A Heavenly DIURNAL Glory be to God on High, Peace on Earth, Good will towards Men. It was good news, is, and ever will be. OR, The long expected return of the many public and private Humiliations of the people of God. All which will by his blessing ere long, be turned into days of great praise and thanksgiving: and prove a fatal scourge to such Traitorous blasphemous Tongues as Aulicus, etc. By I. B. London printed 1644. To all unfeigned Lovers of Truth and Peace throughout the world. WHereas on Friday last, being the 6. of Septemb. 1644. there was preferred to the Common Counsel of London a Petition by several well affected persons, who in reference to a late Order of the House of Commons upon the City Petition for Provision of just Debts, had several meetings to consider of Propositions for advance of Moneys, and having finished the same, being not at all different in substance from those in a late printed Paper, did present the same to the said Common Counsel, humbly praying them (if approved) to represent the same to the Honourable House of Commons for such allowance therein as should be thought meet, which Propositions were referred to the consideration of a Committee of six Aldermen and twelve Commoners. Now to the end all scruples may, as near as the Author can, be cleared, and the business which by judgement of many wise men is conceived to tend so much to raise for the Parliament upon the public faiths credit so considerable great sums of Money, beyond belief of many; and not only so, but much to conduce to the glory of God, the peace, welfare, and safety of these bleeding dying Kingdoms, may be hastened and furthered by those in Authority whom it doth or shall concern. The Author is emboldened to put the ensuing Objections and Answers in print, without composing them in any better form, as well for expedition sake, as also because they should not differ from what he had formerly delivered to several persons in writing; not doubting, though it be a transgression, it will be esteemed, as he professeth, a well affected one. Notwithstanding, for his proceed in a bus●nesse generally reputed and esteemed to be of so great good and importance to the public, the Author hath been most unjustly termed a Malignant, nay, the head of all Malignants about Town. God forgive them, for he accounts it a very great blessing rebus sic stantibus to be so honoured. Certain Objections made concerning Propositions for just Debts, which were answered unto as followeth, or to the like effect. IT is conceived never to be the intent of the Parliament, that honest men's Debts owing by Delinquents should go towards payment of public faith. If provision be not first made for payment of just Debts, many Delinquents, whose Estates are now offered to sale, being justly indebted more than they are worth, it will be the honest men's Estates that unavoidably must pay such public Faith, and so cause a great heart burning (if not prevented.) If Lands be sold at a full value, there is no question but the Creditors being satisfied their just Debts, there will be a good remainder, not only to pay just Debts, but also the public faith, and such Damages as they have done to the Kingdom. If Land be sold at 8. and 6. year's purchase, with such allowance of public Faith as is propounded, the public Faith (if compounded for at a low rate) will not only be dishonoured, but also be a great weakening to future Parliaments that may have the like use of it, when after ages shall know there was so much loss (as in this way will be) to them that lent it; neither in this way will there (save only some particular persons) be fully satisfied the public Faith. The Malignants, so esteemed, of whom most is bought and desired to be bought, being conceived to have but little confidence in the Parliament, will sell it for little or nothing, and by what they so receive they are thereby the more enabled to dis-serve the Parliament if opportunity serve. The Reasons wherefore no more provision is made for the poor man, who is not so well able to secure his Debt is: THat rich men may not seem poor, and so take advantage of such a clause, and thereby the State should be disappointed for the present supply of Moneys, which in this way will be speedily raised. But God forbidden that the poor man, bringing in what he is able, should not be allowed Justice, which is his birthright, as well as others. It is conceived that the well-affected having spent their Lives and Estates for the preservation of their Lives, Religion, Liberties, and Estates, might expect as much as is petitioned for, without bringing in 10. in the 100 But this they only do that the state should not (being necessitated for the preservation of the Kingdom, sell that for 50. li. which is worth 100 And rather than they should do so, it being known (not to be long durable] honest men will strip themselves to their shirts to supply their occasions. This will discover all Malignants that have lent any Moneys to wage War against the Parliament; for first, they must bring in their Moneys, and then be put over to the Committee to prove the justness of their Debts, wherein if he shall be found guilty, he shall not only forseit the Moneys brought in for security, but also be liable to such other fines and punishments as the Parliament shall think fit. Lands being (as they will be in this way) advanced to double the value at which they are now offered to sale, there will be as much left to pay public Faith as now is, nay far more, where there is clear