A brief examination and consideration of the unsound princples upon which the armies plea (lately committed to publick view) is grounded wherein the repentance of those army-men and the conversion of all other persons from the error of their ways who have (in what capacity so-ever) acted by the said principles is most earnestly desired and specially aimed at / by a friend to the truth.

That whatsoever Laws, Usage, or Customs are against the Laws of true Religion, Reason, Nature and Grace, are irreli∣gious, unreasonable, unnatural and gracelesse; and therefore Nul and void in their very making, and cannot oblige.

But, Such were, and are, all the known Laws, Usages and Customes of England, by which the true, and only lawful Government by King, Lords, and Commons assembled in Parliament, have been originally constituted, and have hi∣therto continued. Ergo, All those Laws, Usages and Cu∣stomes are null and void, and were so in their very making, and cannot oblige. That must be the Assumption, and this the Conclusion; or else, the Principle is nothing but so many empty words, which signifie just nothing, as to the present practice.

But the Conclusion must needs be false, because the Assumption is not only false, but impossible to be true; unless it can be thought a thing possible that a true Chri∣stian

Nation should at first commence, and for many hun∣dreds of years uphold, maintain and continue such a Go∣vernment as is founded upon such Laws, Usages and Cu∣stomes as are against the Laws of that true Religion that is professed by them; and not only that, but against reason, nature and grace; and consequently, irreligious, unrea∣sonable, unnatural and gracelesse. Such a Government certainly there neither is, nor ever was, in any Nation, Christian, Mahumetan, or Heathen: It being a thing im∣possible that any whole Nation should so far cease to be men, as to erect and continue a Government, and establish Laws, and give way to Customes that are against that rea∣son and humane nature by which they are men, and not Horses, Mules, Lions, Tygers, Beares, or Wolves: Or, that they should be of any Religion good or bad, and make Laws contrary to that Religion that is professed by them.

The result upon the whole matter is this; If this im∣possible and most absurd Assumption be not true, the pre∣sent practice upon the confidence of the truth of it, is not to be justified, but to be justly condemned, and either to be repented of, or finally punished (perhaps in this world, but certainly) in the world to come.

Next to those Principles, it follows thus;

These and many the like Principles of common reason have been distilled into the judgments and consideration of the free people of this Nation, by means whereof it will not be an easie matter for any Rulers in any form of Go∣vernment whatsoever, to reduce them again unto their for∣mer yokes of bondage and slavery.

Here's the desperation of all firme, stable and constant settlement in any forme of Government whatsoever. For if these Positions must be all taken for undoubted Princi∣ples, and the practical Application of them left to private persons, that is, indifferently to the free people of the Nati∣on,

there can never be any Sedition or Insurrection but may be justified: For if the Parties to it may themselves be judges, it were madnesse in them not to condemn subjecti∣on to the present Government (how good soever) to be bondage and slavery.

But, because it is here intimated, that the free people of this Nation have been under former yokes of bondage and slavery, it would be considered, first, whether bondage and slavery was really and truly the condition of the people of this Nation in former times: Secondly, how much worse their condition of such former (falsely called) bondage and slavery was, than the (pretended) Liberty, wherewith they have since been vexed, harrassed, impoverished and (little lesse than) ruined; and under which they must expect to suffer the same horrid Exactions of immense sums of mo∣ney, as long as any new Government shall stand; which can no longer stand than the vaste charge of a huge Army shall uphold it. This the poor enslaved and miserably depres∣sed free people of this Nation do all in general so very well understand, (it having with heavy strokes been beaten in∣to their heads,) that a few sugared words, and fair promi∣ses (from them that professe they will keep none, and have broken all they have already made, though bound with sacred and solemne Oaths,) will never be heartily beleived, or much regarded.

But, if under the ancient Government there was any such thing as real bondage and slavery (beside the bondage which poor Copiholders are still like to endure under those that knew how to free themselves from the Court of Wards;) it would be considered whether the fault was in the Law, or in the forme of Government, or in the Office of governing, or in the persons in whom the publick Ad∣ministration resided?

The Government and the Forme of it, were certainly

without exception: For, three simple forms of Govern∣ment there are that are lawful and just in themselves by the confession of all men; and the ancient and only lawful Government of this Nation hath all that is good in all the three; and is therefore in it self the best Government in the world. Consequently there could be no fault, un∣less it were in the personal Administration; and then it would again be considered, whether there was any such thing as was reputed a fault; and whether that, that was deemed a fault, were any fault at all, since they that will despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities, will also speak evil of those things which they know not. And then whe∣ther any Governours are obliged to a Papal infallibility, under the penalty of having their heads taken off at their own gates? And lastly, Whether it be just to punish and persecute with the Sword, and utterly to drive into eter∣nal Exile, and for ever to disseize of an ancient inheri∣tance, Him or them that have never offended?

Notes

• Thh 13th.