Redintegratio Amoris OR A Union of Hearts between The Kings Most Excellent Majesty the Right Honorable the LORDS and COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Army Under his Command The Assembly and every honest man that desires a sound and durable Peace accompanied with speedy Justice and Piety By way of respective Apologies so far as Scripture and Reason may be Judges By JOHN COOK of Grayes-Inne Barrester The falling out of lovers is the renewing of love London Printed for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at his shop at the black spread-Eagle neer the West-end of Pauls The principal matters are That 1. NAture is of Gavelkind Tenure 2. All lawful authority is derived from the people who cannot by any Covenant inslave themselves 3. Good Kings raign by Gods approbation Tyrants by his permission till the people can free themselves 4. What Law is what Rebellion is 5. That Anarchy is better then Tyranny 6. That in quiet Kingdoms much Iniustice is to be suffered rather then to oppose the Governors till it be insufferable and then it is ne resistance of authority because God never did nor man can give any such authority 7. Some Scriptures answered and such reverence to be given to divine authority as to beleeve that there was a reason for every thing though we cannot reach it 8. That Bishops for Religion and some former Judges in point of Prerogative are of equal credit 9. What undâ—d Lord Keeper Littleton and others 10. Twelve politick Judges to execute quick and cheap Justice requisite to felicitate this Kingdom with an Expedient for it 11. Essentials not to be lost for Formalities 12. The Law and the Prophets to be rather studied then law and profit 13. A Cause at first as plain as a bul-rush comes to be as hard as an oak 14. That Parliamentum is parium lamentum and that Kings originally agreed to refer the peoples complaints to whom soever they would choose and that Parliaments never dye intentionally 15. The mixture of the three estates commended yet if one of three oâ—ligors fail the other two must pay the debt for Justice must be dâ—nâ— 16. That the Judgment of Parliament is inevitable for all positive Laws by vertue of the fifth Commandment 17 Kings are not less free by reason of Parliaments no more then men are less safe upon Pauls for the Rails 18. To question the Justice of the Parliaments Cause is to doubt whether Protestant or Popish be the true Religion 19. Yet so as the King had some colour for what he did in Gods Ordinance which the Parliament if they should break trust have not and his late party adhering to the letter of Scripture and some Law cases Touch not mine anointed c. had the same colour as Papists for transubstantion by This is my body 20. Mr Jenkins easily answered and Dr Fearns matter combustible 21. Reasons to induce his Maiesty to beleeve that the Parliament did nothing but in discharge of their great trust without which they could not have answered it to the Kingdom and that his Maiesty would frame arguments for that purpose 22. That the Parliament would conceive that his Maiesty acted according to his present light for the satisfaction of his Royal Conscience his Royal Allies and many of his people at home would frame arguments for his Maiesty besides that the Law lays all the blame upon his evil Counsellors 23. That this is a principal expedient to beget a right understanding and endeared and loyal Affection between his Maiesty and people 24. How his Maiesty is head of the Church and one Argument for his Maiesty when the several Parliaments in England and Ireland present acts for establishing of the Protestant and Popish Religious severally what his Maiesty is to do and that the King of Poland swears to maintain both those Religions 25. That the Lords are intrusted by the people though not elected as Guardians of the Kings Contract with the people and that all subordinate Officers are to mind the duty of their places more then the desires of those that preferred them 26. Two things in the House of Commons questioned the Members not being sworn and their not Administring oaths and Answered 27. The Lords supplicated to be indulgent to tender Consciences being exempted from the Presbyterian discipline 28. Three Ordinances begg'd 1. Redemption for our poor brethren slaves to the Turks 2. Liberty for poor Prisoners that are ready to starve 3. Some speedy course to abate the price of corn least poor people be famish't 29 An Apologie for the Armies not disbanding who have bin true to the Covenant and seek nothing but for what they first ingaged and have been the breath of many of their nostrils who would not have their breath in the Kingdom 30. The Declaration against them a Nullity the Revocation of it a great honor to the Parliament and Army What spirits the Armies opposers are of 31. The two great expedients for a substantial settlement of the Kingdom Reformations in Courts of Justice and Liberty for tender Consciences cannot as mens interests now stand be effected without the Continuance of the Army 32. That the main interest of this Kingdom is to be as zealous for the Protestant Religion as Spain is for Popery 33. The Interest of all honest men is speedily to Vnite specially for Gods people 34. That the difference was not whether the Kingdom should be Protestants or Papists but Protestants at large or strickt Professors 35. That should the Army disband til Liberties are secured they would be a ludibrium to all the world and culpable of all the sufferings of Gods people 36. Some late Arguments against the