Certain QUERIES Humbly proposed In order to a quiet and Christian submission To His Highness the LORD PROTECTOR And to the present Government.  
BY S. N. Gent.  
Ordinem non dari nisi cum ratione ad aliquid primum.  Averro. 
Mihi pax omni cum civibus bello civili utilior videtur.  Cicero. 
It is to be noted in a controverted case that a private man by no means ought to take upon himself to judge, but follow the possession: so did Christ command tribute to be paid to Caesar, because the money bore his Image, that is, saith he, because he was in possession of the Empire.  H. Grotius. 
LONDON, Printed for P. L. and are to be sold at any Booksellers shop in London and Westminster-Hall. 1658.   

Querie I.  
Whether that good and sober men of any Nation may not be too apt and ready through their own incogitancy and unadvisedness to murmur and repine at their Governors and Government, and that without a cause: The reason of this Querie is grounded both upon precedent and experience: the precedents are to be found amongst the people of Israel; As that saying of theirs unto Moses, who made thee a Ruler and a judge over us? And again, when Moses smote the Egyptian, he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God by his hand would deliver them, yet we see they did not: the experience hath been in our own land, how have we admired both Governors and Government? nay we have been like unto those S. Paul speaks of, that would have plucked out their own eyes and have given them unto him; even so we counted not our lives too dear to be sacrificed for them; and yet we have seen ourselves disappointed in our expectations: Now than if those high and confident thoughts of heart concerning the goodness and benefit of Governors and Government have suffered a frustration; then by the same Rule may the too mean and hard thoughts either of Governor or Government, receive the like check, shame and disappointment as the Israelites did concerning Moses, and according to that maxim, Contraria contrariorum sunt consequentia.  
2. Whether that the sedition and division daily sown and fomented be not fruits of the flesh, and the seeds-men thereof render themselves exceeding culpable, both before God and all considering men: and whether such persons may not claim the titles, or at least be justly conferred upon them, mentioned in the Epistle of jude 8.2 Pet. 2.10. 2 Tim. 3.3, 4. viz. to be murmurers, complainers, traitors, highminded, who despise Government, presumptuous, selfwilled, and also not afraid to speak evil of dignities: now all these several transgressors are doubtless very offensive unto God, yet the last seems to carry a greater emphasis in it, As not to be afraid to speak evil of dignities: it is a certain kind of boldness to blaspheme, for every kind of Authority hath a divine stamp upon it; and the greater and higher any Authority is, the greater is the sin and the nearer to blasphemy indeed; now for a man to be bold and daring in a wickedness, imports a strange kind of estrangement from God, and of a prostituted conscience; therefore men versed in this evil occupation had need to consider whether (according to our Saviour's saying) the word above mentioned will not judge them at the great day, and before also, for commonly they have part in hand until the whole be paid. Now whether the sin be not yet greater being done and and perpetrated i the name of God, and many times in places where better things should be both spoken and heard, and whether that makes it not more abominable: as then old saying is,  In nomine Domini incipit omne malum. 
3. Whether that God Almighty the King of Kings hath not manifested and declared as with an audible voice from heaven, that amongst all the son of jesse, this is that David that he hath chosen to be King of our Israel: else what is the meaning of all those defeats and disappointments of Treason, War and Blood, and of all those signal preservations, even to the admiration of all that love him, and to the terror of those that seek his hurt, if that the Lord that preserved Daniel in the Lion's den was not with him? His enemies they neither wanted will nor power nor subtlety to bring it to pass, but God kept an opportunity out of their way. I confess, there is a wicked mind amongst many, which say now adays as the Jews did by our Saviour's miracles, that either they were not at all, or else done by an evil spirit; whether such men had not need to be careful lest they fight against God, as they also did.  
To whom did God Almighty ever do more, or give greater testimony unto then unto the present Lord Protector? hath not God crowned him with as many signal tokens of his favour as ever he did any the Kings of Israel? much less doubtless did he ever take pleasure in any of the Kings of England after such a manner: now than if that God Almighty hath owned and peculiarized him from amongst so many Worthies, and hath made him to tread upon Scorpions, and suffer no deadly thing to hurt him, and hath poured contempt, disgrace and ruin upon all his adversaries, why then should not any man's conscience give him leave to say, this is God's Anointed, and him will we obey and pray for?  
