Pian piano, or, Intercourse between H. Ferne, Dr. in divinity and J. Harrington, Esq. upon occasion of the doctors censure of the Common-wealth of Oceana.

The third Quaery.

Where there is or ever was a Monarchy upon a popular ballance, or that proposed by the Author, but those onely of the Hebrews, and whether these were not the most infirme of all o∣ther?

The Doctor's Answer.

I Perceive not how it concerns any thing I said, or the cause in hand, as to any material point. Onely it seems to suppose the Monarchy of the Hebrews to be on a popular ballance, which I cannot apprehend, unless be∣cause they had a kind of Agrarian, their Land divided by lot, which not∣withstanding

left place for a sufficient difference, and excesse in dignity of persons, bounds of Estates, measure of Wealth and Riches.

Reply.

IN your Letter you say, that the ballance I pretend cannot stand so steady in my Form, as in a well tem∣per'd Monarchy; and yet to the Quaere, where there is or ever was a Monarchy upon such a ballance? You Answer, that you perceive not how it concerns any thing you said, or the cause in hand as to any material point, as if the ballance were of slight concernment to a Govern∣ment. And for the Monarchy of the Hebrews, you say, that you can∣not apprehend it to have been upon a popular ballance. But the Land of Canaan as it is computed by He∣cataeus Abderites in Josephus against Appion, contained three Millions

of Acres; and they among whom it was divided, as appears Numb. 1. 46. At the Cense of them taken by Moses in Mount Sanai, amount unto 603550. Now if you allow them but four Acres a Man, it comes unto two Millions four hundred thousand Acres, and up∣wards, by which means there could remain for Josua's lot, Calebs portion, with the Princes of the Tribes, and the Patriarks or Princes of families, but a matter of five hundred thousand Acres, which holdeth not above a sixth part in the ballance with the peo∣ple, and yet you will not appre∣hend, that this was a popular bal∣lance: Why then it will be in vain to shew you the certain conse∣quence, Namely that the Monar∣chies of the Hebrews, being the onely governments of this kind that ever were erected upon a po∣pular ballance, were the most in∣firm

and troubled of all others; That the cause why the Congre∣tion that elected the former Kings were able to reject Rehoboam was from the power of the people, and the power of the people from their Popular Agrarian: and that the cause why the Kings of Israel and Judah, while they had not for∣reign Wars, never gave over knocking out the Braines of the people, one against another, was, that having no Monarchical bal∣lance, or not such an one as was sufficient, whereupon safely to rest themselves in peace, they were necessitated as some Kings at this day (the ballance of whose Empire is broken) to make themselves use∣ful unto the people through their danger, that so through the want of Order, they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 subsist (accor∣ding unto the modern Maxim) by confusion and war; an expedient sufficiently practised to be well known.