EIGHT RESOLUTIONS TO EIGHT QUERIES LATELY Proposed to seduce all true lovers of their Country and Parliaments, and conscientious Soldiers in the ARMY.  

Resolved upon the first question.  
THat it is very unlikely, that a whole wellminded and wellmeaning Army should after so long experience, be so far deluded as to carry on the ambitious or pernicious designs of any. That it is arrogancy or weakness to suspect the Soldiers of so much ignorance: and hardly honest or charitable to suspect any of their Commanders either of ambitious or pernicious designs, of whose piety and public virtue, the whole Land hath so eminent testimony: That all who have religious and specious pretences in their mouths, have not the like real intentions in their hearts, is manifest in the Querist, who vents his own gall against the Army, by comparing them with Hazael, and the Anabaptists of Germany, though his own conscience and their Letters, Declarations, and Actions, cannot but acquit them of any evil intentions: but that all appearance of Religion is to be suspected of Hypocrisy: shows little conscience or integrity in the suspector: and if there be any reality, actions doubtless are the best demonstrations: stopping the mouths of all gainsayers, except such Rabshekahs, whose corrupt interests binds them to rail against Innocency itself.   

Resolved upon the second Question.  
That when an Army, dutiful and meritorious (above example) which the envious Querist omitted) find themselves (after all their faithful services) extremely neglected in sundry respects, frequently slighted and reproached: upbraided of baseness, and cowardice in open Parliament; after that, censured, and publicly declared Enemies to the State: when they had seen divers of the Army adjudged to death, for things done as Soldiers in service of the Parliament: And in this evil conjunction and malevolent influence of all Authority, both Parliamentary and elsewhere, against them, being Voted to disband. it behoved them to remunerate for what end they had taken up Arms; to consider whether the people enjoyed their Liberties, or that themselves should be in safety when disbanded; it behoved them to consider, whether those Voted them down, that Voted them up; and into whose hands they were required to deliver their Sword? Whether they were likely to preserve them or destroy them with it, and finding their danger eminent, and the people yet in bondage; they had dealt like mad men, to have given the Sword into those mad men's hands, who before they had it, abused both Army and people in a most violent and desperate manner; and the case being plainly and manifestly thus: The Soldiers are to be justified in overruling their own General, and Officers, in seizing the King, the Commissioners attending him, and removing them, as seemed best to their honest purposes, though without the Parliaments privity.  
As for those high affronts of their privileges and power, endeavours to over-awe; ●f not to force the Parliament (with the like fawning aggravations of the Querist) following in this question: Believe it, Parliaments, and all other Authorities in the world must be taught new Lessons, they must not presume as they have seemed to do, that they are chosen into Authority as into an inheritance of their own, wherein they may play the spend thrifts, and abuse their Families without control: but they must know Authority is a trust, for the good of those that trust, nor must they think to blind men's eyes with old Knaves tales and traditions; That the people cannot, nor aught to judge of their own safety or freedom; all forsooth is referred to them, and the people must be content with their carving, with their interpretation, if the people cry out for bread, for freedom, and they give them a stone, and Vote that stone to be bread, why the people must not say it is a stone: if the people cry out for fish, for redress of the most gross and palpable grievances: and they give them a Scorpion, and Vote that that Scorpion is a Fish, if any be so bold as to say it is a Scorpion; then to the Fleet, to Bridewell, to Newgate, New-prison, or Tower with such factious, seditious persons, away with all such out of all Offices, and employments: it's not fit such fellows should live, that dare presume to reply upon Parliaments: these were the mischiefs we were fallen into, and thus the Court Doctrines are turned Parliamentary, and defended by this most reverend Father of delusion, this Querist: but he and his Patrons will in short time see that honesty is the best policy, and that all this twisting together of corrupt policy, is indeed but spinning of Hemp for the use of the owners thereof.   

Resolved upon the third question.  
That although Jack Cade, nor Jermine, Piercie, Goring, or the King (Sir you'll remember with whom you rank his Majesty one day) or any other might not at any time, offer any enforcement upon Parliaments in things that were manifestly unjust, as the Querist taketh for granted: it will not follow, but that as Parliaments may turn tyrants, even so as tyrants they may lawfully be proceeded against, as lawfully as Parliaments may prosecute tyranny in whomsoever: And whatever this learned Querist would have the world believe, Tyranny is not so difficult a thing to be judged of, but that it is more visible to be seen, than his Fox's ear through his sheep's skin, and that you'll say is visible enough, Sir their unjust actings no more condemn the just proceed of the Army, than their just actings justify the unjust proceed of those ye mention.   