4. Whether the principal ends of freedom and liberty formerly engaged for be not in the letter and by interpretation fully answered in the present Government.  
The first and main end was, the liberty of conscience, which the late King and Bishops did infringe: that was the pad in the straw, which did so disease there was ship-money, and some other extra-legal taxes; but that which made those molehills seem mountains was, that they must not only prostitute their purses but their consciences also: as likewise it is apparent that upon all turns and breaches both with the Scots, and with the Parliament, it was because the one did absolutely desire rule and domination in things Ecclesiastic, and the other was at least suspected to have an itch that way; which could not be born at any hand: had it not been for this great thing called liberty of conscience, a hundred things would not have been so much insisted upon, and would have been easily swallowed without those various combustions and stirs.  
Now then in this our mouths may be wide open, and say what is wanting to any, or who can justly complain (except it be in liberty to sin;) There is no lowing of the Oxen nor Bleating of the sheep in this case to any that is so much as morally civil, but all at perfect peace and liberty, as if God was come down among men: only the Arminian party complain they are browbeaten, which is a little too apparent I confess in some cases, but blessed be God they may notwithstanding say their lot is fallen in a good ground. Doubtless the controversy is not for every understanding to reach or fathom; but whether it be not more easy to be believed then refuted, I leave to others: for my own part, I cannot but believe that there may be an election of some particular persons more than others: Yet withal I cannot discern from the Scriptures nor Reason how those terrible and doleful decrees of particular persons to be damned from eternity should be supported: Now than if conscience be free, and no restraint either to the weak or the strong in well doing. In this have you not all, or once would it not have been esteemed so: Let every man than examine his own conscience, and say plainly what's it he wants (saving the casting out of that unclean spirit of pride, Arrogancy and Ingratitude) and then doubtless he is either a man that is well, or may be if he himself see cause.  
5 Whether the present taxes be any ground at all of the least discontent to any sort of men whatsoever. Because First, as to the Parliament Party and those under that head, they have the greatest reason to sit down not with patience only but with satisfaction, for two reasons at least: First, because by the late quarrel they have not diminished their estates and treasure, but I may safely say (and speak no parable) they have increased them, and have with their blows received suitable encouragement; yet those of that sort that stayed by the stuff have been best rewarded. Therefore for these Gentlemen that have reaped so good a crop and so plentiful harvest to scruple the payment of their deuce, and to spare a little out of their abundance, were high ingratitude to God and men; Considering there is nothing in all these present transactions but what themselves have had some hand in to effect.  
Secondly, If there were nothing else but that peaceable enjoyment of their own minds in God's worship and service, it were sufficient, because they would in time past have purchased it at a dearer rate when they were worse able to bear it.  
And as to others as well as to the generation mentioned, I mean all the Protestants of England as they are both Christians and English men, have not the least ground of discontent. For the quarrel now is become the old Protestant cause that ever was afoot since the Reformation; it hath pleased God through his infinite wisdom to end all our private and national quarrels, and settle it at that point of the compass where doubtless God Almighty expects we should all agree.  
Although the charge hath been great, and some men's lives have expired in the quarrel, yet if men would be but ingenuous, there is much done already toward the charge against the Romish usurpation, viz. what think you of the peace with Portugal, and the freedom from the Inquisition there? whereof our merchants and seamen already feel the benefit: and I doubt not but the King of Spain also will hearken to those most noble and Christian terms proposed by his Highness ere it be long. Therefore having put our hands to the plough let us not look back, but rather rejoice that God Almighty still takes pleasure in England to produce such Worthies as shall be the world's reformers, as Constantine the first Christian Emperor borne at York, and Lucius the first Christian King: and who cannot but discern, as Constantine was a blessed Instrument of Gods to discharge the world from many of those gross Idolatries and superstitions of the heathens, but that his Highness is a man exalted and raised on purpose to purge, as by fire, the corruptions, Idolatries & heathenish superstitions of the Church of Rome. Considering also that God hath made many promises to extirpate all that is or may be called Antichristian; now for us to be negligent, and murmur at so good a work, and not rather be thankful though it cost us our all, is as much as to say to the Lord, Depart from us, for we would serve other masters, would not this be to draw a sackcloth over the sun, and to pour contempt and shame upon our own heads! whom God and Christ would have lifted up, and would it not make us like unto jerusalem as a carcase without a soul so soon as the Lord had left them, we know the eagles? I mean the Romans (whose ensign was mottoed with an eagle) soon made a prey of them. And further were it any ignoble design or personal quarrel or point of honour, we might well say then what needs this waist? but where there is not the least composition or ingredient that is not honourable, but a common protestant cause and for the whole world's reformation, let us not grudge lest God repent.  
