Selected quad for the lemma: law_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
law_n	king_n	lord_n	parliament_n	20,596	5	6.9552	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93347	Gods unchangeableness: or Gods continued providence, in preserving, governing, ordering and disposing of all creatures, men, actions, counsels and things, as at the beginning of the world, so to the end of the world, for ever, according to the counsel of his own will. From whence is gatherd six necessary inferences very applicable to the changes, alterations and vicissitude of these our present times. Wherein is clearly demonstrated and proved, that Oliver Cromwell is by the providence of God, Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland, &c. to whom the people owe obedience, as to him whom God hath set over them. Unto which is added, the causes of discontent, repining and murmurings of men: also, some serious advertisements, and seasonable admonitions to the discontented, and reprehensions to all impetuous, arrogant murmurers. Together with answers to some cheif objections made against the Lord Protector and his present government, endeavouring (if possible) satisfaction to all men. / Therefore written and published for publicke good, by George Smith, Gent.	Smith, George, 1602 or 3-1658.	1655 (1655)	Wing S4036; Thomason E824_4; ESTC R207687	84,417	65

u there is a time of warre and there is a time of peace w We had our time of war and tasted of the bitternesse of it God now in great mercy offereth us our time of peace if we will not accept of it but provoke God by our murmuting we may fear the event Christians and Englishmen I pray consider that saying of Ahner to Joab Shall the sword devour for ever will it not be bitternesse in the latter end x You know how it proved bitter both to Abuer and to Joab Discontents Ambiand false Interest procured the sword to eat the flesh of them by the just hand of God As Abuer had shed the bloud of many in Israel in an evil cause his bloud was shed by Joab wickedly y And Joab because beshed the bloud of war in the time of peace z he was slain by the sword at the horns of th● 〈◊〉 a God hath manifested his will to us by clear providences Let us as men tha● fea● God and own his providence submit unto it and not murmure nor repine but with patience wait to see what God will yet do for us He hath multitudes of blessings to the obedient and as many curses and scourges to the murmurers If it he as the Psalmist saith a good and pleasant thing for brethren to dwell together in unity b Then it must needs be an evil and unpleasant thing for Brethren to dwell together in discord dissention strife and variance all disunited and disjointed in affections Consider what I have said and the Lord give every one a good and right understanding in all things If that I have said being well weighed be not found to be truth beleeve it not But if it be the truth follow it practise it or this that I say shall one day be a witnesse against him that readeth and slieghteth it and give me leave to adde this to the rest and tell you that those that are contemners and murmurers against the government of a Common-wealth in the Infancy of it they are he greatest enemies to that Common-wealth not hurtful only to themselves but to the whole Nation the evil example of one murmurer draws more to the imitation of that sin then the perswasion and good counsell of many can divert and so all or multitudes oft perish together As we see in the men that were sent to spy out the Land of Canaan they murmured and brought an evil report of that good Land which caused all the people to weep and murmure and cry out against Moses and Aaron c for which their murmuring they were excluded from that good Land and promise And not only so but they even those men that brought up the evil report were destroied before the Lord by a plague d Consider what God hath done he will do still For God is unchangeable It is one of his Attributes which he takes only to himself I am the Lord I change not e In him is no variablenesse neither shadow of change f Therefore it must of necessity follow from Gods unchangeablenesse that whatsoever he hath done in former times he will do the same for he is the same what judgements he hath inflicted for any sin or that he hath threatned to inflict he will still do the same therefore the Apostle tels even us Christians that whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our Learning g c. I confesse my Brerhren when I took my pen in hand to write upon this subject Discourse I intended not above three sheets of paper but the matter is encreased before me and I could not expresse my self with more brevity I would yet for further satisfaction modestly give Answers to some Objections made by some sorts of men against his Highnesse the Lord Protector which I will do in as few lines as I can possibly Object It is Objected That the cause of our war which hath cost so much bloud and treasure was To defend our Rights and Freedoms against the Tyranny of Kings to be governed under a Parliament as free People by just Laws c. But the Lord Protector assumes to himself the Authority of a King by exercising a greater Tyranny over the people then the King did to give Laws c. Answ I answer the cause of our warre as instrumental was To defend the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament the Freedom and liberty of the People and the defence of the true Religion against incroaching Tyranny and innovations subtlely insinuated by the late King and his evil Counsel But that our Warre intentionally was against the lawful Authority of Kings or against the Person of the Late King as he was King or against his just prerogative I deny Only against his evil Councel the War was raised that the Priviledges of Parliament the Liberty of the People and the