Parliament answered and the Honor of that high Court in all things to be maintained so as the Honor of God do not suffer nor the peoples liberties destroyed 37. No man to grow rich in a time of Civil War Nor usury then to incur some Vsurers within the statute de judaismo and a provision that there may not be a begger in Israel 38. God wil not suffer any good Governors to be destroyed so long as they Administer Justice but t is dangerous for the supream Court to deny the people their Just Liberties 39 Forreign Negotiations against Protestants and the private Interests of some which are contrary to Publique Liberties are Grounds for the Armies continuance 40 Religion introduced by blood every where but in England a Prophesy concerning the sword to that purpose therefore truths which cost dear are to be loved 41. That war is lawful to defend Religion not to promote it that the sword maybe imployd for Religion as the servant of justice 42. Who are the hinderers of Irelands Releif and how Antichrist with his left hand may fight against his right 43. That H. 7. did wel to kil R. 3. and long may his Royal race inherit in our present Soveraign Lord King Charles and his princely Progeny 44. The Author
as one of the most necessary works to be done in this Kingdom and that wherein there wil appear much opposition and if it be not suddainly done it wil not be done in this Generation our Laws are actually or potentially the best in the world for if any thing be amiss the Parliament may reform it according to right reason which is the soul of al humane Laws without exception no Law ought to live longer then the reason of it continues away with all bugbear objections and after Naseby fight lets never distrust God for any thing I mean let us have such Laws as are not directly against Scripture and for which some reason may be given besides the course of the Court for that for which probable reason may be rendred on both sides is not fundamental as the eldest son to inherite the whole estate certainly there ought in all reason some provision to be made for the young Children if the Father make none for them in his live time but true it is that many positive Laws are fundamental secundarily to alter which would be ful of danger and inconveniences unless it were most evident that great utility would thereby arise and accrue to the Kingdom but that is not my present work something I intend concerning Government in general rules by which no man can conceive himself prejudiced as by general rules of Physick no wise man can expect to be cured 1. That the people girt the sword about the King the King says our Law books is the fountain of honor and it is true for the peoples good therefore doth the King make Judges and Magistrates great that they may not be afraid to do right and justice to their brethren so that indeed the state confers honors by the King as the King gives the Alms by his Almoner they presume that the King wil make no Lords but such as shal be an honor to the Kingdom in whom the Kingdom shal be preferred the Judges Robes are for the Kingdoms good to strick a terror into offenders if the Kingdom or the Parliament which is the state contract can justly except against those which are honored that is if they by their greatness oppress the people and Lord it over poor men the honor ought not to continue for all Priviledges and Preeminences are forfeited by abusers no Priviledg which is a private Law must oppose Publique welfare Indeed nothing done without the states allowance is allowable that is nothing against the fundamental good of the people and truly the main end of Parliaments is to supervise the Publique Magistrates to see that Ministers of justice be just and execute justice impartially If Kings did always prefer good men and conferr the great offices of trust and judicial places upon the most idoneous and best men in the Kingdom which are Infra Causam meriti that best deserve them there would be the less need of Parliaments I mean officers of the Kingdom for there are officers of the Empire for the Administration of Publique justice and officers of the Emperors as his Domestical servants answerable to our distinction of the Kings natural Capacity and his politique Capacity art is always the perfection and never the destruction of nature Let me but humbly observe a little defectiveness in state policy concerning the Kings Councel That the Regal heires have not in their princely education Tutors to instruct them in that which most concerns the good of the Kingdom which is Councellors to acquaint them in the fundamental laws of the land how improper is it that the Kings Counsel should be least of Counsel with his Majesty but by per-audience to gain other Clyents and be ingaged in other mens business when they should be attending his Majesty stil presenting the law before him which is the golden rule of justice Judg Fortescue holds it necessary for the peoplâ—s happiness that the King see with his own eys what is for his peoples good that so he may reward the most vertuous the Frâ—nch King is enioyned to pray so much every day to be exemplary to the people how happy would it be if the nobles and Grandees of state would study that fundamental and true end of Government which is the wâ—lfare of the people The young Prince of Persia hath 4 Tutors for Religion as many for the Law but 2 for Martial Exploits for they said for the King to know how to ride the Great horse is but half as good for the Subiects as to know the law by which he wears his Crown and one Tutor for