estates; for the Creditors desire to take them at a full value, and so they will produce double as much money. And therefore if the offer which is made of 20 or 30 per cent. to secure public Faith be harkened to, it will much advance the business, if it be not conceived a weakening of the public Faith's credit, to give so much, nay any thing to secure it, being the noblest and greatest security that can he given, and no ways thought desperate as Delinquents are by the strict Letter of the Law. But how well affected some may be esteemed that offer 20 or 30 in the hundred to secure the public Faith, that perhaps was bought at 60 in the hundred profit, and so offer the Parliament in plain English a Pig of their own Sow. I know not, but certain I am that none but such who have gotten by purchasing of public Faith as aforesaid, will so undervalue its credit, & therefore the well affected offer 10 in 100 more upon it. It is not desired any man should be allowed more, nor any other of his Debts then what he may recover by Law if these distractions had not been, and therefore he is turned over to the Committee, who are to judge of it, and allow so much thereof as they shall think fitting and just. Also it is to be considered, that this way suits with the late City Petition for provision of just Debts out of Delinquents estates, and will unite London and the associated Counties, and raise in probability as much Money as the whole public Faith lent already comes to, the State first and last being allowed 20 per cent. which is the fifth part; and there is owing, as is conceived, five millions at least, if not ten. The Question being, which shall be first paid, Just Debts, or Public Faith. Resolved as near as I can, with reference to better judgements, That just Debts should be first paid, for these reasons: 1 BEcause it is the well affecteds estate, and not the Delinquents, and the Parliament, (as it is conceived) only intended to satisfy the public faith with what was the States own, not with what was the well affecteds. Objection. But all is forfeited to the State, and Delinquents estates are not by the fundamental law liable to pay their Debts. Answer. Therefore the City pleads equity to the Parliament, as may appear by the Reasons annexed to the City Petition, which are as followeth: The City Reasons, wherefore honest and well affected men's Debts should be made good out of their Delinquent Debtors Estates, so far forth as they will pay the same. BEcause in confidence they should be made good in case the Parliament prevailed, they have answerably to such Debts which they always accounted good estate, given, lent, and subscribed great sums of money for the Parliaments service. 2. That proportionably to their estates, as well in Delinquents hands as others, they always were and still are estimated and valued, and accordingly assessed for the fifty Subsidies and other Assessments for the Parliaments service. 3. That according to their estates, as well in Delinquents hands as others, they have adjudged themselves and been adjudged to pay their twentieth part. 4. That divers Merchants who have great sums known to be so owing, and not able to bear the loss of it, their credits, which ie the life of trade, will be impaired, if not wholly lost; and divers who have all or the greatest part of their estates so owing, both themselves, wives and children will be utterly undone. 5. That they who have been always very active and forward to and beyond their estates to bring Delinquents to condign punishment may not be made sufferers with them, as of necessity they must if provision be not made as aforesaid, their estates being involved in the Delinquents. 6. That many for their extraordinary zeal and forwardness to advance the Parliaments cause, especially such as have taken upon them public services, have rendered themselves so notorious to the contrary party, that many of their Debtors would not, and others durst not pay them one penny of their Debts, which otherwise might have been secured. 7. That if Debts so owing be not provided for, all in general, especially the Citizens of London, to whom most is owing, will be much discouraged and disenabled to serve the Parliaments occasions as formerly they have done, and still desire to do. Objection. But how then shall the public faith be paid? Answer. We therefore after this 10. l. in the hundred, that Land may not be as yet sold at so low rates, but thesequestrations may be continued for the States use, till the Kingdom be more settled, and then we desire our debts may be assured us at a full value which may be double that they are now offered to sale, and by that means there will be enough to pay both. Objection. But how shall the State be supplied with monies? Objection. Let them be but pleased to make trial of the propositions, which by judgement of wise men will advance more than sale of Lands, and if it doth not prove so within the 28. day's trial, then let them proceed to sale of Lands either in the way propounded, or otherwise, provision being only made for such honest men as shall bring in their monies within the time, and then all claimourous mouths will be stopped. Secondly. By the excise and divers other ways, the State may take order for satisfying of the public faith when the Kingdom is settled; in the mean time, the overplusses of Delinquents estates may go towards satisfaction thereof, and doubtless many of them will have great overplusses. And which is most of all considerable. This will unite the affections