Eight and Thirty QUERIES PROPOUNDED By One that is setting forth Sail, and desires to steer his Course aright, that escaping the Gulphs he may arrive at SAFETY.
TOUCHING Things Past, Present, and to Come.
Prov. 2. 3, 4, 5.
If thou criest after knowledge and liftest up thy voyce for understanding.
If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid Treasures.
Then shalt thou understand.
LONDON, Printed for Richard Andrews, 1659.
Thirty Eight QUERIES Touching Things Past, Present, and to Come.
I. WHether Salus populi be not the end of the Law of all Nations?
II. Whether the peoples Representatives are not the proper Judges of what is for the welfare of the Nation?
III. Whether our Parliament be not the same in nature, as the Counsell at the time of Englands fi [...]st becomming Tributary to the Romans, who by their Power chose, Theemantius the yonger Son of Lud to be King, rather then Androgeus the Elder: And whether the restoring the Parliament by Henry the first, were not a committer of the People to their right, though he abridged their Authority by keeping himself the head?
[Page 4]IV. Whether Kings now in any Place have the like right to rule as Abram had over his family being his Children and Servants?
V. Whether then the Right to rule now be not from the Election of the People?
VI. Whether the Election of al Kings be not either from Compulsion or from the Trust, the People reside in them?
VII. Whether the Kings since the Conquest have reigned by Usurpation, or by Right?
VIII. Whether (if by Usurpation) their Confirming hath not been by Compulsion?
IX. Whether Prescription gives any more Right to a Crown then to Land?
X. Whether a Parliament having Power may not Lawfully repulse an Usurper?
XI. Whether (if by right) a King being Elected, Established or Confirmed by Parliament, breaking his Oath and trust reposed in him may not by the same Authority be taken down, as Edward the second and Richard the second were?
XII. Whether the first Provocation and Preparation, or the first blow make a War invafive?
[Page 5]XIII. Whether every Man of what degree or quality soever ought not in all Cases to-have and receive Justice.
XIV. Whether it be not more probable that a Parliament wherein every one as a private person and his posterities well being, consists in the Nations well doing, both persons and Estates sharing a like with the whole people, will be so likely to oppress the Nation as a single person, whose Gavestons and Favorites may be preferd before the good of the Nation. And having the Power can neither be bounded not limited longer then his pleasure.
XV. Whether wise and Righteous men are not manifested by their actions.
XVI. Whether the welfare of the People consisteth not in the Enjoyment of VVealth, Peace and Godliness?
XVII. VVhether the giving liberty to private Meetings on the Sabbath dayes be not more for the advancement of Iudaisme, Papisme, and Quakism [...], then the truth of Christianity?
XVIII. VVhether these do not beget Divisions, which is the cause of Wars and poverty, and are not likely to produce Athiesme and all ungodliness in the next Generation.
XIX. Whether the Ordinances of Magistracy and Ministry, as its now Established in England, be according to truth and Righteousness or Antichristian.
XX Whether the despisers and Contemners thereof, or revilers against, ought not to be restrained.
[Page 6]XXI. Whether it be not Lawfull for the good people being weary of sitting in Churches, their souls loathing such ligh [...] meat, to change their food and hear J [...]suits in houses?
XXII. Whether it be not Evident, that, that book (lately put forth, entituled Light out of Darkness, or Occasionall Quere's, so much for the tenents of Quakers, and any Lay mans publique Preaching,) is the Work of a Jesuite?
XXIII. Whether the Souldiers would be content to do the work of God in their places, for what good people should freely give them without a certaine Allowance, as too many of them presume the Minister ought?
XXIIII. Whether it be not more meet for every man to pay the tenth of his profit to the Ministers (or some one for his use) then to pay the tenth in Mony whether he raise profit or no, according to the value of the Land?
XXV. Whether it be not almost Time for those Commanders that have gotten great Estates, and now setled in England to serve the Common-wealth, freely as well Gentlemen in the Country in Commisions do?
XXVI. Whether any thing were ever yet done by Man but i [...] wanted refining in time?
XXVII. Whether the Iudiciary part of the Law as it wanteth refining, so wanteth refining onely, and not a to tall Subversion.
[Page 7]XXVIII. Whether the young men of South-wark understood what they Petitioned when they spake of having the Law in a Volume.
XXIX. Whether the Gentlemen that in the last Parliament, first voted for the Protector, and were always before Cavalerishly aff [...]cted, but at last joyned in some votes with Commonwealths men were converts out of Integrety or Subtilty.
XXX. Whether the Souldiers have not manifested their ends in former actions to be the publiq [...]e good, by their taking their Comissions from Parliament, and whether if they continne obedient, they will not beget everlasting renown, as well for faithfullness as Valour.
XXXI. Whether it be not partiality to allow Mr. Cromwell and his Mother, more then Mr. Steward and his Mother.
XXXII. Whether if all Compliers be saved harmeless by this intended Act of Indemnity, it may not be an incouragement for the future for men to Act irregular and r [...]bellious things, in hopes that pretending providence, or affirming necessity, if their d [...]sign should fall to the ground, will hold them guiltless.
XXXIII. Whether those venerable Gentlemen that stood for Justice on the King, setling a Commonwealth then fl [...]ttered Oliver, were great promoters of Addresses to Richa [...]d, and now forward to bless the Armies actions, and court the members of Parliament, deserve not to have liberty to quarter their Goat of Armes, with a Wind-mill, or a Weather Cock.
[Page 8]XXXIV. Whether it be fit to continue such in Places of Trust when faithfull Real men are not wanting in the Nation?
XXXV. Whether it be not absolutely necessary to have Astraea blindsold, limb'd both in Parliament House and Counsell Chamber for a Memento?
XXXVI. Whether the next good service the Souldiers can do as to Reformation, wil not be to take up and secure the Whores of London, the ruine of so many persons?
XXXVII. Whether the best place to transport them be not to Jamaica, where they may Lust and not be satisfied?
XXXVIII. Whether it be not requisite that James Harrington and his follo wers be desired to take their Clubs out of England, and wait upon these virtuous Gentlewomen, with whom they may be sure to live as Tenents in Common and not fayle to Establish Levelisme and A [...]h [...]isme?