To the Honourable COMMITTEE OF KENT.
MY service (in all humillity) presented unto you. For Accommodating (so farre, as necessarily may bee,) of your desires, I give you to wilt, That I have seene, and perused a Printed sheet of Paper, with this Inscription; or Title, (viz.) A Payre of Gold-weights, &c. And with this subscription, or Postscrip, (viz.) This Appeal, and Demonstration, I commend to your Circumspect Perusall, to mend, and Ratifie in forme, &c. with my name set at the foot of the Postscript. There being some little varying therein from any Maniscript of mine.
And since our Saviour doth propound, to such as professe his Name, as well to be wise as Scrpents, as innocent, as Doves; And since neither the Law of God, the Law of Nations, nor the Law of Nature, doth require, or exact from any, a selfe Accusation; And being strongly perswaded, that it hath not entred into the thoughts of your hearts, or the hearts of any of you, to draw any thing from me, either by word or writing, to be any wayes prejudiciall unto met. Therefore, for the whole matter, in the Printed Paper contained, I shall propose, neither Negatively▪ nor Affirmatively; But as Prosecution shall be therein, I shall desire but the common benefit and priviledge [Page 2] of a Native Subject, in a vindicative, or defensive way, &c. As Occurrences shall Legally present.
But, to satisfie your Expectations, touching my sense of the Scope, and extent of what is contained in the said Printed Paper; I conceive, the first part thereof wholly, as well as some other parts, and passages therein, in part, concernes in speciall manner Mr. Dennes Practises, and expressions at the Sessions holden at the Castle of Canterbury, for the East Division of the County of Kent, 15. July, 1645. Touching which, I shall desire (as occurrences shall permit,) a Legall Liberty of Appeale; And not out of any prejudice to the Person of him, or of any other man whatsoever; No [...] that I make any scruple, or difference, from whose hand, or by what Power, the Stroak of Persecution is directed. But my [...]peciall Ayme, and purpose therein, is, by all lawfull wayes to indeavour to unfold, and bring to a cleere and Palpable discovery, to my owne, and the common Eye of the Subjects of this Kingdome; Whether my self, and others, which have been Persecuted, (since the Repeal of those Conscience-binding Lawes, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, As in the Preface to the Directory appears,) have been so persecuted by Law, or without Law.
And if by Law, That then there may be an incessant indeavour, by Petitionary, and Supplicatory way, to procure a further, and finall Repeal of those, and others of the same Affinity, if any such are yet in being; Put if Divine Providence, have so disposed, that the stings of such Conscience-binding Laws, be already plucked out; that then my self, and the whole Kingdome, may never be wanting, to give God the Honour, and men their Respective dues therein.
If any Passage, or expression therein, shall be taken, as to Reflect upon any; either Courts, Persons, or Person in particular, I conceive it is more then by any ordinary Construction can be naturally drawn from any part, or Passage therein, there being (to my remembrance, neither Court, Persons, Person, time, nor practises, (other then as before mentioned, touching Mr. Denne, the then Judge,) specified therein.
Only, I shall with all due Respects unto you, Present to your Judicious considerations these three Queries ensuing. [Page 3] (Viz.)
QUERE I. First, If a man be injoyned, to enter into Obligations of vast summes, to conform himself to promiscuous, and illegall Restrictions of his Birthright Priviledges, And shall in Obedience thereunto, both confine and conforme himself, so farre, that no colour of advantage can be taken for Non-Conformity, And so of course, the Party discharged from such Obligations. And notwithstanding, upon the discharge therefrom, there be Premonitions, and threats from the Judge, for Non-Conformity, (as before) to inflict the same Punishments.
QUERE. II. Secondly, If a man Appeal to a Court, That if hee have offended the Law, hee desires to be punish'd by Law; if otherwise, That by the justice of the Court hee may be acquitted, And notwithstanding Sentence be pronounced against such a one, contrary to Law.