every moral vertue patience courtesy temperance chastity c. 2. Not to argue whether we live under a Government mixt and co-ordinate or simple and subordinate 't is a common Tenent that the Empire France and Spain are merum Emperium England Sweden Denmark and Poland a mixt Empire the Venetians a pure Aristocracy Holland Geneva c. Jurisdictio sine Imperio that of the 6. Kings that be in Christendom Franâ—e and Spain have too much power Sweden and Poland too little for their title England and Denmark just enough to make themselves splendid and their people happy All agree that the King cannot make a Law without a Parliament and I cannot but exceedingly magnifie the mixture of the 3. estates the superlative trust by Law is in the King Lords and Commons 't is but loss of time to look back into the power of the Bishops for 't is not much above 100. years since there were Statutes enforced for the Popes supreamacy yet so as if the Lords and Commons perceive that the King by evil advice undermines the subjects liberties to the manifest indangering of Salus they must then necessarily suspend the operation of that mixture as when 3. men are to cary a weight if one plucks back his haÌ„d the other 2. must bear it for the consideration of publick utility is always equivalent to a necessity Causae necessitatis util tatis aequiparantur in Jure and therefore it is an error to say the people do not trust the right honorable Lords because they do not choose them Their Nobility was acquired and is continued by noble actions those noble Peers that have not deserted the Parliament but continued faithful and adventured their lives and honors for the publick safety deserve eternal praises and in the multitude of such Counsellors there is much safety to this Kingdom for all true Honor consists in vertuous endowments and their improvements the principal whereof is faithfulness to the Kingdom expressing their honorable endeavors after that in works of mâ—rcy justice peace and love The King is ever present by his power the Lords present in their persons and the Kingdom represented by their choycest members who are impowred for themselvâ—s and the whole Kingdom so the whole Kingdom is figuratively present by a part taken for the whole therefore the words Commâ—ssioners or Arbitrators or Feoffees in trust of exceeding their power and such
good for the whole he must conclude to be good for him 't is true those that will not execute justice deserve to be executed themselves but consider whether sufferance or resistance conduce most to the common good There are some Scriptures which seem I confesse to be contradictory We reade in the Book of Ioshua and Iudges how a suspition of Idolatry causes Israel to assemble to warres against Reuben and Manaâ—seth and against Benjamin for the Levites Concubâ—nes all rising as one man saying Deliver us the children of Beliall and Jonah was cast out of the ship that would have been the wrack of them all David took up armes against Saul in his own Kingdome his King his Master as in his house and of his Table and Family fled to Sauls Enemy to Akish and offered to second him against Saul fortifyed Ketlah one of his Towns against him and if Saul had stopt the Cave to have pined him doubtlesse he wouâ—d have used means to get out and yet God was his Counsellor by discovering the Princes of Keilah their intentions and the people cryed all with one voyce Jonathan shall not die for the good he hath done to our Countrey and the Scripture speaks plainly that tribute is to be paid so farre as the subjects may pay tribute to God for this cause pay we tribute I give such reverence to the holy Scriptures that when I finde a president for which I doe not understand the reason I conceive there was a reason for it in those times which is now absolete things were done by speciall inspi ation which are not exemplary to us nor may we judge where the Scripture is silent whether it was well or ill done but I am clearly of opinion that in a Kingdome well composed if one man or 100 men should suffer in the Kingdome that the subjects ought not to take up armes suddenly to right themselves but expect with patience till the Authors and procurors of injustice be brought to condign punishment for when an evill in State Policy cannot be removed without the manifest danger of a greater to succeed wisedome must give place to necessity which all Kingdomes must make use of ordinarily and people must studdy when the best manner of Government is not possible without great danger to be obtained to make the best of the preâ—ent when the best things are not possible to make the best o those that are as we say to make the best of an ill game and not to throw it up and say they will play no more 't is not the part of a faire Gamster so to doe when all things are quiet in a Kingdome then consider how that which must be endured may be mitigated and the inconveniences countervailed but if the State collective in the whole body of it or the State contract in a Parliament or Senate shall upon good grounds conceive that the point of that sword which they put into the hands of their Governours to protect them is by evill advise turned against themselves in this case clearly the sword must be wrested out of the Trustees hands if the Master and the Mate be drunk all the Passengers must save themselves if the Dogs will not bark the Geese will cry when the Gaules are scaling the Capitoll for no inconvenience can be greater and this was the Parliaments case for raising Forces they wisely considered before