A frivolous paper, in form of a petition: framed & composed by a disaffected party in this city of London, intended by them to be presented to the honorable House of Commons : with certain considerations propounded by way of advertisement and caution unto those who through unadvisadnesse [sic] are apt to subscribe the same / by a Well-willer to peace and truth.

Certaine Considerations upon the Pre∣fixed Petition.

AS God and his Church never wanted Enemies, so the De∣vill and Antichrist never wanted friends for the pro∣motion of prophannesse and Idolatry in all places, it is hard to say, whether are more the Enemies of truth and peace with God or friends of error and peace with the Devill: men whom the Apostle calls sensuall, fleshly, and Divelish, lovers of pleasures more then Lovers of God, who can see no further then this life, fearing more the terrors of man then of the Almigh∣ty, chuse rather peace with man, and wrath with God, then the wrath of man and peace with God; the truth of all which doth appeare by a Petition now in agitation; concerning which I have gathered some plaine and undeniable observations, presenting them by way of caution unto others from these particulars, viz.

• 1. The chiefe Composers. Of this Petition.
• 2. The Malignant nature. Of this Petition.
• 3. The most probable Conse∣quences, Reasons & Aimes. Of this Petition.

First consider whether the chief sticklers and fomenters therof are not notoriously known to be Pattentees, Proctors, Delinquents, Ma∣lignants, who either have not at all, or any of them in any consider∣able measure according to their Estates assisted the common cause of the Kingdom against the common enemy thereof: whose pretences though they are for Religion, and Law, and the aid of poore Ire∣land, yet they are men Popish, Athiesticall, and prophane in point of Religion some whereof (and they not of the lowest sort) have most prophanely and blasphemously in the presence of those (who being desired, denied to subscribe to a Petition for peace without truth) cursed truth, saying a pox on truth, give us peace, truth will follow, and let us have peace and the Devill take truth, &c. and as for the Law, consider, whether many of them have not gotten their Estates by Pattents, a lawlesse occupation; and as for bleeding Ireland let their Receipts shew what they have done for its recovery, which will amount to the same nothing as the summe which they have disbursed for distracted England, they are mutinous and tumultu∣ous, professing in the presence of many, that if this Petition died, they will die with it, and if one suffer all will suffer, with such like mutinous expressions.—These are the parties.

Secondly, consider the nature of this Petition, and see if yee finde it not intolerably saucy and peremptory against the Parliament in many particulars.

First in taxing closely but cleerly this present Parliament with in∣consideration of the known Laws of the Land, as if either they were ignorant thereof, or impotent thereby, as not able to repeale or alter the same, being made by themselves in their predecessors having power to nul the same at their pleasure.

Secondly, consider whether they do not covertly, but unavoidably tax this present Parliament, either with indiscretion in that they presume to be wiser then their predecessors, and therefore desire them to weigh the care and judgment of our predecessors, who by a known Law setled and preserved our Protestant Religion and Property, &c. or else closely implying, that this present Parliament accuseth former Parliaments of folly and unadvisednesse in that they have confirmed those things that must now be reversed; either whereof is most un∣sufferable arrogancy and Nationall injury.

Thirdly, consider whether they do not tax this present Parliament

with their tendring unto his Majesty such Propositions hitherto, which he may notwith his honour, and safety of the Kingdome ac∣cept, and therefore they desire that they would speedily tender unto his Majesty (according to his regall intimations) such Propositions for Ac∣commodation, as He may with honour, and safety to the whole Kingdome accept. Whereas it is most evidently known, that many Propositions have been tendred, and not one either to the dishonour of the King, whose greatest honour would be to govern his Kingdome by the ad∣vise of his great Councell, and faithfull Parliament, and not by the Malignant Counsells of Papists and Traytors, and out-lawed Delin∣quents: neither hath there bin one Proposition tendred which doth not most uberously carry along with it the safety and future prospe∣rity of this Kingdome.

Fourthly, consider whether the Malignity of this petition doth not appeare in many phrases and expressions scattered up and downe therein, as if it were the birth of the same womb which hath lately been, very fruitfull in many printed and scandalous Pamphlets, in ca∣sting reproches, and most unworthy scandalls, upon both Houses of Parliament, such as The known Law of the Land; ascribing the violation of our Religion to Papists and Sectaries: Under which latter word, hath ever bin implied, every man that in any thing hath differed from the Bishops Innovations, and superstitious Ceremonies, in the govern∣ment of the Church: Thus the malignity of this Petition appeares in the nature of it.

