EVery man is Obliged to Pay his Debts by a Three-fold Law: A body per­sonal, viz.

• 1 The Law of God, Exod. 22. 14. Prov. 3. 27. Psa. 37. 21. Rom. 13. 8.
• 2 The Law of Nations, implyed, Prov. 22. 27. Prov. 6. 3. Matth. 18. 25. 28.
• 3 The Royal Law of Equity, Matth. 7. 12. To do as you would be done unto.

Also having Borrowed upon their City or Town Seal, A Body Corporate. is Obliged to Perform and Pay their Debts by Charging the whol Body, because all have a Common Benefit in that Corporation.

Being a Republick in their Representative, A Body Politick. viz. A Parliament, is no less Obliged to Pay their Debts Bor­rowed for the benefit of that whol Common-Wealth.

The Resemblance being Congruous, Let the Honorable Representative Allow the Creditors to be impor­tunate, for from their Necessities the Law of God requires them so to do;—(for when in Prison, or in Debt, or Surety, or in Family wants, Prov. 6. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Prov. 22. 26, 27. Luke, 18. 1. 6. 1 Tim. 5. 8.

The Publick Faith was made by a Body Politick Twelve Yeers past, 1 Object. and another like Representa­tive Succeeded, and Both Dissolved without Paying?

As by Law, Answer. (The Heirs and Executors are as much Engaged as the Deceased, if there be Assets, or E­state left, to Discharge Debts; So in like manner Your Petitioners Humbly conceive, That your Honors are as well Obliged for the Real Publick Debts,

1 Because You are as Their Heirs, Your Lives and Estates were involved in that Body, embarqued in that Ship, which if the Publick Faith Money had not upheld, had Sunk and You with it.

2 You Inherit that Power and Authority, or the like, by Your Free Elections of the People, and thereby their Successors, and stand in their Place, and have the Revenues and Estates of Three Nations at Your Command (the Consent of His Highness being included, whose Heroick Spirit is so Propense for all Justice, That no doubt His Actions will silence many who are filled with evil Surmises.)

But many Publick Lenders are Paid by Purchase of Lands; 2 Object. And many others of Good Estates have Nothing Due to them; Therefore to Pay it by General Taxes will not be Accepted.

This bespeaks for the Petitioners (by the Royal Law) for if Those that are Paid, Answer. and perhaps with great Advantage, were in the Petitioners Condition, not Able to Purchase by Doubling, but in Prison, in Debt, or in Want, Would not they desire their Own?

And was there not an Equal Benefit to all the Body of the Nation; Whether Lent Much, or Less, or Nothing: And therefore Equal for All to Pay?

And if the Richest Lenders are Payd, which perhaps Lent most Sparingly, their Estates Considered, shall therefore the best Affected that Lent most Freely, Timely, and Largely, be still Deferred; or after Twelve Yeers staying, to be Alloted Forrest or Delinquents Lands (improper Payment for Money, Plate, and Horses which they Lent) for to Relieve their present Necessities?

And for those that Lent not, and yet enjoy their Proprieties, for them to Pay an Equal Tax, is most rea­sonable; if not a Double Proportion.

The Premises Considered, Your Honors are Desired to follow Gods Command, Prov. 3. 27. With-hold not the Good from the Owners thereof, though there be Power in Your hands, say not, Go and come a­gain, &c.

Especially when Your Petitioners are in such Want.

I This being done, the thing will be, First, Honestly good, for you shall do Justice, and satisfie the Needy and Empty.

II It will be Honorably Good, for Your Own, and the Nations Renown.

III It will be Profitably Good, for then in Future Exigences the People will Lend Freely again.

And the Petitioners shall Pray unto that Wonderful Counsellor, Isa. 9. 6. who true saith, Counsel is Mine: Prov. 8. 14. To impart so much to His Highness and to Your Honors, as the Meeting may bring to these Nations that Promise, Jer. 31. 23. The Lord shal Bless thee, O Habitation of Justice, and Mountain of Ho­liness.