they Voted any Army that in that condition the Kingdome stood the remedy could not possibly be worse then the disease for the disease was the utter subversion of Lawes and Liberties and the destruction of the Protestant Religion at least in the power of it for truly to speak my thoughts freely I doe not think that the difference between the late Oxford Party and the Parliament was whether we should be Protestants or Papists but whether we should be formall Protestants at large or Professors in the power of Religion and God grant that this may no longer be the Controversy in this Nation But because tediousnesse and delay has ever been an enemy to this Kingdome I shall say no more in a subject that has been so much controverted concerning the late unhappy differences but shall apply my selfe to the present juncture and first concerning the Army 1 Pet. 3.15 BLessed Peter bids Christians to be ready to make an Apology for their faith but truly there needs no Apology for the Army unlesse it be for their too much patience in suffering the Kingdome and themselves to be so long abused bysome Incendaries of State who care not to set all on fire to warm themselves For had they come to the Houses the next day after they were declared Enemies and demanded Iustice against the cheife Promoters and Contrivers thereof it had been most just by the Lawes of God and man and I am confident that there was never any former Army in the world but would have done it That such Gallant men which have kept some of the cheife Contrivers heads upon their shoulders for an humble Petition presented to their Noble Generall which all Souldiers by the Law of Armes may doe should be voted enemies and disturbers for that which since hath been acknowledged to be but just was the most monstrous ingratitude that ever was heard of under the Sun since the first moment of its Creation and sure they durst not so justly have provoked them but that they knew they were acted by more noble principalls that though they had the sword in their hand yet they durst not offend God Religion being to them the strongest bridle But whom God will destroy for their great Provocations he first dementates they have rejected the Counsell of God and what wisedome is there in them Policy is a branch of wisedome and all wisedome is from God but this I must premise that that Declaration was not in judgement of Law any Act of the Honourable House for the most Honourable Houses being the Protectors of our Lawes the Preserveâ—s Surveyers and Defenders of all our lawfull Liberties and the Haven and Refuge of all that are oppressed it cannot possibly bee imagined that they in their great wisedomes should unlesse misinfoâ—med vote them enemies to the State and disturbers of the Peace thereof which with the adventure of their lives have saved the Kingdome and preserved the Peace thereof I say under favour we can no more imagine it then wee can the Sea to be poysoned but it was in Law a Declaration of their malevolent intentions who exceedingly mis-informed and seduced and did what in them lay to poyson the very fountain of Iustice who suddenly contrived it in an illegall way against expresse order at an unparliamentary hour and so a meer nullity rather a Nocturnall surprise then a solemn act of Consultation Livery and Seisin made in the night is void if a man be rob'd in the night there is no reliefe for him it being no time for travell no distresse can be taken for
learned distinction of Presbyter and Independent between whom lovers of peace desire to make the difference very small but contentious spirits study to make it a wound incurable For my own part I confesse it is very improper for me and unwilling am I to meddle with differences out of my proper element yet there being a great work to be done in this generation and the only playster that is large enough to cure all the distempers in this kingdom I conceive after twelve yeares study being inevitably put upon the study of it by a speciall providence and scarce knowing any other controversall point in Divinity worth studying the Priestly and Propheticall office of our blessed Saviour being in good measure blessed be God vindicated and redeemed out of the hands of those Romish Hucksters and whether the Inventions of men ought any more to bee mingled with the Institutions of Christ in his kingly office then their good works in his priestly office is now the great dispute That the difference between them is not essentiall but graduall for I look upon Presbytery as a step to Independency not in the body but in the garment and therefore undoubtedly time and wisedome may temper a Reconciliation only through pride and covetousnesse comes this contention concerning liberty for tender Consciences Truly whether the sword can be any better imployed then for the defence of the true Religion and whether it be not as lawfull to fight for Christs Kingly Office against the opposers of it as for his Priestly Office against the Papists it is not my intention to cleare any particular but to give some generall hints hoping that all Gods people though of different judgments in this particular desire a sound and durable peace accompanied with truth and piety What my opinion concerning a universall Tolleration of all Religions whether it be tollerable or insufferable I will not deliver any opinion of it because it is not the thing in question I know none but Protestants that desire this liberty and that not so much in Doctrine as in Discipline I think there is scarce a Papist in the Kingdome but either