truth of Religion might be defended and established This will appear by severall Parliament Declarations Protestations and solemn Covenant wherein the Parliament do declare protest and covenant as their own priviledge freedom and liberty c. to defend and preserve the Kings person his just Rights and Prerogatives so far as it might stand with the preservation of Religion and the peoples Rights But the late King standing in strong opposition to the Parliament and Liberty of the people and his Rights and Prerogatives coming in competition with or against the preservation of Religion and Priviledges of Parliament and the peoples Right He defending and taking upon himself all the evil Actions and wicked devices of his evil Councell miscarried for so providence had ordered it should be And the people as providence led them submitted to a Parliament to govern them as a free People they expected much ease and great Reformation but enjoyed Now I would ask the Objectors these two short Questions 1. If a Parliament should become more tyrannicall then a King and lay heavy burthens upon them reaching to their persons lives and estates by an unknown Law or arbitrary power and suffer Innovations to come in on every side to the contempt of Religion and adulterating every truth turning Religion into every shape to metamorphise truth whether in this case if such should be the people might not as justly cry out and take up Arms against such a Parliament as against a King 2. If all these evils could be found and sensibly felt by the people whether it were justice to themselves acceptable to God or benefit to their posterity to cast off and to abandon for ever the authority and use of Parliaments I think they would give their negative except such as would live without all order or command which is to be worse then devils Nor is the office nor just power of a King to be for ever rejected because there have been Tyrannical oppressing superstitious or idolatrous Kings for the office of a King is the Ordinance of Jehovah and cannot be made null by man To this

men if all might elect whom they would to serve in Parliament or all that would by designs get to be elected should be Members it is more then probable the Enemy might in short time be Masters of the Militia and by it not only give away our Freedoms so much talked of and the liberty of the people but take away our lives also and which is more then all take from us the priviledge of the Gospel and what else hath been purchased with so much bloud and treasure and turn our pleasant Eden into an Acheldama The good people of this Nation with his Highness may say at this time as David once said The Sons of Zervia he too hard for me which caused David to omit the doing that justice he willed to be done And truly my judgement tels me if his Highness should for his time whatever he may for publike good grant for future part wholly with the Militia from his hand he should provoke providence and betray his trust to the Commonwealth which consists not of a few men that appropriate singularity to themselves for private interests but all the people and give his life as a prey to his enemies and with himself the three Nations which till some settlement be established depend upon his welfare As also the interest that all true Christian people in the world have in the welfare of this Nation There must be a trust somewhere but every man may not be trusted though every free born subject have right in it Nor can it be trusted in the hands of the multitude for they rule by voice not by Law nor to some of them because others have equal right Nor can it be safe under the hand of a government Democratical the thing mightily aimed at by the opposites to his Highness under specious shews to please and to deceive the people which is as experience tels us next cosen to the highest Tyranny why then not rather in him of whose trust and fidelity the people of this Nation have good experience and great deliverance from a first and second thraldom till he by Gods blessing with his Parliaments advice can settle it in safety for the future And whereas it is objected That he seeks a negative voice to the Parliaments resolves is a scandal He asks it not but only in those things that fundamentally concern the government and that is if men could see for publike benefit that neither Oligarchy nor Domocracy may start up to enthrall and enslave the people by governing them according to will and fancy by promises without known Laws where then would be the freedom and liberty of the people now so much talked of by the Objectors These things he only excepts against in all other things whatsoever of Parliament Resolves being drawn into Bils and offered unto his Highness if he consent not unto them within twenty daies they are to passe into and to become Laws although he shall not give his consent as is exprest in Art 24. And for his seeking to have power to make Laws and to raise money it is meer calumniation he seeks it not nor claims it not but leaves it to the wisedom of Parliament as appears in Art 6. except as is there excepted for and in cases of safety and of necessity till the time that this presant Parliament were assembled and that to be done by him with the advice of his counsel as in Art 30. so then he seeks not the strength nor treasure of the Nation to himself nor to have it in his own power as is objected And for Religion he seeks nor to have it in his power but leaves it also to the Parliament to debate consult and resolve that he by them and they by him might receive all light possible in so great a business for In the multitude of counsel there is safety It is indeed a great work beyond the wisedom of man to appoint without divine assistance and spiritual wisedom His Highness well knows the evil of the rigid prelatical Persecution in Tyrannizing