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A89494 A soveraigne salve to cure the blind, or, A vindication of the power and priviledges claim'd or executed by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, from the calumny and slanders of men, whose eyes (their conscience being before blinded) ignorance or malice hath hoodwinckt. Wherein the fallacie and falsity of the anti-parliamentary party is discovered, their plots for introducing popery into the church and tyranny into the state are manifested: the pretended fears of danger from seperatists, Brownists, &c. blowne away. And a right way proposed for the advancing the just honour of the King, the due reverence of the clergy, the rights and liberty of the people: and the renewing a golden age. by J. M. Esquire. Milton, John, 1608-1674, attributed name. 1643 (1643) Wing M47B; Thomason E99_23; ESTC R18398 38,493 44

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by representation such power to be exerted and used when it judges necessarie and that if the nature of the occasion so requires with the suspension of the power of the supreame ordinary Delegate or Magistrate during that parenthesis of state for the kingdome having entrusted the Parliament with all it holds precious the effect of the Commission upon the matter being that it provide ne quid respublica detrimenti capiat it hath consequently trusted it with its power which is the supreme that it may be enabled to perform and execute the trust when it judgeth this cannot be made good without using that power But to return the Law saith also That the King can do or doth no wrong but it denieth not but ill Counsell about him may or perhaps the Law intends the king as he is in his great Counsell where he is as Sol in Leone or any Planet as they say in his proper house of farre greater vertue and power then otherwise But however Reason tells us that a Prince or a few of his Cabinet counsell may far more easily erre in judgement or possibly in point of will then the multitude of a Parliament so many whereof are selected out of the whole Kingdom by the people in point of Judgement much more of will or well willing to the publique whereof themselves are so great a part and this much the rather in that it is to be feared that oftentimes those privadoes of the Prince finding out cunningly the Princes will inclination or humour before they advise and further to ingratiate themselves seconding it much that there is agitated becomes to be upon the matter the judgement or will but of the Prince alone Well I hope we are now come safe to this passe that the Parliament may and ought in our case to defend the people or kingdoms rights use the peoples power which is the supreame as others have proved to cleare passionate men rather then to satisfie any judicious man who will not require proofs in a point plain enough of it self ever resident in the people and so in the Parliament though dormient till it be by the Parliament thought fit to be wakened which should it not now be done such a seeming-secure and supine sleep might have proved a mortall lethargy But here these Sophisters think to enter upon us and to take the benefit of their own wrong for seeing they have brought the Kingdom to this passe that unlesse the Parliament take the power of the kingdom into the kingdoms or its own hands it cannot defend it self or the kingdoms rights or rather rescue them they would cunningly prepare those whom they intend to make slaves by first making them such fools as to beleeve that the Parliament intends a change of the Monarchicall form of government and to oppresse King and people by I know not what new kind of Arbitrarie tyrannicall government I beleeve the King and Parliament will soon be attoned if any can shew the Parliament by what other way it can discharge its trust and dutie in this constitution of the times without the power it hath assumed But what if it shall appear I should make scruple to use the word shall as if it did not appear alreadie without these weak offers had we not to do with such as seem to have found out some new kind of reason or having antiquated the old which differenced man from irrationall creatures to have substituted passion or idle phantasie in the roome of it the best method indeed for them afterward on as good or the same proportion of reason to advance the power of the King into the place of the power of the whole people or Kingdom it is their own manner of speech and practise as sound and good as their own Method to make such distinction and difference betwixt King and kingdom what if it shall appear time bringing every day truth to light and perhaps even to there men some dilucida intervalla that there is not the least probabilitie that the Parliament can have such a thought of usurpation as these men would impose or seem to suppose much lesse was it ever heard that any free Parliament actually made any the least attempt to that effect so far is it that ever it effected it Whereas on the other side ill Counsell about Princes have attempted oft and de facto sometimes performed the turning of a well poysed or tempered Monarchy into an arbitrarie tyrannicall power and publique oppression by which change such ill instruments appear the onely gainers and the malignant spleen swels in a miserable consumed bodie the head not exempt and yet the very swelling a dangerous disease even to the spleen it self at last Unlesse such monstrous times did priviledge it were high presumption to think it were not all sufficient to stop such mouthes to say it is a