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OUr Nation, which long since hath lost the Lustre and Well-being, now at last-strugleth for the Life and Be∣ing thereof. Our many [temporal] miseries are reduci∣ble to two principal Heads.
2. 'Tis sad to see, in Cloathing Countreys, what swarms there are of poor people, the true objects of Charity; if any were as able to give, as they worthy to receive relief: for they would work, and can work, yet cannot work, because there are none to employ them.
3. As for the Sea (which is the Land of Port-Towns) it returneth small benefit; for since Dunkirk was ours (more to the credit than benefit of our Nation) the fire of Sea∣robberies is removed out of the Chimney, and scatter∣ed about the House, not lesse destructive, but more diffu∣sive: So that our Merchants could better guard them∣selves against that Single Staple of Pirates, than many lesser ones sprung since every where, the cause why rich men will not (as poor cannot) adventure.
4. Our second misery is, increase, yea, superfetation of Taxes, so long as so numerous an Army is maintained: For though some of their Souldiers will preach gratis (conscientious to take nothing for that which they know is worth nothing) yet none will fight at so cheap a rate.
5. Some will say, that what the Souldier receiveth with one hand, he returneth with another, expending his pay in Victuals, Cloaths, &c. whereby Coin, by circulation, is con∣tinued in our Country. This I deny; for some Grandees greatned by the Times, have made their Monies over in Banks beyond the Seas, which are put into MORTMAIN, or a Dead hand, whereby no profit accreweth to our Com∣monwealth. Others having gotten the Estates of Lords, live after the rate Yoomen, whose discretion therein is to be commended, for proportioning their expences (for fear of afterclaps) rather according to their original, than present condition.
6. The increase of Taxes must inevitably cause the ruine of our Nation: For though still there be wealthy men left
(as they shew it in their cowardise, and fear to engage for the general good) yet they grow thinner every day whilst such as are left no root of their own, rather than they will wither will turn Suckers on the Stock of others. So that the greatest happiness rich men can promise to themselves, is only to be last devoured, though the comfort of the lateness will not countervail the sadness for the certainty of their destruction. Indeed it is miraculous that our Nation hath subsisted so long, and few there are that would believe that the whole Candle of our English wealth could last so long, as we have beheld it burning in the Socket, but now giving the last blaze, if God be not merciful, and men discreet to prevent it.
7. Pass we from the sad Malady, to the sole Remedy thereof, I say sole, not exclusively of divine miraculous power, but according to humane apprehension, this is a Free and full Parliament. Indeed Free-Parliament is a Tau∣tology, like a Reasonable-man, who, if not reasonable, is no man; as the other, if not free, no Parliament. But the late frequent forces put on Parliaments hath made the needless Epethite become necessary, to express what kinde of Parlia∣ments we desire. Not such in which every word must be spoken under correction of the Sword, but wherein every Member, without fear of violence (to interrupt or dissolve them) may follow the dictates of their own judge∣ment.
8. Nor ought a Parliament onely bee free from Force, but also from any Abjurations, or previous Engagements. Let them take heed of renouncing any thing, save what is simply sinful in it self, as the forsaking of the World, Flesh, and Devil, as was solemnly promised for them in their Baptism. But it is bad to bee busie with other Ab-renuncia∣tions, especially of the Royal Family.
9. Look backward, and we may say with David, The Vows of the Lord are upon us; I mean on so many of us as are of fifty years of age. The Oath of Supremacy (not to mention the Covenant) is the eldest Brother, to whom the inheritance of our Consciences do belong.
10. Look forwards, it limiteth Gods Providence, which is an hainous offence; wee know not what a day, month, year, &c. may bring forth. This Age hath the least reason of any to meddle with the edge-tools of such Oathes which in a short (but strict) time hath seen so many strange things, that now nothing is strange unto us. Have wee not seen O. Cromwell from a private Gentleman gradatim ascend to bee Protector of three Nations, and by his Cou∣rage and Wisdome rather than any right) a more abso∣lute Power possessed by, and larger Tribute paid unto him than to any King in England. His Son and Successour (counted bad by many for his goodness and milde spirit) for eighth months was congratulated by the most con∣siderable Persons of our Nation. Now if some twenty years since an Oath had been tendred unto us to abjure the Fa∣mily of Cromwels from ever having the Supream Magistra∣ey in our Nation; such an Oath would have seemed safe, but yet it was not lawful to take it, because none knew what was in the Womb of Teeming Time, though utterly im∣probable to our belief.
11. Besides, the Imposers of this Oath may miss the mark they propound to themselves, viz. assurance of their own, and discovery of the opposite Party; for many now pass not for the taking or breaking of any Oath, and assurance of such is hard in keeping, and indeed not worth the having. Other will behold the Oath as temporary, and expiring with the power of the Imposers. As for the conscientious indeed, Esfusing it out of pure principles of piety, it is a barbarous act for persons in power, to turn
Executioners to strangle tender Consciences, whose cordial fear of an Oath should be encouraged.