over the consciences of men in that rigid st●ictness And he as well knows the evil of unbridled liberty that it is abused and made a Cloak of maliciousness and as servants to corruption occasions to the flesh and to licentiousness blasphemies heresies and doctrines of devils the original of all discord dissenti●ns quarrels seditions and confusion which seldom ends if tolerated but with destruction to the best and most flourishing Commonwealths These are Rocks that will split the Ship of the best fortified Commonwealth therefore carefully to be avoided by the best advice and skill of the most experienced Pilot in which his Highness doth not refuse the counsel of this Parliament nor doth he refuse to pass the Bill they shall agree on except in his wisedom he see as our chief Pilot something in it be dangerous to the well-being of the Nation and give them satisfaction therein for he is more in this case then any one man in Parliament possibly a vote may be carried by one man which in such a case he may justly deny because the utility peace and happiness of a Commonwealth depends upon the right Discipline in Religion and the justice of Execution of just Laws for regulating between two extreams Religion in the power of it in all godlinesse is a Law in it self and needs no Law to command it for Religion is truly the very nursing Mother to all vertues graces peace and unity among men And I must tell the Objector that the late Kings have not really endeavoured this but he or they had power to have done it the neglect was his ruine and a chief cause of Englands misery Nor did we engage against this power or authority of the late King but against his misusing of that power casting off those just Laws which by his authority he should have observed and commanded to be executed for the good of his people He seeking to rule by his own will by absolute power in himself to cast off all just Laws and adulterate Religion at his pleasure this was the Original of our war and this is that which the Ancients in all times have called Tyranny But his Highness assumes not to himself so much Authority as the late and former Kings claimed and exercised That which he claims is such a power as may enable him to establish Religion in its purity and that he with his Parliament might enact and give life to all just Laws under which the people may live in all peaceableness and be governed in all sobriety and godlinesse with tranquillity and utility for present and future that the people may dwell safely every man sitting under his own Vine and under his Figree as in the daies of Solomon 1 King 4. 15. Besides we ought to consider that for severall years past we have travelled in a wilderness in untroden and uneven waies and are digressed much from the right way of good discipline almost

infatuated in all his Counsels and undertakings against Alexander ever following the worst counsell and using the unsafest means to preserve himself which sheweth plainly that God had purposed his destruction and the losse of his Kingdoms And that the disappointing him and his Counsell in all their Designs and overthrowing their bloudy and cruell Armies was the immediate work of providence for the accomplishing of the secret purpose of God If we continue not to imitate and act the same sins of oppression and innovation or the like as Jehu did If so we do Iehu's reward will be given for our God is an unchangeable God What he hath done to others before us he will as surely do still and for ever where the like sins are acted God sometimes gives a King in ●is anger and takes him away in his wrath Hos. 13. 11. They whether King Parliament or people that reject the Word of the Lord the Lord will reject them 1 Sam. 15. 23. Thus God did by Saul and thus he did by Rehoboam for in that the ten Tribes revolted God himself testifieth and saith This thing is done by me 1 Kin. 12. 24. Who is he saith the Prephet in the name of the Church that saith it cometh to passe when God commandeth it not Lam. 3. 37. Many other observable providences have offered the due consideration of them to us which I may not passe by with silence among many that have attended our late Parliaments both in their sitting and in their dissolution I shall minde you of these few the first shall be this That when things were not likely to succeed according to the Parliaments design or a great part in Parliament They devised to publish an Ordinance called the Self-denying Ordinance thereby calling all the members of both Houses from all offices and military affairs here was a specious pretence but by them that made it it was not intended to be observed for who left any place of profit to serve the publike It is true so far as the present design reached it took and made a great and a good change in the Army but providence ordered that Ordinance and that change pulling down and setting up to frustrate the future design of them that made it Providence by that Ordinance took off the Right Honourable his Excellency the Earl of Essex from being General when he had gone with courage and fidelity as far in that work as his principles could carry him providence made him instrumental to lay the foundation of that work Providence also by that Ordinance and that change Ordered That the Right Honourable and Noble Sir Thomas Fairfax should be set up in his room to raise the structure of that work and building upon the fonndation Essex had laid as fitter to effect Gods further purpose who built as far as his principle could carry him when providence had used Essex as far as God had purpose to use him in that work Providence also in Sir Thomas Fairfax his time put a perverse spirit amidst the Members of Parliament so as the contest was very great grew into factions and interests some designing the life of him whom others designed to die so as the power of the