Parliament and it were dishonourable for it to do as they calumniate and therefore not to be imagined This maxime or ground being no more to be denied or questioned in this Monarchy then that the earth is round in naturall Philosophy as neer as morrall Philosophy may arrive at naturall in point of certitude though should we grant them that a Parliament may erre nay do wrong to Prince people or particulars yet that would not follow upon this which they would maliciously inferre and ayme at for none but it self or another Parliament were to correct or rectifie what a Parliament should have done amisse and not the King or any other persons any way whatsoever much lesse by force or warre for he that is allowed to judge or correct is allowed thereby at least an equall if equality for such an intent can be conceived sufficient possibly but such equality of power in two distinct Magistrates for so we must distinguish King and Parliament here of different natures and touching one and the same point or matter in controversie cannot be in one and the same state then such a corrector must be allowed superiour and the corrected subordinate but such the King cannot be in our case as above is partly shewed and shall be further afterwards How then can force or warre on his side for this cause be rationall and just nay though it should be but defensive much lesse if offensive or inferred Since even bare resisting the ordinances of the Parliament is or presupposes an assuming of the supreme power to judge and condemne such resistance being the execution of the sentence But we shall not carry it away so easily that the Parliament will not be unjust to any holding such power strong temptations of profit corrupt too oft where one or a few are ordinary Judges as a little water standing sooner is putrified but multitude of these Judges are like the Sea incorruptible But moneys received profits and emoluments accrewing it were a shame not without a certain mixture of presumption to insist on such base imputations here had not frontlesse and monstrous
challenge at this present amounts to no lesse in effect as shall appeare the Parliament yet in vigour what then may we expect if they should prevaile by force which now their fallacies and deluding reasons are plainely discovered they flie unto What but that the Court and Parasites of it should wallow and revell in all licentiousnesse luxury excesse with pride avarice and tyranny proportionable whilest the rest languish under oppression slavery poverty disgrace perpetuall indignities or feares accompted as their bea●●s to labour for them and so mediocritie a State which the wisest of men prayed for no where to be found but a deluge of vices fro● co●trary causes till generall ruine involve altogether vertue and the glory of the Nation before extinct For we must not thinke tha● these which love their Countrey so well for which to doubt to dye were dishonour that they will not be quiet and sit still to save it for this much onely may suffice from the multitude of them the heads and leaders excepted nay can be content to ruine the glory libertie safetie of it even with the hazard of their estates lives honours soules so they may in some proportion share the spoiles of their Countrey and grow fat with the bloud and teares of the oppressed people We must not thinke they can doe thus but to the end to have greater meanes and power to beget more monstrous in all villany if it were possible These can fight against their Countrey to make themselves slaves to a few above them that the rest of their oppressed Countrey may be slaves to them slaves of slaves but I doubt not but these monsters unlesse reason transforme them shall meete with their Herculesses honest men and men of honour ●eady to die for their Countrey if need require judging such a death infinitely to be preferred before the lives of the chiefest of these should they obtaine what they seeke But let us end this patheticall flying out though it be hard for the inferiour faculties sometimes not to stirre when the understanding somewhat inlightened hath inflamed the will On the other side so divine a gift as this Parliament thankfully recognized and made use of duely and the just power and dignitie of the Parliament and therein all our happinesse wisely and manfully now once asserted moderation and mediocritie induced the Monarchy duely tempered may be in humaine probabilitie perpetuall and all the surfet become Physicke And this violent Feaver of the State having amazed and drawne to an head all the malignant humours before dispersed all over the body and lying dangerously hidden and set on fire consumed and expelled them like the filth of an house swept into an heape and burnt the whole body may be much clearer sounder and better disposed then had not such a distemper ever beene I hope it appeares already were there no more then these presented weake reasons to an ordinary rationall man if far better from others be too meane for his Majestie what way he is to take that all may be well and seeing but one side can be trusted with the power of the Kingdome which of them is most unlikely to tyrannize or reduce all to arbitrary government or which will most probably use it to the publique good onely or whether in such extraordinary times it doe not most safely repose where it is originally naturally inherent viz. in the peoples owne hands and so in the Parliaments Nay were the case hitherto dubious yet since libertie first made appointed limitted prerogative for they confine together as the people in whom is the radicall