actually or vertually in their desires at least hath been in Armes against the Parliament 't is clear that Antichrist fought for the late Oxford party whether they fought for him or not 't is much that Christ and Antichrist should pitch their tents in the same field and therefore certainly 't is a fond Argument that men make If you suffer Independents then why not Papists because those that have been faithfull to the Parliament and are of the same Religion may in justice and equity have the liberty of their Consciences not disturbing the peace of the Kingdome does it therefore follow that Enemies to the Parliament of a different Religion whose Religion in the power and practise of it is flat Rebellion their Head Antichrist their Doctrine Heresie and worship Idolatry holding pernitious principles destructive of State Policy that theirs ought to be suffered If any Papist bee better principled and will take an Oath to bee true to King and Kingdome where they live in all points and will not make it their work to seduce others and the number so small that the State need not probably fear any danger by them as in Holland I say nothing with it nor against it but I would faine break the neck of that absurd Argument If you suffer a Protestant you must suffer a Papist does every diversity of opinion presently make a different Religion I will assure you there are more differences between the Papists about those five little words Hoc est enim corpus meum this is my body then there is between all the men in this Kingdome and yet who more loving then they before the Councell of Lateran it was good Divinity to say at the Masse which gets a masse of money adoro te si tu es Christus I adore thee if thou be Christ but since Transubstantiation is setled by their Law they are so fallen out amongst themselves how to make the body of our Saviour to bee there as it was when he Instituted the Sacrament that 't is most admirable and I think it better beseeming us that are Protestants to laugh at those Antichristian fopperies and to pity one another the strong not to dispise thâ— weak nor the weak to oppose the strong let me instance in some of their differences concerning their Transubstantiation Some Papists hold that Christ is not in Heaven because he is in the Host others that there are two Christs others are much troubled about the time that Christ continues with them some hold that his body goes not into the stomack being full of humors but then thinking there would be little fruit of it they say he stayes till digestion therefore they use not to eat for three or foure houres after others hold the body never parts but then no man needed to Communicate but once and they could sell their God but once and the party sinnes after which could not be then because this body cannot annihilate being as impossible here as 't is in the heavens they differ what is become of the body some hold that it was gone to heaven but that cannot bee say others because it was there before then the doubt is how can accidents nourish the body some hold that so soon as the stomack ha's changed the form of the Wafer cake that God Creates a new substance of nothing but against that some Priests finde that the wine does presently comfort them and Priests have been drunk with much wine then they are much troubled where our Saviours head and his feet are least the Priest through ignorance should hold him with his heeles upwards and some hold that the head is alwayes upppermost hold it how you please another Priest was very angry with mee for asking him such a question that he knew not how to answer but sayes the face is alwayes towards the Priest for reverence I know not how t is possible not to believe but to imagine such a confused Chymaera Then they dispute how the Organicall Body of Christ can be in a thing so little therefore they say the more wine the better But the Priest does not see the wine in the Flaggon yet say some the vertue of the words penetrates into it others say t is Idolatry to attribute vertue to words and others hold that the Pope took away all the vertue from the Greek words and put it into the Latin then they differ exceedingly whether the body of Christ came at the first word hoc or at the second word est some hold that there is much vertue in the word enim by vertue of the Popes Vnction and that when the word enim is pronounced if the Priest stop there then it is 3 parts flesh and 2 parts Bread because the Lutherans that hold Consubstantiation say they are wiser then the Papists for they eate bread with
the Magistrate who is a good Christian stands upon the advantage ground and ought to command the people for Gods sake to yeild obedience to the Laws of God and to be exemplary in his conversation and to protect Gods people by declaring against errours and that no man ought to beare with an errour in his dearest consort but perswasion is the Gospellary way without all dispute in matters not fundamentall My Lord Bacon was of that opinion he that is not against us is with us Spirituall maladies must have spirituall remedies in matter of opinion I wrong no man if he be offended at me it is his weakness I intend it not I speake of errours in Religion not errours against Religion with a toleration whereof no State or Kingdom can subsist 'T is a fruit of the Turks Religion not to couzen nor steale and to make conscience of an Oath to doe no murther nor adultery 'T is against Intrinsicall rules of all government to permit any of these nor must any errour be permitted that is a sworne enemy to