ſhould thrive in a time of Warre, and honeſt men that have ventured their lives for the Kingdome, ſhould now be made ſlaves to a company of greedy Uſurers: what a horrible ſhame is it? A friend of mine having borrowed 100 lib. which he layd out in cattell, was conſtreined to forſake his houſe and goods for the ſafety of his perſon, his houſe plundered and his cattell driven away, yet being returned home, procures the 100 lib. and intreats the Creditor to remit the Intereſt, the Uſurer ſtormes at the motion, and puts the bond in ſuit for the Intereſt: meeting with him, I told him he ſhould doe very well to ſhew himſelfe a Chriſtian, and to take his principall; what tell you me of a Chriſtian ſaid he? I have nothing to live upon but my Intereſt; but ſaid I, your Debtor loſt the Principall, will not you abate the Intereſt, or rather then fail, half of it; not he. The Lord deliver this Kingdom from ſuch Jews, in whom there is no more merciemercy then milke in a male Tyger: for my part I thinke their goods are to be confiſcated, and they ought in reaſon to be baniſhed, as Jews, by the equity of the Statute;De Iudaiſmo. for the Jews did but lawfully rob the Kingdome in time of peace. I am not againſt all taking of uſury when the borrower gains by it. But can any man imagine that if the late Oxford party had prevailed, they would have ſuffered any of their friends to have been impriſoned for uſe money? The bloudy Rebels in Ireland had ſo much merciemercy and wit to ordaine that no intereſt ſhould be paid in time of warre, the Law of God is plain for it in Nehemiah, and our Hiſtorians tell us, that after Civill Wars there were alwayes commiſſions granted to enquire who had increaſed their eſtates in a publike calamity, and out of their ſuperfluities they were enforced to relieve the neceſſities of poore men: I am perſwaded that there are 100 men about the City of London, that have got enough ſince the Wars began, to provide comfortably for all the poor people in and about London. B…e Law of Armes ſome profeſſions are more ſpecially priviledged … a time of Warre then others, as Prieſts, Surgeons, Husbandmen, and thoſe that keepe Vineyards, and theſe ought not to be taken priſoners on either ſide, becauſe there is a neceſſary uſe for them, which party ſoever prevailed: Yet in the Civill Law I finde it adjudged that thoſe men muſt not make an immoderate gain of their profeſſions, becauſe every man is bound to regard the publike welfare more then his owne private ends; & therefore after the war ended, the Magiſtrates that govern by the Civill Law in Italy, and other places, call theſe men to account and order them to reſtore whatever they got during the war, maintenance for their Families being onelyonly allowed them. What a gallant courſe might there be taken for the relief of poore people in this Kingdome, that there might not be a beggar amongſt us? But pardon this digreſſion, the thing I intend is, that there are thouſands and thouſands that will be undone by this cruell Uſury, if the wiſdome of Parliament do not prevent it: but let us not have ſo much as one hard thought of the Parliament, for that Court is the Liberty of the Subject wrapt up and conſerved. How happy are Engliſhmen that cannot be made miſerable but by ſuch whom they chooſe and elect to vote for them; If they be enſlaved, they may thank themſelves. What a precious priviledge is it for this Kingdom that the Legiſlative power is in the Parliament, and what an excellent Conſtitution of Government is it, that the King ſhould take an Oath at his Coronation to keep the Laws, when the people make their own Laws, and the King ſwears to keep them? How free is that people, and yet (under co…rection be it ſpoken) there are two things conſiderable in the Conſtitution of the Honourable Houſe of Commons.