QUERE. III. Thirdly, If a wrong party, be Indicted and Arested, [for exercising Religious Dueties, &c.] committed to Prison, brought forth before a Court of Judicature, claimes the Priviledge of a Subject, as in the same case is due unto him: And notwithstanding the Court shall prosecute against, sentence, and Re-imprison such a one.
What is any wise intimated touching the miscarriage of Transactors, It appeares to me to Reflect equally from both parties, now in contestation. And as Arbitrary exactions cannot be Transubstantiated into Subjects Priviledges by mutation of Termes, and not things: So for my own part, 'Tis my hearty desire, that they may rather, [by mutuall Act of Oblivion,] be buryed in the Land of forgetfulnesse, then to be mustered up, to be exhibited [in their Numbers or Natures,] to the Publick view of the World.
For the Seventeen Digestions, or conditionall Propositions, therein Inserted, (I conceive,) What is Demonstrated in them, being seriously pondered, and digested, may by Christian composition, produce wolsome Ingredients, to worke the Pulse of this Kingdom to a more complying Constitution, for the future Peace, and Well-being thereof, then yet appeares; as well as be found to be a Soveraign Antidote against Forreine Attempts, and discontents.
And what in any of them may seem to have Referrence, to the Proof of things, spoken or acted. I suppose, they would not have been inserted, without (I feare,) but too manifest Evidence for the Proof of them. And I (humbly) conceive, the onely way and meanes, to prevent Uncoth Consequences of such inconsiderate and Rash Practises, were by clipping the wings, by publicke disavowing of them. I desire not to multiply words; I (humbly) commit you to the Protection of the Almighty. And Rest,
To the Right Honourable the House of PEERES, With the Honourable House of COMMONS: IN PARLIAMENT ASSEEMBLED.
THat whereas you have mutually, by many former and latter Declarations, and Manifestations, set forth your deep sense of the deplorable condition of this languishing Kingdome, Thereby presenting unto us the Consideration thereof, to bring us home (as wee humbly conceive,) to a self Examination, duely to ponder the large proportion that every one of our sinnes have contributed, not onely in the kindling, but likewise in the increasing, and aggravating the Prodigious flames of our unnaturall Divisions; and as upon mature deliberation, (weighing and digesting our Condition,) wee plainly behold the distemper of this divided Kingdome, still yeelding forth much combustable matter to consume it self: So likewise, by the waves of our Nationall and Domestick Distractions, (unlesse God worke a wonderfull change both in things, and Persons, to quench the coales of jealousie in our Spirits, and calme the now raging stormes,) we can expect no other Issue, But that the ship of all future happinesse to this Kingdome, will be Totally swallowed up (as in a Deluge,) by the Waves of our present Commotions, and this not long since flourishing Kingdome, (having unnaturally eaten out its owne Bowells,) be left as a Golgatha, or field of blood. And s [...]nce you joyntly professe, your Ardent desires are, Impartially to Render to God, the things which [Page 6] are Gods, And to Caesar the things that are Caesars. Wee your humble Supplicants, [as not daring to cast a stone at the sinnes of the times, By reason of the guilt which every one of our sinnes have contracted therein: And as having a fellow-feeling of our Brethrens miseries, so being ready, and desirous to cast in our mytes, to accommodate them, and to prevent the like misery to our selves,] are imboldned humbly to Demonstrate unto you, our apprehensions and desires ensuing; As fouded upon that Royall Law, of Loving God above all, and our Neighbour as our selves. [Ʋiz.]
First, That we are heartily willing, to part with what proportion soever, of our Estates, Reall or Personall, with the rest of the Kingdome, [in an equall, and proportionable manner,] for the defraying of the Ʋast detriments, and expences occasioned by our unhappy divisions.
