Considerations tending to the happy accomplishment of Englands reformation in church and state.: Humbly presented to the piety and wisdome of the High and Honourable Court of Parliament.

Of the Fourth.

THe Honourable House of Parliament are the Great Committee of the whole King∣dom for the Universall Reformation ther∣of: and by the Deputation of Power given to them in their Members, from every part of the Kingdom, the whole Power of all is contracted in their Body, as in the Headship of the Nati∣on; for Counsell and Justice, and from thence

all Power hath again an influence upon every part of the Kingdome as need required. Now by vertue of this Supremacy or Power summed up in them, and in reference to the necessity of things to bee done under them; they have a right to confer Power, and make Deputations of Authority unto others to Act for a Refor∣mation, so as by them they shal be directed: nor is it lawfull for any without leave and commis∣sion from them, to act towards a Reformation in a Publike Way; so that properly the Worke of Reformation is radically seated in the Body of the Houses, and no Committee can bee with any just title termed a Committee for Refor∣mation, but the Houses themselves, because none have any right to minde and act a Refor∣mation in the Generall but They. Yet this not∣withstanding it is Lawful no doubt for all Men to entertaine the thoughts and wishes of a Ge∣nerall Reformation; and would to God every one in his place were acting something, as a pre∣parative towards it, more then seemes to be intended. If then it should be moved, that the Houses would depute some of their Mem∣bers (without excluding any from partaking of the same cares) to mind not so much a particu∣lar

Taske in the Work of Reformation (which is Ordinary in the appointment of all Commit∣tees) as to seek out the Generall Rules and Ma∣ximes by which the Course of a setled Refor∣mation should be steered & guided at all times: that those Maximes might be proposed and de∣bated in the Houses, and laid as Grounds of the Righteous Wayes by which all their Govern∣ment is to be established under God: I suppose it would bee a great advantage both to their proceedings in Counsel, and to the direction of all such as being subordinate unto their Power, desire to act knowingly according to their just intentions. For the Main Fundamentall Rules of all just proceedings once being setled and received; not only the Subordinate Agents, but the Senators themselves in doubtfull Cases of Advice, will be therby able to find Light what to resolve upon; and in dark matters of Judge∣ment they will be directed thereby, What Sen∣tence to give Conscionably according to their own Uncontroulable Principles.

This Committee for Rules of Reformation should have power, and be ordered to call unto them for Consultation the most Learned, God∣ly, and Experienced Divines of the Kingdome;

whether in or out of the Assembly; to put them upon the thoughts of Resolving such Queries and Doubts from the Word of God and cleer Principles of Reason, as they shall think fit to propose unto them for the framing of those Maximes of Reformation, which they shall prepare to be proposed unto the Houses; to be upon debate received, as Universall Rules to walk by, in the pursuit of such an Evangelicall Settlement and Reformation as wee should now aime at.

And although Men be never so able in Parts, never so much read in all Authors, never so deeply grounded in all Sciences, never so large∣ly experienced in all Affairs, and never so much seen in all the World, and consequently every way as much qualified as men can be for a work of such high Consequence as this will be to this State; yet except they have some helps to ena∣ble them, to look upon Matters neer at hand, & with some speciall relation to the changes of Times, Things, Persons, and Occasions, where∣unto their endeavours are to be applyed (that they may discern the native properties thereof by all Circumstances discoverable) they wil be but like Physitians, who without regard to the

particular Symptomes of their Patient, pre∣scribe a generall Remedy for the disease, which seldome is effectuall to work a good or speedy Cure; and if it doth any good, it is to be ascri∣bed rather to chance then wisdome. For the Theoretical part of general Rules may by Men of abilities bee delivered at large, but to make these Practically appliable for the Main End of an Effectuall Reformation unto a State that is lyable (as all States are) unto perpetuall chan∣ges, is the Matter, which the Wisdome of this Committee should mainly apply themselves unto, which necessarily requires a speciall In∣sight and Discovery of Affaires neer at hand. Therefore if to these Men, and to all others of the Parliament that desire to looke fully and fundamentally into the Affaires of this King∣dom, and of this Church in al the Members and Motions therof, and into the Affairs of Neigh∣bour Churches and States as they may relate towards these, to be able to Compare and lay things together: (If I say, to these Men) a Help can be given whereby they shall be inabled to look not onely upon the Outward Parts, but as it were, upon the very Anatomy of all the in∣ward bowels of the Church and State as they

are at all times, and from time to time existent, in their native features and lineaments, and up∣on all the Vitall Motions and Actions of these Parts and Bowels; If 〈◊〉〈◊〉 say againe, an easie Help can be found for such a discovery, wil it not be an exceeding great advantage to them to open their eyes in al Counsels and Resolutions? Cer∣tainly it will; and such as shall have this insight in matters, will bee able upon all occasions to walke, as it were, at noon day in the light, when others will be constrained to doe things but at randome, and grope in difficult Cases, as it were for the wall at midnight. Now this helpe may be had in an Office of Spirituall and Temporall Addresses, whereunto all Men for their own Convenience, Advantage and Profit, will bee made willing, and invited to repaire as to a Common Center of Repose where∣in they may expect satisfaction for all their Lawfull desires, so much as may be had by any Humane Contrivance in a wel-ordered Com∣mon-wealth.

And to make this apparent that an Office may be erected to this effect, which may bee of Infinite Usefulness to the State, and especially to the Work of Reformation, We shall ende∣vour

to set down the Sum of it; together with the right Uses thereof; and the Way by which it may bee established easily and without noise or delay.