primary supreame power and who made Kings not Kings people thought best when it first made choice of or instituted this one forme of government among divers others which we call Monarchy and whereof there are sundry degrees in sundry States some more some lesse trusted or limited as the first founders pleased els why are they not all equall since free and voluntary agents worke or doe onely so much or so far as they please and the various subordinate degrees or kinds of the creatures prove the divine Majestie to be agens liberrimum els the creatures would be all equall an involuntary or naturall agent as Philosophy termes it ever working as much as it can or to the utmost extent or sphere of its power and activitie and so an equalitie in the effects since I say libertie or the people first created as I may say Prerogative and that so tempered modified or graduated as it thought most conducible to its owne happinesse for the supreame power ever worketh for it selfe rather then for the subordinate or inferiour as being the end the efficient and finall causes being here co-incidents it is just that this namely libertie judge and give law to that and that this if an unnaturall jarre fall out gaine and prosper rather then the other and since the people reserved ever in its owne hands and saved to it selfe upon the trust to the Monarchy what priviledges right of Parliament or liberties c. parcell of the originall power naturally in the people and which may draw backe to the fountaine the derivative power as the bloud and spirits to the heart when there is cause it thought best surely it must doe this with purpose to see them conserved as safely as may be and upon occasion to make use of them and enjoy them which could not be surely done without a power reserved to judge of the state of them and when they were to be used and the like for if the Prince be trusted touching the keeping himselfe within his limits he may even as well be trusted absolutely without limits nor such power to judge of them is to any purpose as above-said without power to execute what is judged hereupon fit So the Parliament judgeth in this case as the first authour and superintendent of the intent and is not as a partie to be judged Further were the matter yet dubious yet seeing the Protestant Religion the power being in the Parliaments hand is far more out of the reach of danger then the other way even without calling his Majesties good meaning into question therein as I hope anon will appeare it ought to put it out of all question how wee are to range our selves in these times The Parliament having our case so standing such power as is deduced whatsoever would seeme to oppose that power and stand in their way as they defend and assert the publique good so invaded must be voidable and usuall ordinary known lawes or customes made or in use supposing or whilest the Prince kept duely within his bounds which the King speakes so much of saying that he will ever governe by them and hold all to them but ever intending the publique good are no way to bound or tye up the transcendent power of the Parliament when it shall encounter new and never before heard of exorbitances or invasions of the publique good which the times that
once taken up and victorious or the King be able to make good his faith or word And are not they the fittest and surest meanes to conserve a State that have been thought and found such for the acquiring But be this as it may it is clear that can the Papist bring the matter to an absolute and arbitrary government and render the prerogative immense and even divine they gaine a maine point on our religion for then between them and the heaven of their desires there were interposed but the turning of one will and that one alreadie prepared disposed and inclined to them by such meritorious supererogatory service and further propitiated by the so strong intercessions how strong to speak like those we have to do with when used by her that may in somethings even command our soveraigne Ladie Mary I had rather seem to some a little too much tyed to sence onely and to the present times we yet live in when I presumed to use that phrase turn or change of one will then with others by the abstraction of a potent imagination found worthy to have been rapt into the glorie of those times in stead of change of will to have used a phrase or sence seeming to such more orthodox terming it rather an externall manifestation and declaration onely to us here below of that which was ever from the beginning predestinated internally since in Gods no reall change nor shadow of change but the other way a whole Parliament at least must be first turned and that in Diametrall opposition with the Papist and should forreign Force come in by Portsmouth Plymouth or Falmouth what if we adde Ireland to induce Tyranny Religion runs equall hazard with the State And it may be the Kings forces running lately with so strong bias so eagerly at Banbury Warwicke Coventry c. esteemed most opposite indeed to the Papist though perhaps not otherwise direct to the first or maine mark for the present of these Malignants may judicate and argue without any sophistry a present complication of the disease and the duplicity of the designe and danger or if not a present essence of a double disease yet a dangerous maladie now in being alreadie but breaking out into a symptome more to be taken heed of then the very disease and depending on it But they object our Religion is on the other hand more indangered by Brownisme Anabaptisme c. suppose this true and that these