Sword was called to end the controversie and all to the accomplishment of Gods will his Excellency the Lord Fairfax having a farre larger Commission then ever the Parliament gave before having in his hand power the use of the whole Militia Castles Forts Towns c Providence ordered upon some scruple in his Excellency that he voluntarily and resolvedly laid down his Commission when earnestly sollicited both by Parliament and by the then L●eutenant General Cromwell to hold it up And providence still ordering things to effect the purpose of God Ordered that the then Lieutenant Generall should have the same Commission or larger without limit to be Captain Generall of all Forces by Sea and Land Castles Forts c. consequently of all the whole Militia This was providence That he might lay on the topstone of the structure and finish the work so farre And as Providence had stirred him up as a valiant Champion so next as a faithful Patriot to his Countrey to dissolve a sit still Parliament to whom God had given all opportunities to do their Nation good but they would not nor could give themselves to consider what was their duty to act for their private Interests some levelling the Earth for their own design others building of Castles in the Air for a Fifth Monarchy an unsafe practice and very unsound doctrine unwarrantable to be maintained in bloud If these be not clear providences what shall we call Providence These things we have seen gradually acted and ordered by a secret and wise providence turning the design of the Parliament in their Self-denying Ordinance and the Powers and Commissi●ns thereupon granted to their dissolution which they aimed should have been the means to have perpetuated their sitting These things premised I shall modesty offer six Queries to any impartiall man upright and unbyast in this case First Whether it was not of providence that the Parliament gave to his Excellency the Lord Cromwell that unlimited power for the safety of the Nation as it was of providence that the Late King and his Councel past an Act of unlimited time for the Parliament to sit to his own ruine and casting off his posterity 1. Whether his Excellency were not bound in conscience for publike safety being a publike person in trust to make use of the one as well as the Parliament made use of the other and by that authority to dissolve an undoing Parliament as well as to suppresse a destroying Enemy both conducing to publike safety Thirdly whether the dissolving of that Parliament were any greater breach of priviledge then the taking out of one half of the members by force of which he had before of late a President in the time of the Lord Fairfax and well approved of by the dissolved Parliament Fourthly whether as Providence served our necessity by the late Kings Act for the Parliaments sitting for a long time It did not after severall admonitions as much serve our necessity after their too long fitting to dissolve that Parliament by the power of their own Commission Fifthly whether it were not evidently a providence That the succeeding Parliament not appointed by his Excellency but chosen by the Souldiery Many of them promoting except in giving away the publike treasure the like destructive waies to the taking away our Fundamental Laws and bringing in as it were another Gospel pulling down and overthrowing all but set up nothing except a floudgate to confusion should of themselves that is the major part to prevent those almost executed designs dissolve that Parliament and resign their authority into his Excellencies hand Sixthly whether providence did not wonderfully order things in that time of distraction discontent and division among the people at home and a bloudy warre abroad That his Excellency calling

against it w and we have seen Gods provident care thereof that they that have been the heads of this assault have been broken in peeces and their ass●tiations the Word of God is as fire and it shall consume stubble All the enemies of truth shall be like straws though numerous which conspire against a burning coal and encompasse it by heaps to put it out that when they think they have done it and have eclipsed the light for a little while it shall kindle burn and consume them all these straws though mighty for a time shall come to nothing This is their time of attempts and this is the time that God will purge his Church This is the time of Reformation and of great judgements For whenever God hath been doing any great work tending to Reformation the devil and Satan that great old Enemy and subtle Serpent hath alwaies made the greatest opposition the greater the work is that God is doing the stronger the oppositions will be as we see in Rev. 12. 1 2 3 4. considered and compared That God is doing a great work in these daies is manifest clear as the light of the Sun But what God will do he only know To us it is unknown whether he will at this time give in to England the mercies promised or whether he will yet afflict us with more and greater Judgements we know not The former shall be made good assuredly to his Church the latter seems rather to be our present portion the effects of all the alterations and changes in our times is hid from our eyes only it is Gods good pleasure and he is doing a great work There are three things evils that have long threatned the great judgements and changes which we of England have lately felt and seen in this Nation 1. The encrease and growth of all kinde of sin especially corruption in Religion x and a general crying oppression these do still remain as high as ever 2. The appearance and encrease of secondary causes thereunto conducing principally Jealousies Divisions Emulations Hypocrisie Sedition and Treachery z These things are effects of Gods anger a and forerunners of great changes but these do encrease in England 3. The straits and