A Holy Commonwealth

An Addition to the Preface, being a Discussion of the Answer to the Healing Question.

BEcause it is a matter of so great moment, that you pass not in impenitency to the Barre of God, (where you must all speedily appear) and that the many Thousands of this Nation, that never were actually guilty, may not make your sinnes (sinnes of such a dreadfull nature) to become their own by approbation; I thought it my duty to manifest the fallacy of all those Arguments, which I judged might most probably deceive you. And therefore supposing that thence you are likely to fetch matter of encouragement, I shall briefly discuss the wounding Answer to the Healing Question, so far as may concern your Consciences.

1. He placeth the Cause in two things; 1 p. 3, 4. To have and enjoy the Freedom (by way of dutifull compliance and candescension from all the parts and members of this society,) to set up meet persons in the place of Supream Judicature, and authority amongst them. 2. p. 5, 6. Freedom in matters of Religion, or that concern the service and worship of God.

The former is thus enlarged, p. 10. That the body of the good people in their military capacity and posture, are most properly Soveraign, and possesse their right of naturall Soveraignty.] And p. 11. [Becoming one Civill or Politick Incorporation with the whole Party of honest Men, they do therein keep the Soveraignty, as Originally seated in themselves, and part with it only as by way of Deputation, and Representation of themselves, &c.]

The second (Religious Liberty,) is (p. 5, 6, 7.) said to be that [which the Nations of the world have right and title to by the purchase of Christs blood, who by virtue of his Death and Resurrection, is become the sole Lord and Ruler in and over the Conscience, &c. And that every one might give an account of himself in all matters of Gods Worship unto God and Christ alone, as their own Master unto whom they stand or fall in Judgment, and are not in these things to be oppressed, or brought before the judgment Seats of Men. For why shouldst thou set at naught thy Brother in the matters of his Faith and Conscience. and herein intrude into the proper Office of Christ, &c. By virtue of this Supream Law Sealed and Confirmed in the Blood of Christ to all Men, it is, that all Magistrates are to fear and forbear intermedling with giving Rule or interposing in those matters.—He is to be a Minister of Terror and Revenge to those that do evil in matters of outward practice, converse, and dealings in the things of this life between man and man, for the cause whereof the Judicatures of men are appointed and set up. To exeeed these limits is not safe, &c.] And p. 7. he would have) this restraint laid on the Supream Power, before it be erected, as a Fundamentall Constitution among others, &c. and that it be acknowledged the Voluntary act of the Ruling Power, when once brought into a capacity of acting Legislatively, that herein they are bound up, and judge it their duty so to be, both in reference to God, the Institutour of Magistracy, and in reference to the whole body, &c.] So much of the Cause.

2. The Persons that he supposeth have this Soveraign Power, are sometimes said to be [the Nations of the world] and [all men whose souls Christ challenges a propriety in, to bring under his inward Rule in the service and worship of God,] &c. And the ground of it is made to be Nature it self, sometimes it is [The whole party of Honest Men adhearing to this Cause, p. 3. [And their right is double, 1. Naturall, 2. By the success of their Armes, this is restored:] [They have added to the naturall right which was in them before, the right of Conquest, p. 2. sometimes it is the whole body of the People, that the right and freedom was, and is due to, p. 4.] sometimes [the actions proceeding from hearts sincerely affected to the Cause, created in them a right, to be of an Incorporation and society by themselves, under the name of the Good Party.—These in Order to the maintaining of this Cause have stood by the Army, in defence and support thereof, against all opposition whatever, as those that by the growing light of these times, have been taught and led forth in their experiences, to look above and beyond the Letter, form, and outward circumstances of Government, into the inward reason and spirit thereof, herein only to fix and terminate, &c.] p. 9. It is [the whole Body of the adherents to this Cause,] that in the several parts of the Nations, that must choose a General Council or Convention of Faithfull Honest and discerning Men, p. 20.]

3. Lastly, The capacities wherein the persons then qualified have acted, have been very variable.—And very seldom, if ever at all so exactly, and in all points consonant to the Rule of former Laws and Constitutions of Government, as to be clearly and fully justified by them, any longer than the Law of successe and Conquest did uphold them, who had the inward warrant of Justice and Righteousnesse, to encourage them in such their actings. The utmost and last reserve which they have had, in case all other failed, hath been their military capacity; not only strictly taken for the standing Army, but in the largest sense, wherein the whole Party may (with the Army, &c.) associate themselves.

I pretend not to an infallibility in the interpretation of these words; but that they may do your Consciences no harm, I shall first tell you what we Grant, and secondly wherein we dissent from what doth seem to be here expressed and emplyed, and the reasons of this dissent shall be annexed.

1. We Grant that the Peoples Consent is ordinarily necessary to the constitution of the Government, and that their freedom is taken from them, when this is denied them.