That every Member is not as well ſworne to Vote nothing but what he believes is for the Common good, and to enact good Laws, as the King to mayntain them: peradventure, an Oath in ſuch a Caſe might do no hurt. For, though Father that ſwears to educate his Childe in good nurture and literature, be no more obliged to do it then he was before; yet the obligation of an Oath whet's the remembrance of that duty upon him to do it with more alacrity and reſolution for his Oaths ſake; I know there is a ſtrong reaſon to be given why it is …dleſs; becauſe in true policy Intereſts are, and better State ſecurity then oaths. The Lords and Commons Vote for themſelves, for their own goods as well as the Kingdomes. If the Kingdome ſuffer they ſuffer in their private Eſtates, and therefore the higheſt point of policy that humane prudence can reach unto, is this, when a man cannot hurt mee, but hee muſt hurt himſelfe, when he cannot pluck out one of my eyes, but hee muſt pluck out both his own: for our Parliament Worthies are Elder Brothers, and have a double portion in this Kingdome. In ſuch a caſe I may ſafely truſt them; for which reaſon the King and Judges have been ever ſworn, but the Commons not.
It is much objected that they cannot adminiſter an Oath, and why ſo? Becauſe they do it not? that's no good Conſequence; they that may lawfully put the Kingdome into a martiall poſture to defend their own Liberties may certainly adminiſter an Oath, if they pleaſe. But there are two Reaſons why it hath not been accuſtomed.
1 A violent preſumption in Law, that nothing can be done in the Kingdome but the Houſe muſt have notice of it, for ſo the Law ſays, that every private man muſt be preſumed to take notice of every thing done in his own Hundred or County.
2 For the great reverence every man is preſumed to beare to that great Aſſembly, that no man dares affirme an untruth before that Honourable Preſence. I am ſure, that Legem dare, eſt ſummitas Imperii: They that have the greater power, muſt have them leſſe included. Nor do I l…ke thoſe expreſſions, that the Commons are the Kingdoms ſervants, and receive wages for their ſervice by Law. Magiſtrates doe not ſo much ſerve the people, as the good of the people, and ſo are ſuperiour: the Members Vote as well for their own Intereſts; they are the moſt conſiderable men of parts and qualities in the Kingdom; the reaſon of the Kingdom reſides in both Houſes of Parliament, to them I muſt ſubmit my Intereſt, though my judgement is not enthralled; the ultimate reſolution of all things not againſt the Laws of God and Nature (which only nterpret themſelves) is in Parliament. This principall of ultimate reſolution which in ſetled times is joynt in the King, Lords, and Commons, may (under favour) be divided in a Caſe of neceſſity without any change or deſtruction of the Government, and without any prejudice to the mixture of the ſeverall eſtates, when that neceſſity is removed.
Nor do I like ſeverall other expreſſions to the ſame purpoſe, as that of the Potter and the Veſſell, that the Counties are the Fathers begetting, and the Boroughs the Mothers that conceive and bring forth the Burgeſſes; and that if Abſalon riſe againſt David, it is high Treaſon. Theſe are truths, but little to the purpoſe for which they are produced; but many honeſt people are much troubled at the burning of a Petition which was lately preſented to the Honourable Houſe; & what greater miſchief can befall a people in time of Parliament, then that thoſe which have ventured their lives for the Petition of Right, ſhould be denyed the liberty to petition? truly I dare not preſently cenſure every thing for which I do not apprehend a ſufficient reaſon. Many grains muſt be allowed to reaſons of State, ſo long as Governours have a generall Care, and ayme to the publike good; and do not of Common-wealths men become private-Wealths men, nor turn the edge of that power againſt the people wch they put into their hands; certainly, there is no Counſel in the world but may erre: let the chiefe Incendiaries, who undoubtedly miſ-informed the Houſe, anſwer it. Our Honorable Worthyes which like the heavenly bodies have been in continuall motion for the good of this Kingdome, ſo many yeares, deſerve all poſſible veneration; and he that runs all day, and trips, it, may be, once or twice, being wearied with multiplicity of buſineſſe, 'tis no imputation amongſt wiſe and judicious men. For as God does not judge a man by every action but the whole tenour of his life, ſo muſt the people judge of great Counſels: What hath the generall bent and endeavour of the Parliament been ſince their firſt convention, but the ſafety and liberty of the people? Had this Kingdom been in a way to happineſſe but for this Parliament? 