necessities of the Church when good men especially holy godly Ministers are scorned contemned and misused b then God is exceeding angry and brings wrath without remedy For the Churches necessity is Gods opportunity to deliver his Church and to avenge himself of their enemies and that is alwaies by great changes God hath made change after change in England once twice thrice and again but the evils are not changed therefore more changes are threatned The Prophet denonncing Judgement against the King and Kingdome of Israel saith thus Thou profane wicked Prince of Israel whose day is come when iniquity shall have an end thu● saith the Lord God Remove the Diadem and take off the Crown this shall not be the man Ex●lt him that is low and abase him that is high I will overturn overturn overturn it and it shall be no more until he come whose right it is and I will give it him c This Prophecy was concerning Zedekiah and Israels carrying captive into Babylon and the government of Christ to whom all Kingdoms and Nations are given and are his right whom he is pleased to set up as vicegerent under him to rule in righteousnesse and judgement shall be established God will abase him that is highest and exalt him that is low and will overturn and overturn again and again until he come for his right it is to whom Jesus Christ shall give it So it is evident that all turnings overturnings and changes that have been in this Nation or whatsoever shall be are not by accident nor by the subtle contrivement of counsel or men but as all is ordered by Providence to effect Gods will for man is not able of himself to bring any enterprise to passe he is not able saith Doctor Preston to see all the wheels that tend to make up an enterprise nor if he were able to see them all he is not able to turn them nor to fit every one so together as to make up an enterprise God by providence after several changes and several attempts of new enterprises which the attempters though skilful to deceive and powerful to compell could not enterprise hath given us a Supream Magistrate to judge the people of these Nations And by providence hath intitled him OLIVER Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and of the Dominions thereunto belonging This is the man whom God by his secret providence hath made the instrument of our deliverance from the designs of an Anti-christian brood and from the powers of Royall and Hierarchical enemies and rescued our Laws and Religion out of usurpers hands therein comparable to Gideon It is true he accepted of what Gideon refused d but he coveted not what Gideon asked e nor indented beforehand as Iephthah did f He might have sate in Parliament at ease and with profit as others did but providence ordered him to another work And he freely and voluntarily exposed himself to all hardships to endure the parching Sun by day and the nipping frost by night as a zealous Patriot of his Nation his sleep departed from his eyes His bed the open field and the Heavens his Curtains He was not backward to jeopard his life in the high places of the field for the safety of his Countrey not shifting to secure himself in the greatest danger nor declined any Engagement with the Enemy let the disadvantages be what they could 〈◊〉 three four or five to one of the Enemies party yet not once that I can remember was he put to the worst or caused to fly from or turn his back from the Enemy from the beginning of the war to the end thereof He is of an ancient Family He hath been well educated in Learning and in Religion except only some youthful tricks hath been a professor of holinesse and practiser of justice the man of the Saints praiers whom God prospered and made successeful in all his undertakings and providence hath kept in all dangers ordering all along by gradations to what he now is as is observed in our third Inference Why God hath done all this we cannot give any reason but that it is his secret will to effect his own purpose But whether it shall be at this time as an income of mercies or encrease of afflictions I leave to the all-knowing God who will manifest his pleasure in his own time It may be a mercy from God and so I esteem of it but we may by our divisions turn it to a judgement as indeed our seditious practises do threaten Sure I am whatever may be that since providence laid this burthen upon him he hath managed it with much wisedom and justice the fruits whereof we have had some taste To the honour of God I

office though not by the Name or Title of a King God by his providence hath exalted the Lord Protector And he that resists his just Authority and Government resists the Ordinance of God It is evident he hath not assumed to himself that authority he that objects that I beleeve speaks against the dictates of his own conscience except his conscience be cauterized and that he hath exercised any Tyranny or oppression over the people it is false and malicious calumniation or that he will ever do any such thing is but envies suspicion therein measuring his Corn by their own Bushell He hath been the instrument in Gods hand to withhold greater oppressions from the people and what at this day lies upon their shoulders were laid on by others not by him from which he is endeavouring to free us Let us not therefore whilest he is easing of us cry out against him and say he hurts us like the dogge that bites him that saves him from the tree And for Laws he hath given none of himself for he refers that to the Honourable Parliament now sitting and successors That which he did by advice of his Councel in the regulating of the Chancery and ejecting scandalous Ministers and bringing all treasuries into one c. were I think very acceptable things and beneficial to the Nation such as were long looked for from but they came not Object 2 Obj. I but he hath protested engaged and promised