should get strength nay prevail with the Parliament which it is charged to promote upon as likely as strong and even the same grounds as it is to affect the change of the Monarchy yet as we said of we know not what new form of government supposing ridiculously the Parliament did introduce it it were easily dissolvible so obscure Brownisme or Anabaptisme were much more easily mastered and redressed then most politick potent all over bearing Papistry likely to be backed with forreigne force which I think none will say is to be feared from those other scarce known weak poore Sects whose obscurity and paucity hides rather and exempts from animadversion and would the Parliament attempt this though we might justly refuse to dispute with those that denie principles in this kingdoms policie calling still in question the wisdom Justice and honour of Parliaments could it ever effect it without the peoples concurring Papistry so increased at home so countenanced might if it doth not already with their good friends help in Ireland and elsewhere hope to force entrance How foolish then is it for the people to fear that which can never take effect unlesse it self will have it so I fall unawares upon the same answer here used before touching the supposed change of the State because the false grounds they would seem to go on here and there seeming the same and if the whole kingdom or people will have it so there is no opposing But hath not the Parliament taken a voluntarie Oath besides so many publique Protestations and other obligations to us the Scots and the States of the Low Countreys for the maintenance of the Protestant Religion which they are too wise and just needlesly to have done and so should they do otherwise to incurre most justly universall falling of or rather falling on them had they had any intent ever to have done as these would seeme to fear to direct us here also from looking at the true fear and danger nay to draw us with our own hands to pull it on us we may superadde that the voluntary oaths of such a multitude as the Parliament on whom no suspition at all can fasten of inclining to that religion which takes upon it to dispence with oaths and equivocations and thereby with the Law of God Nature and Nations which intended to advance it will by Gods justice advance the ruine of it are better security then our Malignants have or can give us on the other side the Antithesis in each part inquired into duely as the subject well deserves But these men would here also take benefit of their own wrong according to their usuall method it may appear what correspondence or good intelligence the maine dangers of our Religion and State still hold mutually or how they resemble Necessity of the State nay of the very preservation of it self whereof these Objectors are manifestly the authors may justly and too evidently doth compell the Parliament to the setling of Religion though the end of policy and however first in esteeme and intention yet not so in the time of execution alwayes after the ordering of politick affairs and in such desperate times as these not to do this were but a sacrifice without salt a foolish superstition like that of the Jews who would rather sit still and so suffer themselves to be cut in pieces by the capitall enemies of their State and Religion contrary to David who in necessitie spared not the very Shewbread who maliciously invaded them purposely at such a time then arme or fight upon such necessitie on their Sabbath Which they complain the Parliament will not now do which should it now one ruine might involve both Church and State both at once yet hath it not altogether even such times notwithstanding left it self without some testimony of their good intentions herein as particular Acts or Orders of theirs do shew to the world but the attempts and facts of the Malignants evident to all men apologize too well for the Parliament in this point without any words from any man if we weigh the desperate estate of publicke affaires well in these times caused by the malice of these Monsters which times forcing us for a while to content our selves with an implicite or generall faith as touching the ordering reforming or setling of other particulars concerning Religion which cannot for the said necessarie reasons and the like be yet effected yet we have besides many other raducements obvious enough to confirm such implicite faith this also that of
speake things that seeme to others offensive or to deserve animadversion and yet the house or major part punish it not they by such connivence for these men may be allowed to question still principles that the Parliament would doe dishonorably and yet come short of their malicious intents make it also this way their owne and so not these censors or any els but the Parliament as above appeared is to judge of the Parliament but such censors themselves are to be condemned by the Parliament for thus presuming or assuming to themselves the supreame power to judge besides particular charges and articles against such were to be offered to the House the accusers and witnesses to be produced and forth-comming that if they make not good their charges the parties unjustly molested and accused might have condigne reparations upon them and the House it selfe satisfaction the publique service thus causelesly interrupted and the integritie of the House called in question and the like appertaining to cases of this nature Such charges have been promised long since should suddenly appeare against the accused Members of the Parliament and by them as Justice