'tis true the Army hath been principall Inſtruments of our deliverance, but who rayſed this Army, and put the ſword into their hands? If Timotheus had not been, we had not had much ſweet Muſique; inſtead of ſinging Hoſannaes to the moſt High, we might have hanged up our Harps, and ſung Lachrimae; but if Timotheus his Maſter had not been, we had not had Timotheus. The Parliaments chiefeſt care hath been the ſafety of the Kingdom, and if in the carrying on of that, ſome of their own private good hath been too much involved, and many of themſelves enriched in this time of Calamity, and ſome Votes not authentick in the Court of Heaven; It is not well done in right reaſon, it ought not ſo to be; but this does not diſſolve the Contract, nor ſo much as looſen the knot between the Parliament and Kingdom; it ſhould only put thoſe Worthyes upon a Rectification of what hath been irregular. The husband promiſes faith to his wife, one unkind word or action towards her, does not violate his promiſe for civill matters of property; many Errours and great Taxations are to be cheerfully tolerated and endured, ſo long as it appears that the higheſt Court in any Kingdome hath a care to make good their promiſe to the people; the greateſt wiſdome is to chuſe the leaſt evils, which is ever to mayntain the Honours of Parliament, as being the glory of this Nation, the Fountain of all lawfull Liberties, and the Defender of all Civill Enjoyments: if the Ship be in danger, throw out part of the goods to prevent a totall ruine; let the Jonahs be caſt out and the ſtorm will ceaſe; when Sheba the ſon of Bichri was diſprotected, Joab and the Army made an Honourable Retreat. 2 Sam. 20.
I cannot but ſmile at ſome printed Pamphlets, that to ingratiate themſelves with ſome that are not the Kingdoms beſt friends, ſay that the Army hath ſome dangerous deſigne; juſt as bloudy Bonner ſayd, that the way to deſtroy the Kingdome, is … have the Bible in Engliſh. Doth the Army demand any thing but what they firſt adventured for? and was there any radicall errour in the beginning? ſurely none; if they ſhould, unlawfull demands may be lawfully denyed; ſo far as the Army hath the Juſtice of heaven on their ſides; ſo far they will prevail againſt all the world of oppoſers, and no further: what, will any rationall man be afraid of him that draws his ſword in his defence? Put the caſe that I. S. and his followers travelling through a dangerous Forreſt, meeting with I. D. and his ſervants, ſhould intreat I. D. to draw his ſword for all their defences, who does ſo, and meeting with ſuch as would rob them, I. D. and his friends, moſt manfully and valiantly make good every paſſage, by killing many, till they are paſt the moſt dangerous place; then ſayes I. S. now pray thee I. D. put up thy ſword; nay, ſays he, there may be more wolves yet …uickly ſtart out of the wood, let's ſtand upon our guard till we be paſt all danger; and diſcourſing, they differ by the way in matters of opinion, and ſome of I. S. party tels him that he is not fit to live in a Common wealth, let him change that opinion or he muſt be oppoſed: pray ſayes I. D. ſince our way lies together let us journey lovingly, let us live and bleſſe God that hath preſerved us all; ſayes one of I. D. friends, better our lives had not been preſerved, then to be ſaved by ſuch dangerous fellows as you are. I intend this Treatiſe wholy for the Readers brain in point of explication, little to his affection in point of application: but let no man be ſo groſely erroneous as to ſay, that the Army is Anti-magiſtraticall, and Anti-parliamentary: what ayme can a Houſe of Commons have but the common good? The Parliament being intent to the true ends