before God and men against the government to be by one person and that the government should be by succeeding Parliaments c. I answer not contesting whether he made any such particular engagement and promise or not but grant he did such a thing I hope the Objector will grant for it cannot be denied that in every promise or engagement there is some condition the condition not kept the promise or engagement is void Whether it were between man and man in private contract or whether it were between a publike person of trust and a Nation or to other persons of publike concernment if in any thing of private contract doubtlesse although the promiser were a looser by it he is in strictnesse of conscience tyed to perform what he promised But if to publike concernment the conditions failing in the least he is not bound to perform what he promised and intended for that were the highest breach of trust possibly his Highness might by perswasion and conditions promised engage against the government by Kings and to be governed by Parliaments beleeving such or such conditions being performed it might be most for the Peoples Freedom and Liberty but when he found the conditions waved and that the Freedom and Rights of the people was monopolized and their liberty turned into licentiousness he might change his minde and purpose A good Father that promiseth to his childe such or such an Inherinance and really intends to do it yet if he be fully and experimentally convinced that his childe will abuse that donation he revokes his promise alters his intention and gives it to any other and that justly I am unwilling to speak all the truth in this case because I would not cast dirt c. But the question is whether his Highness was not bound rather to wave such a promise to preserve posterity then to keep it to enslave a Nation he being a chief and principal man in trust For as I said just now in every promise there is some condition as when it was imposed by supream authority on all the people of the Nation to engage to be true and faithful to that government then without King or House of Lords The condition was implied that the people must have honest and just protection under that government And the end of all promises and engagements ought to be to Gods glory and publike good Now if after such promise or engagement made by his Highnesse if either the condition or the end did not concurre or answer the intention as we know it did not his Highness is absolutely freed from his promise or engagement and no way tied unto such a promise Object 3 It is further objected That he was the Commenwealths Servant trusted by Parliament to maintain the Priviledges of Parliament and was paid for what he did But for him to dissolve Parliaments break their Priviledges and set up himself to rule and govern as he please is not just Answ Let it be granted he was the Common-wealths servant he ever acknowledged it so was the Parliament too but became Lords over the people at their own will and although he were trusted by the Parliament yet he was not a servant to the Parliament farther then the Parliament was Servant to the Commonwealth for publike benefit he himself as a member had equal voice in Parliament and had greater trust imposed on him then all even by the authority of Parliament for their lives and liberty and the well-being of the three Nations lay in his trust and faithfulnesse who never failed in the least of any performance in which by the blessing of God upon his industry providence made him instrumental of ●heir preservation and of the nations He was as a Souldier well contented with his pay he repined not nor sought for more only endeavoured that the fruits of Gods blessing given in by God to the Nations by his industry and faithfulnesse might be distributed to the people in all justice which was not done but the contraty Therefore I say he being established the chief person in trust was bound to discharge that trust in all things for publike good especially providence leading him by gradations step by step to what he did which if he had neglected or shall hereafter neglect God will raise up some other but if he had been unfaithful in this then what should he do as Job speaketh when God shall arise up and when God visiteth what should be answer him Nor did he break the priviledge of Parliament though he dissolved that Parliament for the priviledges of Parliament were broken but not by him long before their dissolution by whom and upon what design the whole people of the Nation knew and I willingly omit to repeat If the attempting to take out five Members was a breach as surely it was then the taking out or driving away of more then half five hundred was a greater breach and as much as a whole dissolution which priviledge could not well be restored without a dissolution for if that Parliament as was in design by some had been perpetuated or if as was by some others designed there had been another force upon the house or as they called it another purge where had been the priviledges of the people What would have become of the fundamental Laws of the Nation and amongst how many heresies and corrupt new formed Religions must we have searcht to finde truth and who should have known his right or enjoyed his propriety in any thing Nor did his Highnesse