Resolved upon the fourth question.  
That the Querist mistakes the Army to be sick of his disease, and so proposes the disbanding of the Army for their cure.  
Indeed its very like it would be an absolute cure unto him, and to many more that are heartsick of his disease; but all Doctors are not agreed, some being of an opinion they must undergo another kind of cure; as for the Army, God hath hitherto been their true and great Physician, and doubtless they are better established then to leave his saving Counsels, for such Machivilian Mountebanks; All your care for Ireland, or to prevent broils at home, or speeding the just demands of the Army, and all the affrights you invent for London, all your censurings of disobedience, with the rest done to your Commination of damnation, is in effect no more but this: Disband, or we and our accomplices are in a desperate condition: Is not that the meaning? though it be Sir, yet be not so desperate, do not wound your conscience more and more; do not persist to provoke your strong opposers; all your hopes are built upon your deluding the Citizens, by these Queries, truly it will not do; they are generally too wise to be wrought upon, by such simple Sophistry, into a desperate engagement against so faithful, so just an Army, that under God hath preserved them, their wives, children and families, from utter destruction: Be better advized Sir, and trust yet in God, with him there is mercy, and this his Army are not cruel: Cease to do farther evil, learn to do well; Retract your Queries, and make amends for this your ill spent time, by doing some real and eminent good for the Commonwealth, bring forth fruits worthy of Repentance, and you will yet find comfort in the day of your Visitation.   

Resolved upon the fifth Question.  
That it is not as the Querist supposeth, that because the Army have their swords in their hands, therefore they are unjust and not to be trusted; Some persons in all states must have the sword, and it is happy when wise and good men get it, admit the Major vote of Parliament now had it, were it safe for the People except they had another Armed force to balance them? truly it may be so, and may be happy for the People they have it not; this is certain, those members of Parliament that first raised this Army are really of that opinion, and rejoice that the Army refuse to disband, as seeing themselves, the Army, and all the well affected in the land utterly enslaved or destroyed, if it were otherwise: have patience for a little while, and you shall see the Army will willingly disband, they have but a little work to do, and they have done, and all your wire-drawn suggestions will come to nothing, your jealousies will vanish, in the mean time you might do well to give the Army a visit, believe it, the air of it might do you abundance of good, Nay it's a converting Army, those chaplin Officers and Soldiers, though they have not so complete Antimagisteriall principles as yourself and others of your tribe, yet they have others that are far better, and of which you have a great deal more need of: Why they have converted whole Countries, no place where they come but rejoice in their society, they are so full of God, and so full of all kind of goodness, those only are jealous of them that have not known their conversation, certainly were you amongst them, these old wormeaten threedbare aspersions of Germane Anabaptists, which the Romanists twit the Common Protestant withal, and they the Puritan, or Presbyter, and the Presbyter the Sectaries, all these toys would soon be purged out of you, and you would become wholly new inside and outside, you would admire the true Christian love and unity that is amongst them, impossible to be disunited: What's now your grief, through the indisposition of your mind, would then be your rejoicing, therefore cease this Juggling, and amongst them quickly, and all old scores will soon be forgotten.   

Resolved upon the sixth Question.  
That the Querist persists either to trouble his head with false fantastic fears which transport his understanding, or else he wilfully supposeth in this Query (to deceive the Reader) what the Army are not troubled at, for admit any of their friends in the House have been unduly elected, have they said they have not, or have they done any thing to continue them there? no, and it were time enough for an honest man to tell them and the world of it when he sees it: for by this vile liberty of supposition, a cunning Sophister hath too great an advantage to abuse the most guiltless people in the world, If they have done such things (as he conclusively queries to their extreme discouragement) why doth he not put them into away of accusation and trial, and so do the public some honest service: for this is most unworthy, and savours more than of common malice.  
Your supposition also concerning Mr. Peter's shows, you hunt all corners for matter to please and humour a seduced party, pray Sir doth not every man's understanding give him, That Cornwall and Wales are as likely, or more likely to make undue elections than any other parts of this Nation; you might very well have spared Master Peter's name in this as in your other conceit, of his getting more by the Wars than any two Presbyterian Ministers, you mean happily, more trouble, pains and sickness, and therein you are right, but if you mean wealth, sure you will not say he hath gotten more than two such as Doctor Burges: and yet in the fit you were in when you indicted these Queries, you might be pardoned for saying any thing, being in the heat of blood, you shall have your book for this, but beware the next offence may cost you dear: you do ill service to your friends in touching upon this string, it makes men to seriously cast their eyes upon the Assembly of Divines, of whom, strange things are daily told at the Committee, for the dispose of Benefices (commonly called the Committee for plundered Ministers) you say you hear of no complaint or Petitions against the unjustness of elections in Cornwall or Wales▪ and now ag●i●e you wrong your party, thus to occasion the people to look back upon their dealing in the House with Petitioners, and Petitions, to say no mo●e: there hath been sad work about Petitions, such as England nor any other Nation never heard of, which shows the tyranny of Parliaments to be the worst of any: and yet you seem to be gr●●ved that there are any in the House, or out of the House, that do oppose them, doubtless you have a share amongst them, and it were pity but you should still share, and speed as they do that are so well pleased with their do.   