and noble grounds of their raiſing Forces, and the Army wholy minding the reaſons of their ingaging, and both ſincerely, really, and conſtantly the Parliament, as the ſupreame Councell of the Kingdom, and their Army as the ſervants of Juſtice, endeavouring a ſpeedy accompliſhing of the moſt honourable and glorious ends, viz. the juſt rights of the King, juſt priviledges of the Parliament, and juſt liberties of the ſubjects common ſafety, juſt liberty, and equitable propriety, to which the Armies proceedings have a naturall tendencie and proclivity, as the ſtone to fall downwards; 'tis impoſſible any differenc ſhould ariſe: Counſell is the right hand of Policy, and the ſword is the left, which may aſſiſt and promote without any face of oppoſition: the truth is, that there are ſome whoſe private intereſts are contrary to the publique intereſt of this Kingdom, they are the troublers of the pure waters, that the people ſhould not drinke, they trouble and diſquiet the fountain, and then the ſtreams muſt needs run muddy; they are men of the ſame ſpirits from whence the miſeries of this Kingdom did at the firſt flow, that is, obſtructers of the free courſe of Religion and Juſtice, and conſequently the obſtructers of poore Irelands reliefe: But who muſt be Judges of the matters in agitation? Truly the Parliament, in all matters judiciall, we muſt have no Judge of Scripture but it ſelfe; that point of Popery hath coſt us deare; we muſt not light a candle to ſee whether it be day; who knowes not that every man ought to have his own without vexatious attendance? and that it is injuſtice to make a man ſpend 10 lib. to recover 5 lib. who ſhall judge whether thoſe that have ſaved the Kingdom ought to have the liberty of ſubjects? who knows not but that Petitioning is a way of peace and ſubmiſſion, and that for Chriſtians to meet in private to ſerve God, is no breach of the peace? The Lord grant that this Parliament, by the help of the Army, may be the ſetlers and the reſtorers of this divided Kingdome, the neck-breakers of all oppreſſions in ſoules, bodies, and eſtates, the repairers and relievers of poor Ireland, which was formerly called the Iſland of Saints.
Another Objection is, that the Armies not disbanding obſtructs the reliefe and indangers the loſſe of dying Ireland: Ah, poore Ireland, my ſoule is much troubled for thee; I knew thee, not long ſince, Englands younger ſiſter, but thou art now the land of Ire: but he that runs out to quench the fire in his neighbours houſe, when his own is almoſt burnt, I ſhall rather admire his zeale then commend his diſcretion. I confeſſe poore Ireland is on ſuch a flame, that nothing but Gods infinite bleſſing upon the wiſdome and endeavour of this Parliament can be able to quench it; but Engliſh liberties, which have been bought at ſo deere a rate, muſt firſt be ſetled and ſecured. The Army declared their reſolutions, to have ingaged in that ſervice, in one entire body, which was not thought convenient; if then the Army were hindered by any plot or contrivement from going thither, not they, but the hinderers are culpable of Irelands continued miſeries; but as the Army hath ever been obſervant to all the juſt commands and orders of Parliament; ſo I hope that if hereafter they ſhall ingage in that ſervice, they will be well ſatisfied in point of conſcience, what it is that they fight for: It is poſſible that Antichriſt with his left hand, may fight againſt his right. To fight againſt Popery further then it is deſtructive of State policie, to introduce a uniformity in the Proteſtant Religion, is, in my opinion, little better; but if it be to bring thoſe bloud-thirſty Rebels to condigne puniſhment, and not to ſpare a man that hath had his hand in bloud, ſo far it is of God, and he will own it, but for thoſe expreſſions which ſome pulpits ring of, of rooting out that Nation, and daſhing the little childrens bones againſt the ſtones; I confeſſe it makes my heart to tremble to thinke of it, but thoſe that will not ſubmit to a generall Government muſt be deſtroyed.
Object. But we feare the Army will over-awe the Parliament; and Counſels not free ſtand but for Cyphers, and that Juſtice it ſelf may not be forced, but timely haſtned.