set up himself for God set him up who puls down and sets up whom he pleaseth providence leading him to that he is nor doth he seek to rule and govern according to his own will but according to the fundamentall Laws of the Nation and agreeable to the will of God else he would have asked much more for himself and his posterity then he hath done nor intending to rule by any arbitrary power for then he would nor have bounded himself by Laws and Articles as you see he hath in the Government published by himself c. And taking care for the future by tri●nnial Parliaments and calling this present Parliament freely elected by the people as a means to restore lost Priviledges In all which is no injustice but faithfulnesse in the discharge of his trust as a Servant to the Commonwealth for publike good Object 4 Fourthly The great Objection framed against his Highnesse is 1. That he called this Parliament upon design as he did other former things for his own ends not for publike benefit 2. That it is not a free Parliament not free in the Elction nor free wh●n assembled to proceed as a free Parliament restraint was put upon them many members sent away because they would not engage to his design to confirm on him the supream power of the Nation give him the Militia negative to all Parliament Resolves power to make Laws and to raise money so that not only all the strength and treasure of the Nation should be in his power but Religion too which is more then ever the King had and the things for which we engaged in a war against him as a Tyrant c. Answ To this I answer as we say in our Proverb and that truly Ill will never speaks well The men of the world designing men have ever envied vertue and honour which I verily beleeve are compactible in his Highness● and therefore envyed not by the righteous but by the men of the world whose designs and interests are crossed 1. That he called this Parliament for any other end then for publike benefit circumstances do demonstrate If things be compared with things which I willingly forbear to particularize And for all preceding things which the Objectors call designs Providence hath clearly led him to as is proved in our foregoing discourse 2. That this is a free Parliament both in the Election and in the proceedings is evident to them that are not blinded by some prejudication For the restrictions made in respect of qualification in persons to be Elected and Electors was so far from infringing the peoples liberty or being any barre to their freedom that it was indeed their greatest freedom and security of their safety and was at this time considering out present condition of absolute necessity Many designs being on foot to corrupt and ensnare counsels the judgements of men being much unsetled by subtle insinuations of seducers Nor was there any restraint upon Parliament proceedings when assembled as is objected but what tended to publike good and the end why this Parliament was summoned viz. to put things that are out of order into order by the Legal way of Parliament proceedings not to encrease factions nor to maintain parties and private Interests but to establish Religion peace and just Laws the main basis and foundation to the well-being of a Commonwealth wherein the Parliament is free And I hope by their wisedom through the assistance and direction of Jehovah this Parliament will be instrumentall in the laying of such a foundation that God may own us for his people dwell in our Land remove his afflicting hand from us and leave a blessing to posterity I say further that this present Parliament was summoned by the Authority of the Lord Protector which authority is from God to which providence hath led him all along And we are commanded to be subject to the higher powers not some but all Let every soul be subject why for there is no power but of God The Apostle tels you that the powers that be are ordained of God Rom. 13. 1. By this power he summoned this Parliament And before the summons he by the advice of his counsell declared to all the people the condition that the Commonwealth was in and what was now necessary to be done for a happy settlement I need not repeat any particular thing declared nor verbally spoken by his Highnesse at the Parliaments first assembling because it is publike to all The people in all obedience to his Highnesse authority according to his summons made their respective Elections The Knights and Burgesses elected or the most of them accepted of their Elections and appeared at the day and place Why any one should after all this oppose that authority which called them and the end why they came together I will not judge That his Highnesse sent any away as is objected I deny They were at their own liberty to sit in the house or to depart it was at their free choice That which they were to subscribe was no other then was plainly held forth to all men in the government as to one man This was no barre to the free debates in Parliament for their debates to establish justice and righteousnesse or offering any thing that might conduce to the benefit of the Common-wealth It is only a bar against Oligarchy the worst of governments ready to break in upon us It is true it doth confirm his Highnesse Lord Protector for his life and no more which if he did not for publike benefit he might have asked it for his posterity and carried it by his power if he had made himself his design as is objected To that part of the Objection concerning the Militia he was trusted with it by the Parliament and it was at his dispose for the good of the publike and so he ever used it with all faithfulnesse and God by it made him instrnmental to bring us out of Egypt I may say by great wonders We are still in the Wildernesse scarce come so far as to Mount Nebo And we have many thousands among us that still look back unto Egypt and we have the Children of Anak Giants and Cananites that stand in the way and hinder out entrance into the possession of our Evangelicall happinesse promised These must be subdued and kept under therefore the Militia is still as useful in his hand as before to secure the people from those lusting murmurers and to subdue the Cananites He claims not the Militia to himself but desires it may be in Parliaments and himself Providence hath put it into his hand and he knows his own heart that he intends to use it no way but for the benefit of the Common-wealth by advice of Parliament But he cannot know any others heart nor can he say of any other that they would so use it No not for the people if it were in their hands at this time for the people are of as many mindes as

