Plenary Possession Makes a Lawful Power, Title page – To the reader
PLENARY POSSESSION MAKES A LAWFVLL POWER: OR SUBJECTION To Powers that are in being Proved to be lawfull and neceſſary, In a Sermon Preached before the Judges in Exeter March 23. 1650.
By RICHARD SAVNDERS, Preacher of the Goſpel at Kentisbeer in Devon.
Concordiae patrono convenit defendere ſtatum Reipublicae qui quoque tempore ſit.
Cic.
This ISOCRATES termes, foreign.
Optimum, quemque praeſenti ſtatu gaudere.
Liv.
Tit. 3.1.
Put them in minde to be ſubject to principalities and powers. &c.
LONDON: Printed for William Adderton, and are to be ſold at his ſhop at the three Golden Falcons in Duck-lane. 1651.
To the READER.
Chriſtian READER,
I Have here preſented thee with a ſhort diſcourſe on a Queſtion, not very fit I confeſse by modeſt Chriſtians in a private capacity to bee moved, but being moved very neceſſary to be anſwered, viz. Whether we may acknowledge, and ſubmit unto the Parliament as the Supreme Power of this Common-wealth in beeing. I delivered the greateſt part of what thou findeſt here, in a Sermon, and upon the deſire of thoſe Honorable Perſonages (the Judges) before whom among others I ſpake, I have adventured to expoſe the ſame to publique view.
In preaching of it, my drift was to ſatisfy conſcience, in a thing of generall concernment to all perſons belonging to this Common-wealth; and this is mine end in printing of it. I confeſſe I was ſilent for a while (not wholly ſuſpending my duty of endeavoring occaſionally to acquaint men with their duty in this change of things) but waving ſo publique and profeſſed an engagement in this great controverſie, waiting for ſome more choyce parts to undertake the ſame: But finding too great a ſilence in this thing, and many conſciences by this meanes enſnared, I could not hold my peace.
If thou aske me why I handled this in the City, rather than in the Country where I live; I anſwer,
1. I have not been wanting unto mine owne people, in ſatisfying them, ſo far as was needfull, according to my talent; ſo that I dare ſay, there are hardly any among them (eſpecially of thoſe that carry any face of religion) that did as much as queſtion the thing that is here diſputed, at the time when I did preach this.
2. I conceived that there was greateſt need of ſuch a diſcourſe, where I found moſt diſſenters: and beſides I could not have had a better advantage of ſatisfying all ſorts, than at ſuch a publique meeting.
I have taken liberty, in printing, to ad ſome things to what I delivered by mouth, becauſe the ſmall time I had to deliver my thoughts, upon ſo large a ſubject, made me out many things too ſhort. Something that I ſpake I have forborne to print, viz. A ſhort exhortation to the Judges in the cloze of my Sermon; The ſubſtance of which, with ſome enlargement, I had inſerted in an Epiſtle Dedicatory to them, but that I thought good to decline the writing of any Dedicatory Epiſtle, among other reaſons, for that I would avoyd the ſuſpicion of intending, or aiming at the favour of great men.
I have laboured a little the more in collecting the teſtimonies of the learned, that witneſſe to what I ſpeak all along, not that the truth aſſerted needs humane teſtimony to ſupport it; but that thoſe that are diſſenting, may ſee how paſſion, or affection, or prejudice, (or what I know not) hath carried them in this cauſe quite out of the way of thoſe, whoſe authority in other matters they make much of. I wonder what ſhould make thoſe that condemne ſingularity, and new notions and conceits in others, (as I my ſelfe alſo doe, ſo far as they agree not with ſound doctrine) to goe ſuch a new and ſingular way themſelves, contrary to the ſenſe of the learned in the things diſcourſed of in this tract. The Kings of the earth, in particular the Kings of this Nation, would have given a man but little thanke for teaching or ſuggeſting (as now ſome doe) that uſurped powers may not lawfully bee ſubmitted to, or acknowledged; ſuch a doctrine without doubt would have ſhaken their Crownes. That ſuch are to be ſubmitted to, in this Sermon, I have (I hope) made plaine: the which I have done, not that we need fly to ſuch an argument to juſtifie ſubjection to the preſent Power, The Parliament; as thou wilt or mayeſt ſee by that time thou haſt read through this booke; but that I, ſuppoſing the worſt, may let men ſee how ſlender the grounds of non-ſubjection are.
Seek God, lay aſide prejudice and jelouſies, examine impartially what thou findeſt. Opinions that relate either to the ſetling or unſetling of Nations are weighty. Be ſerious, and the God of truth direct thee. If thou findeſt any ſatisfaction by the Authours weak attempts and endeavours, this is all hee beggs of thee, to remember him at the throne of grace, that he may become more ſtrong to doe thee, or any of the elect of God ſervice; which is all that is the deſire of him, who is
Thine, in the advancement of truth and peace. RICHARD SAUNDERS. From my study in Kentisbeer May 19. 1651.