SIR WILLIAM PARKINS SPEECH TO THE house OF COMMONS in PARLIAMENT, Concerning the Present Establishment of Church-Government, July 5th. 1641.   

SIR William PARKINS SPEECH to the House of COMMONS, CONCERNING The establishment of Church-Government, July the 5th. 1641.  
Mr. Speaker,  
I Stand not up in my own particular behalf, but in the universal and general name of the whole kingdom; Alas, Mr. Speaker, they depend all upon our exemplary justice, which if we do fully execute, will not only give great and plenary satisfaction to our Nation, but will likewise cause the Land to smile hereafter with the blessed beams of prosperous felicity: but if the least error and smallest deliration be overseen by us (oh! it strikes my trembling mind with horror to think on it) how will all things precipitate themselves into ruin most irrevocable, but I speak not this as if any here would omit or extenuate the supremacy of justice in the least thought: to admonish you of that point, were to bid the moon keep her monthly course, the spheres to reduce themselves in their circumference, Or the sun to shine upon the earth: but I speak this only to add a spur unto you, lest we should at any time languish in our heau'n-proceeding jurney. The cries of the people have come up unto me, the voice of the whole Nation tingles in my ears; and me thinks I hear each subject wish that we would briefly establish the Church Government with all expidition. Let us first begin to confirm our Religion, and God will bless our other proceedings the better: that was always my opinion, and I am sure the expectation of the whole kingdom; How long have we set here, and how little have we effected? How much time have we consumed, and what little have we performed herein: How long have we laboured in this our daily travel, and as yet have brought forth but an Embryo, in what we did intend? 'tis true, I confess, we have fomented ourselves with daily troubles & vexations, and been very solicitous for the welfare of the commonwealth, but what have we performed? or what have we perfected. I will once more relate what my former opinion was, let us (I say) begin in the real establishment of our Religion, and (as I said) all our other determinations will succeed with a better Omen; for indeed most of our Delinquents are linked to this chain, they depend most on this point, therefore we should do well to enter speedily upon the Work. Mr. Speaker, excuse my zeal in this case; for my mouth cannot imprison what my mind intends to let out, neether can my tongue conceal that which my heart desires to promulge. Behold, the Archbishop (that great Incendiary, of this kingdom) lies now like a firebrand raked up in the Embers, but if he ever chance to blaze again, I am afraid, what heretofore he had but in a spark, he will ●ully burn down to the ground in a full flame. Wherefore Mr. Sheaker, let us begin, for the kingdom is pregnant with expectation in this point. I confess there are many more Delinquents, for the judges and other Knights walk in Quirpo, but they, are but thunderbolts forged in Canterbury's fire: look upon them all with an impartial eye, and you will find them all but as polluted rivers flowing from that corrupt fountain. Well? is it so then, that all depend on Religion? why are we then so backward in not Reforming the Church? why do we stick in this point, and not rather proceed in it with all expedition? For indeed, according to the laws of this kingdom, as it hath the dignity of preeminence, so let us give it the priority in our determinations.  
Mr. Speaker, think with yourself, I pray, in what faction the Church is now, in what schism, in what confusion of distracted Sectaries it is promiscuously shaken: Behold the Papists will have their way the Brownists will have their way, the Anabaptists their way, the Puritan (as some call them) their way, the jesuitical Priests their way; and in these various ways they make such a labyrinth of Religion, that few or none scarce can find out the right way. It behooves us therefore, and is expedient that we should add a period to these irregular ways, that the vulgar may no longer wander ill in these distracted parts. Mr. Speaker, I have now unloaded my mind of her weary burden, and I beseech you digest my words with your serious considerations in this respect of establishing the Church-Government, in true, sincere, perfect, and unpoluted Religion; which if we do perform, and fully effect, we shall do great Honour to God, get great credit to ourselves, and give great satisfaction to the whole kingdom.  
This is my Opinion, this is my Expectation, this is my Prayer; and lastly, this is my Hope.  
FINIS.