Thirdly, consider the undoubtedly aimed at Consequences and Tendences thereof, which must be such as these.

First, the raising of mutinies, divisions and discontents in the City (the unity whereof is the ruine of the common enemie) that the re∣port hereof in the Countries, whose eyes are upon the Citie, may discourage the well-affected there, and so the common cause may meet with reluctancy throughout the whole Kingdome.

Secondly, that the enemie now very weak and like to fall of them∣selves for want of Amunition and meanes (the vitall bloud of an Ar∣my) may yet strengthen and encourage themselves, and make shift by plundering, robbing, and spoyling the Countrey, to spin out a lit∣tle time, knowing that our divisions here, if continued, will effectu∣ally advantage them in their bloudy designes: and thus these hypo∣criticall Petitioners as Ehud to Eglon, cry peace peace, to the Kingdom,

while they secretly and maliciously endeavour to thrust a Sword of destruction into the bowels thereof.

Thirdly, a third aim'd at effect must be this, the stiring up of other their Brethren malignant wretches in other parts of the Kingdom, ad exemplum to do the like, that so they may bring the whole King∣dome divided against it selfe to inevitable ruine, whereas by the mer∣cy of the Almighty, the present case and endeavour of our Parlia∣ment by our Forces abroad, and associations of the severall Coun∣ties against the common enemy, may put a very speedy and timely end unto these present troubles, with all advantages both to Church, and State, and desired assistance of our poore Brethren in Ireland.

Fourthly, they now well perceive that they shall no longer be to∣lerated either in their detected malignity, or unworthy newtrality. but Nolentes volentes shall be compel'd by just assesments and censures in their estates to help the present state of the Kingdom, and there∣fore will now adventure such courses that may bring all to confusion, rather then be helpfull, endeavouring like Judas for a little moneys sake, under colour of a kisse of Peace, to betray the Kingdome into the hands of violent and bloody men, and although like reverend Plush-cloakes, and intelligent States-men they cryed out against the Parliament, saying, did they not plead the Subjects propertie, loe where is property if they shall take what they please from us? yet they may know, that though we may plead propertie in respect of the Kings taxing without Law. yet we can pleade no propertie from the Parliament in a time of imminent danger, into whose disposall we have committed our estates and all that we have, which we never did to the King, and surely were our Parliament as selvish as these Pe∣titioners are, we would all have known long before this time, what the power of Parliament had bin, by our ruine and slavery, being not in the tenth measure so provoked by such ingratitude, and unnatur∣all provocations, as they have bin.

Fiftly, consider what a rocke we may run upon, thus unthankfully to provoke the Parliament, may they not compremise differences to their own personall safety and preferment; and our irrecoverable slavery? haue they not us at such advantages, that they may undoe us every houre? can we aledge any thing against them wherein they have bin unfaithfull in that trust we committed to their charge? is it not in the prosecution of our Peace? wherein they meet with such

frownes and oppositions from above? have they not hazarded their estates and livelyhoods for us? did not many of them oppose with their bloud in their personall adventures, the malignity of that un∣naturall and bloudly Army that came against their mother Nation? did we not chuse them because we thought they would be faithfull? and shall we distast them for their faithfulnesse; hath not the peace and wel-fare of the Kingdom bin pretious in their eyes? let malice it selfe produce any instance to the contrary: what had become of us before this time had not their care and diligence in securing the Seas prevented those preparations made beyond the Seas by known Traytors to the Kingdom? hath God by them discovered so many plots? prevented so many apparent dangers? freed us from so many pressures and taxations? procured so much freedom for us? and do we thus requite them? had they not every day a fresh ointment from above with the Spirit of meeknesse and love unto the Kingdom, they would make our hearts ake for such daring provocations as this Pe∣titio n imports.

In fine, let us follow hard after Peace but harder after Truth, the best peace will follow truth, though truth will not follow every peace; let us pray for peace, but of Jerusalem, not of Babylon; if our peace be enmity to truth, truth will quickly devour our peace: let us admit of a peace upon any termes of personall disadvantage, so we engage not the God of peace against us; what ever we abate of that which is called ours, yet let us not leave a hoof behinde of all that is called Gods; better it is to purchase truth for our posterity by our bloud, then to betray them by a sinfull peace. God hath hi∣therto bin with us, while we have bin with him, if we forsake him he will forsake us: though the Sons of Anak be great and tall, yet shall God drive them out before us as he hath don: If we honour God by believing, he will honour us by succeeding our endeavours; 'tis true God bids us follow peace, but never without Holinesse.