of all to the Parliament; whereas the not allowing just debts, there being as conceived ten millions of money owing by Delinquents to the well-affected, may dis-unite their affections (which God prevent.) Nay, Whereas the paying of the public faith is so much stood upon. Our desire is that it may be put to trial. And we will produce of honest and well-affected men ten to one, nay an hundred to one, that have lent ten to one upon the public faith, and not desire (as they never expected) payment thereof till the Kingdom be settled: And therefore we offer ten in the hundred more upon the public faith, which we will also stay for; provided our just debts be secured. So the great question is, Whether the Parliament to secure well-affected debts (it being some of their whole estates, and in hopes whereof, they have lent great sums of money to the Parliament) will accept of three or sour hundred thousand pounds, nay more there can be believed upon the public faith's security, or not. But that which doth most induce the well-affected to lend 10. l. in the hundred more upon public faith is, that the well-affected Nobility, Gentry, and Comonalty of the Kingdom, nay the Parliament and City be not undone: For if these Lands now offered to sale, being the Cream, will produce but eight and six years' purchase with such allowance of public faith; which if it be not, doubtless may be, and carried so closely too, by several ways as may be thought inscrutable, or not to be discovered: What will the other Lands remote and in the King's quarters yield next time the State wants moneys, and so are necessitated to sell more? Doubtless at last they will fall to an Irish purchase, and so the well-affected having spent themselves already for the service of the Parliament, the great rich men generally, though many of them, as is the Author, unjustly termed Malignants, who have great purses, as the Author hath not, (yet contented with what he hath) may engross all the Lands of the Kingdom into their own hands: In the fear of God let it be seriously and speedily considered of, not fearing they will do any wrong, but that if they would they mightand accordingly judge of them who are willing to discover and make known such a gap for that purpose. Now the better to advance moneys upon the propositions in hand, it is desired a Declaration may be forthwith published, that it shall be lawful for every man bringing 10. l. in the hundred to have his debt tried in this new Court of Judicature, and upon due proof recover judgement against any debtors or debtors estate, whom he supposeth to be with the King, or otherwise absents himself, and shall not repair to his dwelling, now or hereafter within the Parliaments quarters, within a certain time to be limited, or otherwise show good cause for his absence; because men will be fearful that the bringing in of their 10. l. in the hundred may make their debtor's Delinquents; whereas the thing armed at is, that the Subject may be righted by his debtor's estate, not being able to reach his person by law. God who is the God of peace, and Jesus Christ who is the Prince of peaces, send us peace and truth, and which is the hearty prayer of the Author, and which he professeth in the presence of the Omnicient God to be the only thing he aims at, and for prosecution whereof he is by some particular persons (ignorantly, as in charity he conceives, but certainly most unjustly termed a Malignant, his heart being right towards God, his Royal Majesty, Parliament and Country; and therefore hearty desires, that this ill tore of division may be speedily rooted out, and that no man henceforward may dare to call a man a Malignant; which name is much destructive to trade (it being a weakening to many honest men's credit) unless he can prove that he hath, or shall have a head, hand, or purse against the Parliament, or that shall hereafter disobey. Parliamentary commands; for as the Author conceives the Devil is the grant Malignant, and all those who are now in Arms and maliciously bend against their God, King, Parlialiament, and Country, are his real Children; but the Author in judgement of charity must needs have better thoughts of many of them, whose weak judgements have been wrought upon through the cunning Prelatical, Jesuitical, Diabolical insinuations of those bloodthirsty, Jesuitical, Prelatical Papists, and Irish Rebels; God be merciful to their souls, (if they belong to him) but certainly he will plague their bodies and estates for this their Rebellion and Roguery; whereas the other so wrought upon as aforesaid, the Author humbly desires should upon their timely submission be as freely forgiven their great Trespasses, as we do expect God should freely forgive us our Trespasses. Further more. Whereas the Author doth confidently believe that the Almighty God hath honoured this God-fearing Parliament to lay the foundation of that Spiritual Temple of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: He doth also as truly believe, that God (how fare the Spiritual Temple, exceeds the material, which was but a type and shadow) will in these our days (if we could but fully believe in him who is the Eternal, Almighty Lord of Heaven and Earth; the only wise God, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords) soon plant the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the dark places of England and the two other united Kingdoms; and so erect his Temple, by the Spiritual Sword; that which many think only possible to be done by the Temporal; and