Resolved upon the seventh Question.  
That if the Independent party or any of them are guilty of those evils (by the querist hear again suggested) neither the Army nor any others, do desire they should be acquitted, but that they should suffer according to their demerit, nor do the Writings, or Declarations of the Army, in the least pretend, to protect them or any in their evil do: but still this way of quaere or supposition, is a most ungodly way of aspersion reflecting upon all, when happily few or none are guilty.  
As for the Armies listing and recruite, therein they have done nothing but what was lawful for them to do, and suitable to the work they intent, which is to defend themselves, and those they have hither to preserved, from the violent oppression of evil and wicked men: and not as you suppose to carry on some desperate and destructive designs in England: No Sir, the most desperate and destructive design in England is to bring in the Scots and foreign forces, wherein you and yours are the designers, and not the Army. And you that in this Quere are so provident in saving of charges, did not when time was, show yourselves so thrifty towards your dear brothers; to them you were liberal enough and could be content to afford them much more, might you have had your wills, when as this Army in your esteem is scarce worthy of Bread: all things grow dear forsooth if they come near you, and the poor fail not to be put in mind of it by your impious dissembling care: When at other times they must hang or starve whilst you ruffle and flourish up and down in your bravery, and far deliciously every day; for shame leave this gross partiality and dissimulation, or you will mar your credit and spoil your trade, you'll not be able at this rate to deceive once a week: this overdoing will make every man beware of you, you will ere long be enforced, though much against your nature, to live by honest courses.   

Resolved upon the eight Question.  
That if the Armies late proceed had been qualified with their disbanding it had gone ill with all the honest well-affected party in the Kingdom: their obedience to so destructive commands, had been a sin equal to self destroying, no doubt they might as well destroy all the honest party in Parliament, City, and Kingdom, as to give up their sword to those they evidently saw would destroy them: and if they had done it, they had then indeed with a bleeding witness, eclipsed and nullified all their former merits, glory, and esteem in the eyes of all the world, and drawn perpetual scandal upon the profession of Religion, as if Religion were a besotting of mankind to a subjection unto Tyranny and opression, if cloaked with the name of Authority, when as the voice of true Religion declareth after this manner if thou dost well fear not, if thou dost evil then fear, strongly implying, that all authority that is just is for the punishment of evil doers, such as really hurt their neighbours, and for the praise of those that do well: otherwise the Magistrate beareth the sword not only in vain but to evil purpose, the authority that is of God must be evidently se●n by its goodness, that which is of the Devil by its badness, cruelty, and injustice, now indeed there are a sort of men that when they get Authority into their hands call evil good, and good evil, and accordingly exercise the same, for the suppression of those that do honestly, and live quietly, and to the praise and encouragement of a sort of base informers, that vex and molest their neighbours without any just cause, that countenance all kind of injustice, cruelty, and oppression: That betray their trust, violate the liberties of the people and pervert the ends even of Parliaments themselves, but let them remember, he that sits in heaven, laughs them to scorn, and that for all these things they must come to Judgement, and then vain will be the help of man, all the art and sophistry in the world will be then to little purpose, and then what would they, (such sycophants as you are) give for a good conscience, that might undauntedly appear before the righteous, Judge of all the earth, believe it Sir, you are exceedingly transported with an evil understanding, or an evil Conscience, and you had need consider things more seriously than you have done, assure yourself God expects another account of those parts and abilities of yours: the expense of them thus, is not to his glory, nor his people's good, therefore look to it in time, and spend the remainder of your hours to better purpose: you see all your labour bestowed in your queries are to your own and your party's prejudice, ministering occasion to a more clear openning of your delusion, whereby the people you would deceive, become more strongly armed against your deceit, and when you think you have them, they are either not for you or against you, believe it, it is a very tedious thing to maintain Injustice, to propose to live by a corrupt profession, a man were better never be borne, or beg his bread; it is impossible you can have any comfort in it, waking you have nothing but fear, sleeping you have no rest, and in death you will find nothing but horror: make you therefore the ninth Resolution: and be resolved to turn unto the Lord with all your heart, and to forsake the ways of malicious and froward men.    
FINIS.