Sol. 1. The Parliament hath anſwered this Objection in his Majeſties Caſe. The King ſayes they refuſe to treat, unleſſe wee deliver the Sword into his hands, which is to yield the queſtion; when any differences ariſe, all things muſt reſt as they are, untill all be determined and concluded.
2 Inforcements are juſt, when juſt things are inforced, the ſword is a ſervant of Juſtice, and is never better employed. That which the Hollanders alledge for themſelves is univerſally true: if a Magiſtrate will not do juſtice, the Laws mayn intention for juſtice muſt not be loſt; and King Philip not doing them juſtice, was the Authour of all the miſchiefs that hapned. Rebellion is, not to obey a lawfull Magiſtrate in a lawfull Act, not contrary to the Laws of God or Nature, beſides which all Laws are Arbitrary by the Supreame Court of every Kingdome; If the Army ſhall entreat any unjuſt things (as the Sun may be in an Eclipſe) Never were any juſt Rulers deſtroyed by force; there was a riſing againſt David, and great ſtirs in Edward the ſixth's and Queen Eliſabeths time, but quickly huſht and ſubdued: I think no Hiſtory can be produced, that ever any good Magiſtrates were ſubdued by force, for God ſits upon the Bench with them; but many times Kings and Governours have refuſed to do juſtice, till the people have enforced them. Hitherto the Army hath had the juſtice of Heaven, and ſo long as they intreat in the Kingdoms behalf things Honourable and ſafe for the Parliament to grant, their Continuance is the beſt aſſurance that our Worthyes in Parliament can deſire: For what great King or Court but receives honour by a faithfull and victorious Army; who will exceedingly facilitate the work, and prepare the way for our Parliamentary Worthyes? as John the Baptiſt did for our bleſſed Saviour. I hope I have ſatisfied every rationall man, that it is not poſſible in a prudentiall conſideration; that without the intervention and interceſſion of this Army, this Parliament, as things ſtand, can never be able to ſettle the publike Liberties, and happineſſe of this Kingdom; for who ſees not what a ſpirit of malignity there is ſt…ll working in this Kingdom? Is all the malignant bloud drawn out or dryed up? Did never Serpents re-aſſume their poyſon upon occaſion? Are not the Jeſuites negotiating a reconc…lement between the Catholike Princes hoping to eat up Holland at a breakfaſt, England and Scotland for their dinner, and all other Proteſtants at ſupper; and all to erect a univerſall monarchy, and what's their pretence? Mark it I beſeech you, to avoyd diſorder and confuſion, for it can never be well ſ…y they, till one man have the ſole power over ſouls, and another over bodies and eſtates, I am confident that before Rome's fall, there will be a generall Warre between Proteſtants and Papiſts, without any other ground of the quarrell. Is it not the extremity of madneſſe, for Proteſtants to fall out to maintain Antichriſts cauſe who is our ſworne enemy? How lovingly doe Proteſtants and Papiſts aſſociate in France, Poland, &c? The French Miniſters preach that the French King, Queen, and all are damned, unleſſe they forſake their Idolatry; the Prieſts quite contrary, that not a Hugonet can be ſaved: in the name of God what ails us? cannot we like bees hive into one body politique becauſe we differ in opinion, yet are of the ſame Religion? ſhall ſmall matters disjoyne them whom one God, one Lord, one Faith, one Spirit, and one common cauſe, bonds of ſuch great ſtrength and force have linked together?