I am afraid many are guilty of this abhorred Achan. God's blessing goeth along with his Ordinances to convert souls; the fiery Ordinance which so much thunders now amongst us is only to chastise the bodies of the above mentioned Malignants now in Arms, as aforesaid. If therefore a Treasury were erected for the people to bring in moneys freely for the building of this Spiritual Temple, as was in the days of old for the Material: God, whose name is Jehovah; God that changeth nor, that hath the command of all men's hearts, would so powerfully work upon them, that his glory might be known amongst the Sons of men in these latter times, that the Author doth verily believe he would so move the hearts of people to this holy and heavenly work that they should so freely cast in, that it should be said, as in old times, forbear, there is more then enough. The Author hath some reason more than supernatural to believe so; because he knows that every true Protestant, who desires to serve God in the ways of his Forefathers since Reformation, and is willing to be reform by Authority in all Temporals, as immediately from the Parliament, who are their Heads. But in spirituals, as immediately from that reverend Assembly of Divines, whom the Author conceives to be the most compudent judges in Divine things, and are only to hand such Spirituals to the Parliament for Confirmation (if approved.) And because such a true Protestant as aforesaid will not willingly submit to the malignant humour of every giddy unsettled brain, is thereupon presently termed a Malignant, when God he knows such a Malignant will give ten in the hundred for Peace and Truth, and none will refuse (if able) being allowed the Public Faith for what shall be so fling into the said Treasury. Whereas some men being not so well minded, may offer to give (as too evidently appears) three times as much for bloody war to serve their own turns, not respecting the glory of God, nor the Crown and dignity of his Majesty's sacred Person (as he is God's anointed) nor of his great Council the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, nor the welfare of their own native Country, much less of the other two Kingdoms, one whereof by a former, but of late by a more special providence so strongly linked together; all which are now lamentably bleeding, and if not speedily stopped by God who is the only wise Chirurgeon, and is only able to stop this 〈…〉 bleed to de●●; I me●● to ru●●, d●struc●●●, 〈…〉, depopulation, and so at last ●o foreign ●n●●●ion, whic● God in mercy for 〈◊〉 Names s●ke, ●nd his Son Christ Jesus sake, the Saviour of us all, timely prevent, as doubtless he will. Besides, another Motive is, That by this means all Assessments, etc. and proceed for nonpayment thereof (which were caused through our sins, because we were so backward To help the Lord against the mighty, which was Meros' curse) may according as the issue of this business shall prove, upon trial thereof, be speedily taken off, which will mightily endear the affections of the People to King and Parliament. Let evil counsellors be removed from the Throne, and it shall be established in righteousness. Dear beloved in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, If any thing be not as it should be, attribute it to the weakness and inability of the Penner, who goes by the name of the Author, but not to the Author of the Penner; I leave every man to judge that knows the Penner and his disabilities in such things, to judge who that Author is that set him on work. And the Penner humbly prays you will accept of (as our most Merciful and Heavenly Father doth) the will for the deed, being limited unto two hours' time for the expediting hereof. This business (as he conceives) admitting of no long delays, which hath been, and still is too great a fault amongst us, for the old Proverb of late hath (oft times) proved too true, When the Steed is stolen, than we shut the stable door; and these after games to a cunning skilful Gamester seldom proves good: b●● a word to the wise is sufficient. Finally my Brethren, let us trust in the Lord our God, who is the Lord of hosts, and who for bis unspeakable Glory, and our comforts (be it known unto you) blessed be his great Name. The Author doth very believe that rather than these true Malignants afore named, whom he hath endeavoured (but not fully able) to set forth in their proper bloody colour shall go unpunished for this their rebellion, blasphemy, etc. but especially for the blood of God's Saints, which they have so cruelly and unmercifully spilt, without any other cause (save only in opposition and malignity against God and goodness, that very God (Miracles being ceased) who will be seen in the ordinary ways of his providence; Yet being unlimited, I say again, rather than such Wretches shall go unpunished, He will fend an Angel from Heaven to destroy them, or cause the earth of a sudden, unexpectedly to swallow them up, as he did Corah, Dathan and Abiram, who spoke the same language to Moses and Aaron as these Wretches now do to the Parliament, nay more, for these say in their hearts, We will not that Jesus Christ shall reign over us, and so undeniably the Devil must, who they need not fear but sooner or later will pay them their wages for this their fallacious good service, if not timely repent of, which God grant them so to do (if they belong to him.) If wicked achan's be but removed, and the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church settled, God will be soon seen in the Mount.