Secondly, Touching the Militia, and Judicatory, and other weighty Affaires of this Kingdome; That if there shall be such a satisfactory Ballancing of them. [As Caesar may discerne, an Equivalent Power, as invested in him to defend; and the Subjects a like Equivalent Power, as invested in them to preserve, and each subject being set upon levill ground touching Native Priviledges,] wee humbly conceive, It might be as a Soveraigne Antidote, to worke the Pulse of this gasping Kingdome, to beat more hopefully, and complyantly then now it doth.
Thirdly, That as [wee humbly conceive,] the Holy One of Israel, is not to be limmitted, either to the time, or manner of receiving into his Vineyard; but revealeth himself to his in such manner, and measure, and at such houre, As he hath in his fore-knowledge ordained, [who being our Alone Lord and Master, before whom wee shall stand, or fall;] So as we dare not intrench upon Gods Prerogative, to take Dominion over the Faith of our Brethren; Neverthelesse, wee [humbly,] conceive it an unquestionable duty; And shall be ready at all times, to the utmost of our Powers, to maintain and defend Authority, and all that shall submitt, to what they shall tender in spirituall matters, in their owne enjoyments from Ʋiolation, and disturbance of All men whatsoever.
And, as wee Recent, the frequent Alarmes, (sounded into our Eares, by your DECLARATIONS, and Manifestations,) Are intended, as invitations, to put us upon a serious inquiry of our Estates; So to quicken us in our duties, [as Patients,] to make our Addresses to you, [as our Physitians next under God,] to [Page 7] acquaint you, as with the grounds of the progresse of our Mallady, and distemper; So with our present Constitution and feares, which seem to surprize us, Touching future inconveniences, and Enormities flowing in upon us. Wherefore wee are further imboldned, Humbly to present, to your serious Considerations, These our Apprehensions, and desires ensuing. [Ʋiz.]
1. That you would be pleased, to set forth, A cleere, and Genuine satisfaction, how farre, [as you conceive,] the Scripture doth inright the People, to a free, and common Voice, in the Election of their Ministers.
2. That by reason of the disproportion of Livings, wee finde it causes no small trouble, in many Places, and not a little dejection to divers people; In regard that many Ministers, are so easily drawne away [by the Load-stone of worldly Lucre,] Even as often as a greater Living presents it self, Which [wee humbly conceive,] if more Equally divided, would in a great measure be prevented.
3. That if Collectors were appointed in every Lath, or other division, according to the Wisedome and discretion of such as should be thereunto Assigned, and all the Livings brought into a Common Banck, or Treasury; And there distributed, as in equity should be found most meet,] both for the present maintenance of the Ministry; And likewise in some competent proportion, [as occasioned,] for the comfortable livelyhood of their Widdowes, and Education of their Children; Wee humbly conceive, that as by that meanes; The whole man might be the better taken up, in the worke of the Ministery; So, many Jarrings, and Discords, which are but too too frequent betwixt Ministers, and People, would cease for present, and be prevented for Future.
The Subscribers to this Supplication, and Demonstration, [humbly] crave permission for but onely Twenty men of the County of [...] to present the same to the King, and Parliament.
THIS Supplication, &c. (As I have declared, for the satisfaction of the Honourable Committee of KENT, or whomsoever it may concerne,) was of my owne composing: and that many moneths since. Onely thus much I shall acquaint you with; That it was certified to the said Committee, that I had advanced it with a great deale of Violence, in so much that Ten thousand hands were subscribed to it. When (in Truth,) at that time, neither my owne hand, was subscribed to it, nor (to my knowledge, or beleif, the hand of any man whatsoever. [I dare not so much derogate from the Scoutmasters of the Black cloath, as not to rancke them amongst the chiefest Proficients in the Art of Multiplication.] It makes my heart to tremble, to ponder the unhappy consequences of giving or edit to naked Reports. I desire not to make further Applycation. But shall alwayes pray; That wee may each one endeavour to amend one. That such a Reformation may bee effected, as wee have so much spoken of, and so little Acted towards, And Rest.