Oh yee learned Preſbyterians, ſuch of you as are like dead flies in the ointment of our good names, to make us unſavoury to our No…le Parliament (which yet I truſt yee ſhall never be able to doe) Will yee not take warning by the Biſhops? Did not they tell the King that the w…y to prev…nt errours was to ſuppreſſe the Puritans? The Rams of the flock are demoliſhed, will not you tremble? I tell you, that the way to make us all of one minde in the things of God, is to grant liberty to all; in things not fundamentall: poſſibly there are ſome by whom the way of truth is ſcandalized; wee may thank the Biſhops and their Succeſſours for it, let the waters alone and they paſſe away quietly, but ſtop the Current, and throw in ſtones, and the waters rage. An Engliſhman ſcorns to have his Religion cudgelled out of him, but deale with him in the ſpirit of Chriſt, ſhew him where his feet ſlide, you take his judgement, and affections priſoners. If the Biſhops had not preſt Subſcriptions and Conformity to the Statute of 13 Eliz. they might have been longer lived, for any thing I know. It grieves me that you ſhould take ſuch pains to deſtroy your ſelves, but come, there is no falling from grace: true repentance is half innocent: tell our Parliament Worthyes, that onelyonly a liberty to tender conſciences can break the heart-ſtrings of popery; t…at never any but Antichriſt denyed a freedome of conſcience to people of our quality and profeſſion, who deſire it no longer then we are Proteſtants, and live in all dutifull Conformity to the Civill Government; tell them that Jeſus Chriſt will never proſper thoſe that perſecute ſuch as are humble ſuitors in the behalf of his Kingdom; Doe yee think he will? tell them that the free exerciſe of the Goſpel for Doctrine & Diſcipline is of ſo harmleſſe and peaceable a nature, and carriage ſo far from wronging any Magiſtrate in Sovereignty and Power, that the Perſi…ns and the Turks admit it. The Roman Emperours in policy gave leave to build Temples. Politike Charles the fifth ſayd, There was no other way to peace, but by a liberty for all Proteſtants; ſo Maximilian that ſucceeded him: & H. 3. of France. Ah ſaith Philip the ſecond, when he was dying, If I were to live again, my firſt thing ſhould be to grant liberty to Proteſtants: Ah ſayes the Emperour, How gladly would I grant a liberty of conſcience if that would now ſerve the turn, and that would have ſerved at firſt. I beſeech you marke me, when the King of Sweden entered Germany, he propounded nothing but what was moſt juſt, liberty for Proteſtants, baniſhment of Jeſuites, reſtitution to the Palatinate; his coſen Mechelburg, and ſome other oppreſſed Princes, with the Emperour would not grant, but being victorious, nothing would content him then, but to be declared King of the Romans, and ſo heire apparent of the Empire. Be wiſe in time. A moderate, meet liberty will not ſatisfie every man, and you may proceed in your own way; if hereafter you ſuffer in point of Tithes, you may thank your ſelves: you know whoſe pride and covetouſneſs hath brought their honour into the duſt. Your ridged Presbytery is no more Jure Divino then Epiſcopacy was; you may as well call Divinity damnation. Doe not think that this Kingdom will ſuffer you to be Judges in your own Caſes. Your Ipſe Dixit will not do it, your Votes cannot make Hereticks nor Schiſmaticks; men are wiſer in the South then far North: the Sun cleers the judgement; to that Son of Righteouſneſs I commend you, deſiring to walke with you in love and peace.