in that condition as Israel was when without a known Law and without a teaching Priest 2 Chr. 15. 3. And it is nor possible that in an instant at the first step we should recover our lost way and at●ain to such a Reformation as all good people desire but we must expect as we have been led in crooked waies and leaped over all bounds to lose our selvs we must meet with some unevenness and cragged steps before there can be an establishment in all truth and justice The work is very great and the greatest works are done with the greatest difficulty because they ever meet with the greatest opposition it was so in Ezra's time and it is so now yet let none that truly fear God be discouraged for God is our God If we seek him he will be found of us but if we forsake him not he will cast us off for ever 1 Cor. 28. 9. ult. These are the words of David to Solomon when he was to build the materiall Temple and in ver. 10. he tels him for his greater encouragement God had chosen him to build it and exhorts him to take heed and be strong to doe it There is a spiritual Temple to be erected of which that was the Type we know not by express words who God hath chosen and appointed to do it But it shall be done at the time appointed and by the man and means appointed What was promised concerning the Temple at Jerusalem in a spiritual sense belongs to us under the Gospel as that promise which God made to Joshua Ch. 1. 5. belongs to all Christians and is to them applied by the Apostle Heb. 13. 5. for he hath said he will never fail you nor forsake you God is now working by his providence for us though we will not see it But let us take heed we do not provoke Providence whatever men object or pretend let us follow the footsteps of providence not our own wils and be careful not to envy men that God will honour but imitate them who through faith and patience inherit the promise Object 5 It is again objected by some That his Highness is a favourer of them that are known Cavaliers so as they have equal priviledges with them that have ventured all for publike good c. Answ Ans. Why then do others object against him for exempting all cavaliers from being elected or Electors of members to serve in Parliament If an enemy shall submit shall not he receive him into favour and shall anothers eye be evil because he is good and because we have been in a War shall we never be reconciled God forbid Besides the Parliament upon good and Christian considerations hath past an Act of Pardon to such Delinquents as had compounded or were not sequestred if any compositions were not made or any were unsequestred it was not nor is his Highness fault By this let any judicious man unbiast in the case judge whether these Objections be not more of envy or out of rashnesse then of truth or justice Other Objections I might answer but these I have named are the chief and those that seem to carry the greatest weight in them Therefore I shall omit to say any more having been already longer upon this Discourse then I intended POSTSCRIPT SOme small things have been mistaken by the Printer and by my self not any thing much material that have observed that needs an Errata what you finde I pray amend by you● Pen and let your Christian love and patience bear with the rest Farewell FINIS a Gen. 28. 13. b Heb. 1. 14 c Numb. 9. 22. Ex. 40. 36. d Pr. 16. 4. Isa. 43. 21. e Isa. 3. 8. f Isa. 42. 8. g Eph. 1. 11 h Isa. 46. 10 Psa. 33. 11 i Isa. 34. 16 k Ez. 12. 25 l Isa. 14. 27 m Ps. 33. 9 n 2 Kings 6. 24. o 2 Kin. ●2 p Ver. 16. q Deut. 19. 4. r Ex. 21. 13 ſ Mat. 10. 31. t 1 King 22. 6. u 1 King 22. 34. w 2 King 19. 35. x Iob 14. 5 y Iob 7. 1. z Ps. 31. 15 a Gen. 33. 4 b Gen. 31. 29. c Iud. 7. 22 d 1 Sam. ●4 20. e Ex. 9. 16. f Deut. 2. 30. g Act. 2. 23. Act. 4. 27 28. h Joh. 12. 40. i Isa. 29. 10 k Ioh 12. 16. l Eze. 14. 9 m Pr. 21. 1. n Pr. 16. 1 o Mat. 10. 1● p Ioh. 11. 51. q Mat. 10. 30. r Mat. 10. 29. ſ Mat. 6. 28 30 t Psalm 145. 15. u Psa. 36. 6. w Psa. 104 21. x Job 38. 41. y Joel 2. 25 z Josh. 3. 16. Ps. 104. 3. a Ps. 19. 5. b Josh. 10. 12 13. c Isa. 38. 8. d Jon. 1. 15 e Dan. 6. 22 f Dan. 3. 21 22. g Ex. 11. 7. h 2 King 9. 10 36. i Act. 15. 17. k Isa. 64. 3 l Zech. 4. 7. m 1 Tim. 6. 15. n Rev. 15. 3 o Rev. 6. 2. p Psa. 2. 9. q Ier. 10. 7 r Ier. 31. 23. ſ Rev. 19. 15. t Ps. 113. 4 u Isa. 40. 15 17. * Isa. 40. 12. * Da. 5. 26. Luk. 19. 42 43. y Iud. 8. 27 z Iud. 9. 23 a Iudg. 9. 40 53. b 1 King 21. 21. c 1 King 10. 30 31. d Hos. 1. 4. e 2 King 10. 30. f Vers 31. g 2 King 15. 10. 12. h 1 Cor. 10. 11. i 1 Sam. 2. 17. k 1 Sam. 2. 24. l Dan. 5. 26 m Gen. 37. 2 3 4. v. 10. 11 n Gen. 39. 2 3 4. o Ver. 21. p Gen. 4. 2 3 q Gen. 41. 12. r Ver. 40. ſ Gen. 42. 2 3. t Gen. 37. 7 9. u Gen. 45. 7 w Gen. 15. 13. Act. 7. 6. x Est 1. 11 y Est 2. 9. z ve 16 17. a ver. 21. b Esth. 3. 8 13. c Est 5. 14. d Est 6. 1 2 e Est 7. 10 f Gen. 49. 10. g Isa. 11. 1. h Iam. 1. 17. i Gen. 39 21. k Ezr. 9. 9. l Gen. 43. 14 m Isa. 9. 14. n Isa. 45. 7. o Isa. 19. 14 p Iob 12. 17 q 1 King 11. 14 23. r Am. 3. 6. ſ Isa. 29. 14. t Job 34. 29. n Col. 1. 21. Rom. 5. 〈◊〉 w Eph. 2. 3 x Ecc. 7. 29. y Gal. 4. 4 5. z Tit. 2. 14. Gal. 3. 13. a 1 Pet. 1. 〈…〉 b Isa. 5. 7. c Isa. 58. 4 6 d Isa. 30. 20. e Rev. 2. 14. 20 f Ecc. 10. 1 g Ezek. 18. 12. h Gen. 6. 5. i Lev. 10. 1 2 k Ro. 6. 23. l Lev. 26. Deut. 28. m Dan. 9. 8 n Ezr. 9. 13 o Lam. 3. 22 p Eze. 16. 46 51 q Jud. 18. 7 r Hos. 13. 9 ſ Lev. 9. 14 t Lev. 26. 25. u 2 Sam. 21. 1. k Ier. 34. 16. See vers 17. 20. l Ecc. 8. 11 m Ps. 6. 16. n Io● 5. 13 o Io● 18. 7. p 1 Kin. 12 10 11. q 1 King 12. 28 29. r 1 Kin. 13 34. and 1 King 14 10 11. a Gen. 17. 19. b Gen. 21. 2 * Act. 7. 17 c Exod. 12 42. * Is 60. 22