earnestly required but appeare not all this while not so much as to the people abroad though this were not the right way which they so strive to incense against the Parliament but rather warre in stead of them and seeing so many of the very Members of the Houses of Parliament are their enemies falling off from them unjustly if none such still remaine among them were things appearing unjustifiable there said or done if it might stand with the libertie and power of Parliament not to have libertie of speech it might easily be made appeare in particular to the world and so complaint be made to the Parliament thereof if it were to any end to complaine there of that which hath already passed without punishment But seeing the Parliament hath power the case standing as before hath been shewed to doe in all things as they see cause by good consequence their speeches necessarily preparing discussing agitating concluding what is so to be done cannot be subject to any limitting questioning or accompt abroad nor in reason therefore are to be divulged in that sence this being incompatible with such power But then these haters of our Law-makers and Lawes say Many of both Houses are away and so the acts lesse valid but be the number remaining little yet the acts of the Major part of that number are still good For neither the King that called them away or countenanceth them that desert their stations may ailedge this nor the Members that voluntarily not upon trust in those that remaine or leave obteined abandon their places there and duties are to take the benefit either of their owne wrong whether negligence in such Members or worse perhaps nor of their owne unworthinesse as Cowardise to oppose what they liked not which feare admitting such could be argues still that they that feared were the lesser number though what needed they feare to speake freely a dissenting lesser number being ordinary and sometimes a very few perhaps scarce enough to make a number dissenting openly from the rest of the whole House without any inconvenience It being allowed for any to speake their minds whilst a matter is in agitation before it be settled If they say they goe away that they may not seeme to allow what would passe though they were present then the Major part concurres to what is done by their owne confession els why stay they not to oppose it If they say so many are gone without leave of the Houses as put together would make the Major part supposing this were true either such a Major part went away at once in a body and then it was their fault not to stay for then they being the Major part had prevailed or they went by little and little and then still it was a Major part of the remainder that concurred to what was done els it had not passed and so the acts still good If they fly to say that they who thus deserted the House out of feare did it not as fearing the Parliament but the people granting these men this which is not their due that such had cause to feare the people and that such base feare when as they pretend they were to stand for the King Countrey Lawes Liberties Religion and did not render them utterly unworthy their places it may be answered briefly they that remained and carried matters might feare the King as much or more but their cause was noble and good but these or the like Cavils will no more hoodwinke the people their onely course were to produce some publique act of Parliament that might certifie the world that the King and both houses have long since unanimously concurred to dissolve this Parliament else Sophistry will not carry it against the manifest truth By the premisses or rather by diverse excellent Tractates published by others to the same or the like effect I hope it is even as cleare that the Parliament is and ought to be the supreame Judge in publique matters now in question in England as what it is it hath judged and ordered touching these things by so many publique orders declarations and the like and consequently that reason wills that they be sacred in our esteeme and punctually obeyed and executed and so no need of warre and whosoever goeth against reason and truth goeth against God himselfe who is Prima summa pura ratio and it will concerne him nearely to looke to it whether he be stronger then God goeth against himselfe if he be a man and shall first finde a civill warre in himselfe before he can cause it in his Countrey upon such grounds and for his Majestie he cannot as he is a King but judge that that man thinks dishonourably of him who goeth about to perswade him that that can be for his good that is not for the good of his Kingdome and so sever what is so excellently joyned or that the great Counsell of the Kingdome is not the onely at least the very best and the onely sure and securing way without all doubt for that Prince to follow that intends the publique good and which will ever assuredly concurre with him to that end nor in opposing an arbitrary power which ill men about him for their owne private and wicked ends would induce Doth the Parliament any thing but disenable a Prince or rather those about him from doing ill or more properly from usurping such power which to what end is it in a good Prince which he will or can never reduce to act or use but the false or pretended Mother of the childe who would have it divided whom the wisdome of the King may discerne will whisper there is no thankes or glory to doe good unlesse he might have done evill and so did good freely since free will onely merits I beleeve they hold merits it seemes these malignants fetched not