I ſhall conclude with a requeſt to the Army: you precious ſouls, as ye have been preſidents to others for honeſty and juſtice, ſo be a preſident to your ſelves what to continue; continue juſt, be content with what you can get, and take not the value of a pin from any man, but in caſe of neceſſity; 'tis fit that you who have ſaved the Kingdome ſhould not ſtarve; injuſtice is a very great ſin, the want of morality excludes from Heaven. His Majeſty was wont to ſay, that there were none in arms, but Independents, Anabaptiſts, and Browniſts, who would deſtroy all Laws and Religion; the eyes of all the World are upon you: you know beſt why you tooke up arms, was it not for Laws and Liberties; ſtand faſt in the Lord and in the power of his might; be true to your firſt principles, as ye are Engliſhmen, as ye are Souldiers, and as ye are Chriſtians; treaſon is the betraying of the greateſt truſt, hee that is true to his end, cannot be a Traytor. The War firſt undertaken for the defence of Laws and Liberties, hath had a great influence upon Religion; and pray anſwer me this Queſtion, if the Parliament had told you at the firſt, that you ſhould not expect any Liberty of Conſcience in caſe of prevayling; but that you muſt ſerve God according to the precepts of men, whether you ſee reaſon for it or no, would you have engaged ſo cordially upon a promiſe of freedom for your temporall eſtates? What is all the World worth if a man enjoy not the freedom of his ſoul? peradventure you will ſay that the world cannot deprive you of the liberty of your Conſciences, for the Saints are as free in priſon to enjoy God as if they were abroad, as ſweet experience can teſtifie, and the more we glorifie him by ſuffering for him here, the more conformable are wee made to our Head, and ſhall be glorified with him; and Jeſus Chriſt is eminently all Ordinances in himſelf; moſt true; but in the dark the beſt eyes have need of Candles. We are not yet as we ſhall be, we live upon the beams here, and not the body; and it derogates much from the wiſdome and the love of Chriſt, to reckon that as a ſhadow which he hath appointed for a ſtanding Ordinance; Religion teacheth nothing againſt nature: piety doth not ruinate humanity, but makes one man worth twenty. I aſſure you, Gods people hope that you will deliver them from the Biſhops ſucceſſors, as well as themſelves, by what title ſoever they be called. I doubt not but you have both naturall and ſpirituall affection to this poore Kingdom; the poore Saints that are rich in faith, act faith in Chriſt for deliverance by you: they ſay they care not what becomes of them, ſo as the Crown may be ſet upon the head of Chriſt, and fealty and alleagance ſworne unto him, who is no enemy to any juſt governours; they are perſwaded that the Parliament of themſelves intend no leſſe, and that there are very many in both Houſes, moſt cordiall ſervants to Jeſus Chriſt, who are even ſick for the love of him, that dyed for the love of them: but here is the caſe, there is a potent faction within this Kingdom, men that have enriched themſelves in theſe times of danger and calamity, (a baſe thing ſo to build upon the ruines of our brethren) that count gain godlineſſe; and theſe conſiſt of ſubtill, Atheiſticall, and depraved Polititians, on the one hand; and devout, ſuperſtitious, rigid Zealots on the other hand: who by ſpecious pretences, and plauſible inſinuation, worke upon the candor and devotion of many honeſt men; whoſe mindes are vertuouſly diſpoſed, to enſlave this Kingdom for their own ends, and this under a pretence of Gods honour, ſervice, worſhip, and uniformity; and this deſigne ſo politikely carried on, that the wiſeſt men may be miſtaken, for he that thinks no hurt himſelfe is ſeldome ſuſpitious of others. The chiefe Religion of theſe Polititians is to have no Religion in the power of it, but ſuch a forme eſtabliſhed as is moſt ſutable to his Grandor, and they thinke it a ſin to let any man live in this Kingdome, who will not eat up, as ſugar, all their Orders and Sanctions: our noble Worthies in Parliament, would quickly be as wholſom, medicinable, reſtoratives to heale the wounds of this Kingdom, but that they like byting corroſives ſtudy to make them greater and more dangerous, ſetting up all ſails to ſail withall, and rowing with all manner of Oares, but being diſcovered, will, I hope, be abhorred by all honeſt men. Now to reſtrain the malice of theſe ambitious men, the Lord hath preſerved you to this houre, and me thinks I heare Ieſus Chriſt be-ſpeaking you in this manner: Hearken yee noble Army of Martyrs, in affection and reſolution, who carryed your lives in your hands for my ſake, and for morall juſtice, wherewith I am delighted, I take it as kindly from you, as if you had given me your lives, but keepe them, I am preparing manſions for you, but your worke is not yet done, you muſt ſtand up for the liberties of your brethren, you muſt ſtand up in the gap for me, who alone trod the wine-preſſe of my Fathers wrath for you? why have I impowred you, but to purchaſe liberty for my people? Did I preſerve you from active martyrdome, that you ſhould bring your ſelves to paſſive? Would not I have taken your lives as kindly from you at Naſ…bey▪ Briſtol, &c. as if after diſbanding you ſhould be impriſoned, and put to death for Heretiques, or Schiſmatiques? Is not my kingly government as precious to you, and as well worthy fighting for as my Prieſtly office? But if you ſhould be diſbanded before Gods people have their liberties ſecured I ſhould have covered my face, and onelyonly thought that you did not ſo well underſtand the Doctrine of Chriſts government, and dom…nion in his Churches and amongst his Saints, as the Doctrine of ſatisfaction by faith in him.