6 Whether it were not more Christian and better becoming the ministry to leave their obscure prayers, as when they pray for the supreme Authority, for the Chief magistrate, for those in Authority etc. and to pray in plain and intelligible English for his Highness the Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland and the territories thereunto belonging, and for the Lords of his Council, and for his family, etc. for by the former terms of Art no man knows whom they mean, whether his Highness or the vagator on the other side: If I may be so bold I think they have as much reason as the King's Clergy, for they enjoy the same benefit with many an Augmentation: besides, it would tend much to a through settling and a quenching of foolish and vain hopes.  
I hope there is no such root of bitterness as to imagine they want encouragement, and men of other minds are tolerated, etc. to be the cause of this strange kind of obscure, uncouth and cloudy prayers: Alas his Highness is the father of us all, a father of a family doth not discourage or upbraid any for not being so strait, so tall, so good memory, so quick of discerning; no more can his Highness to the people of several and various minds, if he should it would render him unnatural: for it is much for any magistrate to keep himself free from the charge in the poet, Dat veniam corvis, vexat censura columbas, which I doubt not his Highness will have regard unto as hitherto.  
7 Whether the inflicting the severest punishment upon traitors, conspirators, etc. be any cause of dissatisfaction to any, but rather by far of the greatest content and submission: for have not those Gentlemen that have been known by the name of the King's party been favourably dealt with, considered as conquered? their penances for their faults have been very tolerable, and I know upon good grounds that many are so ingenuous as to acknowledge it, and will say they believe they should not have shown so much favour as is received; his Highness in this imitates God Almighty in such a demeanour of himself, for if mercy, forbearance, patience nay and longsufferance will not do, than he poureth out his wrath and indignation upon the disobedient. Now all that seems hard is that so many worthy Gentlemen who its believed hath had neither intention heart nor hand in any Treasonable Act, should be secured and kept under restraint; the equity and reason of that is plain, because a plot or conspiracy being discovered concerning a party, and many known to be guilty which in appearance seemed as harmless, & much more also then many of the rest: what would they themselves do but think and be very jealous of the whole, and so secure the nation and free the persons if innocent from a temptation and keep them out of harms way? Now if his Highness should hearken too much to his own clemency in such cases, whether he would not, first sin against God in not inflicting punishment; secondly, against the Nation; thirdly against himself.  
8. Whether that any people in the world (to speak without any flattery) have Magistrates so free from all manner of corruption as we have? what Prince spends so many hours in prayer and devotion as ours? what King hath a Council so free from vice? no debauchery, no luxury is to be heard of amongst them; but are all examples of a holy religious life to the nation round about: how impartial in justice? I have not heard so much as one amongst many thosands that can say justice is denied him. And the Court governed according to David's pattern, not a man that is a liar must abide under his roof, or any that have dependency upon him: now than if so, can we hope to be better, to have more justice under any other way or person? do you think we shall have better examples, better Counsellors, easier Access, freer from bribery, justice more equally distributed? if we do, it must be when the Millenary kingdom comes to pass, for my part I expect it not.  
9 Whether there be any cause for the plea of inheritance to the Gentleman on the other side, so as to disturb the thoughts of any: you know that the entail of an estate may be cut off, and is amongst us daily: so God and men have agreed to cut off his; though I think there was enough in all equity and reason to cut off his father, yet some do surmise, and many believe that there was a greater judgement followed him then the things he died for: therefore I could wish that no man would be so daring and presumptuous as to think otherwise then that the justice of God and the justice of men met together to cut off that line: as he did concerning Eli, he promised he and his should be priests for ever, yet we see for sin and transgression the line was cut off. Now its true the seed is escaped with their lives, I am apt to think the reason is they are not of so sanguine a constitution though in justice by the wise dispensations of God thought meet to undergo the misery of being vagators upon the face of the earth.  
FINIS.