12. As the Parliament must be free, no Vassal, but enfran∣chised from the Sword, so must it bee full, no Cripple, but entire and compleat in all the Members thereof. Our Land hath lately groaned under the most grievous Monopoly as ever was, or can be, when a handful of men have grasped to themselves the representing of a whole (not to say three) Nation, most of them being but Burgesses, who though equal in Votes, are not equal in their Representation with the Knights of the Shires. If they presume that the rest excluded by them (far more considerable for Birth, Estates, Num∣ber, Love of the People, and what not?) are vertually included in them, it is an intollerable PRESUMPTION. That what pertaineth to all should be handled by all, is a Truth so clear and strong, that they must offer a Rape to their own Reason that deny it. Such also is this Maxim, Ʋnrepresented, Ʋnconcluded: So that if so few have in them the notion of a Parliament, it is a bare Notion in∣deed, especially seeing this handful of men were (say the Cavaliers) dissolved by the death of the King; dissolved (said Cromwell) by his Sword; dissolved (say some Great ones) by an Act of their own (entred into the Journall Book of the Parliament) dissolved must their own Consciences say, by their voluntary accepting of Elections in later Parlia∣ments.
13. Now the Members of a Free and full Parliament (the onely Hope of Humane help) ought thus to be quali∣fied:
14. This their Moderation must appear in consider∣ing all Interests, seeing there be no two Interests in the Nation so contemptible, which if united, and twisting their discontents together, cannot draw trouble on all the rest: Especially the Sectarian (though presented I beleeve by their party, through a multipling Glass) are considerable on a politick score of their numbers and pious account of their conscience; for, though many of them carry the latter in their Purses, who when they finde the moisture of Profit to fail them, will fall off like leaves in Au∣tumn; yet can I not be so uncharitable, but to beleeve that many of them (having the heat of their affections above the light of their judgements) follow erroneous Consciences; Besides, having gone loose so long, they must needs swell, if hardly girded on a sudden.
15. This moderation also must be used by all other Per∣sons, to work themselves to be (if not pleased) contented with the decisions of a free Parliament. All must sit down Losers save such alone, who can plead, that they have been no Sinners in our Nation. The Grand design must be to have none, or, (if that be impossible) as few as may be, utterly ruined. I confess two hungry meals makes a third a Clutton, and such who have long fasted from their detained Estates, will be not onely greedy but ravenous to recover them. Yea, such will shrewdly plead, that they now expect moderation from them, who never used moderation to them. However, in such a general danger, men must depose their animo∣sities, labouring, first, to reconcile their spirits, then, their perswasions, the later being at less distance than the former. And men must divide, where they cannot get the whole, seeing few will pity his starving who will eat no bread at all, because he can recover but half of his own loaf.
16. It will be objected that such a full P. is still but an empty Parliament, having no House of Lords therein: But know, if both hands of a man be bound, no hope of liber∣ty from himself; but if one be untied, it may do the bro∣therly office to unloose the other: Let us be content to row in a Sculler till we can get a pair of Oars. And such surely is the Ingenuity and publick spiritness of the Peers, that laying aside personal Interest (which upon debate may appear more) they will suspend their Rights, Immunities, and priviledges, and submit all to the determination of a Free Parliament to acquiesce therein.
17. God give our Nation seasonably to understand their own strength, that the Wars begun may be ended amongst our selves before Forreigners become the Arbitrators of our differences, who will demand great wages for little work, yea and turn their owne Paymasters thereof. And may that great General (whose Intentions long have stood in the dark to our Nation, whilst our Nations desires were all the while in
light to him, understand that Vox Populi is Vox Dei, and interpret, that God calleth unto him by the Declarations of all Counties, to be chiefly instrumental in asserting our Li∣berties, and we shall have cause for ever to bless the day of his Nativity.
18. Indeed had Providence fixed our Nativities under the Duke of Muscovy, whose List is his Subjects Law, we would (because we must) work our selves patiently to the obedience of his power. But seeing God hath given us, with St. Paul, to be free-born, Acts 22. 28. (though al∣so, with the Centurion, we have given great summs, not to obtain, but contrive this freedome) let us not tamely lose our Birth-right, and vigorously endeavour their preservation.
19. The Story is well known of the old Woman, who having but a small parcel of Wood, would leasurably roast her Goose▪stick by stick, till her wood was all burnt, and her Goose still raw. If the several Counties singly engage one after another, all will be overthrown, and nothing effected as to our relief. Let the two and fifty Shires of ENGLAND and WALES (with the Ci∣ty of LONDON, which eminently is two and fifty more) be all as one, and unanimously advance the Work, and not doe as they dealt with poor CHESHIRE, using it as Joab used Ʋriah, putting him forward on a∣ction, then falsly ret, eating from him, and leaving him a prey to his enemies. But I hope our old Shipwracks will be new Sea-marks to us, documented by former nocu∣ments, to steer a course for the general good.
20. There is so Englishman so inconsiderable, but he may, at the least in a single capacity, be contributive to the happiness of his Native Country, the Wise with their Brains, the Rich with their Purses, the Learned with their Pens, the Strong with their Persons, all with their Prayers. And if now they suffer this opportunity which God puts into their hands, to slip through their fingers, they may hereafter have more years to bemoan their folly, than minutes to amend their misery; it being better now to say, We will not, than three years hence to say, We cannot pay our Taxes.