Is it not moſt apparent that the day of your disbanding is in probabi…ity, the Eye of the Kingdoms ruine? for does not this potent faction ſay, they will not ſuffer an Independent, that they cannot live but by the death of the Independent party?
Hath God preſerved you hitherto in times of War to be inſenſibly deſtroyed in times of peace? Was not your Commiſſion to fight for Laws and Liberties, whereof Conſcience is the greateſt; hath not the Kingdom ſufficiently diſhonoured Religion formerly in the Biſhops times, but muſt they now under a pretence of uniformity ſeek the life of her Children, and of Religion it ſelf; do they not ayme at the life of Religion which is the heart of God, and the lives of his children, which are the apple of his eye? The Me…curialiſts at Court did but ſtrike at the letter of the law in ſome things, but theſe Phaetons would ſet all on fire, and ayme at the power of Religion, the very life of our Laws, whoſe humours are ſo corrupt, that the leaſt ſcratch turns into a Gangreen.
For I am confident, that theſe cruell men cannot bring one argument for themſelves, but what I may improve for the Popes Supremacy, which was pretended to be for orders ſake, to avoid confuſion, but in reality hath been the occaſion of all Tyranny. But many words are not proper to an Army, you have won the heart of Gods people, in you is fulfilled that propheſie, Eſay 49. That Kings ſhall be your nurſing Fathers, Commanders, perſons of Eminency: for what the watchfull Conſtable, worthy Juſticer, reverend Judge, and all other Officers of Juſtice do in puniſhing Traitors in times of peace, the ſame in effect is done by Armies in time of War: every Souldier hath been a judge to do juſtice and execution upon the enemy.
I have but this requeſt to make to you, that you hearken not to any Syren ſongs, but be ever true to your firſt principles; let the Honour of Parliament always be of moſt high account and precious eſteem with you; your jarring with that Supreame Court would be a pleaſant melody to many that will pretend faire to you, ſpeak you fair to borrow your hands to take out the Cheſtnut for them, that would have you crack the ſhell for them to eat the kernell.
It is reported of the Lioneſs or the Bear, that if a whelpe dye ſhe will roar in the Den exceedingly over the carkaſs, or elſe having got ſome gobbets of fleſh, hopes by continuall clamour to put life into it; ſome ſuch there are, that by daily exclamation againſt the Supream Court, think to vivifie their dead Cauſe, and to put life into a carkaſs; that will not acquit our renowned Worthyes from the higheſt Crimination; and yet will juſtifie your ſtation by the Law of the Land. I beſeech you, if the Parliament had no power to Commiſſionate you to redeem out Liberties; what are you, that have acted by their authority? I hate diſſimulation; the happineſs of this Kingdom will reſt principally in this, that all the godly, though of different opinions, favour and aſſiſt one another, and that all honeſt peaceable men joyn together as one man to break the neck of all oppreſſion and injuſtice. Let every man contend for the Honour and Priviledges of the King and Parliament, in the preſervation of the Liberties and Birth-rights of the people. And when the Kingdome is happily ſetled, let us ſay, that God hath done all, yet honour them whom he hath honour'd.
The End.
End of the text · John Cook, A Union of Hearts (1647)