peace and policy Man can give no power but what God gives therefore it is no resisting of authority when there can be no such authority given matters of conscience are not giveable nor takeable If I bid any man kill me and tye my hands yet I may breake the cords I cannot give power to enslave my selfe nor ought any man take it If there should be any Covenant made to enforce conscience it is an unjust Oath and to keepe it is to adde a greater sinne to a less as if the first were too little whereas the least is too great and should be lesned not enlarged and though I am bound to lose by my Covenant yet not to be undone by it When the Lord visits us with sicknesse doe not we defend our selves against his blessed Majesty by Physick by food and rayment And nothing more lawfull and naturall then selfe defence against which no Canon can be of force as it was resolved at Constance that a Canon made in favour of an angry Pope that he might strike any man and no man strike him was void by the Law of nature for what is it but to arme sin against the Law did not Sweden Holland France Germany Poland and Scotland introduce Religion by the sword Calvin Beza Bellarmine Carrerius Junius Turquet Bucanus maintained the lawfulnesse of it and Bilson in the Queens time wrote a book in defence of it not to invade the Turke because he is not a Chrâ—stian but for the freedome of their own consciences King James in his Epistle to Perron justifies the French Protestants fighting for their Religion calling it a defensive Warre that he which offers the wrong is alwayes on the offensive part as he that denies the debt begins the suit and such a wrong doer cannot be wronged Geneva in 1536 cast off the Bishop their Prince and Calvin sâ—yes Populars may restrain all kinde of tyranny as the Ephori did the Lacedemonian Kings and the Tribunes curbed the Consuls and if for bodies much more for souls the reason is because every people in the conferring of power reserve so much to themselves to attaine that end whereunto they are ordained which is the glory of God and their own freedoms and welfare Certainly God never commanded any Magistrates to lay any clogs or Fetters upon the consciences of his own people that 's the apple of his own eye yet so as if by force his people be destroyed they must take it patiently dye like lambs for the Lambs sake that dyed for them but they may not suffer if they can oppose it that 's to be guilty of selfe murther The sufferings of Jesus Christ were voluntary and when wee resigne our wills to a thing enforced we make it willing and so the Martyrs were said to lay down their lives willingly and yet they could not help it This fighting for Religion is not to fight to promote it in others not to kill any tyrants that oppose it but to preserve Religion and the professors of it All Magistrates are tyed to the Laws of God and nature and 't is 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
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 't is 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 whâ—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 arâ— bound by the Law of God to deliver Gods people and this whole Kiâ—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 sinnâ— Moses sayes that they that forsake their brethren shall never come into Canaan so Mat. 25. In prison and previsited me noâ— his Army ought by the equity of that Scripture to keepe all honest conscientious men that offend no just Laws out of prisoâ—s you may read in that Chapter that Jesus Christ is that great Travailer who â— 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 stewardâ— oâ—â—y out what God bâ—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 shâ—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 â—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 reâ—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 Nâ—xt I shall onely 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 pâ—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 knowâ— 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 thiâ— 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 't is 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 iâ— he had forsaken his charge upon every tumult and queremony of the people What innumerable difficulties have our Worthies in Parliâ—ment surmounted Able to have daunted and stinted the most noble resolutions though the command of God lay heavy upon them â—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
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 â—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 't is 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 stâ—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 reconcâ—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 sâ—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 Noâ—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 wâ—y to prevâ—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 onely a liberty to tender consciences can break the heart-strings of popery tâ—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 Persiâ—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 't is 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 Nasâ—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 onely thought that you did not so well understand the Doctrine of Christs government and domâ—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 probabiâ—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 Meâ—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